People like knowing what to expect when they come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for their tubal reversal procedure by reproductive surgeon Dr. Gary Berger, our Medical Director.
We provide a great deal of information about this on our website, in emails and letters, and by telephone.
Learn From Others on the Tubal Reversal Message Board
Another useful source of information about what to expect is the Tubal Reversal Message Board. Through the message board, women can ask questions and get responses from Dr. Berger’s staff and from others who have had their tubal reversal procedure. A message board member recently asked this question about what to expect in the Preparing for Tubal Reversal forum with the subject heading Need Details About Consultation:
“Can someone who has already had their consultation give me details about what happens at the consultation? I’m nervous ):”
She received this detailed reply from another board member:
“My wife had her tubal reversal just this week, so it is still pretty fresh for us. We went there on Monday, so the schedule of things may be different on other days.
She was very nervous; we drove down - an eleven hour drive - not sure what to expect. While there are countless messages on the board detailing great experiences, the fear of showing up and discovering either a second-rate facility or a scam were still in the back of our minds. She was also nervous about “making weight”, even though she was not even close to the BMI cutoff; my dear wife likes to fret over everything.
We met the shuttle van at the lobby of the Sheraton at 6:45; Doctor Berger’s facility is only 5 minutes down the road. When we pulled in, the courtyard gate was unlocked and open. We made our way up the stairs to the second floor, and the receptionist was ready and waiting; the waiting room up there looks like a very cozy, large, well appointed living room.
My wife got the luck of the draw and was first, so it was a very efficient, streamlined process. First up was blood pressure, height and weight. All went well, and we immediately met with Doctor Berger. He is professional, courteous, and yes, asked why we chose this. He didn’t seem judgmental about age or weight; he seemed genuinely committed to giving my wife back her reproductive rights to the best of his ability.
After that was the vaginal ultrasound. My wife preferred for me to be present; it was about 10 minutes total, minimally invasive, and yes, the nurse fine tuned the hair line for surgery.
We were immediately escorted downstairs to the surgery reception, and we were quickly greeted by one of the surgical nurses. I believe we had some very brief paperwork at that point, but we moved so efficiently, I could be wrong. We were escorted to the surgical waiting area, where she changed into a johnny and a robe, and answered some of the standard surgical questions.
My wife is no fan of needles, and we let the nurse know that previous IV experiences weren’t very good. When the nurse had trouble with the IV, she immediately called in one of the OR nurses who took over and inserted a new IV in one quick, painless hit.
They talked us through every single step, and soon, my wife was walking in to surgery. She says she climbed onto the table and doesn’t remember a darned thing until waking up! As she was waking up, the nurse went over post-op care with me in painstaking detail. What the meds are for, when to give them, what existing meds can be taken with them, etc. It was thorough, and I felt quite capable of caring for my wife when we returned to the hotel. When she was awake and lucid, and had successfully emptied her bladder, they allowed her to dress, and called for the Hotel Shuttle. 5 minutes later, it arrived, and we were back in our hotel room before 11am!
The next morning promptly at 7 am, the nurse visited our hotel room, inspected the incision, and took every bit of time we needed to feel comfortable for our trip home.
A few tips:
- An important detail is that Doctor Berger’s facility is amazingly efficient; while you don’t feel rushed, you are done before you know it. They have fine tuned the process so very little time is wasted.
- Stick to the medicine schedule! Don’t be a hero and skip your pain meds or you will regret it. My wife had a few bouts of soreness that would have been difficult in the days after surgery without meds.
- The nurses are all wonderful people; we enjoyed meeting them and letting them take care of my wife. Let them take care of you, and you will do fine.”
Support Before, During, and After Tubal Reversal
At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, our relationship with patients does not begin and end on the date of surgery. When you choose Dr. Berger as your tubal reversal doctor, you can expect to have our support before, during, and after surgery. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer questions and to provide education and information about the tubal reversal process. Our goal is to provide you with all of the tools you will need on your tubal reversal journey.
With this option, your surgery begins with 
