Tubal Reversal Blog ‘tubal reversal message board’

Some women will develop problems after a tubal ligation procedure. Many will attribute these symptoms to Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS) and will consider sterilization reversal. Some of these women will not have PTLS but, instead will have other underlying  medical conditions.

We started this series of articles for women suffering from adverse symptoms developed after a tubal ligation. We discussed the symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS), current medical studies about PTLS, and common medical conditions that can closely mimic PTLS. Like a long bus ride, we have expected most passengers to have exited this bus trip at each of their respective and appropriate stops after a thorough evaluation of the possible causes of their symptoms. If passengers are still riding, then the only stop left is PTLS.

In the past, the existence of PTLS has been widely debated but not agreed upon in various medical studies. The largest study to date, the CREST study, found no significant difference in the percentage of women with menstrual problems after a tubal ligation with a “control” group of women who did not have a tubal ligation. The authors of the CREST study concluded that adverse symptoms do not ocurr as a  result of tubal ligation. This study, however, was not designed to study the multitude of symptoms that women report after surgical sterilization.

The end of the journey

Our experience at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center suggests PTLS does exist for a select group of women for whom no contributing medical, psychological, or other causes have been identified. Among this group of women, the vast majority have reported dramatic improvement in their symptoms after a reversal of their tubal ligation.

We will report the stories of several of our patients (both before and after tubal ligation reversal) who have had worsening physical and psychological conditions after sterilization and who have come to us seeking tubal ligation reversal. They will share with us their symptoms and how they have fared after tubal ligation reversal (had their tubes untied).

This is the sixth article in our fourteen part series on PTLS and associated medical conditions. Our next several articles will present patients who have suffered from worsening menstrual, physical, and emotional symptoms after surgical sterilization procedures (women who had their tubes tied).

Readers can also view patient submitted stories about their menstrual symptoms, reasons for reversing tubal ligation, and outcomes after reversal reversal surgery. Each patient’s story is listed below:

Meet Momzilla
Meet Andrea
Meet Rebecca
Meet Praybelieving
Meet Katherine

Visitors may join the PTLS Forum on the Tubal Reversal Message Board to share their experiences of symptoms after tubal ligation procedures and what happened to them after a tubal reversal.

We are interrupting our 14 part Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS) blog series to announce the first reported Monteith tubal reversal pregnancies and the arrival of the Monteith Miracle Tubal Reversal baby shirts!

Dr. Monteith’s Success at Reversing Tied Tubes

Dr. Charles Monteith started working full time as a tubal reversal specialist on July 21st 2008 at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. We have received four pregnancy reports from patients during his first two weeks of reversing tied tubes.  His tubal reversal pregnancies have started to roll in!

The First Pregnancies

These four patients are representative of the patient population Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and they come from all across the United States. They have had different types of tubal ligations and tubal lengths measuring from 3 to 8.5 cms.

Alaska (Falope ring tubal ligation)
New York (Bipolar cautery)
North Carolina (Bipolar cautery)
Idaho (Filshie clip tubal ligation)

And The Winner Is…

There has been an unofficial competition among patients of our Tubal Reversal Message Board for who would be the first patient to report a Monteith tubal reversal pregnancy. A patient from Alaska was the first to report a positive pregnancy test. She has confirmed that a first trimester ultrasound showed the pregnancy is in the uterus and is doing well. We have asked her to share her story and experience with us in a future blog article and she has said she will do this once her life calms down and her morning sickness disappears.

Why Have Pregnancies Been Reported So Soon?

These pregnancies have all occurred within the first two weeks of his reversing tied tubes. We typically ask our patients to wait a month until they try to conceive. So these patients likely started to attempt to conceive mid to end of August. They obviously had success and conceived at their first ovulation after ligation reversal!

To the patients of Dr. Monteith who have not yet conceived: keep up the faith and it should happen in due time. Most people do not realize how long it may take to become pregnant until they actually try. It can sometimes take up to 10-12 months before a successful conception can occur.

Monteith Miracle Tubal Reversal Baby Shirts

The Monteith Miracle Shirts have just arrived and are hot off the presses. They are ready to be sent out when the babies are delivered. All you have to do to receive one is:

Be a patient of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
Be a tubal reversal patient of Dr. Montieth.
Become pregnant after tubal reversal.
Report the pregnancy to us.
Report the birth to us.

The first shirt goes out April of 2009 and the rest shortly thereafter. We wish these women good luck and all of the women who have had tubal ligation reversals by the tubal reversal doctors at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.

We recently asked Tubal Reversal Message Board members to submit ideas for future topics to be addressed in the Doctors Blog.

Here are some of the topics that have been suggested so far:

• Tubal ligation effects on a woman’s body
• Tubal ligation risks
• Pregnancy outcomes and other issues for older women
• Information to help educate doctors

If you would like to add suggestions for other topics, please post on the Doctor’s Blog Suggestions thread on the message board.

At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, we are dedicated to patient education about all aspects of tubal ligation reversal. We welcome your ideas and want to address your questions and concerns about tubal ligation, tubal reversal or pregnancy after a tubal ligation reversal.

Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
DrMonteith@tubal-reversal.net

Exchanging Information About Tubal Reversal

The Tubal Reversal Message Board is provided by Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center to allow women to communicate with each other about tubal ligation reversal. Members of Dr. Berger’s staff also contribute their insights in the message posts. Here is an example of how members help and support each other on the message board in response to a post by a new member. There are many abbreviations members use in their posts. These are explained on our website page Message Board Abbreviations.

Hello, my name Heather Jo and I live in Southern Oregon. I am 28 and already have three great kids – Chris 14, Emily 7 and Bradley 5. I am getting married on 2/29/08 to my soon to be DH Justin (who has no children yet). I had my TL on 5/9/02 after the birth of my youngest son. I hope to have more babies after my TR, which we hope to have done by the end of summer 08. I look forward to being on here and having my questions answered.

Welcome Heather Jo! We look forward to seeing you in the future. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions.    Lori RN

Welcome Heather Jo! You are in the right place to have your TR done!! Dr. Berger and the Staff at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center are the best.    Veronica

Nice to meet you Heather Jo. I wish you all the best.
ME-27
DH-21
DS-7
DD-4
TL-10/20/03
TR- shooting for March of 2008    Miranda

Hi, Heather! I hope that all goes well. We are all embarking on a wonderful journey! I am also new and am on the board looking for answers, comfort and support. Take Care,     Cora

Welcome to the board, Heather Jo! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Let me know if you need assistance with the scheduling process. Feel free to ask all the quetions you have….we are all family and the Tr sisters are great at answering questions or just making you feel welcomed.     Ericka Pamplin

Thank You for the warm welcomes. I am a little scared about the whole TR surgery. I know in my heart that I want more children. I know I’m not “done” yet. But being put under and the actual surgery scares me. I know it is worth it, and that’s why I try not to think about all that stuff. I already had my post op report sent to Dr Berger back in 2005, so this has been a couple years in the making for me. I hope to be on the post TR side of things by this time next year! Well again, THANK YOU and best wishes!    Heather Jo

It’s normal to be scared…I think we are all a little scared about the surgery and about what happens next. I’m more terrified of not conceiving than the actual surgery. I know that Dr. Berger and his staff will take excellent care of me. It’s what I have to do on my own that haunts me!!! Good luck,    Cora

Heather- I was scared about getting the TR done. Not just the surgery but everything that went with this major decision. But I am so glad that I did…I had my TR 11/19/07 and I just found out that we are pregnant! We couldn’t be more thrilled!    Jenn
TR-11/19/07
BFP-12/30/07

Congratulations. That means a lot to hear about someone having a BFP so soon after their TR. Please keep me updated! TR: March/April…I hope.    Cora

Heather Jo – Hi! My name is Jeannine. I live in Salem, OR and just had my TR last month. It was a great experience. Even my DH had nothing but good things to say about our trip, Dr. Berger and his staff and the whole surgical process. It is worth traveling across the country to do! Good luck with your journey.    Jeannine
TL 4-28-01
TR 11-16-07

It does help to hear about others having a great trip when they got their TR. I am hoping for one in March of 2008.    Miranda

CONGRATS ON BFP! Im so excited for you! I think I am going to lose my mind in this process. I know that I want this done but it seems like I’m trying to convince everyone else around me why I should. A lot of people think that it will be a big waste of money especially since I have had my tubes cut, tied, and burned. I’m sure that I’m not the only person who has had this done and that there are plenty of women who have gotten a BFP after reversing this type of TL. I’m going to plan on the end of this year for my TR. How do you send your reports to CH? What do I send exactly? You gals are great supporters by the way.   Patiently Waiting
ME-27
DH-34
DS-4
DS-3
TL-12/04

I went to the hospital where they did my TL and got a copy of what they did and then my mom faxed it over to CH. It is that easy. Some hospitals will fax it for you if you take and print out the CH release form and take it with you so they know where to send it. It does not take long before you hear back from them with where you stand. I hope this helps. I got the ok from CH. I am going to set my TR up for March 08. Hope to hear how things go with you.    Miranda

Dr. Berger’s staff is great about reviewing your records and getting back with you on your chances for success. They won’t tell you to go ahead with it if there’s no chance of a BFP.   Cora

Welcome Heather- you have made the best decision with Dr Berger. He is truly a blessing and a miracle worker. We are all for you. My surgery was quick- I was in and out of CHTRC in a matter of hours. Good luck with your upcoming marriage.   Melissa
Me: 38
TL: 10/97
TR: 1/12/06
BFP: 2/12/06
EDD: 10/25/06
DS, Brady, our miracle baby, born 10/21/06
8 pounds, 5.8 ounces
21 inches long

Thanks Miranda and Cora - you ladies have been a Godsend. I really appreciate it. I have 2 DS by my husband already but I don’t know why I stopped at 2, plus this PTLS is causing a lot of problems. I can’t wait to have this TR done.   Patiently Waiting

Patiently Waiting ~ I know what you mean…PTLS is cruel. I had said before that my husband keeps mentioning “how I used to be”…but I always strugged it off to him just being a man and us evolving. But, after hearing all the stories from other women, I am beginning to believe that I am suffering from it as well! I hope for a smooth surgery with lots of luck in March/April. I wish you all the best, too.   Cora

I have been wanting to have a TR for about 5 years now. I have 2 boys from a previous relationship and my husband has no children (well, he claims mine and treats them as his) I have talked about TR for years and my husband would never seem interested and then sometimes he would and I would get so frustrated with him thinking he just didn’t want kids with me. He finally started coming around and told me that he was scared and that he wanted to get financially stable before we had the surgery and tried to bring a new baby into the home. So, now I am closer than ever and our intentions are to schedule in March or April this year. I am working on my weight loss now as I have to lose 20 lbs to be under BMI for surgery. I know I can do it within the next 3-4 months and I am trying hard so I can have my TR and start TTC!!!!   Stephcave

Dr. Berger’s Comment

This excerpt is a good example of how women support and inform each other on the Tubal Reversal Message Board regardless of where they are from. Many women might feel they are alone in their desire to have another baby after a previous tubal ligation, but when they participate in the message board they realize that they are not alone at all.

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.

Information About Tubal Reversal

The Tubal Reversal Message Board is a public service offered by Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. This message board allows prospective, current, and past patients of Dr. Berger to share information with each other and Dr. Berger’s staff regarding any issue related to tubal ligation reversal.

Tubal Reversal Message Board Forums

The message board is organized into 7 separate forums:

New Message Board Members
Questions about Tubal Reversal
Preparing for Tubal Reversal
After Tubal Reversal
Weekly Pregnancy Reports
Tubal Reversal Cost and Financing
Age and Tubal Reversal

The Tubal Reversal Message Board also has a page called Today’s Active Topics. Many message board members set this as a bookmark or favorite page and enter the board through this page. It shows all of the topics under discussion for the past 24 hours regardless of the forum in which the message thread appears.

Policies and Rules of the Tubal Reversal Message Board

The Tubal Reversal Message Board is a place for women to get support, information, and share opinions with other women and our staff about tubal reversal surgery. New members agree to adhere to certain rules and policies when they join the message board and receive the privilege to post messages. These are mostly common sense rules of etiquette. On occasion, a member will lose posting privileges if the rules or policies of the board are ignored. This can occur, for example, if a person is argumentative or insulting to others, or repeatedly posts on topics unrelated to the subject of tubal ligation reversal.

Most Popular Message Board About Tubal Reversal

The Tubal Reversal Message Board has been online since January 2002 and has a total of over 11,000 registered members from all over the US and the world. They have posted over 337,000 messages. This volume of membership and posting indicates how widespread interest is about tubal reversal surgery. Anyone who has had a tubal reversal procedure performed by Dr. Berger, or who is planning on having a reversal procedure in the future, will find the Tubal Reversal Message Board to be an excellent resource.