Tubal Ligation Reversal News

A member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center message board asks for others women’s reason for deciding to have tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger and how their journey began. Other members post their stories and give encouragement to one another. Many women often question their reasons for wanting to have tubal reversal surgery. The message board offers women a chance to talk about their questions and gather information to help them make the best decision for themselves and their families.

Joanie, a member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center message baord posts about her excitement and she and her husband are entertaining the possibility of have tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger. She is deiciding whether to have surgery done locally or travel for surgery wih Dr. Berger. Most of the patients that come for surgery with Dr. Berger come from out of state. Patients are generally in Chapel Hill for two nights and three days. Dr. Berger is the only physician whose practice focuses only on tubal reversal surgery. This allows Dr. Berger and his staff to focus on caring for and providing information for women who are planning on having or have had the tubal reversal procedure. This is just one reason that Dr. Berger is considered to be the best tubal reversal doctor.

Jennifer is a member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board and is very excited to share the news that she has finally scheduled her tubal reversal surgery. She states that she is “so excited that I’m almost speechless.” Jennifer will be having her tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Monteith in August of this year. Other message board members congratulate Jennifer on her good news and tell her that her surgery will “be here before you know it!”

Sarah is pleased to announce the birth of her second tubal reversal baby, Laura Leigh, who was born this past Sunday. Although Laura arrived three weeks early, Sarah states that she and the baby are doing well and are now at home. Other message board members congratulate Sarah and state that they are looking forward to pictures of the newest Berger Baby.

Berta has already had tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger and has posted pictures of her trip to Chapel Hill on the message board for everyone to view. Miranda states that the pictures give her a “very excited feeling to know I will be there soon” while Karen says that the pictures bring back “lots of great memories. Becki wishes that she would have been able to see the pictures before she went so that would have known what to expect. This is just another example of the support that message board members, who are both past and future patients, receive from one another on a daily basis.

Amy had tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger in 2005 and had first her TR baby (Elijah) 18 months ago. She is “shocked” to announce that she just found out that she is pregnant with her second TR baby and is due in November. Amy has already started following Dr. Berger’s pregnancy protocol and her first HCG level looks good. Other message board members congratulate Amy and wish her well over the next nine months.

Dr. Berger has been successful in reversing tubal ligations that have been done by the fimbriectomy method. Tubal reversal by fimbriectomy involves removing a portion of the fallopian tube closest to the ovary. The procedure to reverse a fimbriectomy is called a salpingostomy and it is performed by opening the end of the remaining fallopian tube and folding out the inner tubal lining over the cuff to improve the chances of egg capture. Potential patients who have had a fimbriectomy are encouraged to send their operative and pathology reports for Dr. Berger to review. These patients are often encouraged to have an HSG done in order to determine the amount of tube remaining. Fortunately, the pregnancy rate after a fimbriectomy reversal is 30-40%.

Members of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Message Board discuss returning to work after their tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger. Women who have more labor-intensive jobs tend to take more time off after surgery, while those who sit at a desk all day usually return to work more quickly. Dr. Berger does require that patients do not lift, push or pull anything that weighs more than 15lbs for 4 weeks after surgery, in order to prevent any type of injury. Everybody heals differently, but most patients feel back to normal 5-7 days after surgery.

Dr. Charles Monteith discusses his path to becoming a Tubal Reversal Surgeon at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Dr. Monteith has just published the first part of a series of a weekly blogs. Any patients who are curious to know more about him,who have met him, or are considering having surgery with him should read this blog. Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is dedicated exclusively to performing tubal reversal surgery.

A member of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Message Board discusses how soon she can exercise after Tubal Reversal Surgery with Dr. Gary Berger. Pam Mill, CRNA for Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center responds to her question “You may jog, or do any kind of exercise that does NOT involve lifting heavy objects or abdominal “crunches” as soon as you feel able. I always like to jokingly tell the husbands that this includes no vacuuming for at least six months!!”

Congratulations are offered to 11 ladies as they announce they are pregnant this week after undergoing Tubal Reversal Surgery with Dr. Gary Berger. Although tubal reversal is not right for everyone, Dr. Berger can successfully repair the fallopian tubes in 98% of women who have had a tubal ligation, regardless of the type of sterilization procedure. Over two-thirds of Dr. Berger’s patients become pregnant in an average of 10 months after their reversal procedure.

Members of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Message Board discuss their excitement as they wait for their date of Tubal Reversal Surgery with Drs. Berger and Monteith. “I have not been able to sleep since I scheduled I feel like it will never get here… I think in a week I would be lucky if I have had 25 hours of sleep. I have 18 days and sososo excited I am not sure how to act I have so many mixed feelings from crazy to excited and everything in between. We have been planning this for almost 4 longgggg years and now that it’s almost here I wish it was tomorrow. I finally said to my husband it’s now or never I can’t keep talking about this we have to act and within 2 weeks I was on the books for March 13,2008.”

Many women report depression after their tubal ligation. Members of the Tubal Reversal Message Board who have subsequently had a tubal reversal report relief from their symptoms of depression.

Tubal Reversal Message Board member georgiamom posts that she needs some advice/support from all of the collective expertise of others on the message board now that she pregnant for the third time since her tubal reversal procedure performed by Dr. Berger, having lost the first 2 pregnancies. This one is different since her serum HCG levels are rising normally. Georgiamom says she feels like she is on an emotional roller coaster, fine one minute, and the next ready to cry for no apparent reason. Other women who have had a tubal reversal procedure give her support and encouragement on the Tubal Reversal Message Board.

Tubal Reversal Message Board members discuss how long it has been between their tubal ligation and tubal reversal procedures. The average time is approximately 10 years.

Members of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center discuss trying to conceive for pregnancy in their late 30’s and 40’s. “I dont even know if a womans desire to have a baby ever goes away once she truly has one. Be encouraged and I am sure it will happen. I am 38 and will be 39 this year.I am having my first baby in 15 years and I still dont know if I really have gotten over the shock. I waited for 10 years to have a baby with my hubby and God blessed us.” Over 506 patients who are in their 40’s have come to Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center for Tubal Reversal Surgery. Out of the 506 patients, 207 women have become pregnant after successful Tubal Reversal Surgery with Dr. Gary Berger.

Ladies on the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center’s Message Board discuss whether their partners need a semen analysis before scheduling a Tubal Reversal Surgery with Drs. Berger and Monteith. “I asked my OB/GYN if my husband needed to do a SA (semen analysis) before we spent the money on the TR (Tubal Reversal). He agreed that it would be a good idea and that was our first step towards our surgery. I had my surgery on 2/13/08 and had a wonderful experience with Dr. Berger and all the staff. I experienced very little pain, just when I stood and turned too quickly. It was a great experience and I would do it again in a heart beat. I was also nervous about the whole thing but now feel that it was well worth it!!! Good luck with your planning… Melinda” The Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center recommends but does not require a semen analysis before scheduling tubal reversal surgery.

The Chapel Hill Message Board provides a forum for both past and future tubal reversal patients to talk about many different aspects of the tubal reversal journey. Women discuss issues such as saving money and scheduling surgery, what to expect during surgery, and trying to conceive afterwards. Some of Dr. Berger’s February 2008 patients have started their own thread in order to “keep in touch and track each other’s progress.” Melinda states that she is ready to start trying to conceive and that she was “really pleased with all that Dr. Berger and his staff did for us.”

All of the pregnancies for each week are reported on the Message Board and last week’s pregnancy report included 13 new pregnancies. Each patient’s age, date of surgery, type of tubal ligation and tube lengths after surgery are included on the list. Last week’s report included a pregnancy that was reported by a patient with only one tube, as well as someone who had surgery in January of 2008. The pregnancy report shows that it is possible to become pregnant at any age and with varying tube lengths after tubal reversal surgery with Dr. Berger.

Before my tubal reversal, I would get cyclic migraines - they only started happening after my tubal ligation. Two days before my period started, I would be down with a migraine, and it would last until a few days after the bleeding had stopped. This went on for 12 yrs. Along with that, I would experience horrible leg and back pain, my bleeding would last 7-9 days with heavy clotting and terrible cramps that otc meds didn’t ease. There were other lesser symptoms - hair loss, weight gain, etc. I had my TR Sept 04 - my very next cycle took me by surprise, as there was no migraine to warn of the impending start. I have not had a migraine since. No more leg or back pain - my actual bleeding went from over a week of heavy flow/clotting to two days of heavy flow and three days of light flow. Very little clotting, and only mild cramps the first day. My hair is again thick. No more leg or back pain either. I suffered for 12 yrs, the docs were unable to explain what was wrong - it was suggested that I go on BC (how ridiculous to have to take bc after being sterilized!). Many docs do not believe in PTLS - many more women all complain of the exact same symptoms all starting after TL. Sorry, but I just do not trust the doctors on this issue. They do not warn of the possible after effects, they brush us off afterwards when we start having problems.

Tubal Reversal Message Board members discuss the difference in their symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome before and after tubal reversal surgery. One members states, “I had my tubal reversal due to PTLS. I had a lot of bad symptoms. Mine were fits of rage, no sex drive, could not sleep, weight gain, hair loss, depressed (never was before), terrible long AF’s. I had the tubal reversal in 3/06 and by the time of my first cycle most of them were gone. I was much better and my family saw a huge difference in me without me even asking around 3 months. My first AF cycle was back to pre-TL. I was very fortunate that my surgery was a complete success and this happened for me very soon after TR.” Another reports, “It takes about a full cycle and you’ll notice the difference. I don’t know how it works or why, but it works. It’s truly amazing.”

Tubal Reversal Message Board members disagree with the concept that symptoms that they have experienced since their tubal ligation are “just in their heads”. They know that their symptoms are not imaginary and are grateful when their symptoms disappear after tubal reversal surgery.