Category: Health and Wellness
*Please note that this post will be slightly graphical and personal. If you're not comfortable discussing menstruation, birth control and so on, you've been warned. I wrote this a few days ago and was nervous about posting, but I really need the advice or even just some firsthand experiences. By the way, I'm going to the doctor on Tuesday. Sorry for the rambling, but I think knowing my full story might help and maybe you'll answer something that I didn't ask in questions.*
I know that there's a topic about problems with tubal ligation and I posted there. But I want a more general view of things. As many of you know, I do not wish to have my own children. I wrote an essay on it here.
http://www.zonebbs.com/boards.php?t=23283
I then commented on a similar post here, but had a few different things to say, which is why I'm including it.
http://www.zonebbs.com/boards.php?t=24930
I've taken various forms of hormonal birth control, including the patch (got off when I read about the ridiculous amount of hormones and possible blood clots but was on for over a year) and the pill for quite some time now. I've been on one pill for about two years, but have had problems with all of them. The most serious has been the irregular menstrual cycle and the unpredictable breakthrough bleeding. It's gotten to the point where I'm afraid to go out for fear of having an accident and also of inviting people to my own home just incase i didn't clean things properly for whatever reason. I'm totally blind so can't see what's happening and it's not always obvious. And yes, I know that other blind women have to deal with this as well. But this is how it's effecting me personally. It's not as if I'm having panic attacks, but the thoughts are still there and worry me. I've also had mood swings in which I sometimes get sad and cry for no reason and/or very easily (no suicidal thoughts or anything like that) or get angry and lash out by yelling or getting frustrated. Then, there's breast tenderness, which I can live with, and head and eyeaches, which I wish to the gods would go away and I'm not sure if they're due to the pill or not. As some of you know, I prefer science-based natural medicine over synthetic, birth control and Advil being the obvious exceptions, though I've even replaced Advil with Willowprin (white willow bark/origin of Aspirin) in many cases. But each time I want to try something, I have to constantly check if it will make the birth control less effective. For instance, licorice root is very good for heartburn, but it has specific warnings about taking it with birth control. Thankfully, there's always Brioschi, which is fine. Of course, i'd investigate anything new before trying it, but just this added pressure is a nucense. I even worry about eating things with lots of vitamin C, since that's also on the list of things to avoid or watch closely. If you get serious diarrhea, , that can also lessen the effectiveness of the pill. Then, I read about some longterm effects of hormonal birth control, including a loss of libido and a possible risk for cancer. I think it also takes away certain vitamins (I take Women's Answer, which is safe for those on birth control) and may promote osteoporosis, or at least cause problem with the bones. I'm not sure on these last two, so don't quote me there. I'm also a smoker, all-be-it a very light one at one or two cigarettes a day (sometimes none for days and occasionally weeks, depending on my mood) and between one and four arghiles (water pipes) on the weekend. Ordinarily, I don't beleive the antitobacco propaganda, since most is myth. But it might very well be true that smoking causes problems for those taking hormones like the pill. They usually talk about women over 35, and I'm 27. But it's still something to consider.
At first, I was thinking of just going for Her Option (cryoblation therapy), which should lessen or even stop my menstrual flow. But you're only supposed to do it if you don't want children and you can't use it as a form of birth control. So it made no sense to me to do this and then to stay on the pill, which I originally chose partly because it was reversible. I spoke with my doctor about sterrilisation and once I explained all of my reasons for not liking my current form of birth control and assured her that no, I don't want to have my own children, she agreed with me. When I left, she put me on a new pill and told me to come back when the two monthly packs were finished so that she could check to see if I was stabalised. This new pill seems to really be helping with the bleeding, though I did get a little breakthrough. My moods seem to be more regulated, with only the week before I'm supposed to have my flow giving me the usual pms and emotional swings. But I've been on hormones so long that I'm not even sure what my normal moods are anymore.
I've been researching contraception on my own for a few years and have read as much as I could about all the options. I was considering Essure for a time but have since heard some really bad things about it. Adiana is similar in concept but it's failure rate is higher than Essure and it's quite new. We had agreed to the Essure but I had my doubts, and as I said, discovered more things in my latest researcs which truly worried me. So now I'm looking into tubal ligation and the various methods used. She said that burning is the best, as the clips can come off and get lost in the system and you could still get pregnant with the rings. I don't know what to do. I'm scared of making the wrong choice. It's not that I think I'll want to become pregnant in the future. If I ever want children, I can always adopt, and I would want a slightly older child anyway. It's that I don't know about the after effects. I've heard from a few places that Essure isn't reversable without a hysterectomy. I'm not sure if that's true, as some medical facilities say that it can be reversed and women might be able to get pregnant. But if it is, if something goes wrong, we're talking major surgery which would then require hormones, defeating the whole purpose of the sterrilisation. But tubals are also surgery, though admittedly less invasive. I just want something which is effective in preventing pregnancy and which will have the least amount of bad side effects in the longrun. I could just stay on the pill, and have been considering it, but I was never hoping to use it for decades to come and am worried about what the constant hormones could do to my system over time. At least I won't be on them if I get sterrilised.
In any case, for those of you who have gone this route, which did you choose, tubal or Essure? If tubal, which method and why? How was it for you immediately after the opperation and/or procedure and then after that? I've read about a lot of medication being taken in both instances. I'm sure that tubals require more, but could I have one without being put under full sedation? there a way for them to numb things like dentists do with novacain? What about for Essure? Can I just get away with taking Advil? If any of you have had Her Option performed, what was it like and what were the results? I haven't heard anything about it causing pain or problems, except that it doesn't work well in all women. Thanks for any help given.
I think you may already know my story, Eleni, but i'll write it here anyway.
I underwent a tubal ligation in 2002. My doctor and I talked about a few options, but that one seemed to make the most sense. I had the clips put on my tubes, as that was the method my OB/GYN said was easiest to recover from. The surgery was done on a Friday morning. Yes, I was put all the way under, but it was for such a short period of time, that waking from the anesthesia wasn't the hell it usually is for longer surgeries. However, that was nine years ago, and I know methods of sedation have changed, so they very well may be able to use something less powerful.
I was home several hours later. I think I took prescription painkillers for one day, maybe a day and a half, but no more. The cramping was there, but not terrible. I was back attending my college classes on Tuesday, with the only differences being that I was told to wear loose-fitting clothing, (like sweats), for a week or two, and not to try and do much lifting, which was okay.
I've never had any major lasting effects. My periods have tended to be shorter since the surgery, but that's about it. I have one light day, then one really heavy one where my body thinks it has to do everything in 24 hours, then it kind of ebbs away again. Otherwise, no lasting trouble.
I know everyone has different experiences with the same procedure, but that's mine.
I had my tubes tied while having a C-section with my daughter. Theygave me an epidural to numb me from the chest down & my daughter was born & takenaway while they did the tubal & then stapled me shut. I of course had different stuff afterwords because I gave birth, (bleeding, cramping, etc), but then overall I felt fine. I took a couple pain pills afterwords, but by riday, I was ok & I had the surgery Wednesday. I had other issues with the epidural & I explain that in the parent talk board. I have had some major hormonal changes after the tubal & it's been almost 2 years; late periods, breast tenderness, severe PMS, etc. HTH
Okay. so now we have two answers so far, one a total positive and one a negative. SisterDawn: Light periods sound wonderful. But have you noticed any kinds of changes in hormones or pms? SunshineAndRain: Did your doctor tell you that this might happen? If not, then once the problems started, did he/she say that it could be from the tubal or could you have had other reasons, since you had it while giving birth? do you perhaps take some kind of medication that could be causing the hormone change? I'm jut curious because I've never heard of that as a result of a tubal. I read from one person on a forum that she would get pains every month and could tell where her tubes were from them. Others have said that they now experience cramping. Except some very slight discomfort (most bloating and gas) I've never had cramps, so it would be good to know if this is a common occurrence. I should really check the Planned Parenthood and Wikipedia pages on tubals, since I know they give good answers. Since this has been around for such a long time, I wonder if I can find studies on it? My doctor loves when I come to her and show that I've done my homework as do I.
Yeah I don't take meds so I think it's from either the tubal or could possibly be simply hormonal changes after giving birth. I don't get as bad cramps as I used to, so that's a plus for sure. and no,my doc never mentioned this to me. However, talking tomy good friend, (whose a nurse), and then reading on other forums, I've seen it where women have had issues with this & it just so happened they had a tubal ligation. All of them have given birth previously, so just take that in to consideration too.
What you need to consider is that most women who undergo sterilisation will have been using some form of contraception before they have the surgery, so having the surgery happens in conjunction with them stopping their contraception, and therefore it is generally not possible to know whether any changes in cycle etc are down to the surgery or the change in contraception..
I am concerned that you are being prescribed contraceptives in order to stabilise you before undergoing a sterilisation procedure, given that part of the reasoning for the procedure is that you want to stop hormonal contraceptives in order to regulate your cycle better. Surely it would be adviseable for you to stop taking hormonal contraceptives altogether to see how you react to not using them, rather than undergoing surgery and not knowing what the outcome will be?
The fact you want to be sterilised is not of issue to me; (just so that is clear), my issue is more with the fact that given your doctor knows of your cycles and mood swings, and given you have been using contraceptives for a long time, there is no knowing what not using contraceptives will have on your hormones and cycles, and yet she is seemingly happy to have you sterilised without first knowing how you will react to a lack of hormonal contraception.
hello,
I have never taken birth ctrl. So, i don't know if that affects your periods. the only thing i know is that I too don't wish to have kids at least not yet. I am just curious but do you gain weight in your mid section after you have a tubal ligation? All i know is that my periods are all over the place. and No, i'm not pregnant nor have i ever ben sexually active. I'm 24 and i remember that i haven't had a period for almost 1 year last year, but that's because of family issues around the time when i graduated college. My body went crazy and decided to stop them almost entirely all together leading me to see the doctor and she did a full blood workup. She discovered that my hormones are in check but she got concerned about the situation and said to look for an obgyn which i haven't gone to. The only thing wrong is that my vitamin D is pretty low putting me at risk for brittle bone disease. I don't even know if there are other effects form that, but all i know from research is that you mainly get it from the sun and certain foods like fish, meat and dairy, and that you are at risk if you are on a vegetarian diet and if you are trying to obstain from animal based products. i also know that nowadays milk and some other products are fortified with that. even if i did research i still don't know the signs but i've been told to increase the consumption of dairy and such as well as spend time outside which i don't really do much because i am inside most of the time. when I started back on them, i would get sad the week before and sore breasts which i haven't had before. that's kind of strange because I didn't have this. I even record them on my phone on an app called MC which is pasword protected just so that the doctor can see it since she wants me to record that information.
deciding you don't want kids "yet" is vastly different to deciding you don't want kids at all. If you don't want kids yet then tubal ligation is not for you as it is permanent, so if you have it done and change your mind then you would need to go through invasive procedures in order to be able to have children.
Yes, birth control does affect your cycle as most birth control options are hormonal.
There are many reasons why you could be not having regular cycles and they may not be gynaecological. An over/underactive thyroid for instance can seriously mess with your cycle for instance, but it's unlikely your dr would have checked this if you were under signifficant stress at the time.
What you should do is go to your dr and get a full blood work done including thyroid function, and also ask for day 3 and 21 blood tests to check your lh/fsh levels to determine whether you could have polycystic ovaries (something else which can affect your cycles).
I had my tubes tied and have suffered with bad cramps in my lower back and stomach. My periods are worse now to. I to get sore breasts. I started suffering with palvic pain and went to the doctor where they discovered I have sis on my overys due to the heavy bleeding. But desspite all that, I don't regret my decision.
i guess it comes to a point where you need to decide what is the purpose for you to have contraception, either to prevent pragnancy, to control your menstrol cycle etc. and you need to bring it clear with your doctor as to the reason for your choice and reason for his or her choice by choosing a particular method for you. indeed, majority oral contraception available is indeed hormonal, which mean, it can either help you with your cycle or make it to be worse.
any type of contraception have both advantage and disadvantage with them just like any type of medication or medical procedure however, before you take any steps further as to have tubal ligation or not. what you decide now in the age of mid/late 20s could effecting your whole life. and, who knows, in the next 10/15 years time, you might have a different view as to either to have children or not. further more, from my knowledge, doctor dont usually give a thumb up with tubal ligation unless, both parties are certain that is certainly what you want in your life. it might not improve your cycle, or your medical problem, infact, it could bring on extra health problems.
perhaps might be wise to get a second health professional opinion beside your regular doctor, and discuss your option with him/her.
I do agree with Joanne that deciding to be permanently sterilised in your mid/late twenties is a very drastic and permanent step and is one which should not be entered into lightly. That's not to say that I don't appreciate that there are some users here who have made that decision with very specific reasoning, i.e. because they do not wish to pass on genetic conditions to their as yet unconceived children etc, and I certainly am not judging anyone who feels they wish to go down that route.
However the time between your twenties and thirties is one of massive change, and while you might feel sure now that you don't want children in the future, there is no absolute guarantee that your view on that might not change. That's not to say that it will, I'm certainly not of the "you'll change your mind one day," persuasion, but I certainly know people who have thought absolutely in their twenties that they didn't want children, ever, but who have met a new partner/hve been overtaken by the biological urge to have children somewhere into their thirties or even fourties.
Equally I know people who haven't changed their mind on the matter, but to take such a permanent and drastic measure when you're still so young and to essentially do it for the possibility of changing your cycle is something you should think long and hard about.
There are other options such as the depo injection that will stop your periods altogether, and since you don't want to conceive, the implications of taking it (i.e. that it takes a while to get out of your system if you stop) are not something you need to consider in the short term.
Okay, just figured I would update you guys here. Just to answer the question as to whether or not i want children, if I want one that badly, I'll adopt. I never got why so many men and women feel that it's necessary for a child to come from them to be their's, nor have I ever felt the desire to actually bare my own children. Besides, I already know that I would want a son with pure Greek blood and that i would want an older child (say one or even two-years-old). But at this point, I don't even see that happening. Depo, like the pill, is hormones, only if you have bad side effects, you have to wait several months for it to leave your system. Not cool.
Can my obgyn do these tests? I don't have a general doctor, as I don't believe in synthetic medicine and can't afford to go to an ND. I don't mind blood tests but just want to know if she can do them or if I have to go somewhere else.
As for my cycle, when I got off the patch, it still wasn't normal for about a year. But I then did a three-month detox program, and after that, it returned to normal until I started taking the pill a few months after that. This is why I strongly believe it's hormonal.
In any case, Her Option is supposed to lighten and perhaps even stop the menstrual flow, which would be a real blessing to me.
I actually have made my decision, but am posting this incase anyone else comes across this and wants some good resources and quick information. I also want to show that I've done my homework and am not rushing into things. My next post will be the most current.
"Much of this is for me, but I figured that i would share it with all of you, since several of my friend were so helpful. I just finished reading all the sections and subsections of this article, written specifically for doctors, on tubal ligations. Then, I went and looked up more resources.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/266799-overview
The Pomeroy and Parkland techniques sound the safest as does a modified minilaparotomy. I was afraid that minilaparotomies couldn't be done for interval sterrilisation, but apparently, they can. When I saw my doctor last, she said that she likes to cauterise. I'm assuming, then, that she would use the laperoscopic technique, but could be wrong. In either case, this is the one which uses electricity, which has it's own risks, according to the above link. Wikipedia says this. Taken from their page on tubal ligation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubal_ligation
"Electrocoagulation or cauterization: Electric current coagulates or burns a small portion of each fallopian tube. It mostly uses bipolar coagulation, where electric current enters and leaves through two ends of a forceps applied to the tubes. Bipolar coagulation is safer, but slightly less effective than unipolar coagulation, which involves the current leaving through an electrode placed under the thigh.[1] It is usually done via laparoscopy."
These are more effective on the side of not getting pregnant but they also have some major drawbacks should something go wrong, like damaging organs, nerves etc. (since they're normally done under laparoscopy) or burning too much of the tubes. My interest in the minilaparotomy came from here. They didn't mention this, but unlike the laparoscopic method, this does not require general anaesthesia and can be done under local. This is also very important to me.
http://www.drcannonobgyn.com/index.php/treatments-menu/11.html
"Minilaparotomy - In the United States this surgical procedure is most commonly used for postpartum tubal sterilizations. This is performed using a 2 to 3 cm incision placed just below the umbilicus, or above the fundus of the uterus. This is considered to be one of the safest forms of tubal sterilization, as well as the most affective. In contrast to a laparoscopy, minilaparotomy requires only basic instrumentation and training.
• Advantages include relative ease of procedure, documented effectiveness, lower risk involving adjacent blood vessels, nerves and organs, and rapid recovery.
• Disadvantages to this procedure include inconvenience. Often women find it inconvenient to consider a surgical procedure immediately after giving birth to a child. The main source of inconvenience often relates to diet and time of discharge. Even though a minilaparotomy should not prolong the hospitalization, frequently since this is an elective procedure more urgent cases are placed in the operating room prior to minilaparotomies for tubal sterilization. This sometimes delays the procedure."
Of course, I'm having it as an interval. But must this be performed in the operating room as opposed to the office? The first link said that microlaparoscopies could be done in office, so why not minilaparotomies? I ask sincerely not sarcastically. What do they mean about diet and time of discharge? Do I have to stay in the hospital for longer than a day if the unmodified method is used or is this just for the women who have just delivered?
21 August"
I forgot this one. So I'll include it and then the current one.
"As all of you know, I was extremely concerned about side effects, but Wikipedia says this. Taken from the same article.
"Side effects
A 1998 review of over 200 articles in the English literature showed that evidence of a post-tubal sterilization syndrome (abnormal bleeding and/or pain, changes in sexual behavior and emotional health, increased premenstrual distress) was inconclusive for women over 30 years of age. The risk for women 20-29 years of age with pre-existing histories of menstrual dysfunction may be increased, "although they do not appear to undergo significant hormonal changes".[4] A 1993 study done in Japan found the symptoms of the post-tubal ligation syndrome to be mild, and simple symptomatic treatment to be sufficient in most cases.[5]" "Tubal ligation is an abdominal surgery. One study found that postoperative complications from tubal ligation are more likely than with vasectomy and more costly.[13] However, this study did not consider post-vasectomy pain syndrome."
So I guess they can exist but no one is completely certain about them? Still, could it really be as bad as the cumulous effects of hormonal birth control, which, according to the Medscape article, aren't meant to be used on an ongoing basis for years (in my case, decades, since I'm only 27)? I'm worried about any longterm pain but I know that I can't keep taking these pills.
21 August"
"Well, yesterday, I went to the doctor. I'm sharing this with all of you because you were all so kind and helpful and because some of you seemed interested in the questions that I asked. I think The gods were truly blessing me today. I can't believe how well things went! I asked all of my questions and she answered everything. I actually wrote the questions in my computer, so might as well just go over them and write what she told me.
"I've decided that I don't want Essure. I read various sources on tubal ligation, including one from medscape."
She was very impressed here, and instead of giving me any kind of trouble when I said that I wanted a tubal, she simply said "okay, it's up to you." Gods, I love my doctor.
"I read about mini laparotomy, laparoscopy and electrocoagulation with bypolar and unipolar current. I heard that mini laparotomy is the safest because there's not as much of a risk to bowels, nerves and organs and can be done during intervals not only after delivery. Using electricity can also burn the tubes."
She said that, since I've never had any kind of abdominal surgery, had no diseases etc. and am thin, the risk of anything happening, even with a laparoscopy is very low. Furthermore, she told me that the minilaparotomy involves a larger incision which takes longer to heal.
"I read about the Pomeroy, Parkland and Hutchinson's methods."
Those are only used when you open the belly. But she will still cut the tubes along with burning them.
"1. They said that there's a slightly higher risk for women under 30 to get pregnant when sterrilised. Will using electricity lessen that risk?
Which is the best and safest way given my age? don't want to get pregnant but need to be safe."
I don't remember exactly what she said there but I don't think that I asked the part about electricity. In any case, we already decided that this was the best way to go.
"2. I don't want general anaesthesia. Can we use spinal or local? What is the difference?"
I was really against the idea, with only a little flexibility in my mind. But her reasoning for using it here really made sense. Since she needs to fill me with gas, my diaphragm will be pushed up really tight. When this happens, breathing, while possible, will be extremely different and shallow. She described the feeling as someone sitting on my chest. But if we use general anaesthesia, I won't even know it's happening and will be relaxed. I voiced my concerns that my biological mother was a heroin addict and she assured me that it's not a narcotic. Opa!
The one thing I didn't mention, which I certainly will the next time I speak with her, is that I had two bad experiences which changed my life. Ordinarily, I could talk about them and realise that they're in the past. But now, fears are starting to resurface. I don't drink and haven't done so in six years. I was never an alcoholic, and usually, a glass of whatever was enough for me. But two times, I overdrank and blacked out. I have no idea what happened, but both times, I vommeted when I came to myself. The second time, grandma came up and found me. I was saying a bunch of stuff and didn't even know it. The loss of memory, and even more so, of self-control, scared me so much that I gave up alcohol for the rest of my life and have never looked back. Now, I'm afraid that I'll have this happen again. I looked up general anaesthesia on Wikipedia and had to stop reading because I was getting really nervous and emotional, which is not like me at all."
3. How long will i have to stay in the hospital?"
She said about two hours. After the opperation, they'll feed me and if I can urinate and the food stays down, I'm good to go.
"4. What is the least amount of medication that I can take? Willowprin. Can't take two weeks before surgery but took it a few days ago."
Surprisingly, she knew about Willowprin! She didn't say much but agreed about the two weeks and completely understood my concerns about any unnecessary medication. She said she'd give me something called Toradol, which is a really strong painkiller, and that's about it.
"5. Is there a method of tubal ligation which can be done in the office?"
She said that since this will be under general anaesthesia, it must be performed in the hospital.
"6. What is the difference between a laparoscopy and a microlaparoscopy?"
Just the size. She'll be doing the micro, so the tools will be smaller than usual.
"7. What do you know about post-tubal sterilization syndrome? How common is it and is it more common with certain methods than others?"
She's been working in the field for 15 years and only a handful of patients had this happen. Even so, she didn't seem to make much of it. I forgot to ask about restrictions, like for how long I can't lift things, etc. but I'm sure she'll tell me. She did say that I can't put anything inside my vagina for two weeks after the surgery.
"8. How many of these operations have you performed?"
I didn't ask this. But as I said, I felt very comfortable speaking with her. She was extremely knowledgible, very confident and very willing to listen and to give suggestions in a nonthreatening and noncoersive manner.
"9. They say that women who are sterrilised have fewer days in a period and a lighter flow but that the cycle is irregular. Should I still get Her Option?"
She didn't exactly say yes or no, but she explained that Her Option will lighten the flow considerably and also the amount of menstruating days. So naturally, I'm getting it.
The upshot of all of this is that I go for a screening and then for the operation in September. I still don't know the date, since Medicaid hasn't gotten back to them yet. I asked my boyfriend Spiros if he could take me for the actual operation and he said yes. But Mom told me this morning that, by law, she has to go with me as she's family and only she can decide what to do if things go wrong. Now, I understand a little of what homosexuals go through, and though I agreed with them before, this is even more true now. If I'm the one having the operation and we can plan in advance for it, then why in the hell shouldn't I be able to sign a paper stating whom I want with me and who should be able to make decisions? Of course, I trust Mom with my life. But that's not the point. This is a blatent violation of my rights, one that I couldn't even defend during a dictatorship. I have to ask him now if he'll be willing to take the two of us and then to see if he'll be able to see me after the operation or what.
24 August"
I asked Spiros and he just asked me the date and said it wasn't a problem at all. So will he be able to come in and see me after the operation? I also spoke with a friend who has undergone general anaesthesia at least seven or eight times in her life and she said it's not a big deal. it mostly makes you serious and groggy when you wake up. But she did talk about a drug, called versed, that's taken before the operation which make you forget everything and which could cause delerium etc. I would love to avoid that if possiblI don't mind remembering what happens at all. In fact, I would find it more interesting than anything, and as i said, I like to be in control of my mind. I don't care if you put me to sleep, but I'd better be aware of things when I wake up.
So I had my tubal on 22 September and wanted to update everyone on my progress. I'm detailing what happened incase anyone comes across this and is curious and/or has the same questions that I did. Maybe, by sharing my story, I can help allay some fears.
On the day of the surgery, I got up at 5 AM, a real feat for me. I hadn't eaten anything since about 9 o'clock the previous night but wasn't hungry at that point. Mom came up to help me choose my outfit, since I specifically requested something very loose-fitting and we haven't yet sorted away the summer and winter clothing and I needed pants, since it would be cold there. I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, got dressed and posted on Facebook that I would be leaving in a few minutes.
Joanie was alredy waiting with the car. It only took a little while to get there. Once we did, Mom helped me fill in the entry forms and I was given two paper bracelets. We sat down, and after awhile, I went to use the bathroom and gave a urin sample for a pregnancy test, which turned out to be negative. Then, we were taken into another room where they asked me basic questions like my name, age, weight/hight, if I have any diseases or allergies, if I take medication and if anything special needed to be done with regard to food or if there were any restrictions for my religion. After that, Mom pulled the curtain closed, I undressed and I put on the sox, gown and robe. Then, another nurse came and took me into the holding room. I used the bathroom again and came back to the bed. Then it happened. I met the anaesthesiologist. There was another doctor with him but the second didn't speak much. Anyway, he turned out to be a very nice man and quickly helped dissolve my fears about anaesthesia causing dilirium and short-term memory loss. I informed him that, although my legal name is Tiffany, all of my friends know me as Eleni. So if I said that when I woke up and they asked my name, there wouldn't be anything wrong with me, only I forgot to use the legal one. He asked me if I was Greek and I said not in blood but my soul is 100% Greek and my ultimate dream in life is to move there and to become a citizen. He told me that his wife was born on an island near Thessaloniki! From then on in, I felt totally relaxed. Someone with an Ellinida for a wife can't be that bad. We talked about how they go to the island every summer, how when he tried a peach from Greece, he couldn't believe it and how I should go to the islands and the less touristy areas. Then, he tried to put the iv in my hand and that really hurt! After three attempts to find a vein (mine are apparently very small), I asked if he could try my arm. Once he did that, it went in like a charm and I barely noticed it. They were putting something in to hydrate me before the surgery. The doctor made a brief appearance, saying that she was going to change, and then left. A nurse came and asked me the three questions that everyone wanted to know that day, "what's your name, date of birth and do you have any allergies?"
In a little while, I was put on a lounge-like thing with a hole in it. They told me to put my butt in the hole, which I did. They wheeled me into the operating room (theatre). I truly enjoyed the ride and said that I was going to have tsai tou vounou (mountain tea) and souvlaki when I went home. They said that the doctor would come soon and that I was scheduled for 7:30. I asked the time and they said 7:25 and I laughed. She was there less than a minute later. Mom was brought in so that she could help me sign a concent form stating that I knew this was a permenant proceedure and that, after it, I wouldn't be able to get pregnant. Mom left and the anaesthesiologist came back and told me that they were going to start the anaesthesia now. The next thing I knew, I was dreaming of posting on Facebook about the operation! Seriously. I was in the middle of that dream when I heard Mom's voice and woke up. I asked later if she was there the minute I awoke and she said yes, so I didn't have any short-term memory loss or dilirium at all! In fact, she told me that the doctors were amazed at how quickly I came out of it. The first thing I did was to tell them about the funny dream. I lay there, on the bed, for what was probably awhile. But with Mom at my side, it didn't seem that long. Right next to me, there was a crying, wining and screaming baby! I had the biggest smile on my face and said "Thank you Gods that I don't ever have to deal with that." I told Mom and she agreed and thanked me!
Afterword, I was taken to another room where they had some food. It wasn't the horrible stuff from the cafeteria but it was dry. A doughnut, muffins, and Jello (extremely sweet). I had a little of each, since I knew that I had to eat so that they could see how I was doing. They also had fantastic Green Mountain coffee, so I had two cups of that, two cups of water (one iced and one warm) and a cup of apple juice. Mom helped me dress and I was on my way out.
Once I got home, I went upstairs (no help needed, even though it's 18 steps to my place) and called Spiros, who told me he'd be here in 20 minutes or so. I then lay down, trying to get rid of the nausia feeling. Remember that I hadn't really eaten anything since the previous night. After awhile, Spiros arrived and actually brought, you guessed it, souvlakia! I didn't even tell him to do so. Mom came up with won tong soup. She thanked Spiros for staying and helping me and then left. I really didn't feel like eating but knew that I had to in order to take the Motrin that the doctor gave me. I'm normally not into synthetics, but I wasn't about to refuse this time as I was in pain. It wasn't horrible pain to make me scream but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Some have described it as the kind of pain one gets from doing tons of sit-ups. That was true later, but it was stronger in the beginning, and mostly in my belly button. it finally dawned on me that I should drink faskomilo (sage tea) as it helps calm upset stomachs and gets rid of gas. What a difference! No more than ten minutes after I started drinking it, the nausia went away and the gas started to lessen. My throat was so dry that no amount of water, tea or anything else could have quenched my thirst. It took hours for it to get back to normal. Mostly, we sat on the futon and talked, but both of us slept for about three hours during one point. The rest of that week, and into the next, I took it easy. There were times where the pain was quite bad, but believe it or not, it mostly hurt in my shoulders. They fill the stomach with carbon dioxide before starting the operation, so that the camera can pick up the images of the tubes etc. and that gas travels to the shoulders and man does it hurt! I didn't take a huge amount of the Motrin. I think I took it as prescribed for about two and a half days and maybe two or three single times after that.
Last Friday, I went back to the doctor so that she could check on my progress and she said that everything looks wonderful. The scar is healing nicely and is barely visible and I have no infections. When I mentioned the huge scab thing that I had for awhile, she said that was just the surgical glue. I'm 99% back to normal now, as if I haven't had any operation at all. Only there's a slight odor at times in my belly button, and today, I noticed a bit of a discharge. I will call her tomorrow and ask about that. But aside from that concern, I haven't noticed any symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome and pray that it stays that way. One of the best experiences is lying in my bed and all of a sudden realising that I really am sterile as I've always wanted to be. The feeling comes unexpectedly and always puts a smile on my face. I basically no longer have to worry about pregnancy, since the likelyhood is extremely low, as she not only burned the tubes but cut them as well and I no longer need hormonal birth control. That in itself is a relief.
wow that's great; I'm glad everything went well for you!
I'm glad you got it done, Eleni, and that it went well. I know you did not enter into this lightly at all, hence this thread. I have had a lot of peace since mine was done in 2002, and even though I occasionally feel those biological urges, i know it is just that, and am still at peace that I made the right decision. I hope you will continue to feel as you do now about it, and judging by your posts here, I think you will. So, I'm glad you found the right method for you, and are comfortable with your decision.