8 Week Update!!

Hello peoples!
This is an update from 8 weeks post Tubal Reversal op..
Some things I will note here that I am really happy about are;
- I have my mind back! Lol! I know when I am am upset/angry what it is about and I am in control..
- My voice is female!! Alot of my closest friends don't recognise my voice when I call them!
- My body shape is really coming back to normal now, my skin has darkened again & is really clear & smooth!
- I was comfy in a size 20 bottoms and 14-16 top & the other day I slid on my old size 12 jeans! I am now 12-14bottom & 8-10-12 top (depending on boob room! Lol!)
- My hair is growing really fast and is really healthy again! I love it!
- My memory is so clear and I dont have trouble holding a conversation anymore!
- My body hair & odor is back to normal!! =D
- I am able to cook, clean, be a mama & a wife, that is so amazing to me!
- I can walk, run, jump, dance again!!
- I am loving having no huge stomach!! I love sleeping on it again! =)
- I enjoy sunlight again & every blind still is open at dawn with no migraines!
- I think it is trippy that in just 8 weeks I have lost over 11cms off my hips alone!!
- My periods are still Heaven! They are still getting back to what they were before PTLS but they are definitely panning out to be just like they were before all this.. No pains, crippling cramps, clots or days in bed, I mean wow, last cycle I went bloomin campin!! =)
So, that is just awesome! I am getting back to that outgoing bubbly, cheeky woman I use to be not an ogre anymore & I feel like a woman! I know I keep saying it but WOW I do!!
My hubby has nicknamed me "shrinky" ahahaha!!
I think one factor that makes me confused a little is that my metabolism has kicked in, my mind is up with the program but naturally my body is still trying to catch up..
I do get burnt out, but somehow I manage to do way more than my mind thinks!
I can bounce back.. =D
I am able to recover from a active day really quickly now and I am no longer breathless like I was (I think from all the stomach probs, fluid & weight that made that happen bad when I had PTLS) Wow, did you notice that??
I said when I HAD PTLS hehehehehe!! ;)

OK...
So I am going to post some pics!! So lets do it....






Not The clearest one of the back but I think you get the picture =D

Well, that is it for this update, I am really looking forward to seeing the top notch specialists soon for the first time since they laughed at me telling me I am just crazy! Have fun picking me out in the waiting room I say LOL!!
Then let the exploitation come to a higher level! Bring it on! Hubby & I will win hands down! =D Chow for now!

Update!

Hello all, it is week 8 today, I am still amazed at the changes! Going to bed like a 'normal' person & rising with the sun is just awesome!
I have surprised a few people now! 15kg loss so far and it just keeps dropping on its own.
I have so much more energy! I have slowed on the house cleaning and allowing myself to have 'chill days' I mean, I have been basically bed bound for 2 years straight and now I am up an doing this an that.. So I need to keep telling myself that it is natural for me to exhaust myself!!
My mind is all go, go go! But my body is repairing and I dont understand it all at times so I get abit down and think that PTLS is coming back all over again!
I think in a psychological sense, my brain is 'searching' for that joint pain that it is so use to.. Hence why when I go for a hike or am on my feet all day, resulting in normal 'building muscle' pain, I could swear it is my joints but it isn't.
I am a very small boned woman so the more weight that comes off I think the better it will be, even without PTLS, the weight gain alone would be enough for my joints to act up! But the PTLS made this weight!
I have really been enjoying eating! Food, glorious food!! Mmmmm!
for a whole year all I could eat was 2 poxy crispbreads a day..
Now, I can eat ANYTHING!! Just like beofre PTLS and I am really enjoying it!
My skin colour is definitely back!! My hair is growing so much more healthier and thicker! And wow, it dosent fall out of snap anymore!! YAY!!
There are just so many changes! It is amazing, but it is also scary if that makes sense..
It is like for the past 4 years I have been "somewhere else" and I have awakened again.. It is an emotional roller-coaster at the moment but life is just so amazing!
My smile is real, my zest for life is strong!
My husband has been the best ever support through all of this and has stood through it all with me faithfully, bless him!

Update (4 Weeks After Reversal)

Helloooo!
I thought I best get on here and give abit of an update on how things have been going!
Well, what to say apart from "WOW!"
I am at the end of my first period since the tubal reversal and it has been a ride!
But.. Taking into account that about a week before my period past tense I was unapproachable, bed bound in a dark room in sheer agony and riddled with confusion, anger and migraines.. This period was Heaven! I got tired, I got some joint pain and felt flat BUT I need to stay focused like hubby says and realise that this is my first cycle since the op and my body needs to adjust.. So thinking of it in that light helps alot to know that the next one will be even better!
Other than that part my whole life has changed! Even things that I couldnt imagine happening!
To look around and see your children and hubby smiling because they are so relaxed and happy is amazing! God has shown me so much on this path that it is indescribable in words..
For once ever, I am speechless!!
I am back into my cleaning! I am up with the sun and I sleep well at night!
I am hiking 3kms at a time with hubby and the kids only needing very short breaks along the way..
I have not had an uncontrollable mood swing since the operation!
I am cooking tea, making decisions, feeling in control again which is just amazing! I lost it all for 4 years!
I forgot just how awesome it was to make my hubby a feast for lunch or a coffee =)
The blinds in the house have to be open every morning (yes, every one hehe) and stay open till night falls =D
I am moving my body into positions that totally spin me out as it has been that long! My hubby is amazed at the change in the shape of my body returning so fast with the swelling going down =D
I have no more all day joint pain, although at the moment the tenderness in the tissue between my muscle and skin on upper thighs and arms is still present it has lessened to the point where the kids can jump up on my legs!
I am stretching morning and night and I find that is really helping me loosen up for the day and relax at night!
I am on the go again like I use to be yay! My high metabolism has kicked back in and I thought I had lost it forever!
I have not had a migraine since the operation and only a very few hot flushes that are that rare they are most likely not worth mentioning!
I am going to weigh myself again tomorrow, last time I did a week ago and I had lost almost 10kgs which is 20lbs in 3 weeks isnt bad at all. I have dropped 2 dress sizes and I am toning up. I get the muscle pain and aches because my body is trying to keep up with me haha But they are exercise induced pains not PTLS pains! I like that!!
I am starting my kick boxing next week (my 5th week post op) and I am really REALLY looking forward to that!
I have taken my role again in the home and it is so good to take some of the load off hubby, he seems so much more relaxed now, his moods are alot better and his eyes have really cleared up & he is losing weight too! =) (thought right here would be good to insert that my sex drive has returned! haha!)

I thank God that I have come out the other side of this and my determination is to make this condition "Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome" known about by all women when discussing contraception!

There is so much to write here of the amazing last 4 weeks have been like for me and my family but all I can really say is that we are shining! I feel like a woman! A sexy, amazing, strong woman! (wow.. did I really type that?..)
Till next time..

My Reversal!

Well I had my reversal on Tuesday the 31st August 2010 and it was a huge success!
I am day 4 post op now and the changes already have made a big impact on us in a great way!
I have not had a reflux/heartburn attack since theatre! I am doing clear burps from the pit of my stomach not my throat!
My upper abdomen has gone down alot! My skin is clearing and feeling very soft, I have alot more colour in my face too!

I am obviously still in pain from the operation but am getting stronger day by day =)
I have walked more in the past 2 days than I have in the last 6 months!
My metabolism is kicking back in because I am sitting jiggling my legs, really wanting to do something.
I have been taking dishes to the sink, making hubby a sandwich, I cleaned out a cupboard etc..
Amen! Praise God!
I have not had an outburst mood swing for 4 days!!
My voice is more feminine..
There is more to come I am sure and maybe more I have missed, everything is just so amazing..
But for 4 days the changes are just awesome!
I will be back with more updates =)

The Discovery...

Ok, So I said I would blog and tell you how I found out of the PTLS and Dr's reactions..
For a start I just knew something was wrong with me, I was so stressed going to Dr's and having them constantly try to hand me a script of antidepressants.
The first thing I saw my Dr about was the heartburn/reflux, I was put on a med for it. Then over time I started demanding referrals to specialists to help find out why I was so weak, lethargic and having chest pains, pins and needles, etc.
I was in some race inside myself to really find out what was wrong with me and I was simply told I have depression and should seek help. Several tests were taken out after I finally met a specialist who actually listened to every single symptom I had and run just about every test out to try find out what was wrong, he was a great specialist! I had every test you could think of for the heart!
Unfortunately after so many tests and nothing found I had to move states so couldnt see that specialist anymore..
All that was found in any of the numerous tests was raised liver enzymes, which was very unusual to me. I had full blood count tests regularly to check on my kidney function and never was there any problems of liver enzymes the years prior to the TL (tubal ligation), also, that my lung condition had worsened a substantial amount to "the onset of emphysema".
That is the only difference really that tests have over turned.
Some tests I had were
* Several blood tests for things like diabetes, food allergies, cancers, clots, organ function, hormones and much more..
* Numerous ultra sounds, including the pelvis also internals, the gall bladder, kidneys, liver, both legs from hip to toes..
* Xrays of the chest, barium abdomen..
* Cat Scan of the head, abdomen and lungs
* Endoscopy (nothing found except slight inflammation)
* several gynaecology tests like, exploitative laprascopic surgery including a colposcopy, hysteroscopy, D&C ( I was told strangely, that my endometriosis that I had been diagnosed with 10 years earlier which had been severe, didnt exist..) Hmmm... Endometriosis as far as I knew was not curable, only treatable..

I had an ectopic pregnancy apparently there was a sac of blood to the equivalent of a teaspoon inside my tube, my fallopian tubes and tissue around it was inflamed. I had to take several extreme strength antibiotics.

The weight piled on no matter what exercise I did or even the time where I was on such a full fitness plan such as hiking, power walking, swimming in the ocean and body surfing. Also during that 6 months I ate nothing but salads and wraps (I was never a huge eater) and drank green tea. Nothing changed it just got worse and I started swelling rapidly and I was extremely breathless just talking on the phone.

I started going into deep rage and severe suicidal mood swings, I couldnt take it anymore, I pushed my husband away, I couldnt cope with my children which is far from my nature. I had plans to take my life, my behaviour was erratic and I was totally unpredictable by now. My panic attacks are so extreme.
I cant sleep, I have no sex drive at all! It is like I am just scared to make love, dont feel like it, try to avoid it or feel guilty that I dont feel like it..
Everything went down hill... right down....


I was one time talking to a friend and I mentioned my frustration at it all and what I was doing to try lose the weight.. Then it came up about my tubes and she mentioned that she knew that women put weight on after a tubal ligation, thank God she said that or I would have never stumbled upon the word Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome..
I typed a search of tubal ligation, weight gain and found so many posts from women describing their symptoms and stories of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome and just cried, I could not believe that it was right there, I could have wrote every post myself.. I had an answer, finally!!


Next Post will be how the Drs handled my discovery...

Introduction....

Hello,
I have decided to start a blog on Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome Click Here For Information
I will give you some history so you know my story...
I have had 5 pregnancies, including a twin pregnancy, 4 caesareans. I had kidney and back related problems during my last 3 pregnancies..
The GYN/OB I was seeing suggested (I would more say pressured) me while I was pregnant with my last in 2006 to have a Tubal Ligation. He said he could do it during the caesarean. He also told me that they would put clips/clamps on my tubes (which I found out later that they were actually cut and tied).
I really didn't like the idea and had a strong feeling not to proceed with it but I didn't really have much time to decide before the birth of our son.
I was 23 years old and was offered no counselling before it and was done. I was also told it was a straight forward procedure and that there were no side affects at all, apart from the usual possibilities with any surgical procedure, such as, possible damage to the bladder and bowel, etc.
So I signed the form. Little did I know that it would end up being the biggest mistake of my life! I will put some points as to what started to take place after the Tubal Ligation. Unbeknown to me until 3 years later that I had this condition!

*-After my son was born, it was the worst recovery of a c-section I had ever had in my life!

*- I noticed straight away that my metabolism (which had all my life been extremely high) died!

*- The weight never fell off after the TL (I had fitted into my size 8 jeans within a week of all my other children)

*- My mood swings were horrendous, I had trouble breast feeding and developed depression and severe chronic fatigue in the months after... (I put it down to breast feeding)

*- I could quite easily sleep 22hours of a full day/night and having to even go to the toilet was the most draining thing..

*- I was crying alot (I was raised not to) and I was wondering what was wrong with me..

*- Then started the days-on-end long thumping migraines.

*- I suffered with an anxiety disorder and asthma and they were worsened, as were things like flus, colds, hayfever, etc.

*- I started developing allergies to foods, such as, nuts

*- My skin condition got very bad and the weight just kept creeping, I had muscle and slight joint pain back then, I am now in a wheelchair if I have to walk more than 10 meters.

*- My periods.. OMG!! About a week upon coming I would be the biggest bitch walking, I would be in such pain that I would be crippled, doubled over in bed with wheat bags. They were extremely irregular (they had always been regular) and I had never had any contraception prior to the TL. I was spotting all through the month, my flow was all over the place, clotting was horrible, the sharp pains in my groin plus the severe cramping... I still suffer with all of this.

Ok.. I am going to bring you to now, and I apologise if I over lap the information from above but I am going to tell you what 3 and a half years of this syndrome has left me with.. in no particular order.

Severe swelling to the whole body, severe fluid retention to the whole body, weight gain, (I have gone from always being 50-55kilograms to 100 which crept up fast in the last 18 months)
Severe joint swelling and pain, I am at the stage where moving is restricted alot, for example, if I raise my arms above my head and back down to my lap, after 3 times I would be in agony and need to rest them!)
My legs are that bad from my hips to my toes that I require a wheelchair if I have to walk more than 10 meters.
I have really bad joint stiffness, especially the legs and neck. I cant turn my neck to look behind me for longer than approx 10 seconds.
My periods are as above and still as crazy as ever, I have dryness to the vagina, pain inside the vagina, in and around the cervix also, sexual intercourse is very painful and usually results in me bleeding and being crippled with pain and cramps afterward. My joints have affected my sex life also and I have a total loss of sex drive which is the opposite to what I was..
I suffer with Chronic Fatigue, I never use to be able to keep still, now I can!!
I am always tired, one extreme to the next with my mood swings..
I am incapable of looking after my children, I cant cook, clean, anything.
I have every symptom of Premature Menopause - Hot flushes galore! Chills, sweats, mood swings, irritability.
My hair snaps and falls out, is dull and unhealthy so I shaved it off! Pretty drastic for me!
The hairs under my arms, on my legs and my eyebrows grow extremely quick and have gone from fair to thick and jet black.
My voice has lowered and I lose it from the slightest bit of yelling.
The migraines.. OMG just lock me in a black room with not an ounce of light, no noise, with a wet cloth on my head praying that I don't die! They seem to have a pattern of their own and can stay for days on end! If I had hair long enough there is no way I could tie it up, ever.
Puffiness, pins and needles all the time, and the layer of tissue between my muscle and my skin on my thighs and upper arms feels like I have been punched over and over and over and is all bruised inside 24-7 and if touched or bumped it is enough to make my eyes water.
My stomach!! Well, I look like I am 8 months pregnant every single day. I have never suffered with bloating but this is severe, I also now have severe gastrointestinal problems. I never had heartburn in my life unless I was pregnant, I now get it every day, I have been on 3 different medications for it, I have severe reflux and it is like my food does not digest and my digestive system is totalled!
I cant eat meat anymore, unless it is chicken or fish on the occasion. My daily diet consists of 4 crispbreads with something on them, I still get a reaction but put up with it.
I drink coffee at my own risk once in a while..
I have a strict routine from the moment I wake every single morning, my mouth has the foulest taste I have to rinse my mouth out and brush my teeth immediately, clear all the mucus from the back of my throat and sinuses. (I snore really bad now, never use to)
I can feel the mucus travelling down to my stomach fast and as soon as I rise my head from my pillow upon waking I instantly do the longest biggest burps that just explode out of me (like gas has been sitting right there)
Also upon sitting up my stomach immediately starts to swell to the point where I feel it is going to burst and I have to try sip a mug of HOT milk (drinking water makes me feel like I am drinking air and makes it worse)then eat if possible even if it is agony (it is usually worse if I don't)
Then I have to try get all the trapped gas/wind out of my bowel (which is the biggest relief EVER) slowly but surely over a few hours, and YES it is extremely embarrassing when I put my husband to shame passing wind!
Sitting hurts, standing kills.. laying down I am totally restless. I have insomnia that bad that I will be up at noon-ish and I will stay up (even though I am pale, drained, dizzy and tired, like now!) till usually around 5-8am then my body will let me retire..
I am always confused, my vision is foggy alot, it is hard to read. My concentration is the worst ever, I forget everything, I dont even know what I did yesterday basically..
There are probably things that I have missed.. But this is most important.
I don't feel like a woman, I dont feel like a wife.. Or a mum..
I feel my life has been taken away. It was only 9 months ago that I found out what PTLS was and I finally now have a date in the coming weeks to have the reversal!!!!

Ok, well I am going to stop right here for now and I will come back tomorrow or so and post again about how I found out about it, Dr's reactions to it and all that jazz.. I am just so happy I made a start!
I need to help other women in this world who have the same condition and my aim is to make it known about, exploited and recognised!
I am also looking forward to updating on my reversal and how it goes and what changes occur.