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My story...
In January
1998, when I was giving birth to my second son via c-section, I had a
tubal ligation. I'd had a lot of problems in the pregnancy and my OB and I
had discussed this option, and since my uterus was ripping badly and my OB
doubted that I could ever carry a baby to term again, it seemed like a
good option. I have since regretted the decision, many times over.
1 month after my son was born, and despite
round-the-clock breastfeeding, my periods started back up. And every month
they got heavier and heavier. And longer and longer. Until, a year after
my son was born, I was having a 10-15 day period and for the first 5-6
days I was constantly wearing the thickest night-time pad I could find and
yet soaking it in less than 30 minutes. Just before Christmas that year I
ended up in ER suffering from severe blood loss and dehydration.
During
that time I also managed to put back on almost all the weight I had lost
during the pregnancy (yes, I lost 20 pounds during the pregnancy, not
after :) and I was losing hair to a point where I was getting scared. My
mood swings were terrible. I'd have PMS even when it wasn't time for PMS.
I would be depressed for no reason and
short-tempered with my older son. Ovulation was suddenly a nightmare. I
was in so much pain I would be doubled over. And the cramps during
menstruation were almost as bad.
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I
went back to my OB's office. Having consulted with a new OB (my
old one had left the practice) I decided to remove the problem
with my periods. Together we decided to perform a surgical
procedure called Ablation
of the endometrial lining.
Basically the whole lining of my uterus was removed, by laser. It
was a blessing. My periods stopped completely. Although, after
only 6 months of bliss, my periods slowly started to come back and
now, almost 5 years later I'm bleeding fairly heavily again. In fact, I have been diagnosed with adenomyosis, a syndrome that can be a direct result of a tubal ligation, and I'm faced with the decision to have a hysterectomy or accepting that I cannot leave the house at least 2 days out of every month because I'm bleeding so heavily. My pain has gotten more severe during ovulation and menstruation. I have enormous clots during my periods.
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I'm still suffering from
all the other side effects I had before the ablation, but something
incredible has also happened. I've met other women who are suffering
similar problems. Online, in cyberspace and "in real life". And
we all have one thing in common, we have all had a tubal ligation. I
started researching into what I was now convinced was a syndrome, a
side-effect of the procedure. And I found I wasn't wrong.
So, because of the overwhelming majority of women I
know who've had tubal ligations and who have problems similar to mine, and
the evidence I have found that this syndrome exists, I have decided to put
this web site together to let women know what COULD happen to them if they
have a tubal ligation. Of course there are plenty of women out there that
have no problems from this procedure, my sister included, but I have found
that most women that I have met who have had this done, have problems.
Please read the tubal ligation stories on this site, check out the links
with information about this syndrome and then make your decision.
"Are the possible side-effects worth it for me?" "Are there
better alternatives?"
I
wish you all the best!
Monica
If you
would like to email me with questions or comments, please use this link: email
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