My Story

On the 9th of November 2001, I woke up feeling groggy, spaced out, and in intense pain. The time was 10.30am. I’d just had a Caesarean Section to deliver my third (and last) child - and I’d also had Tubal Ligation.

I had no complications from the surgery, and was allowed home 4 days after. Two months later I had my first post pregnancy period, and it put me on my back! I bled very heavily and was also losing clots. Instead of a normal 3 - 5 day cycle, I bled constantly for 14 days. Worried about this, I went to my Doctor, who told me it was normal for a post Pregnancy period to be like this. Feeling rather stupid I went home and thought no more of it. After all, the Doctor knows best right?

For the next year I waited for my periods to settle down. They never did - and other problems had started showing themselves. Two weeks before my period was due, I started having sharp stabbing pains in my Abdomen, I had terrible mood swings, I was tired and cranky all the time, I had no energy, I was depressed, I had difficulty concentrating on things, I had migraines on a regular basis, and I was having trouble sleeping on a night just to name but a few problems. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this could be connected to my Tubal Ligation.

It was only when I went looking for information on the internet that I found out what these symptoms were. And more to the point, that it was a condition that had been given a name. Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome.

Upon checking a list of symptoms, I suffer from approximately half of them. They can show up at any time. There are days where I feel so ill, I stay in bed all day. My partner feels helpless because he knows there’s nothing he can do to help me or ease the pain. Not surprisingly, these symptoms can be eradicated by having a Tubal Ligation Reversal.

Having a Tubal Ligation was the biggest mistake of my life. I would never have gone through with it had I known about the possible side effects, indeed those I am suffering from now. Had I known that I was eligible for counseling, I would also have taken them up on that offer. To those who may be considering a Tubal Ligation, DON’T! You will regret it for the rest of your life.