[o0o0i0o]

My Tubal Reversal Story

In May of '01 I got my tubes tied, not because I wanted to or because I was sure I was done having children, but because everyone else thought I should be done. My DH was SURE he didn't want more children and because I had a couple complications (hind site they were preventable and not that big a deal anyways) with my 2nd pregnancy I agreed to the surgery.

Of course by the time my DD was a year old I was having SERIOUS 2nd thoughts. I went through a lot of depresion over all this. When she was 2 we became saved and I knew what I had done was wrong. I had not trusted God and that I needed to make things right. Yes I know I am forgiven, but I also know if you steal something and it is in your power to give it back, even though you are forgiven, you should give it back!

In Feb of '10 we left our church that was doing there best to put us into bondage. Our minister had been the "if it is ment, it will happen" type and that we should not have the reversal. After leaving the church (and the bondage it had on us) and explaining to my DH that due to my age I don't have many baby making years left, he gave the ok. He told me to go to Dr. Levin for the surgery.

I schedualed my surgery in May 9 years after I had gotten my TL. But looking at my work schedule, I not wanting to **** off my bosses (I can not miss working holidays), the soonest I could get in was Aug 5th! A 3 month wait! Then a couple weeks from my surgery date Dr Levins office called. His surgical assistant had a family emergency and would not be available the 5th. They wanted me to switch to the 6th. I talked it over with my DH and my friend that was going with me and they gave the ok to switch it. Dr Levin would have still done it the 5th but it could take longer without his assistant there.

We still left on Aug 4th. Flying for the 1st time in my life was interesting. Our hotel room was great and the hotel staff was VERY nice. Really, most everyone in Louisville was very nice. On the 5th instead of having surgery we walked all around the downtown area. I had no idea that one area could support 3 wig shops in less than 2 blocks. I also would have never guessed that a gangster looking young man would hold his umbrella over my head as I walked threw a drippy spot in 4th Street Live! I tell you NICE people in KY.

I was so excited the night before my surgery I was jumping on the bed. I hardly slept! We were to the hosp at 6 am. Again super nice people. They took me back weighed me and put me in my pre-op room to get ready. It was nice to have my own little room. They took my blood started my IV then called my friend to come back. Then Dr Levin and his asst came to talk to me. He had great bedside manner, went over all my concerns.

I asked him to PLEASE not give me staples because I did NOT like them in the past. Had I not mentioned this he would have likely seen my old scars and done a midline cut (going up and down just below my belly button) because he does not like fighting old scar tissue. He looked it over and asked about the scars. He said he would try going in threw the old scar since I asked, and mentioned my old drain tube scar looking "bad" I told him that yea it is an ugly thing. I also asked to keep my clips, after all for the money I was spending I should have something to hold right away right? They gave me a bunch of stuff to keep me from puking after surgery then the happy juice. That stuff hit me fast and hard! After that I remember saying it was kicking in fast and then being on the operating table getting my left arm tucked up next to me and my right arm being straped down sticking straight out. Then came the mask.

Next thing I know I was waking in recovery with a nurse sitting right by my side. I asked her how the surgery went and she said really good. After I woke a bit they put me in a recliner and took me to my recovery nook and sent my friend in. She told me my lengths 7.5 cm left and 7 cm right (4 cm is concidered enough, and 6 is good, to have 7+ on each is GREAT) and that while Dr levin was down there he fixed up the little scar to make it nice and flat. Not sure just what he did, but it is now a little smaller (not much) but it nolonger sinks in so much and is nice and flat.

Funny thing is I had mentioned to my friend that was going with me that it would be really cool if he fixed that up some for me while he was there, but I was more concerned about a midline cut and staples. She had reminded me that it didn't matter how he cut me as long as I got put back togeather. She was SO happy for me when Dr Levin came out after surgery to tell her my #'s and that he had done some work on that scar. My friend had also gone to the gift shop and bought me a little onsie that says "heaven sent" so sweet of her.

A nurse brought me my clips and after I had a tiny snack they sent us back to the hotel I took a pain pill, made a couple quick calls, and posted online to let everyone know I was ok, then I passed out. I woke 3 hours later to go pee, take a pill, and pass out again. The worst was either when I was on the potty and thought I might puke, and my friend was affraid I would fall asleep sitting there holding the trash can, or when I was in bed laying on my hair and could not lift my head and move my hair at the same time. I felt so stuck. Praise God for good friends! She really helped.


I don't remember if it was the 1st or 2nd time I woke to go potty, but I pulled the covers down and said "either I REALLY need to go pee, or I am really swollen" Well lets just say I didn't pee that much. I spent the rest of the evening laying in bed, talking with my friend, and playing online.

The next morning I took a shower and my friend removed my dressing for me. It was NOT pretty. My belly was RED, PURPLE, and SWOLLEN. Dr Levin and his assistant came to check on me and said everything went really good. He sees no reason that I should have trouble getting pregnant, everything looked good and healthy in there, that if I didn't get pregnant it would be "someone at homes falt". Then they took a look at my tummy and well, they had not expected it to be that bad, but it happens from time to time. Between needing to go up aways to get to everything (since they went in through my old scar) and fighting the old scar tissue I ended up briusing up quite a bit. They told me I needed to get a belly binder right away and to keep it on until the swelling was down. The told me to expect the extra fluid to ooze out the incision site, and to just wear a panty liner over it to keep it clean and dry.

Dr Levin suggested a medical supply store to get the belly binder from. We went dow to the front desk to ask if we could use the shuttle to go there. They called their supervisor who said it was too far away. The receptionist then called aroud a couple stores that were closer and found one that had one. They then called their supervisor again and got permision to take us to get it. Now that is some service! Since our flight was leaving late they gave us an EXTRA late check out so instead of being out at 11am we got to stay till 3pm.

We got dropped off at the airport and they come out to the flight check-in at the curb with the wheelchair. The airports have staff that push you around. The man that took me around looked like Burt Renalds! He was also so nice helped me threw security taking my flip flops off and on for me even. Great service. In MN they were not quite so nice, got strange looks. I asked to be dropped off from the golf cart by the bathroom by my gate so I could go. After I went to my gate to ask for my chair and was asked "do you really need a wheelchair right now?" Ummm.... yes, I had surgery yesterday and am not to be up too long.

When we landed in Spokane I called my DH so he would be ready to meat us outside the airport. The chair pushers in Spokane were nice. DH met us outside with the kids, a dozen roses, a dozen flowers and DD had a card for me. So sweet of him .

The next few days were not bad, I only hurt when I was getting up/down and quit taking pain pills the day we got back. Oh and sneezing HURT! I didn't have the oozing like Dr. Levin had perdicted and the swelling was SLOWLY going down.

TMI!!!
1 week post-op I was to take a hot soak in the bath to soak off the steri-strips that were over my incision. While in the tub I was looking over my belly and noticed that there was still a definate bubble of fluid down there. As I lay in the tub praying I felt lead that I should leave the strips on. Good thing I did! The next morning I woke to the front of my undies being all bloody. I had that feeling of being a young with that lovely suprise. Knowing why it was there but not really expecting it KWIM? I soaked a maxi pad in 6 hours that day and I continued to bleed out my belly the next few days and went through more more pads than I do any month. I bled so much that the blood soaked off the steri-strips. The swelling was all gone within 2 days and the color of the bruising was nearly gone. Well all except a spot on the left side. The bleeding continued to slow.

I do not fault Dr Levin at all for the bruising and am still thankfull that he was sensitive to m my wishes and did NOT give me staples. I don't care that I may have healed faster the other way. It was not even likely that I was going to bruise like that, but it happens from time to time. The aside from sneezing the pain was never all that bad, well except a couple times when I would let my bladder get a little full. Peeing often really helped to prevent pain.

2 weeks post-op the bleeding is all but done. The bruising is light and mostly from streaking from the bruised spot on the left. Trying to where jeans is NOT a good idea, but overall not doing to bad and feeling better and better each day. Sneezing nolonger makes me want to cry :D . I still every couple days pull out my clips and the paperwork that Dr Levin filled out to look over and remind myself I am not dreaming those clips are out of me and I am back togeather as close to possible (as man can make me) to the way God made me.

3 weeks post-op I am all done bleeding and had my 1st AF. DH noticed I was not so moody this time. 3 more weeks untill we can start TTC :) .

[luvrbbs]

Praising God for your story and the Glory it is bringing to his name!

[Sombra]

so happy for you.. I know some parts (all parts) have been hard, but the reward will be great..

[bydesign]

That was quite a trip, Sara! May the LORD speed your healing and restore you completely.

[BloodontheWings]

I'm happy for you Sara.
Praying God will bless your womb.

[o0o0i0o]

Thanks for the prayers ladies. I will keep you updated in the comming months :) .

[tiffanniwi]

I'm so happy for you, girl!