Has anyone heard of PTLS (Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome)?

reneepugh

Since my daughter was born 2 years ago, I have had an array of symptoms including exhaustion, mood swings, weight gain, breast tenderness, painful menstruation and cramps, anxiety, night sweats and headaches (I never had any of these prior). My doc said it might be PTLS. Apparantly some tubal ligations can cut the blood flow off to the ovaries and cause early menopause. I am only 35! I went through several tests after my doc sent me to the hospital thinking I had a brain aneurism or a blood clot in my brain because of a chronic headache and bloodshot eye only for them to tell me it might be due to PTLS. I am now taking anxiety meds, calcium and a low dose aspirin (for my clotting disorder which gets worse as my body ages) in order to combat the symptoms of menopause. Has anyone else had a tubal and now having problems because of it?

reneepugh

I really hope there is someone else that is having post tubal ligation problems! Anyone???

Ashley1972mcc

I've had several of those symptoms since my tubal ligation (not all, thankfully) and my doctor mentioned the same might be possible. Since my symptoms aren't horrible or much in the way of life altering - just a severe annoyance, really - I'm just keeping notes of my symptoms over the next few months and trying some natural remedies to alleviate some of them. What does your doctor propose to do? Anything?

ccb1030

I've heard of it, but never known anyone to have it. I work with a bunch of OBGYNs and they say a lot of the "symptoms" after a tubal are more of a result of not taking hormonal birth control anymore. Lots of people who were previously on birth control pills/patches/rings etc stop taking all of that once the tubes are tied, so now you have contraception, but not all the hormones to keep things balanced out.

Ashley1972mcc

In my case, I wasn't on any hormonal birth control and hadn't been for over 4 years. (They REALLY mess with me)

carebear7951

Yes!!!!!! It is real. My mom ended up with all kinds of problems due to her tubal ligation. I had one scheduled last thanksgiving (2010) but I canceled it because I just couldn't handle the thought of being forever changed. i'm okay with not having more babies (I have 4) but that is some scary stuff. I hope you can find a way to get this under control. I'm so sorry no one warned you about it before you had it done. Thankfully everyone warned me from the lady scheduling my tubal (who'd had one and now suffers) to friends, etc! I only have heard like 1-2 positive tubal ligation stories. You are not crazy and even when the ob/gyns won't cop to it, it's REAL. Hang in there, keep working with your dr who does acknowledge it.

petreebird

A friend of mine had/has it!! Yes it is real!! I'm sorry that I can't give you any further info on it, but yes I do know someone who has had the same problem and symptoms.

SONIA820

I have a friend who has talked about all the things you mentioned, I might have to mention this to her....she just had to have an ablation and there is a plan for a partial hysterectomy to combat the abnormal things going on with her....

p1xelate

My girlfriend started menopause after hers and she was in her early-mid twenties. They did a tubal so young because she had so many health problems during both of her pregnancies and they weren't sure she could make it if she tried again. I know she had a rough time with it for quite awhile.

JollyJane13

I had my tubal ligation almost 9 years ago when my twins were born. Now I am not sure how yours was preformed, but mine was done after the c section. I have had less cramps, less PMS like symptoms, and am so regular you can set your calendar to my menstrual cycle. I am sorry you are having these issues, as it is something you can't just switch back and mine has been such a success. I hope the best for you.

catintheshell

i've not had any problems with mine (aside from getting pregnant). i also heard it was mainly a result of coming off hormonal birth control.

Ladyhawk71

I'm confused have you had your tubes tied or no?? ( these symptoms sound as though your body did it's own tube tying).

dragonsheart84

I had to have a total vaginal hysterectomy at the age of 24. They left my ovaries in but I have many of the same symptoms and I am just contributing it to that. Just because you still have your ovaries does not mean they will still work the same way. I have seen in the last few months more gray hairs than I have in the last 4 years since I had it done. I will be 28 in April and am pretty sure I am in menopause. I get hot and cold (hot flashes), headaches and such. I refuse to do hormonal therapy because that will just mess with me more.

Roni_M

I had mine done a little over 18 years ago after the birth of my second child. I was 20 at the time but have a bleeding disorder so the specialist didn't think I should have any more kids due to complications (which was fine by me since birth control was not working out so well for me...failed birth control pills at 16, followed by a failed IUD at 20). Luckily haven't had any problems with it.

beckym71

I'm so sorry that you are having so many complications :frown:

For me, after 4 babies in 4 years, the 4th @ age 21, with failed birth control and only 1 ovary and ovarian cysts on the remaining ovary so I SHOULD have had fertility problems, it was a life saver. I've never had any issues related to it, in the nearly 19 years since.

I hope you are able to find relief soon! :flowerforyou:

godblessourhome

it is a real condition. i went through menopause (primary ovarian failure) at the age of 27 because of pcos and did a lot of research on hormones and early causes of menopause.

many women have had success getting rid of the menopause by having their tubes untied.
http://www.tubal-reversal.net/blog/2011/tubal-ligation-reversal/ptls-pain-ptls-treatment.html
http://www.tubal-reversal.net/blog/2011/dr-berger/tubal-ligation-symptoms-cure.html
(there are more; this is just one person's story. google 'tubal reversal changes ptls symptoms' for additional info.)

hope that helps.

PinkEarthMama

I'm pretty sure I have this too...

garlic7girl

I will ask our OB/GYN at work!

Scorpioangel

Yes I have unfortunately

pfarley68

Yes, I have heard of it and I am a victim of this also. After my last child in May of 2006, I had a tubal ligation and my health started deteriorating afterwards. It was so bad that I had a tubal reversal in January just to have hope of feeling better. It has been a nightmare and I am struggling to get my health back.

mztashondat

Wow I never heard of this before. I have my tubal in Feb of this year and have had no troubles that I am aware of or noticing. I hope nothing starts. I hated being on BC because I was having the headaches and craps and all that jazz...I def think the hormones were the cause of my issues.

swanish

Yesss! Thought I was crazy, till I found this page. I KNEW something wasn't "normal" . I always said it was from my tubal, but never had an idea this is actually a "real" syndrome! Glad to be able to validate my symptoms!

stephd0305

YES IT IS REAL!! 100% I HAVE THIS AND IT IS HORRIBLE. I THOUGHT I WAS DYING OR THAT SOMETHING WAS REALLY WRONG WITH ME. I AM SAVING UP $$$ MONEY NOW TO HAVE A REVERSAL. I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT, NIGHT SWEAT, HOT/COLD FLASHES, JOINT PAIN, ACNE ON CHIN (HORMONAL) IRREGULAR PERIODS, HEADACHES, TIRED ALL THE TIME, FLABBY NO MUSCLE TONE, LOW LIBIDO, I'M STILL IN MY 20'S I SHOULD WANT TO HAVE SEX ALL DAY EVERYDAY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DR SEVERAL TIMES AND A LOT OF BLOOD WORK. MY HOROMONES INDICATE PREMENOPAUSE. MY TESTOSTERONE IS SO LOW AND IS CAUSING MOST OF MY SYMPTOMS. I PRAY FOR ALL THE WOMEN THAT SUFFER FROM THIS. I KNOW AND I WILL GET BETTER AFTER MY TUBAL REVERSAL, I JUST NEED $6,000 TO HAVE THE TUBAL REVERSAL. I HAVE READ ABOUT LOTS OF WOMEN WHO HAVE REVERSALS AND 95% REPORT MAJOR RELIEF AND SYMPTOMS SLOWLY GO AWAY. AMERICAN DOCTORS ARE TRAINED TO "DOCTOR" NOT TO HEAL. GOD CREATED OUR BODIES TO FUNCTION AND WHEN US HUMANS MESS WITH THAT THINGS CAN GO WRONG! I REGRET EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE THAT I GOT MY TUBES TIED. WELL ALL HAVE TO STAY POSITIVE AND SHARE OUR STORIES. I WORK IN A LAB AND I TELL ALL THE PREGNANT PATIENTS MY PERSONAL STORY. I HOPE EVERYONE HERE GETS THE HELP AND RELIEF THEY NEED.

freebirdjones

I was not on birth control since high school and since having my tubes tied my periods are all messed up and HURT SO BAD! a lot of cramps for sure.. Shouldn't have had it done but 3 kids was enough..

melissabell75248795

Iv had symptoms since my tubal 5 years ago. Had an ablation to help with the horrible bleeding now my GYN wants to take the right tube out because of the horrible cramping I have randomly thru the month. I have zero.sex drive.and have gained 20 pounds.

Angiequeenoftheworld

Those symptoms sound a lot like mine, only I have been diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome. My symptoms improved greatly when I started taking the proper meds and also birth control, even though I have has a tubal.

christianbabe410

don't do an albation - do some research on post tubal ablation syndrome - its not cool. I too am suffering when to the doctor and they tried to send me to a counselor because they think its in my head. Why would i imagine terrible cramps, hot flashes, mood swings, pelvic pain, no libido, incontinence, hair falling out et c. Our doctors are failing us, and trying to cover their butts. Nothng was said to me that this could happen - I was only told about surgical side effects none of the rest. I was told that i should have a hysterectomy I am too young for that and am not interested in that I just want my life back. My problem is with the hormones secreted by my ovaries so they want to do a hysterectomy and leave my ovaries even though they are not secreting hormones correctly and somehow thats going to prevent me from going into menopause. I also have endometriosis that i had removed six years ago when i could not get pregnant that i have had no symptoms of until now. My endo is on my ovaries and is microscopic on one side they cannot remove it and so their plan for treatment will not work. I am so frustrated and sick of feeling this way. I was considering the ablation until i read about the post tubal ablation syndrome now I say no way. I shouldn't have to be on hormones, anti-depressants, anxiety pills, and pain pills for the rest of my life. I just want to feel normal - this post tubal syndrome is like post partum only worse - more physical symptoms and more exaggerated anxiety.

christianbabe410

@ Angie - i bet money on the fact that your symptoms are really post tubal ligation syndrome - polycystic ovarian does not just pop up- it is typically diagnosed when people have a hard time getting pregnant- or it could be a combination of both syndromes causing your problems - if the hormone medications help you then great but for many of us they exacerbate our symptoms or make them worse. Polycystic Ovarian - typically causes missed periods or infrequent periods and not excessive bleeding. there also tends be a hirsutism - a male pattern of hair growth, obesity, and insulin resistance. Both cause hormonal imbalances although with poly there tends to be in increase in masculinizing hormones. I'm not sure of your particulars but unless you have the above listed things you probably have ptls. Drs. do not want to admit that this exists and will tell you anything else to get you to be quiet. Just some things to think about. I'm glad that you are able to control your symptoms - i on the other hand cannot despite numerous medications and now they want to do a hyster - which will not help with any of the symptoms except bleeding.

caramy5029

YES!
My OBGYN is a close friend of mine. It is unfortunate that he did not discuss the downside of a tubal ligation with me. I always had normal periods within three days of every month. I have not been the same after my third child and tubal ligation. Since my tubal I have experienced such heavy periods that I am unable to leave the house (for days up to ten) and sometimes the restroom (for hours). I would have blood clots so big I worried I was having a miscarriage. It leaves me anemic, sometimes severely. Recently, I have started having migraines, hair loss, and lowered libido. I tried a low dose hormone (which I had NEVER taken before) which only made me feel strange with no help. He suggested a ablation but my sister who is a general practitioner told me it was not a safe procedure. He was no help. Actually, I am quite irritated at him. Through much research I found that Motrin taken every 6 hours during the first signs of my period helped reduce it sometimes by half. Now I can leave the house but never without my Motrin! MOTRIN MOTRIN MOTRIN until...
I have missed my period this month. I have never missed unless I was pregnant. I will be visiting my friend tomorrow, the OBGYN, but he will get an ear full from me. I will update you..

codycsweet

I had never heard of it. I had a tubal last sept after a csection with my 3rd baby. Since I have started periods again, I have 2-3 days were I am bleeding so heavy I have to change every 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. This last one wasn't as bad it was only about 36 hrs of heavy bleeding. I'm hoping the Motrin helped some, it definitely helped with my cramps

cassondraragan

@ Angie - i bet money on the fact that your symptoms are really post tubal ligation syndrome - polycystic ovarian does not just pop up- it is typically diagnosed when people have a hard time getting pregnant- or it could be a combination of both syndromes causing your problems - if the hormone medications help you then great but for many of us they exacerbate our symptoms or make them worse. Polycystic Ovarian - typically causes missed periods or infrequent periods and not excessive bleeding. there also tends be a hirsutism - a male pattern of hair growth, obesity, and insulin resistance. Both cause hormonal imbalances although with poly there tends to be in increase in masculinizing hormones. I'm not sure of your particulars but unless you have the above listed things you probably have ptls. Drs. do not want to admit that this exists and will tell you anything else to get you to be quiet. Just some things to think about. I'm glad that you are able to control your symptoms - i on the other hand cannot despite numerous medications and now they want to do a hyster - which will not help with any of the symptoms except bleeding.

Not everyone has the same symptoms for PCOS. We discovered I had PCOS before we were TTC because of my weight gain, acne, and increase in male hormones. I never had hirsutism at all. Furthermore, a very high percentage of women with PCOS also have hypothyroidism and the accompanying hair loss as well as depression. That being said, Oh MY Lord! Why did no one tell me about PTLS?! My second period lasted 11 days and my milk supply went way down. Now my 3rd period is almost 2 weeks late. While it COULD just be my body readjusting, I am a little freaked that this could be what is going on! I am really annoyed my doctor did not inform me that this was a possibility.