Tubal Reversal Surgery - What Happens After Tubal Surgery?

Since a tubal reversal is an elective surgery, meaning you don't have to have it to save your life or keep your quality of life, women tend to ask more questions about what happens after tubal reversal surgery. With the ready availability of the Internet today, more resources are at hand to answers those questions on the different websites that address tubal reversal and what happens after tubal reversal surgery.

In this article, we are going to answer just a few of the questions that can be found on tubal reversal message boards. Choosing the right board lets you not only talk to and question other women who are researching like you and those who have gone through the procedure, it allows you to get answers from the medical staff of the website that makes the message board available.

After the tubal reversal, how long before I can get back to my usual activities?

This is usually asked in terms of how long do you have to sit around recovering before you can get back to work. The answer may surprise you. If you use a surgeon like Dr. Berger who only does tubal reversals and therefore really knows what he is doing, you will be able to get back to things in five to ten days. Indeed, there are some women who schedule their tubal reversal on a Friday and then go back to work on Monday. This is usually someone who has a desk job. If you are more active in your career, you will have to wait longer.

And if part of your job is to lift items, you will find you are on a 15 pound weight lifting restriction after tubal reversal surgery. If necessary, the doctor can give you a not to give to your employer citing your restriction due to surgery. This limitation lasts for one month.

But what about things like exercise and sports activities?

You do have to realize you did have surgery and surgery on your abdomen at that. You will need to know if the surgeon you plan to use will cut through the muscle. This is not necessary as the outpatient surgery that Dr. Monteith uses actually separates the muscles by cutting the connective tissue. Yes, you do still have to let things heal, but the way he closes provides extra support to your muscles and fallopian tubes as well.

What this means to you is you will have to pay attention to your body. Everyone heals at different rates. If you lift light weights as part of your exercise routine, you can do so after one month assuming those are over 15 pounds. But if you are a serious weight lifter, you may need to wait longer. One woman who used a bike as part of her routine could begin again at three months. Just pay attention.

Does all this cutting mean I have a better chance of a c-section when I do have a baby?

The short answer is no. The surgeon is repairing your fallopian tubes in the vast majority of tubal reversal surgeries. He does not touch your uterus.

However, if you are one of the small number of women who have begun wishing they had not had an Essure sterilization, you will find that part of the tubal reversal surgery procedure does impact the uterus. This is a very new procedure and only a handful of such reversals have been done. It is too early to know what the impact will be after tubal reversals of this type.

Learn more answers for your question concerning after tubal reversal surgery care. Ask your own tubal reversal questions on the message board or by contacting the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center office by phone or email.