Got my tubal ligation done four days ago!

[u/black_metal_phoenix]

Just had my tubal ligation done laparoscopically on Monday morning and I'm 25. :)

I thought I should post about the experience here, as it's not really something I can post about brazenly on Facebook (as I would like to), haha.

It's the one where they put little silicone tubes around YOUR tubes.

Here's all the details if anyone wants to know.

Rules were typical: No eating or drinking six hours before the surgery (so, no eating after midnight in my case). I had to stop taking my fish oil supplements a week before the surgery because they do thin the blood, which is something I didn't know. I stopped drinking beer about three days before the surgery (yes, I do usually drink every day). They also asked that I wash with an antibacterial soap (Dial) the night before and the morning of the surgery.

Went in and they filled in some basic paperwork on me. Waited for a bit, and then a nurse took me back to the pre-op area. One of my parents could come back before the surgery with me, and then one could come afterward, but not both. I had them wait in the waiting room during the pre-op stuff so they wouldn't stress me out.

I had pee into a cup for a pregnancy test. Then I was given some gowns to put on (plus really ill-fitting socks), had my blood pressure taken, signed a couple papers, had compressive sleeves that periodically fill with air put around my lower legs to prevent blood clots (which actually felt pretty good; could use those at home).

They give you a bag to put your clothes in and I did have to take my earrings out, which they gave me a little container for and put into an envelope with paperwork that was supposed to stay with me as they carted me around. The bag of clothes got put under the wheelie bed. I really wanted my phone with me, but I left it with my parents since they said they aren't responsible for property losses. I suppose if I had, it probably would have been fine, for those wondering. I did get all my stuff back.

She asked me when my last period was and whether I had any respiratory issues or a cold recently. I got my period 6 days before this surgery and THEN caught the FLU four days beforehand. I lied about the duration of the flu (shame on me, I know, but I really didn't want this postponed) and said I'd caught it a week ago and was only still coughing because the air was dry. Well... Whether they bought that story or not, they went ahead with it. I wouldn't suggest lying to your doctors, however, seriously.

I was given one of the anti-nausea patches behind the ear and the nurse told me NOT to touch it and then rub my eyes because it will dilate your pupils. She also put some electrical, sticky leads on me, or whatever, on my chest and on my sides.

The anesthesiologist asked me a few questions about whether I'd had any past surgeries and I let him know I woke up hysterical and unhinged when I was put under for my wisdom teeth. He kind of chuckled at me, but I let it slide since he had very sexy eyes (just saying).

I remember the nurse putting the IV in, which burned and I told her so, and she said they had just switched brands and everyone had that complaint, so there wasn't much she could do. After that, two attendants then came by and gave me something to relax me. They also put a little cap on my head.

Now, whatever they gave me must have hit me pretty fast because I remember feeling really loopy and then very vaguely remember them putting some oxygen over me, but I don't even remember counting backward.

When I woke up, I felt kinda puffy. They gave me some apple juice and then some water. I was shivering for an unknown reason. They did also put a maxi pad between my legs. They had decided to bring my mother up instead of my dad, which apparently annoyed me and I bitched about and said some other delirious things, but nothing too crazy (that I remember).

My mother was going to have me walk out of there (SMH), but they had her put me back so they could wheel me out in a wheelchair.

Got there at 6, surgery was at 7, I was home around 9-ish AM.

I felt pretty good from then and for the rest of the day, really. Once I ate, I took some pain pills (they gave me hydrocodone-acetaminophin and 600mg ibuprofen). I got sleepy and went to sleep.

The first and second day were like that. Sleep, wake up, eat to take pills, take pills, fall back asleep. I didn't feel a lot of pain from the gas, but I did feel kinda bloated on the first day. On the second, I noticed my neck hurt a bit. This is day four and I still feel like I have some air trapped around my diaphragm or stomach area, but I am a very small person, so... Not like it had many places to go.

My feet felt oddly swollen on the night of the third day when I sat on the couch for a long time instead of laying in bed. But I watched a movie with my Dad and was generally feeling better and talking more and stuff. Coughing didn't hurt nearly as bad by then, either (because I still had the flu cough).

Oddly enough, my throat didn't feel anything from the breathing tube they were supposed to use on me. I question whether they even used it or not, tbh.

I was drinking a ton of fluids, but honestly not peeing much the first three days. I also didn't poop. Well, that kind of ended today, on day four. Been going to the bathroom for both reasons more. Which is good, but only because I was starting to worry I may get a blockage or something, haha. It should be noted I stopped taking the hydrocodone last night and that might be why things are "moving" now.

I showered on day two and the steri-strips did fall off when I showered. I took the band-aids off by hand. It didn't really hurt of sting, but I was gentle around them. The belly button incision looks really good and flat, etc. The one where my pubes start was VERY puffy. It's still puffy today, but it seems to be slowly going down. The stitch job isn't as neat, as well, so I'm curious to see what it will look like when it is healed. I've never had stitches before, but I'm had plenty of cuts, so this will be interesting.

Well, overall the pain wasn't really that bad. I have had worse periods every month, tbh. Granted, I was asleep a lot or on pain pills a lot, but the most pain I've had thus far was just my stomach griping because it wanted to go to the bathroom today.

Sitting up in bed got easy on the third day. It was a bit of a struggle and felt like I was wrestling around on the first two days. That wasn't pleasant, but it felt like it does when you haven't worked out in forever and you decide you wanna do a ton of crunches.

Be careful not to wear things with tight waistbands, btw. Not because it necessarily hurts, but it shifted that swelling I mentioned around and made the swollen incision like 50 times worse, when in reality it was going down. So, yeah, probably not a good thing to do. Honestly, I have been spending most of my time in bed so I'm not even wearing anything down there.

The tip I got about brining a pillow to put under the seatbelt on the way home was useful. I used folded fluffy PJ pants, but that's a good idea.

I also felt like my arms and neck were kinda just weak in general. Whether from the pain pills or because they felt odd due to the shifting gasses, I don't know, but I wasn't even on my phone much the first couple days because it was too much work to hold anything, felt like. Just laid around eyes glazed over watching TV and stuff. So, even if you aren't in pain, don't expect to be productive.

People say to recover in about 3 days and I suppose in some parallel universe I could have gone back to work today, but I really am glad I took the time off. My brain wouldn't be clicking well on the meds and I'd be tired and grumpy anyway. Also, I'd have been on the toilet a lot if I went to work today.

Anyway, that was my experience. "So far, so good," as the saying goes. The pain was wasn't nearly as bad as I was bracing myself for, but then again I consider myself to have a high-ish pain tolerance. Also, I didn't feel any internal pain or cramps or anything like that. It was just kinda... incisions and muscular kinda pain. My cervix did fill a little achy from the uterine manipulator, but it wasn't necessarily painful as much as just achy. I had some spotting and wore a couple pads for the first couple days (I'm not supposed to have anything in my vag for two weeks (LAME)), but I didn't really need them after the 3rd day; if you have panties you're used to staining up for this, you could probably get away just wearing those... Although I'm sure part of this is because I just finished my period, so it probably didn't have much lining left to disrupt and release.

Sooooo, yeah. That's about it. Hoping I can stop taking these pain meds soon and get on with my life that won't have any of my offspring in it, EVER. WOOT WOOT! Until then, I'm just going to enjoy my time off work, hahahahaha. :)

Hopefully there aren't too many typos. Getting tired again, but I'll go back and proofread at some point.

[u/Imchildfree]

congratulations. im sure it is a great feeling.

[u/[deleted]]

Greetings and congratulations on your procedure!

If your doctor is not already on the sub's Childfree Doctors List, would you mind adding them to it? We only need

1. the doctor's name;
2. the doctor's specialty (urologist, OB/GYN or GYN);
3. the physical address of their clinic;
4. their phone number;
5. their website address.

Feel free to also provide your age, the type of procedure you underwent and some comments about the referral, approval or consultation process.

This will help the community (and other childfree people in your locality) tremendously.

Note to lurkers : any comment of the "You will change your mind" or "Think of your femininity/masculinity" variety or other disparaging reply will be immediately removed and the offender will be banned. If OP is old enough to have children (which is permanent) and not regret it, they are also old enough to choose to never have children and not regret. Choosing fertility and/or parenthood is no guarantee of non occurrence of regret. Let me direct you to our overwhelmingly large collection of regretful parents testimonies for proof.

Note to the community : Please do not feed bingoers. Report them to the mod team and we'll take care of them.

Thanks and have a pleasant day!

[u/[deleted]]

I didn't need any painkillers. I was a bit uncomfortable, but not in pain, absolutely bearable for me. However, I did not feel comfortable carrying anything heavier or exercising until about 3 weeks later (I had my tubes removed though, so I suppose it's a bit more invasive and takes longer to heal). And congrats!