Chronic Pain, Auto Immune Disease and More

In the last several years, I’ve come across an enormous amount of women who have lived some kind of medical problem.  From gynecological problems, to auto immune diseases, to hormonal problems and only to name a few.  

The major problem that usually comes out of this, is the lack of information, training and knowledge, professionals have about the women body.

The statistics are scary.  

Woman are often left to fend for themselves.  Told the problem is no possible, that it’s in their head or that there is nothing the medical team can do for them.  They are left to do their own research, battle their way to a professional who might want to give them the benefit of the doubt, or be given some pain medication to relieve but not heal.  

It is mind numbing what women have to go through to be seen, heard or understood.  From an early age we have the menstrual cycle we have to hide.  To the pregnancies we are supposed to smile through.  The giving birth without screaming and the menopause with seeming too crazy.  And yet, there is more research about a vasectomy and prostate cancer than our reproductive system and hormones.  

Go figures!!

In of June 2014 I decided to have a tubal ligation.  I was happy with the 2 daughters I had given birth to.  (Both premature, with unpleasant pregnancies)

I was happy and fulfilled. I had my hands full and I wanted to focus all my love and energy and those 2 beings. I didn’t need more, life was perfect as it was.

I had a tubal ligation with Filshie Clips.  I kept my ovarian tubes, my uterus and ovaries.  I was told there was no way this could cause any problems.  It’s been around for decades. 

This was a decision I decided to take for myself, to not conceive again.  

The first few years after my tubal ligation everything was fine. No problems reported… Some years later I had some irregular periods, but that was quickly remedied with the female contraception (Nuvaring).

Some hot flashes and insomnia came creeping in slowly, but I didn’t think much of it. I thought I was starting my peri menopause, as my mom and grand-mother had their menopause at 40.  So by 35, I thought this was possibly normal.  In 2018 came the depression and anxiety… Heavy flows for my menstrual cycle was becoming more frequent and out of the ordinary…

My body was doing weird things… but I didn’t associate it to nothing else than getting older… having babies.. being a mother… Being Overworked and tired… I was leading a good life.  Until…

Back and body pains started occurring in late 2020… Slight ones that turned into nightmarish ones. Ones that disabled me completely. Some days I couldn’t do anything except lie on my back.  I couldn’t even walk, move or sit. The pain was unbearable. I went to the emergency at the hospital 4 times in 2021. The first time I went, is when I saw my scan and learned that the Filshie Clips used for my tubal ligation in 2014 had detached from my tubes… They were free inside my body.  Every doctor I saw said that it couldn’t possibly be the problem.

I went through 2 years of various tests and 3 operations, such as the burning of the inside of my uterus, 2 colonoscopy, nutritional tests, allergy tests, a ton of different medication, hospital tests, scans, to “tick off” the boxes… and go by elimination… A possible endometriosis, a possible allergy, a possible this and that… The pain was endless… over 20 doctors later I went for a reversal of my tubal ligation and to hopefully retrieve the clips that had been moving inside me.

In December 2022, I had my reversal done in the USA! A laparotomy (Like a C-section) and the tubes were reversed, but no clips to be found. I got my body back. I was a woman again. No more hot flashes, no more insomnia, no more anxiety, no more many things!! I was grateful to the doctor who found them. I immediately realized that I had been suffering from PTLS. (Post Tubal Ligation syndrome.) A syndrome from not allowing your women’s body to work normally, without having access to the tubes. The ones that gives you hot flashes, insomnia, no more sex drive, anxiety, hair loss, bad menstrual cycles, major bleedings during periods and much more.  (the perimenopause symptoms)

About a month later the chronic pain came running back with a vengeance. So I knew I had PTLS, but the Flishie clips were now the cause of the chronic pain and oniony smell I had been living with for 2 years. I was slowing giving myself an auto immune disease, because of those clips.  

January 2023, I woke up in an enormous amount of pain.   I had to go to the emergency at 4am, by ambulance, because I could no longer be lie on my back, sit, stand or move. The pain was debilitating. I didn’t know what to do anymore… It was back!

I did what I do best and that’s: Fight for myself. I was on a mission to find a doctor that would do the operation I needed to retrieve those clips. 

12 doctors  in a month later, I found my angel.  A Doctor that wanted to help me. 

Someone finally believed me! 

She had had another patient with a similar situation.

Because of the health system we have here in Canada, I had to wait 3 months for my operation, but with pain medication, yoga, chiropractor visits and massages, I was able to reach my goal.

June 1st 2023, Operation day! 

After 2 operations I was feeling the dread. The fear of another failure to find the clips. Fear of another disappointment. Fear of no results…

5 minutes after putting me under anaesthetics, the clips were found!  They were out of my body!

Today, I live pain free.  I did have to put in some rehabilitation time in.  Physio, chiropractors, exercise and self care.  But I am now pain free, symptoms free and all auto immune symptoms have now gone.  

The clips are in a pot on a mantel.  To remind myself that I am worth fitting for. The pain is gone, the smell is gone and I am back in my woman’s body.

A women’s body is divine and perfect in the way it is. 

I understand that not all women have an easy ride with their reproductive system.  I see you.   You are not alone.  No matter what you’re living through, I believe you.

Have you ever been dismissed by a medical professional?

Have you been fightint for yourself for a medical reason?  And are still feeling helpless and alone? 

I see you.  I believe you.  You are valued and you don’t deserve what is happening to you.  

You are Beautiful, You are Strong, You are Perfection! YOU ARE A WOMAN!

Come and talk to the Be Guided, Be Inspired community.  Share your story.  Uplift yourself, by feeling seen.  

Meet us at: www.beguidedbeinspired.com