At home after your tubal ligation reversal
Once you go home from hospital after your tubal ligation reversal you should be prepared to rest. Watching television or videos is a sensible past time for the first week. Having someone to assist you for the first week would be wise particularly if your home has a staircase or is situated on an incline. In the second week post operation light physical activity is reasonable. You can aim to return to normal physical activities about 4 weeks after your reversal.
Physical activity
It is important to take care with physical activity for 2 to 3 weeks following your tubal reversal. Excessive movement of the site of your surgery may placed tension on the wound and cause pain. From the perspective of healing the site anastomosis of the Fallopian Tube is protected within the abdomen. Common sense is important - you should only undertake light physical activity during this early recovery phase. The essential rule is: "If it hurts - do not do it"
Sexual activity
Sex should be avoided for the first week or two after your tubal reversal, thereafter common sense should prevail. In general it is reasonable to engage in sexual activity if it is comfortable and enjoyable.
Going back to work
Most can return to work within 2 weeks of tubal reversal. Some people who work in sedentary occupations could do so earlier.
Possible side effects and complications
While side effects and complications are uncommon, they do occasionally occur. These include:
Wound haematoma The most common complication is a collection of blood in the wound around the site of the operation due to the leaking post-operatively of the microscopic blood vessels which can be damaged at the time of the surgery. It is unfortunately not possible to tie all these vessels off as they often go into spasm once they are cut and bleeding only restarts some time after the operation is completed. The use of drains dramatically reduces the incidence of this problem.
Swelling It is not uncommon for swelling to appear along the wound after the operation due to tissue fluid engorging the area. This generally rapidly subsides without great difficulty. Occasionally walking is a problem until it has subsided.
Pain Pain after this operation is uncommon although it can occur. Simple analgesics such as Panadol or Digesic (but not Aspirin) are recommended.
Infection This is rare, but should there be any dramatic increase in swelling or pain after the operation, you should contact this surgery and antibiotics will most likely be prescribed. Unfortunately any operation that opens the body to the atmosphere can have bacteria contaminate it and lead to infection.
Clots in the legs As this operation is a long operation due to its microsurgical and delicate nature, occasionally young women can still develop clots in the legs which can, on rare occasions, travel to the lungs. This is an exceptionally rare complication.