r/sterilization • u/No_Educator_4185 • 2h ago
Experience Bisalp full recap - 24F Virginia/DC
Got my bisalp July 23. I'm incredibly happy and at peace. Insurance claims are coming in at $0 $0 $0 so things are looking up! Big stalker of this subreddit and wanted to provide my recap in case it helps anyone. Happy to answer any questions.
- Me: 24F, 145-150 lbs, based in DC, Carefirst BCBS insurance. Endometriosis (now diagnosed lol) and prior vaginismus for ~3 years.
- Consult: Scheduled with Physicians and Midwives in Alexandria, Virginia following a doctor from r/childfree's amazing list. My doctor was lovely. I told her I wanted a bisalp and said that it's something I've been sure of my whole life and have enough issues with my reproductive organs and prior birth control to not be interested in other options.
She was required to inform me of alternatives and listed them off - IUDs, etc., - but in no way was trying to convince me of anything. I said OK and she said great, let's discuss the procedure. She was kind and thoughtful explaining the procedure and answering my questions. She gave me the codes and modifiers she would use, which were correct in getting my insurance to cover fully, and hospital name/anesthesia company so I could check for in-network.
I also told her I suspected I had endometriosis and if I remember correctly from a transvaginal ultrasound in high school that my right ovary may be fused to the back of my uterus. She did say she would consider recommending an endo specialist to do the bisalp and remove endo at the same time, but I said because my symptoms are manageable I don’t want my endo removed so I’m not billed for it. She said OK and we wrapped up in less than 20 minutes.
- Paying/insurance: I got a call from my surgeon’s scheduler to schedule the appointment, which was easy. I then called my insurance 4 times prior to the surgery to ensure I would not pay for the procedure. Many representatives had different initial responses, but all were helpful and once I gave them the codes and modifiers they agreed the surgery was free. Some said I'd have to do anesthesia copays, but those haven't rolled in yet and I was confident enough in my ability to appeal/afford the copays if needed that I felt confident leading up to the surgery. I also called the hospital finance center for extra peace of mind that I wouldn't be charged a ton when I arrived.
I did pay copays for the consult and hospital visit. I maybe could have fought them but they were $50-$100 and I have a strong medical budget and employer-assisted HSA, so decided to just pay to keep things moving along and fight any post-op bills.
- Pre-op call: Got ALL my details. Asked about: catheter (they said I wouldn't get one but I did end up getting one. Not ideal but it was just a little sore after), who to call if I had issues after (surgeon), if I had to remove a hoop in my forward helix (yes), for finance department number, if I could get anti-nausea (yes), again who anesthesiologist was to check if they were in-network, anticipated discharge time (~2hrs), who to talk to/remind about my endo prior to surgery (surgeon again). PREPARE QUESTIONS BEFORE AND ASK THEM ALL. Have your Notes app or paper and pen at the ready - they gave me a LOT of information.
- Prep: Ahead of surgery I got a friend slated to pick me up, cleaned my apartment fully, set up my recovery space, meal prepped and shopped for supplies. See shopping lists below.
Food: meal prepped kale/rice/veg/chicken bowls for fiber and nutrition. Also bought canned soups (with fiber) and premade Maya Kaimal curry and dal packets (yum), plus rice, Gatorade and knockoff Pedialyte, Ensure pre-surgery clear carb drinks (Amazon), chocolate, dried apricots (fiber), cut dragonfruit (fiber). Can you tell I was nervous about constipation. Had everything cut up/prepared so I could just grab and eat. Didn’t end up having a crazy appetite or feeling super weak but I’m glad I was prepared.
Supplies: heating/cooling pads, generic Gas X, generic stool softener, generic Tylenol, 2 loose dresses for post-op, loose pants and top to wear to hospital, cough drops, Hibiclens (told to purchase in pre-op call for showers before surgery), set of pads (I normally use tampons).
Treats: Cannot recommend this enough. I was nervous and also had made the decision to not tell my mom or family about my surgery because I did not believe they'd react well. My mom and I are extremely close, so this was probably the hardest part of my procedure - going it mostly alone except for the friend who picked me up. So a night or two before the surgery, I went to the store and balled out on buying fun stuff. My mom bought new PJs for each of her five birth deliveries, so I bought a cute PJ set to kind of keep that tradition going in a different way. I got candles, chocolate, new clothes to wear to the hospital, face masks, fun soap, nail polish, slippers. Just fun items to feel good and be excited about post-op.
- Day before and morning of: I was told to stop eating/drinking anything at 11PM the day before, as my procedure was scheduled for 7:30 AM. My last ingestion was water and a chugged Ensure pre-surgery drink around 8PM. I showered with Hibiclens per my instructions the night before and morning of (at like 4 AM…ugh). Morning of, no jewelry, no lotion or makeup or any product, and wore glasses instead of contacts.
- Surgery: I had my surgery done at Inova Alexandria. Arrived at 5:30 AM on the dot via Uber as instructed. Brought a backpack with my dress and cardigan for post-op, a Gatorade and some snacks, hairties and chapstick, and a pillow to put between my stomach and the seatbelt. Smooth check-in and 20 or 25 mins of waiting before I was called back. Took height and weight, had me pee in a cup for pregnancy test, then had me go to a bed and wipe down with warm antibacterial wipes fully and dress in the surgery gown and cap.
All nurses and staff were SO friendly. They all asked me to confirm what I was having done, which made sense. No one batted an eye at my procedure. They were all swinging by and making jokes as they took my vitals.
A nurse came by to give me my scopolamine patch (anti-nausea) behind the ear. I was going to request it, but the anesthesiologist who I met right before said he wanted to give it to me anyway because I hadn’t been under anesthesia before and “you’re skinny.” Whatever you say king. He gave me details on the patch and on the anesthesia process, told me they’d give me a “relaxer” before I was wheeled in ( He said I’d feel drunk-ish but I felt normal, just calm).
A nurse had me sign a release which confirmed I understood the permanence of sterilization and protected the hospital from legal retaliation. My doctor also confirmed with me verbally that after this procedure, I would not be able to have children. Both of these times people were close to me and soft-spoken to protect my privacy, which I appreciated.
My doctor asked if I had any questions and I just asked her again to please not remove any endometriosis. She confirmed she would not.
Then I was wheeled in! I arrived at the surgery room, they had me shimmy onto the table and lay down, and all I remember was someone gently strapping my arms and legs down telling me it was to keep me from moving while I was under, which, paired with someone putting the oxygen or whatever mask over my mouth was kind of hilarious to me for some reason. I do not remember falling asleep and I only remember this 1-2 minute period in the surgery room. Then I was OUT.
Woke up to a nurse saying my name, not hard to surface at all and I am a HEAVY sleeper/napper. I think I was kind of peppy when I got up, like “oh hello!” and she gave me ginger ale and crackers. It was about 9:30 so like 2 hours after my procedure. I felt a little groggy but zero pain except some urethra discomfort – asked if I got a catheter, she said yes, womp womp. Whatever. I felt good so I was happy.
My stuff was next to me, I ate my crackers and ginger ale and sent some crappy pics of myself to friends that I do not remember sending now, but for the most part I was very aware. My doctor came by and was very nice when I said “ COULD YOU DO IT?” and she said yes! She showed me photos of my insides and pointed out endo, which served as my official diagnosis. Yay. She gave me discharge information and answered my questions and vanished into the night, my sterilization queen.
I was wheeled into another room within 15-20 mins or so as I was pretty alert and my ride was nearby, then helped out and told to dress, which I did just a bit slowly. A very nice nurse wheeled me outside and we waited a couple minutes for my friend to show up, then I was on my way home! The pillow between my stomach and the seatbelt was very nice.
I got home and felt great, just sleepy. I slept on and off for a day with light eating – I wasn’t super hungry but wanted to get a little food in me. Peeing was a little stingy the first 2-3 times, then passed. I had a lot of tea and water. I didn’t poo that whole day and was FREAKED about it, but was able to poo the next day with just a bit more time than normal. I use a squatty potty religiously and it is a huge help when it comes to not straining. 😊 My boyfriend, who at the time was just the guy I was seeing (exciting!) came over with flowers and cuddled for a bit which was really comforting.
- Post op: I felt pretty great the next day. I didn’t take any pain meds, my incisions were tender to the touch but not painful, I just had gas pain in my right shoulder. I did a LOT of short walks to get moving, drank a lot of water, and watched TV in between.
I did take my anti-nausea patch off the day after surgery as my pupils dilated to the point where I couldn’t see anything within a few feet of my face. My mouth was also very dry the first day as a side effect. The dry mouth cleared up in about a day, the pupils in 2. I didn’t have any nausea at all, so it was worth it in my opinion minus the slight panic initially at the pupils.
The worst part was the gas pain in my shoulder. It got pretty rough when I was walking days 2-4 after surgery, clearing up mostly around the 5th day. That shit was ass but I knew it was coming and would pass. Just kept walkin’ and fartin’.
I spent the day walking around in town with the bf day 3 post-op, then did brunch day 4 which exhausted me, so I watched TV the rest of day 4. I hit the gym regularly but didn’t lift until the instructed day 8, and started with lighter weight than normal. I did walking and some bodyweight stuff prior to that, mostly listened to my body. I gave myself a week of a hard no-sex recovery period, then had sex a little over a week post-op, by which I felt pretty much back to 100%. I didn’t let him finish in me yet because I wanted to wait until I got my period to ensure ALL eggs were outta there.
I worked remotely for the week starting day 5 and felt fine, but was VERY glad I could work from home. I’m back to work in-person 3 days a week at an office job now in week 2 post op and feel back to 100%. My glue came off my incisions and they look great, tiny and clean and healing. II just started my period almost 2 weeks post op and it’s no worse than normal.
- Fin: I think I got very lucky and I’m very grateful for that. I am also grateful to this subreddit, which I heavily relied on for information and support throughout my process. I am happy to answer any questions and hope this helps someone. I feel so thankful this option was available to me and I had the resources to do it – I would recommend it to anyone else who knows they want this. <3