Hi M.,
I had my tubal the day that our last son was born (1/17/06). Ever since then, I have had horrible periods, heavy bleeding, incredibly painful cramps, mood swings and bloating. Things I have never experienced before. Anyone I mention this to will find reasons for it other than the tubal. I am convinced that it is a result of the tubal as is my husband (he has noticed a significant change in me since the tubal as well). If I could go back, I would not have had this done. The only thing that has helped my moods is working with a counselor at work who is helping me to focus on positive thoughts and get control over my emotions. She encouraged me to put up items around the house that are uplifting (pictures, quotes, etc.). She also suggested that I try focused relaxation. I spend a few minutes every day, since that is all I can spare, focusing on what I call my "happy place". For me, it is a cabin in the woods where I can spend some time alone and ride my horse in peace. Training myself to focus on that gives me something to rely on during those times when I do start to experience mood swings. I know it sounds incredibly corny and I really didn't believe it would work when I first started this. It really has made a difference, though! I was so bogged down with the pain, frustration and other negative thoughts that I was just making things worse. It has been challenging to re-focus my mind to think in a positive way, but my whole family has noticed the change. If you are interested in more details about the things I'm working on, please let me know. You can contact me directly at ____@____.com. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best as I know this is a difficult thing to deal with!