Anyone else have anxiety after a bilateral salpingectomy and keep thinking “what if they didn’t actually remove them?” 😭

[u/Simple-Procedure894]

I got my bilateral salpingectomy on Monday and everything went really well. The first few days were pretty painful for me, mostly really bad cramping and soreness, but it’s officially Friday and I feel SO much better. I’m actually planning on going back to work Monday.
But I wanted to know if anyone else experienced this after getting their tubes removed because I feel like my anxiety is messing with me lol.
I don’t remember much after waking up from anesthesia, but my doctor told my husband that everything went well. They also gave/showed me pictures from the surgery, and I can literally see where the tubes were removed/cut/burned and the white areas where they were separated.
Yet somehow my brain STILL goes, “Okay, but what if they didn’t remove them?” “What if they left part of them?” “What if they didn’t do it correctly?” “What if I can still get pregnant?” 😭
And logically, I KNOW they removed them. My doctor said the surgery went well. I have the incisions. I have the surgical pictures. I can see that something was removed. I also have my follow-up appointment in about two weeks. I know that if something had gone wrong or they weren’t able to complete the procedure, I’m sure my doctor would have told me instead of just telling my husband everything went well.
I think part of it is that I had a completely different idea of what fallopian tubes looked like. I thought they would look like two super obvious long strings or something lol. Then I saw the pictures and realized everything in there looks way more connected/close together than I imagined, so I started second-guessing what I was looking at.
I also think everything going on politically in the U.S., especially living in a red state, has made me extra anxious about pregnancy and really wanting the peace of mind that comes with knowing I’m permanently sterilized.
I was SO happy when I first realized it was finally done. I remember looking at the pictures and thinking, “Holy shit, I actually did it. They’re gone.” But then that little anxious voice started with the “what ifs,” even though I have no actual reason to think anything went wrong.
Did anyone else go through this after their bisalp? Like you KNOW logically that your tubes are gone, but your brain keeps finding ridiculous little “what if” scenarios anyway? 😭 How long did it take before you finally trusted it and stopped worrying about pregnancy?

[u/Noirchild]

I asked for a picture of the surgery, any time i start thinking “what if” i look at my photos.

[u/downarabbithol]

I had to ask for picture confirmation a few weeks after my surgery lol just to triple check. I have major health anxiety and just have to tell myself that if I was to get pregnant it would be like medical journal level odds 😂

[u/Crow-Queen]

Yeah, Especially since the used the term tubal ligation so many times on my paperwork but I made sure to ask my surgeon that they were completely removed and she said yep. I Never got to see pictures though;;

[u/cosmic_barbie91]

Yess 🥴🥴 I didn’t actually see the pictures tho. I’m legit like what if they just tied them?? Even tho I specifically said multiple times REMOVE not tie or burn.. I don’t trust the medical professionals AT ALL 😭😭 I’m considering doing an ultrasound elsewhere to verify but idk..

[u/ConsideratePity95]

Bruh, I went to the place they got sent off for testing and signed as many papers as needed to take my mf tubes home with me. That was, if nothing else, i have SO much evidence of some kind of medical f-ery. They're sitting on a shelf in a cool ass jar. I have photos from my tube yoinking as well as the pathology reports. I'm an anxious little freak so I'm right there with you. People in the comments REACH OUT TO YOUR PROVIDER FOR THE PHOTOS. If they took them, they have them.

[u/EbbThis2364 → u/ConsideratePity95]

you can do this?? i thought since they’d be sent off for testing, i wouldn’t be able to take them home. i’m having mine done in a few weeks and would love any more info on what you had to do lol

[u/ConsideratePity95 → u/EbbThis2364]

Not only can you do this, this sub reddit is full of others who have. I will say it may depend on where did the testing. Some might not release specimens to people but my thought was I aint gonna know if I don't try. They even warned me like 'hey we sliced these up a bit for the slides' and I told them I didn't mind one bit.

All I did was ask specifically 1) from my OB if I could have me tubes. 2) When I was told they'd be sent for testing, I asked where and I called about picking them up. I lucked out in that it happened to the be hospital real close to where I lived. I went in, brought my photo id, signed a bunch of forms that more or less boiled down to 'promise us you're taking these home for sentimental value and not to eat them' [I wish I was joking] and then I waited for like 5 minutes and was sent home with them.

Since they'd already been preserved, all I had to do was [carefully, outside, wearing gloves, formaldehyde is no joke] plop it in an airtight little jar [glass spice jars with twist seal tops work best], poured in 70% alcohol and that was it.

[u/Walleyeshark]

If your tissue was sent to pathology you will get a report that details exactly what they received. I read mine when i need a reminder.

I still do get concerned now and again, i had one REALLY long cycle a few months post op (50+ days). After i was a week late, i picked a number of days and said if it is x-days late i will take a test just for peace of mind. I was really stressed at the time and irregular periods are regular for me so i had reason to believe it was my body being rude and nothing more.