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robotic hysterectomy experience

robotic hysterectomy experience

Date : 05-19-2008 - 12:27 PM - Readers : 659

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One year post menaupausal I began to bleed again. My large fibriod loaded uterus had developed a polyp. After an endometrial biopsy ( non- malignant), my doctor at the Mayo Clinic recommended a D & C w/polyp removal as I continued to bleed and the biopsy is a blind biopsy which does not biopsy the polyp but just the uterine lining.

I went in for the D & C/polyp removal but after I awoke from the procedure I was told that my cervex was very high and small/tight and they could not get into the uterus to removal the polyp and do the D & C.

They would need to schedule me for a hysterectomy, as we did not know if the polyp was malignant or not!

After much thought and discussion with my surgeon, we decided on the Robotic (non-invasive) hysterectomy. I wanted to keep my ovaries and only the removal of the nightmare uterus. The non-invasive hysterectomy involves only four inch size holes just below the belly button and one through the belly button. The uterus is to be detached with the small robotic arms directed by the physician who operates the equipment from a location next to the operating table. The uterus is then to be removed through the cervex and vagina. I was told that the only other side side effect than the usual when I awoke was perhaps a slight swelling of my eye lids (fluids to move upward as the operating table is lowered at the head at 30% to slide the organs up to free up space for the hysterectomy).

When I awoke from this it was not what I had expected at all. I was nauseated (common), my neck and upper back were in a great deal of pain and when I turned my head from side to side I was very dizzy which lasted weeks. I had red marks all over my scalp and forehead from the blood/pressure on my head being lowered at the 30% angle. Across my stomach area ( above the naval) was so tender and very swollen for weeks post surgery. I had black and blue marks up and down both of my arms. I was told that the staff had tried to start another line (never difficult in the past).

I was in recovery from 11:30 to 8:30 that evening as they did not have a bed ready for me in the hospital. I was on a small hard gurney from 6:30 until 4:00 that day. It was very uncomfortable. My tail end was killing me! Finally a nurse saw that I was very uncomfortable and called for a bed for me. THANK YOU!

After the surgeon said that he thought I was a good candidate for the robotics and that he would be able to get the uterus out vaginally, I discovered that he could not get the large uterus out vaginally and had to enlarge the belly button hole six inches to get the uterus out. Well OK he did his best. But wouldn't you think that this might have been a probability as the uterus was large and he could not open the small cervex the do the D & C. I had thought all of this before the surgery but.....I am not the surgeon.

An overnight stay and home with a fever which lasted ten days. I began to have pain with urination and my belly button incision was red swollen and hot. Back to the Clinic. They stated that I had a bladder infection and they put me on an antibiotic, which would cover the red "infected incision). Days after being on the antibiotic my incision continued to get worse. The red area was the size of a large grapefruit, began to ooze a watery red fluid and I was back to the Clinic. They injected the area with lidocane and sliced into the oozing area. They packed the area with 6 feet of packing and I was sent home with a box full of equipment and told that I need to pack my stomach twice a day!!!!!

This was very stressful and difficult for me emotionally and physically. After much prayer and guidance, my daughter and I were able to accomplish this.

It is now five weeks post hysterectomy. I am still packing my wound and am told that I am coming close to the end. About two more weeks. The outter opening keeps wanting to heal so we have to reopen it to get the packing in.

I have had two c-sections, a prior D & C, gall bladder removal, and my tonsils out. I have NEVER had a complication and have been a very healthy woman.

This experience has been an eye opener to those who suffer such sad physical hardships daily and keep on keeping on. I don't know what went wrong but my suggestion would be:

1) to thoroughly investigate the robotics and keep asking questions. I came out that feeling much worse than I did in any other of my prior surgeries. So much for the non-invasive happy outcome.

2) make sure that the surgeon reads/studies your records thoroughly. Why go through this if you are going to eventually have to be opened anyway? I went through the robotics procedure and then was opened anyway.

The happy thing........NO MORE UTERUS!!!!! Hopefully I will continue to heal this wound and be on my way back to a nomal life.

Better luck to you!

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