Which "type" of surgery are you all having? Advantages/Disadvantages of them.

Hello Again.
Sorry for all my questions. I see obgyn tomorrow and have my list ready. I dont understand some of the abbreviations on the surgery types so I apologize. Which one are you all having and why? Which one is suppose to be better? What advantage/disadvantage of each? My doctor is doing something with a robotic machine and believe going to try through the vagina so does that mean there were not be any cuts in abdomen? However, I already have 12 abdomina scars so whats more if so...lol.

Ask all the questions you want. Knowledge is power!!

I had a laporscopic surgery where they just took the uterus. LSH. I am only 38 so if at all possible they wanted to leave overies due to length of time from menopause. I also opted to keep my cervix which was more of a debate as my mother died from cervical cancer. After talking to both my regular doctor, who happened to be an old college friend, and my surgeon, decided since cervical cancer is rarely if ever genetic the benefits outweighed the risks. Benefits were related to support of other organs, controversial from what my doctor said. Disadvantages are still have to have paps and run risk of cervical cancer, but have decided my risk is low. My issues were very much uterus related.

Benefits of the laporscopic is a much shorter recover, have to start school in less than 3 weeks , much smaller scars, only have three inch ones that I can find, and from what I understand a easier time all around. Disadvantages would be not being able to get a very good look inside and limited ways of getting the "stuff" out. It also is not something that might be possible due to every situation or surgery history. I only have had vaginal surgeries, one lap for gallbladder, or non abdominal ones so was a candidate. I also did not have endometriosis which would necissitate more looking around or extremely large fibroids so it worked for me.

Hope this helps, but again, just my experience. Make sure you ask your doctor what they are thinking and why.

Hi cystalj-

Here is a list of surgery abbreviations used on this site.

Here are surgery descriptions.


Regarding which is better....
Which surgery you have is dependent on your particular health situation, your doctor's preferences and/or training, as well as other issues.

Please discuss which surgery is best for you with your doctor.

I'm having a TAH (or possibly a SAH, if I leave the cervix). They are taking out my uterus along with an extremely large pedunculated fibroid. I'll have a bikini incision on my abdomen. I was not eligible for the da Vinci, though I would have preferred it. My tumor is too large and I'm too small, there's just not enough room to move the machine around in me... She said she needed about two inches of space.

I'm having a LAVH but there is the possibility that my doc may have to convert to a TAH. My doc says that because i have never had kids it may be harder to remove things laproscopically. I am hoping for the first because it will only have the 5 small incisions in my belly for the scopes and an easier recovery. My doc still wants me off for at least 6 weeks even if she manages the LAVH, but I am a nurse at the hospital and do some very heavy lifting.

I had the robotic surgery, which is DvH. But I decided to keep my cervix so nothing was removed vaginally, everything came out the tiny incisions they made. I had 4 of them. Surgery and recovery have been wonderful, no pain at all at any point!

I had a TAH (total abdominal) my uterus was huge so other options were not available to me. I am not having issues really not like I expected. I am 8 days post op and the 'pain' is pretty much gone. Still really uncomfortable but am wearing some of my reg clothes and able to sleep on my side again. Still really hard to get up and about but overall, not too bad. i think the least invasive is always the best...

I had a TAH. I wasn't a candidate for the other methods. Even if I was a candidate, I personally would have preferred to go the old school way and have a TAH. I like the fact that they have a really good view of what is going on inside. I had everything removed except my left ovary. I had a bikini cut and had no issues during recovery other than the normal aches & pains that go along with a major surgery. I'm 8 weeks post-op and feel good. So glad I had it done!