Hi, twest101!
The first few weeks of recovery are faster with da Vinci, but it takes 6 months to a year to recover completely regardless of surgical method. Removing a large, blood-rich organ like the uterus is a big deal. Ligaments and the uterine artery have to be severed and cauterized/sewn. One of the biggest risks to recovery is that you won't have a large abdominal incision to cause you immediate pain to warn you not to overdo things.
Other than having some respiratory issues in the recovery room, I've had an unusually easy recovery. Here's a summary.
Hospital stay: 2 nights instead of 1. Respiratory problems in the recovery room.
Pain: The worst pain was in my arms and one leg. That was a result of the surgical position used with the da Vinci robot. Sore throat from the tube used with general anesthesia. Hysterectomy pain was well-managed with prescription ibuprofen. Wearing an abdominal binder helped a lot!
Bladder, bowels, gas: Bladder and bowel worked fine post-op day 1. Had some gas, but seldom bad. Main thing is that many foods that didn’t cause gas pre-op do now. Bowels dislike being handled during surgery!
Walking, climbing stairs: Walked slowly post-op day 1. Climbed stairs slowly post-op day 2. I walked frequently (all indoors) for short distances. Helps with healing, gas and eventually with energy level.
Sleep: A lot in week 1 and 2. I’d be fine one minute, and then I’d need a nap NOW!
Lifting: I’m VERY careful. Definitely under 10 pounds even at week 4. At week 8, lifting a 25-pound item caused twinges, so I know I need to continue to be very careful.
Driving: Cleared to drive on post-op day 10. I went very short distances and not in traffic. It wouldn’t have been a happy event had I needed to swerve or slam on the brakes. I was much more comfortable driving on post-op day 15.
Work: Started working from home on post-op day 17. Could NOT have walked across the parking lot at work without a nap halfway through. I also could not have worked if I had been having menopausal symptoms like wild mood swings.
Menopause: I had stopped menstruating for over a year, then started to bleed again from fibroids. I never had the hot flashes, sweating or mood swings that many woman have. My doctor said I could use a patch if symptoms developed after surgery, but haven't needed to.
Odor/discharge: I started having some random twitches and pressure in my vagina and rectal areas at week 4. I also had a vaginal discharge tinged with blood and a very unpleasant odor. Dr. did an internal examine. Cultures of urine and the discharge were negative. All was well. The horrible odor is normal. It started about a week later than usual and continued for about 2 weeks. Couldn't stand myself!
Sex: Waited until week 8 to be sure that discharge was completely gone. I had terrified DH by sharing the stories of torn vaginal cuffs and trips to the ER, so we always choose positions that allow maximum flexibility for me. Otherwise, it's the same as before - minus working around the bleeding and pain from the fibroids!!
Just remember - everyone is different. It's not at all unusual to need other drugs to manage pain or to need more time to rest. You could have mood swings post-op whether or not you keep the ovaries.
I'm very happy that I had the surgery. Hope yours goes well, too!
Pre-op may 11th
I am 37 and after years of infertility, I now have to have a hysterectomy. I am starting to get pretty nervous. My DaVinci Assisted Hyster is in 2 days. I know the surgery itself will be a breeze (since I will be asleep and will be oblivious) - but I am super worried about what to expect afterwards. I know the DaVinci surgery is supposed to be much easier and there is a shorter recovery....I sure hope this is true. I worry about what I will feel like afterwards. I am not worried about the tiny belly incisions ( I have had several laparoscopies and laparotomies in the past) - but what about the "internal" incision? I know I have to get THROUGH this surgery to get PAST it, but it sure is worrisome! I am an optimist, so I try to see the good in all of this - so I am trying to get over the worrying part so that I can concentrate on how great I will feel in the long run. I was so excited to find this site! What a great support tool for all of us 
twest101,
I can compare an appy to a hyster for you if that helps. The hyster was more painful but very manageable and the initial recovery was two weeks vs. one week for me. I could tell there was a big difference in the amount of internal work done. The biggest difference was the slower recovery not so much the pain. 
