Anyone have robotic hysterectomy...

Any stories about the robotic hysterectomy? I just saw today on all my papers at the hospital that they are doing robotic surgery for my hysterectomy. My Urogyn had hinted at it, but I haven't seen my GYN yet....

and if you did have it, how was it? Inquiring nervous minds want to know!

I underwent a partial robot procedure -- my surgeon uses Da Vinci for his suturing. I'm told it allows for incredibly fine stitching. My TLH was my first major surgery, so I can't compare it to anything... but I healed up very well, quicker than expected, with no onfections or other nastinesses.

I had a full hyst that was robotic assisted 11 days ago. I feel great. I am going back to next week. I would compare my recovery to my lap appy. I was out of the hospital the next morning and felt great in a few days. My doctor has done 6 and says that this method is the best he has ever seen. I am 29 and had this procedure for chronic abd pain. Doc found adhesions and a cyst. I honestly think I had more pain before the surgery then 2 days after.

I know someone whose surgeon used DaVinci for her myomectomy, and everything went well. That surgeon does robotic hyst too, but this person was wanting to preserve her fertility, so she chose myomectomy. The only issue is that now the fibroids may be growing back.

GOOD LUCK!

txangel,

I am scheduled for a DaVinci modified radical hysterectomy on July 31st. After reading up on the procedure, it sounds like an excellent option. According to by gyn/onc, there is less pain, less bleeding and faster recovery time.

She also said she had done 6 procedures using DaVinci - that made me a little nervous but it sounds like your experience was good (I just don't want to be the first!)

It's been three weeks for you now since surgery -- how are you feeling?

Hi Livinthedream,

What does "modified radical" mean?

I'm happy that I'm a candidate for less invasive surgery, but I'm starting to get nervous...

I have my last period right now -- wow!

Hello. I had laparoscopy and Da Vinci for a complete hyst (BSO). The surgery is said to go more smoothly with less potential for harm. Some Da Vinci surgeons end up with three, four, or five tiny tiny incisions. I ended up with four, two just inside my hips, one longer one (about 1 1/4 inches) above my belly button, and one over near my left-side floating rib (the last rib, but slightly lower). Except for the one above the navel, the incisions were about 1/2 inch. I think my recovery was excellent as a result, and the problem I ran into was my own doing. Because I seemed to be healing so well externally, I ended up overdoing it with the lifting and bending, not listening to doctor's orders. I ended up tearing up my internal stitches (the vaginal ones) and on my bed, complete bedrest orders, for three weeks.

So it seems to me the only down side of Da Vinci is that the speed of healing might lead you to forget that you have internal stitches, so be careful and listen to what your doctor and the staff say about what you are able to do!

Best wishes with it.

Hi Rainbow,
A modified radical (this is a non-medical version of the dr.s explanation) is similar to a total hysterectomy (cervix and uterus removed) but also removes more of the surrounding tissue around the cervix and near the upper vagina. They are recommending more tissue removal because of the adenocarcinoma diagnosis. They believe they removed all the tumor in the cervix, but there was more in situ (precancerous) cells throughout the sample, so to be sure there everything is clean they want to remove more than would normally done with just a total hysterectomy. I have had some ongoing pain in my left side and back, so I told my gyn/onc to take a good look at that ovary and if anything looks funky to please remove that while she is at it.

BlueHeron - thanks for the advice on taking it easy. I will definitely keep that in mind. I am actually looking forward to having some down time off from work, and think I will milk this for all its worth!

Livingthedream, I'm sorry that you have to cope with that diagnosis and ongoing pain, in addition to all the other concerns about surgery, etc.

BlueHeron, thank you for the reminder that even if you feel good after lap hyst, your insides are still vulnerable because they are healing. I am going to tell my DH to keep an eye on me to make sure I don't overdo it!

Have a nice day, everyone!