daVinci TLH/BSO recovery

I have looked back for several pages of posts and can't find any on the diVinci hysterectomy. I had one on March 5th..and I think I got all the abbreviations correct. Anyone out there to compare notes? Sometimes I think I'm doing very well, and sometimes I think I'm not.
I believe I'm having a much easier time than if I'd had an open surgery. But then, maybe, I keep expecting too much of myself.
Sure would like to hear from someone else in the same boat or who had one in the past. thanks Joan

My surgery had the DaVinci. I am off the prescription pain meds, 5 days post op, and I just cleaned the toilet and the bathroom sink (we have that toilet wand, so I wasn't on my knees scrubbing or anything, lol)....

My surgery was also done using the DaVinci Robot. I had a TAH/RSO back on February 26. I had my left ovary removed five months prior due to a granulosa cell tumor. When I had my left ovary removed they did an open surgery with a six inch incision along the bikini line. This was a horrible thing to recover from. I ended up being in the hospital for 5 days with at least a two month recovery period following before I started to feel like myself again. This time, with the use of the robot I feel that I am in a much better place. Don't get me wrong, I still have quite a bit of pain, some days worse then others, but overall I think my recovery is going much better. I will say that due to the fact that my outside incisions have healed, I think I push myself way more then I should be. The insides probably still have a long ways to go before they are all healed. By the end of the day, usually right after dinnner, I have to go to bed because I'm just so sore and exhausted. Bottom line is that we just had major surgery, no matter how it was performed, we still need to take it easy and give ourselves and our bodies time to heal. Take care of yourself :0)

Thank you both.<admin> I was symptom free and discovered endometrial cancer at an annual Pap. Then of course there was an endometrail biopsy which was clear and then a D&C to figure it all out. Finally got the diagnosis and am both dreading and looking fwd to the follow up appt on the 20th to find out the lab results. Sometimes radiation is necessary but they think the chances are slim.
thanks for athe reminder about major surgery!!! I do keep forgetting because I have only those 5 little incisions..and this was my first surgery so I had/have no idea what to expect in terms of healing, achy body parts (like just why is my pubic bone so tender??) Joan

your pubic bone tenderness is probably from the pulling/pressure they use to extract the uterus and cervix through the vagina... that's how my doc explained that pain I had there...

Thanks Jazzyctrn..that's what I finally figured out..with the help of a nurse friend. It was just such a surprise. Also the inner thigh aches...I'm 60 years old but I do have a horse and was riding regularly until late November when all this mess started. I really thought I'd be in good shape for this. Riders use their thighs AND a whole lot of AB muscle too.
Right now I can't even imagine riding again...when walking to the kitchen sometimes make me feel as if my belly is going to drop to my knees! Joan

I am also a rider, got on my most bomb-proof gelding and rode for about 20 minutes at week 9....other than a bit stiff I was ok! The fact that the da Vinci procedure takes so long adds to the muscle soreness-it's a long time under anesthesia!

Week 9!!!!! holy cow. I figured 5 or 6 weeks at most. I only have one guy...a Morgan gelding who was a reiner and a barrel racer..has only one gear "go fast and bouncy". We were really working on that slow western jog and he was getting pretty good but I'm losing a lot of time, and I've only had him less than a year.
I hadn't thought about the time under anesthesia. I am such an ignorant patient..I've always had stupid things..like sinus infections...never anything major like cancer or surgery etc. So..the time under anesthesia adds to muscle soreness...as well as the contortions they put you thru to get the body parts out I would imagine? My "pantyline" across the front of my legs is really sore too...I keep trying different types of panties ( oh my I never actually call them that..I call them skivvies!) trying to find something that doesn't hurt. Of course, none would feel the best but at my age I just can't bring myself to do it.
Thanks again for the help. Joan

Hi Equinox,

I had the DaVinci surgery to remove my uterus and to add mesh repairs...I was under for almost 10 hours as their was a malfunction with the machine...my body was swollen for at least a week....I really had no pain, was off of prescription meds by 3rd day......managed with just motrin...it did take me weeks and weeks to get back to normal..my swelly belly was probably the hardest part for me to deal with as I did not fit in my clothes.....my doc warned me started 2nd or 3rd week I would feel shooting twinges or pulls as nerve ending repaired themselve......I guess it was about 2 months before I started to feel like myself again.......you are still only less than 2 weeks so go easy...hard to not overdo it as most of us probably felt good after this surgery......just know your limits and adhere to them...wait for ok from doc before getting back in the saddle again!!...Good luck

I had a radical hysterectomy using the DaVinci method on December 27th. I stayed in the hospital overnight and returned home the next day. I never had to use any pain meds. I traveled with my husband four days after surgery on a two hour trip to see his parents. Outside of the usual "swelly/belly" feeling, and feeling tired, this surgery was much easier than the two C-Sections that I had in the past. I am almost three months since the surgery and returned to work after six weeks. I still look at my five small incisions and can't believe that I had a total hysterectomy. It does get better but take your time. I did not rush to do any heavy lifting or housekeeping until 6 weeks. I am very happy that I went the DaVinic route since I'm sure I was back to living my life a lot sooner than those that had the traditional surgery.