Post-Op Day 6 - long - Davinci method

11/29/10 Had a D & C/hysteroscopy, polyp removed - final pathologic dx: endometrial adenocarcinoma, FIGO grade 1 of 3.

1/6/11 - Davinci Robotic assisted hysterecotomy for edometrial cancer wth staging.

This is my first post since surgery - Today is Day #6. I feel really good with so much more energy than I ever thought I would have at this stage of recovery. Doing lots of walking already, but being very careful.

All went well and no more cancer, no treatment required. My surgeon was also quite ecstatic about the results.

To help prevent too much anxiety, pre-surgery, I kept very busy, especially the day before, cleaning, gettiing the bedroom ready for my oldest sister who flew in from Wiconsin for 2 wks, getting my "recovery" bedroom ready, etc. This kept my mind off the situation.

I drove to the hospital (husband and sister along), so THAT kept my mind off it, too. Then in the pre-op room, the nurse gave me a little Versed (sp?) which took the edge off. Two hours later off to the operating room (got teary as I left). The surgeon was a little late and so I was awake in the operating room for a few minutes and got a good look at the huge room with all the medical equipment and the DAVINCI robot which had a cover over it. They moved me to the operating table and the Doctor spoke with me a minute and next thing I remember is waking up in recovery room (surgery was 4 hours because she had some difficulty with lot of scar tissue to go through my 1957 appendectomy scar).

I remember in the recov. rm, being stiff as a board because of the pain and they hooked my CPAP up to me and gave me pain meds and then I was "home free" until I was wheeled to my room. Spent 2 nights in hospital, which were kind of rough at times -- weak at times and not able to eat much at all. I did walk the halls with nurse the 1st night and received kudos for how well I did (I belong to a walking club, so was very "walking fit" before surgery). Catheter out the next morning and started to feel better. Came home the 3rd day (Saturday), started to eat better and feel better.

Pain tolerable from the get-go, with prescibed narcotic pain meds, then switched to Extra Strength Tylenol Sunday which works fine 1 every 4-6 hours. I didn't like the dreams I was having on the narcotics. I am stretching this out now to 1 every 8 hours. Walking as much as possible. Able to go up and down stairs (about 20 times yesterday) and today walked out to the horse barn and back (used a cane for support in the uphill gravel driveway).

Had some issues with my blood pressure at home and had 10 pounds of weight gain in the hospital from the fluids and/or edema (in my belly apparently) but day #6, I have lost it all. I brought "fat pants" with pull string to wear home from the hospital and could barely pull them over my belly when I left the hosptal but today, I can put on regular pants and zip them up and button them.

Bowels moved yesterday FINALY (although I did pass some gas each day - no real gas pain to speak of) - It was starting to stress me out a bit but with help of 2 stool softeners the day before (Ducolux) and a special paste that my sister used when she had a kidney removed 4 years ago, it did the trick. She found the recipe on the Kidney Foundation website and she never had to strain. It is delicious, too - I just put it on toast or crackers several times a day and am back to normal. The nurse in the hospital asked us for a copy of the recipe...

I hope and pray for all of you going through this it will go really well for you. I would say, the 3rd day was the big turnaround day for me. I am amazed at how "normal" I feel this soon. Just take it easy (advice to self as well). The medical advancements are truly amazing and something I will be eternally grateful for and grateful for a wonderful gynecology oncologist surgeon, hospital and staff and love and support from family and friends!