MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Uterine Fibroids

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Hysterectomy

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Jun 1, 2008

MY SURGEON: Dr. Michael C Pitter

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomy

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
risks of anesthesia; recuperation and post-op sexual activity

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
I chose the robotic route because of the recuperation.

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
The day after surgery, I thought I was going to be on heavy pain meds, but I didn't choose to take it. It was a short-lived discomfort.

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
I was pretty functional in 3 days time.

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
I couldn't believe it was a pretty easy recovery. At 6 days post-op, I went to a party and was on the dance floor.

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
To me it's a no-brainer. The recovery between robotic surgery and abdominal surgery---there's no comparison.

I WOULD RECOMMEND DA VINCI SURGERY TO MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS!

Given the family history---my mother had hemorrhaged and needed an emergency hysterectomy, and my sister had a similar history of fibroids--I decided to do something about it.
I was worried about the complications of anesthesia, the complications of any surgery, and that's why I was hesistant to even have anything done at all. I have to be honest: the big concerns for me were not so much pain afterwards, but was my sexual activity going to be the same afterwards. That was probably my biggest concern.
I chose the robotic route because of the recuperation. That's what led me to what type of surgery I should have. I didn't want a long recuperation.
The day fter the surgery, I thought I was going to be on heavy pain meds, but I didn't choose to take it. I took it once, immediately post-op, but I felt so dizzy and nauseous that I just chose to take Motrin, and that's all I took for the immediate post-op period.
My sister had the same diagnosis around the same time. She chose the abdominal hysterectomy, and I chose the robotic. My sister was in the hospital a couple of days, and my mother actually had to stay with her for about 2 weeks to do all of her activities, her cooking and cleaning. I was pretty functional in 3 days time. The recuperation was a lot better than a total hysterectomy.
To me, it's a no-brainer. The recovery between robotic surgery and abdominal surgery---there's no comparison. For someone wiht a busy lifestyle, I don't know why someone would chose the total abdominal surgery over the less invasive procedure. I don't know why you would not pick that option.