MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Other Gynecologic Condition

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Sacrocolpopexy

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Aug 1, 2008

MY SURGEON: Dr. Patrick John Culligan

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: Morristown Memorial Hospital

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Previous hysterectomy for uterine prolapse.

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
I'm sort of a chicken. I had very few surgeries, but I had an awful vision of them cutting me open with a knife.

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
When they offered me the laparoscopic surgery, I said, "Sign me up!" I wanted the less invasive approach and quicker recovery time.

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
I went home the next afternoon.

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
I didn't really feel sore. There was some discomfort. Dr. Culligan had provided me with Motrin and Darvocet. The only night I used Darvocet was the first night I came home, to help me sleep. After that, I was using regular Motrin, and only for a couple of days.

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
It's been 8 weeks since my surgery, and I'm not in any pain at all. I have been asked to follow the restrictions for 12 weeks, so that's what I'm doing. But I feel fine.

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
Within a couple of days, I was up and walking around.

ABOUT MY SURGEON AND/OR FACILITY STAFF:
Dr. Culligan seemed very confident and relaxed about the surgery, so I felt that way, too.

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
About 10 years ago, I had gallbladder surgery, and I was in a lot of pain. I know from other people in my life who've had surgery before these different new techniques that it's a good 2-3 week recovery period, and I didn't experience that, which is good.

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

In my yearly visit to my gynecologist, he told me my uterus was slipping, and it was something I just couldn't live with every day. Originally, my uterus was removed the same day, and the urologist worked with gynecologist, and inserted the sling, which was to hold the bladder up. I thought "this is wonderful, it's all been taken care of."

But after 2 years, I started to feel that same feeling of something falling. My gynecologist said he was sorry to tell me it didn't hold up. He was the one who sent me to Dr. Culligan, a urogynecologist. He said, "This is all Dr. Culligan does, he's a specialist." I thought he was going to do the same thing, but after Dr. Culligan did some tests, he said it needed to be bladder surgery. When he offered me the laparoscopic surgery, when he explained it to me, I had a feeling that it wouldn't be as invasive as a regular surgery, with a much quicker healing time. He seemed very confident and relaxed about it, so I felt that way, too.