MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Excessive Menstrual Bleeding

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Hysterectomy

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Jul 31, 2009

MY SURGEON: Dr. Devin Garza

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: St. David's North Austin Medical Center

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
I had tried birth control pills for two years

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
I had never had any surgery of any kind prior to this hysterectomy

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Dr. Garza explained the ease of recovery and how much better I would feel. My mother had a hysterectomy, and her whole abdomen was cut open; that was only a year previous to my operation. She had a much longer recovery time than I had and more painful

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
1 overnight stay

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
Very little, I was so happy with the results

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
I was off work for two weeks, but I really felt great after a few days.

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
Except for heavy lifting, I returned to normal activities in 3-5 days.

ABOUT MY SURGEON AND/OR FACILITY STAFF:
My surgeon was great! He explained everything in detail, and he really made me feel comfortable. I have recommended him to friends, and colleagues.

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
My appendix ruptured two months after my hysterectomy, and thus my abdomen was cut from the navel to the pubic line. It was so painful to recover from the appendectomy; all I kept thinking was, "Man, the da Vinci hysterectomy was a snap!"

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

I have always had rather heavy menstrual cycles. For some reason about 3 years ago, they became very heavy, and much closer together. I was a trooper trying to get through it from month to month. After two years of trying hormones and having them confuse my menstrual cycle, I went to Dr. Garza. I was suffering with a menstrual flow that would not cease. I had it for nearly a quarter of a year. Dr. Garza was great! He drew out and very patiently explained to me what would take place, where the incisions would be, what I would feel after the surgery, and answered any questions I had.

I checked into the hospital on July 31st at 5:00 a.m. and was in surgery at 6:00 a.m. The staff at St. David's in the North Campus was friendly and professional. I only had to stay one night, and I was home by noon the next day. I was able to take showers, there were only a few Band-Aids, and all the stitches dissolved. I could not believe how easy the whole process was. Up to that point, I had never even had a stitch or broken bone, so I had no clue what to expect with regards to the surgical procedure or pain.

I cannot express enough how thrilled I was with Dr. Garza and the team in Austin. I had only seen the machine once on Grey's Anatomy, and I thought this was major machinery. Now that I have been through it, I am shocked and impressed that technology has come this far, and I am totally grateful that it has.