Melissa’s Robotic Hysterectomy

daVinci Robotic Hysterectomy
Age at Surgery 40
Location: Florida

I decided to have a hysterectomy after years of dealing with pelvic pain, terrible cramps and pain a week before my period. The pain was starting to develop the week of ovulation and I decided that was enough.
I made an appointment with my dr (have been seeing the same OBGYN for at least 10 years) and we discussed my options. The doctor ordered an ultrasound and discovered my uterus was almost three times bigger than it should have been and I had a large cyst on my right ovary. He suspected endometriosis too but couldn’t say for sure without going in.

Knowing I am 40 years old and already have three children we opted for hysterectomy. I had tried birth control and even went with an IUD for a while but nothing seemed to help for long.

I suffered for at least 8 years off and on and I didn’t get a second opinion because I trust my doctor and he knew my painful history. I remember being so scared when I left but there was this tiny glimmer of hope knowing the pain was going to be over once it was all done.

My surgery was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on November 15, 2017. I had to be there at 7:00 a.m and things got underway pretty fast. I walked into pre op and was welcomed by a very comforting and patient nurse. She informed me of everything that would happen and stayed with me until it was time for surgery.
I was put under using general anesthesia and the surgery lasted about three and a half hours. Surgery went smoothly

My doctor had informed me I would be staying over night so I was wheeled off to my room for a restful night. Around 4:00 am the nurse came in and removed the catheter which was a huge relief. I slept well through the night and was up at 6:00 am ready to begin the walking. I walked and walked the halls of the hospital. The only pain I was having was from the gas but it wasn’t too bad. I knew from all of the research the gas would get moving as long as I was moving. So move I did!
The nurses were proud of me for being so ambitious but I was just ready to get home to my own bed. We left the hospital around noon the day after my surgery.

Important issues to me were, moving to help with the gas to prevent pain, staying on top of stool softeners to prevent constipation, and being aware of my pain levels.

I took the pain meds prescribed to me the day I came home from the hospital, that night to help me sleep, and around lunch the next day I took half of one. After that I only took a half of a pain pill each night for two nights. Mostly ibuprofen was working to keep the pain at bay so I stuck to those instead of the pain meds.

My recovery was amazingly easy. I was actually surprised at how well I recovered. I had a lot of help from my husband and children. They helped keep me off of my feet when I was sure I was doing well enough to do things around the house. With a quick reminder and a small dent in my ego I would snuggle back up in the recliner to watch Hallmark movies and shop online for Christmas gifts.

My greatest challenge was staying off of my feet and trying to attempt things I shouldn’t. I felt so great that it was hard for me not to do things for myself.

I was released for normal activities (except intimacy) at six weeks. The doctor told us to wait ten weeks before returning to intimacy.

My health, overall, has been great since my hysterectomy. I haven’t had any problems at all health wise. I am so glad I had the hysterectomy. I regret not doing it sooner.

The advice I would give to another woman considering a hysterectomy would be, don’t put it off if you don’t have to. I put off talking to my doctor about it so many times because I was so afraid of having surgery. Had I known it would be such a smooth recovery and relieving experience I would have definately talked to my doctor and gone through with it sooner.

The most important thing, to me, that women should know when faced with a hysterectomy is, it’s not as bad as living with the pain and suffering you go through on a monthly (sometimes more) basis. No more pain, no more worrying, no more suffering, and no more dealing with buying boxes and boxes of femine product!

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