HELP-HAS ANYONE HAD DAVINCI HYSTERECTOMY

I am so nervous.  I am scheduled to have a hysterectomy because of my ovarian cyst by Da Vinci surgery.  Has anyone had this surgery?  I don't know what to expect.  It looks as if the dotror is playing video games and I suspect there is no Hands-On Surgery during this.  Is anyone watching me at all?  I am so nervous and if this wasn't something that I must have I would cancel the whole thing.  

[GYNsymptoms]

I had a hysterectomy last Nov by da Vinci.  It is great!  The doctor is behind the robot but there are several others at your side assisting her.  I had the easiest recovery.  No pain really at all (besides the gas they pump in there).  I never even filled my prescription for the pain medicine! Hope this helps.

[GYNsymptoms]

I had a hysterectomy last Nov by da Vinci.  It is great!  The doctor is behind the robot but there are several others at your side assisting her.  I had the easiest recovery.  No pain really at all (besides the gas they pump in there).  I never even filled my prescription for the pain medicine! Hope this helps.

[dems]

Thank you so much for your post.  It seems that everyone says the same thing.  I hope the same holds true for me.  I am having a total hysterectomy everything is leaving me.  Did you have a total or do you still have some parts?  Also, how long was the surgery?

[GYNsymptoms]

I just had my uterus and cervix removed due to fibroid tumors.  I believe the surgery took 2 1/2 hours.

[dems]

I am going to have a complete hysterectomy.  Same as yours but also my ovaries.  You are much younger than me so your ovaries are still working for you.  I have a mass on my right ovary and everything is coming out because of that.  At 72 years old I guess I don't need anything and they don't work anymore.

[GYNsymptoms]

You are correct.  My GYN said my ovaries will provide hormones for me for about 10 more years.  Unfortunately, I have a painful cyst on the left one that they are watching, have been since Aug. 1st.  If it is still there at my 3rd ultrasound in November, I am going back under the knife.

[Working_mom607]

You are one strong woman! =)

[dems]

Oh, I feel sorry for you.  I hope everything works out well and from what I read when you are younger they do shrink.  I hope that is what happens with you.  

[GYNsymptoms]

Thank you!

[GYNsymptoms]

Well the actual cyst has shrunk to half its size in 1 month but there is a solid component attached to it that concerns them. So that is what we are watching. Next ultrasound to check on it in Nov.

[dems]

That is my problem also.  My cyst which the oncologist calls a mass is complex.  Both liquid and solid.  It is the solid part that is the worry.  A week from Monday I go.  I also have to do a bowel prep the day before and cannot eat, only liquids.  

[GYNsymptoms]

Yep, I had to do that too. It's because they need the bowels to be empty so they move out of the way easily to get to the uterus.

[dems]

Thanks for all the info.  It's terrible when you don't anything.  So scary.  I just want it to be over.  Another question, do you know anything about a vaginial cuff. I read horror stories about it on the web and that is another thing that is prying on my mind.  Someone once said that the worst thing you can do is look for information on the web.  I think that is so right.

[GYNsymptoms]

Yeah, that is just what is left when they take your cervix out.  It is the area they stitch up to close off your vagina from the rest of your internal organs.  Is there something specific you want to know about it?

[dems]

I have gone on the web Hystersisters".  They have horror stories about bleeding so bad with clots and having to go to the emergency room after having surgery.  How long is it before it heals?  I would think you can't lift or do stretching for awhile until it heals.  Did you also have that?  What happens to the space where all my parts were, is it just an empty void?  Do you have to clean yourself in any special way being it is closed up?  No one in my entire family has ever had a hysterectomy so there is no one I can ask.

[GYNsymptoms]

My doctor recommended the Hystersisters site but there were way too many horror stories on there!  None of it happened to me!  I went back to work in 2 weeks if that gives you any indication. There is a space where you uterus and ovaries were just like if you get your gallbladder out there's a space.  No, no cleaning anything differently.  My mom and sister had hysterectomies before me but neither had the da Vinci.

[dems]

Thanks.  I hope nothing happens to me also.  Will let you know how everything goes.  Tomorrow, Friday, the hospital calls with a lengthly phone call, that's what i was told and I have to call after 1:00pm to find out what time they want me on Monday.  And that's it.  Will post when it's over.  Thank you so much for all your input.

[GYNsymptoms]

You are most welcome!  Glad I could help!  Yes, please let me know how it all goes.  Think positive and you will be fine! :o)

[GYNsymptoms]

If your surgery is still tomorrow I wish you the best of luck!!!

[dems]

You must be wondering what became of me.  Yes, I had my hysterectomy by da vinci on Oct. 1.  A total, everything taken out and I have had a hard time coping with it.  I still have pain which I guess it will take time to go away completely.  I also went for my first post-op on the 16th and will go for my next one on Nov. 15.  Not looking forward to that one.  I was crying every day so I went to my primary doctor and she put me on Zoloft and I was taking Motrin PM to be able to sleep at night. I'm coming along but this has been a very tramatic experience for me.  I just cannot cope with the idea that everything is gone.  I guess it will take time but I am sure that I will be able to be normal emotionally some time in the future.  I am sorry that I did not write sooner.  After all you were very nice to keep up with me and I really appreciate everything.

[GYNsymptoms]

Yes, I was wondering if I was ever going to hear from you again!  I am sorry you are having such a hard time.  I am having my ovaries removed on Nov. 6th. I take Zoloft already!  Where is your pain?  My stomach muscles hurt but only for a couple of days. Do you still have pain meds? I hope everything gets better soon for you. Did they put you on hormones?

[dems]

Why in the world would they not have removed your ovaries when they did the other?  You now have to go through 2 surgeries.  Yes, I still have pain but it's in a funny place.  Way down low, it feels as if I was getting my period.  I go to the bathroom to pee every 10 minutes, it's crazy.  I went for my first post-op 2 weeks ago to take off the bandages and I go back on the 15th of Nov for an internal exam to see how the vaginial cuff is healing.  That is why I am on Zoloft, I can't deal with the fact that it is sewn up.  They gave me 40 pain meds and no more.  I have been taking Motrin PM at night and Aleve or Tylenol Extra Strength during the day.  

But enough about me.  I will be praying and my thoughts are with you on the 6th of Nov.  It must be terrible to go through this twice.  They have to cut you to get to your ovaries don't they?  Are you in the path of the storm that is coming?  I am.  I can tell you to stay strong even though I know how hard it is and what you are going through.
  

[GYNsymptoms]

My gyn wanted me to keep my ovaries if there was nothing going on with them at the time of the hysterecomy (11-16-11).  She said I had 10 good years of hormones they could give me. Now I have ovarian cysts since the beginning of August, causing pain off and on. She is going to do it laparascopically so just the small incisions like the da Vinci ones.  No, I am not in the path fo the storm - I'm in Az!  Good luck to you with the crazy storm!

[dems]

Hello again.  I am able to get on my computer now.  So sorry you have to go through this even if it is done laproscoply.  I guess you won't be able to vote being it is being done on Election Day.  Will you have to take hormones?  I would think you would if you are not at the age where you would be going through menopause.

I am still having pains.  It is 4 weeks and I feel it most by my belly button.  Did you have pain for a while when you had the Da vinci?  

I will be thinking of you on the 6th.  Hope everything is fine afterwards and you are not in so much pain,.  

Waiting to hear from you soon.  My prayers are with you.

[GYNsymptoms]

Well I postponed my surgery.  My cyst hasn't been bothering me in a couple of weeks so I talked to my PCP and she recommended I get a 2nd opinion from another gyn before going for surgery maybe unncecessarily.  I already voted, mail in early ballot! :O)  No, I seriously did not have any pain after having my uterus removed, except for like the first 24 hours in the stomach muscles and some gas pains.  All was gone within a few days. I'm sorry your pain is hanging on so long.  When is your post op visit?  At 6 weeks?