How will recoup be after DaVinci robotic sx for sacrocolpopexy w/sling and rectocele?

[Meldoy]

I am 56, married and have had 5 vaginal births and had a hysterectomy w/bladder tuck 11 years ago. I have rheumatoid arthritis and take a considerable amount of medication for this condition. I now have surgery scheduled for February 4th for sacrocolpopexy w/sling and rectocele repair via Da Vinci robotic by a urogynocoligist. I have a grade 3 prolapse.  What can I expect post surgery? Very Painful? Will sex be better (alot of discomfort now)? I know I need to have this surgery (I have alot of constipation problems, and urinary incontinence), alot of abdominal and low back pain. I have been doing PT for a few weeks now. It has helped somewhat.

[UKlady1001]

I have not had this operation but do have prolapse.
Most ladies including Sherrie say that you need around 12 weeks for full recovery but can start doing things like going for walks then longer walks as you get better.  You may feel like you are near healed but listen to your body.  If you are tired and still have some healing symptoms take care and consider getting more time off before you go back to work.
I am guessing you have to do lifting in your job as a nurse.  Be careful not to lift while healing and you may need to consider less lifting anyway.  What did your Surgeon say about lifting?
1.75 liters is a huge amount of urine to hold in your bladder.  Did you have a test to see if you could pass urine before you left hospital?
From memory I think a normally capacity for holding urine is around 1 liter.  Maybe you could ask your surgeon if you need extra time for any healing because of this as well.
Dont go back to work until you have finished your healing, especially if you have to do lifting at work.
Maybe talk to your surgeon about this and also ask them if doing your kegels this early is a good idea as well.  Have you considered going to a womens physio for help with your kegels and other support during your healing?

I hope all goes well for you.  Come back and let us know how you are getting on

[dgmrn]

I am a little over 6 weeks out for a robotic sacrocolpopexy repair with a vaginal sling. This has been so helpful reading everyones posts. Thank you. I wish I had read a lot of this preop. I had a urologist who did a fellowship in pelvic organ prolapse. I feel like I am recovering well. Only real glitch was that I was sent home without a catheter and went back to the ER the next morning and had 1.75 liters of urine in my bladder. It was worse than being in labor.  This was a Sunday and I then went home with a catheter until Thursday. I am still having some urgency and a little bit of leakage but most all of my symptoms are so much better! I am trying to do Kegels exercises but I can't do them as well as preop. I would think this would get better as all of the muscles continue to heal. I go back to the dr Tuesday. I want to get your opinion and anyone else who has been through this as to what is a reasonable time to go back to work. She said 6-8 weeks. I am scheduled to go back to work at 8 weeks but I am getting worried that I may need a little more time. I don't want to ask for anything unreasonable. I am an RN and still get tired so easily. I am still sore and using the ice. It just feels like everything is still healing. What do you or anyone else think? Thanks so much. This is just so different than my hysterectomy. I had no doubts on whether I was ready to go back to work. I also thought about asking to go back for half days instead of taking more full days off of work. I am usually pretty tough and I just want some opinions. I don't want to be a wimp!

[summer59]

Good luck with your surgery!  We would love to hear your comments about the DaVinci surgery.  I am sure it will help those who are contemplating this type of prolapse surgery.  Please make sure you take good care of yourself and be patient during the healing phase.  One thing I was surprised about was the length of time it took before I was done healing ,not so much the pain but more the time

[ties5481]

I am scheduled to go for surgery later this month and I guess I will post any comments regarding DaVinci surgery.  I love this website and I have learned a lot from the previous comments.  Wish me luck....A urogynecologyst is perming the surgery thanks to my gynegologist.

[UKlady1001]

Hi Jewels007.  Your are still very early on in your healing process.  Good to hear you are not lifting anything.  Most ladies take around 12 weeks for complete healing that gets better in stages.  You say you are taking stool softener but is it Miralax?  As you say, avoiding constipation is a must for you right now, and you may feel a need to use Miralax etc for time to time or regularly from now on anyway to reduce the pressure of any constipation on your PF and healed prolapses.  

Can you try rolling onto your side to get out of bed then bending your knees and pushing your body up with your arms and hands to a sitting position.  I tend to use my arms and hands more to move my upper body about now I have prolapse.

If you are worried at all about your recovery call your Urogyne for advise and an appt if you feel you need one.  You should have a check up with your Urogyne anyway after your operation at some point.  Have you tried using ice ( wrapped up - in a baby diaper can help )?  

I wish you well with your recovery.  Let us know how you get on.

[Jewels007]

I wish I would have seen this site or had someone....my doctor.....anyone, tell me about the risks associated with hysterectomy and POP!  I am a 43 year old who had a DaVinci hystectomy done June 2012. I've had problems since then!  Just had DaVinci sacrocolpopexy, enterocele repair and posterior wall repair, along with episiotomy repair.  WOW....felt like I was drug behind the bus that hit me!  Very sore vaginally and rectally. Afraid to use narcotics in fear of becoming constipated. Primarily using ibuprofen, stool softener, gas x, and miralax.  I am now 3 weeks post op and continue to have swelling and pressure.....should I be worried?  I have been good about not lifting objects, however, I tend to use my abdominal muscles a lot as I am in and out of bed
throughout the day. Difficult to get comfortable.  Is there anything I should be worried about or doing differently. Thank you!!