daVinci surgery recovery time

[ms.yt]

I saw my doctor today and finally got scheduled for a hysterectomy in a couple of weeks. I'm interested to hear from anyone who had the daVinci hysterectomy about your recovery time. I'm hoping to go back to work within a week. I'm a high school teacher, so I can sit down most of the day if I need to. Anyone care to share your experience?

 

[clh2]

Did you ask your doctor about your estimated recovery times?

Sorry - I know that is not the answer to the question you asked...but really - this should come from your doctor.

 

[izzy]

I had the procedure done about 2.5 years ago. I was out of work for 4 weeks, and I essentially have a desk job. It was not very painful, and I thought my recovery went pretty well. I think one week is pushing it, although I'm sure there are people who have done it. My surgeon kept remaining me that I had had major surgery and that I couldn't see my biggest incision since it was inside my body. He told me not to let the small scars on my belly fool me.

This surgery was definitely the best option for me. I usually have problems any time I have a surgery or procedure done, but this one went great. I didn't even have the dreaded gas pains that so many women complain. Just make sure that your surgeon has done a lot of these and has the necessary experience, and I think you will be fine. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[ms.yt]

Did you ask your doctor about your estimated recovery times?

Sorry - I know that is not the answer to the question you asked...but really - this should come from your doctor.

Of course I asked my doctor. He said probably about two weeks, but I keep seeing things online that make it sound like most people typically have a shorter recovery time. That's why I wanted to hear from some people who actually had the surgery.

 

[Feralpeg]

I was 50 when I had the surgery. I was off work for six weeks and needed that amount of time. I also had a desk job, but the surgery really took its toll on me. I've had many surgeries in my life, but this was the hardest recovery for me.

 

[ms.yt]

I was 50 when I had the surgery. I was off work for six weeks and needed that amount of time. I also had a desk job, but the surgery really took its toll on me. I've had many surgeries in my life, but this was the hardest recovery for me.

Oh my! This was a daVinci hysterectomy? I was under the impression that 4 to 6 weeks was the recovery time for a traditional abdominal surgery.

 

[DVCJones]

I had mine 5 years ago. I had it done the second week in August and was back to teaching two weeks later.

I was tired, but not feeling any pain. I had to be good about reminding myself to take it easy. It was easy to forget about having major surgery, because I felt so good, considering....

I can honestly say that I have had worse dental appointments.

Just remember to take it easy. You will be fine.

Good luck!

 

[itsheresomewhere]

Check out hystersisters website. They have a section for the DaVinci method.

 

[MEK]

A friend of mine just had it last spring. She was out of work for about 2 weeks. Yes - it was a minimally invasive surgery, not a traditional hysterectomy.

 

[ms.yt]

Check out hystersisters website. They have a section for the DaVinci method.

That's where I was seeing all the stories about quick recoveries. There were a lot of people on there talking about being out and about after four or five days.

 

[Feralpeg]

Oh my! This was a daVinci hysterectomy? I was under the impression that 4 to 6 weeks was the recovery time for a traditional abdominal surgery.

Maybe, I'm confusing the lingo. I had three small incisions. One in my belly button and one on each side of my abdoman. My uterus was removed ******lly. Is that different than the daVinci method?

 

[cepmom]

I didnt have a DaVinci hysterectomy but did have a laparoscopic hysterectomy in February. I was off work for 5 weeks. It is still a major surgery even though the incisions are small. I really felt pretty rough the first 2 weeks, slowly got better the next couple months. The pain wasn't awful, it was more the fatigue and bloatyness (is that a word??) that was tough. I spent a lot of time just resting in the recliner wit my feet up. I would not plan on returning after only 1 week.

 

[cepmom]

Maybe, I'm confusing the lingo. I had three small incisions. One in my belly button and one on each side of my abdoman. My uterus was removed ******lly. Is that different than the daVinci method?

I think that sounds like a laparoscopic hysterectomy. DaVinci is similar procedure, but it's more of a robotic machine operated by the surgeon doing the work. I think DaVinci might use 4-5 incisions.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I had a da vinci hysterectomy in August. I had 1 night in the hospital and my surgery went almost perfectly. I was off work for 2 weeks, worked 1/2 days for about another 2 weeks. But I really didn't feel anything close to normal for at least 6 weeks. Everyone is different but I can't stress enough that you do not want to over do it. I would get up in the morning and feel really good but by the afternoon would be absolutely exhausted. At 2 weeks we did a short road trip 1.5 hours one way, went to an appointment and came home. I had to take pain pills that night because just riding in the car that long was too much. I would say if you have the sick leave take at least 4 weeks off. That way you will be ready to go back and will have less of a chance of doing too much too soon. Don't forget that even done robotically this is a MAJOR surgery.

I would also recommend the hystersisters website. It was very helpful for me.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

That's where I was seeing all the stories about quick recoveries. There were a lot of people on there talking about being out and about after four or five days.

Look at the "sticky" posts for the various surgery dates. I was going to the store and out to eat after four or five days. But I'll tell you what I wasn't doing - any standing for more than a few minutes at a time, no lifting, no driving, no riding in the car for more than a little while. I know on the thread for my surgery dates NO ONE was actually back to work that soon. In fact one of the things that I've seen several times on the various threads there is that the information on the da vinci is somewhat misleading as it seems like you can be back much quicker but the reality is that your body will still need to heal, and it will take a long time. Heck my internal stitches are supposed to stay in and not dissolve for up to 4 months! For me it's been almost 3 months and I still get what's called "swelly belly" sometimes from doing too much.

 

[quentina]

I am the benefits manager at work....I can tell you that the average I see is about 3 weeks when done this way. Lapersoptic (SP??) is normally less than this, and the good old fashioned way is about 6 weeks.

 

[clutter]

I was out for just shy of 3 weeks for laproscopic. Surgery on a Thursday, back to work on a Tuesday, 2+ weeks later. Honestly, I had to promise my dr that I would NOT do anything the first week. I have worked thru feeling worse. After the first week, I was out and about, even driving. But NO LIFTING for 6 weeks. It is still major surgery. Once I went back to work, even though I felt fine, I was wiped out at the end of the day. So working isn't fun if you don't have a hand at home with what needed to get done there.

My doctor got a gynocological oncologist to assist. She said that they are the best surgeons for tough cases. (I was her second hardest, and she was both surprised and thrilled that they were able to do it by scope. Me, too. ) Anyway, if you can find a way to do it by scope, I'd go for it.

 

[proud_canadian]

I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy three years ago at age 30. I spent one night in hospital and did have pain but at no point was it unbearable. It did suck getting up the first few times though. I had bladder complications and ended up back in ER the night I went home and ended up with a catheter at home for a week.

I had the surgery done on a Monday and on Saturday went to my kids swimming lessons, Sunday I went grocery shopping. Monday I drive myself 1.5 hours each way to get my catheter removed. I worked from home the Rest of that week and ten was back in the office the following Monday, so two weeks after surgery. I could have gone back sooner but I wanted to wait till I had the catheter out.

I think I took Tylenol 3s until about Wednesday or Thursday tat first week. It really wasn't terrible though and was the best thing I've ever done.

I also had some granulation tissue cauterized a couple of times, but once all was eagled, I feel better than I ever did! Pm me if you have any more questions!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

I had mine done via laproscopy. Was out of the hospital the next day. Had pain until day 4 or 5. Felt better on day 7 and went to Sam's Warehouse with hubby....had to have him pull the car up for me after 1 hour of shopping cause I was completely wiped out (legs shaking and everything). I remember going home and napping for a few hours!

I didn't go back until 4 weeks and then just 1/2 time for a week because the littlest things made me exhausted.

Yes, the "exterior" of surgery healed nicely in about 10 days. But as my doc reminded me over and over, it's the inside that has to heal and that takes time.

Karen

 

[yoopermom]

I've been researching this extensively, and have spent lots of time on the hystersisters site. A friend at work just had it done laproscopically last week, and is going to be out for 4-6 weeks. The dr I saw about the daVinci method said that even though I work in an educational setting where I can sit down quite a bit, I should still block out the time to have 3-4 weeks off at least (would probably be more for me because of other complicating health issues). Like others have said, he pushed the fact that the INSIDE has to heal, not just the outside, and that it's easier to feel like crap at home than at work . It's too late for Thanksgiving, but could you schedule it for mid December, take two weeks off work, and then still have Xmas break to recover?

Terri