MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Uterine Fibroids

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Hysterectomy

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Dec 14, 2008

MY SURGEON: Dr. Nathan Fujita

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: The Queen's Medical Center

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Conventional (open) surgery

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
Risk of infection or bleeding, recovery time

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Least invasive, fastest recovery

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
3 days

MY PAIN AND/OR DISCOMFORT LEVEL:
Yes

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
2 weeks to feeling normal

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
6 weeks for heavy lifting

ABOUT MY SURGEON AND/OR FACILITY STAFF:
Absolutely first rate.

HOW DA VINCI SURGERY COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES OR PRECONCEPTIONS OF SURGERY:
I've had major surgery before, and this was the easiest recovery.

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

I've had fibroid tumors for several years, and last year, one of them started showing signs of possible malignancy. After considering the alternatives, we decided that [da Vinci] robotic-assisted surgery was the least invasive and safest way to handle the problem.

Dr. Nathan Fujita at The Queens Medical Center in Honolulu performed the procedure, and he is a very caring and wonderful doctor. Everything went well with no complications. I felt back to normal in 2 weeks, with very little recovery pain; I was careful not to do any heavy lifting for 6 weeks, according to the instructions. I enthusiastically recommend da Vinci Surgery and Dr. Fujita.