MY RELATIONSHIP TO DA VINCI SURGERY: Patient

MY CONDITION: Excessive Menstrual Bleeding

TYPE OF PROCEDURE I HAD: da Vinci Hysterectomy

DATE OF PROCEDURE: Dec 14, 2009

MY SURGEON: Dr. Jeffrey S Pfeiffer

HOSPITAL WHERE MY PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED: Decatur Memorial Hospital

OTHER TREATMENTS I CONSIDERED BEFORE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Another ablation procedure

THE BIGGEST CONCERNS I HAD ABOUT TREATMENT:
Recovery time

WHY I CHOSE DA VINCI SURGERY:
Because I have a teenager and a preteen, I wanted to get back to normal as quickly as possible.

HOW LONG I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL:
about a day

ABOUT MY RECOVERY TIME:
After four weeks, my energy level increased, and I was able to do some household chores and run some errands. I even went back to work for a few hours.

WHEN I RETURNED TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES:
At the six week mark, I was mostly feeling back to my old self

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

I had experienced heavy menstrual bleeding for years, so in 2008 I had an endometrial ablation. This procedure was not successful. It gave me some relief, but only for a little while. My doctor gave me two options at this point. He said that I could have another ablation, which may or may not have been successful, or I could have a hysterectomy. He said that he performed the da Vinci Surgery method and explained that it only required four or five incisions. Because the surgery was less invasive, he explained that the pain would be lower, and the recovery would be quicker. This sounded like a great option for me because I have a teenager and a preteen, and I wanted to get back to normal as quickly as possible.
I had the surgery, and it went well. The surgery took about an hour, and I was in the hospital for about a day. I was tired and sore for about two weeks. After four weeks, my energy level increased, and I was able to do some household chores and run some errands. I even went back to work for a few hours. At the six week mark, I was mostly feeling back to my old self; I would just get a bit tired. I recommend this surgery to anyone who is facing a hysterectomy.