Hysterectomy anyone?

[elk]

I'm giving them away for FREE! no...

I just found out I need a total one...but it can be performed laproscopically with a robot...which will hopefully make all the good things- like healing- faster.
Has anyone else had one via this Da Vinci robot?


I was SO looking forward to a fall on my bike... wah

[Chicken Little]

If you are handing them out, I'm in. The robot is the bomb, but I've been on the nurse side of it, not the patient.

[elk]

If you are handing them out, I'm in. The robot is the bomb, but I've been on the nurse side of it, not the patient.

Oh good! That is reassuring.

[Zen]

Will there be refreshments?

[Bike Chick]

I had one 20+ years ago when I was 29. Mine was the first one done vaginally at my hospital and that was really cool. I didn't even know they were doing them laproscopically and with a robot now! How nice for you.

Good luck to you. I hope everything goes well and you'll be up and at 'em in no time.

[divingbiker]

Hmmm...don't think the robot would have helped avoid the complications I had, but it would have been cool.

[Melalvai]

I loved the Hyster Sisters website when I was getting my hysterectomy. I'm sure lots of people there will have opinions on the robot.

My husband gave me a plush uterus. It's pink and has a big smile.

[Zen]

Where would one purchase this item?

[elk]

Ack...checked out the Hyster sister website...a little overwhelming for me right now...too many ppl freaking out!!!

BUt I can see that at some point, it could be a great resource.

ONly Zen would get excited about the plush uterus...I can have mine stuffed for you if it comes out intact...:p

[snapdragen]

So of course I had to Google plush uterus.....:rolleyes:

http://iheartguts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=88

[snapdragen]

Ooh....and good luck elk! I'll be your recovery time will be quick and you'll be riding in no time.

[Zen]

ONly Zen would get excited about the plush uterus...I can have mine stuffed for you if it comes out intact...:p

You're too kind.

[Catrin]

I had a total done two years ago, including ovaries, and it was done with the DaVinci robot. Many years ago I had a tubal surgery done the old fashioned way, and this is MUCH better. I was still off work for 8 weeks, but I went home in about 20 hours and did not need anyone to stay with me. The pain was much less with this method and am glad that we were able to do it this way.

Hystersisters is a great site, and you are welcome to PM me on this.

[Melalvai]

So of course I had to Google plush uterus.....:rolleyes:

http://iheartguts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=88

Thanks for looking that up. I knew I should have when I mentioned it, but I didn't remember the company off the top of my head: i heart guts!

[Roadtrip]

I can't speak to robots and the like, but perhaps some of my experiences could help... at least to some degree.

I had problems at birth with under-developed uterus and ovaries, which were surgically removed when I was a infant, so basically I had a total at a really young age. At the age of 11 or there abouts I saw a hormone specialist and he put me on birth control as a replacement for the natural hormones. You can imagine how long taking a pill a day lasted for a twelve year old, so I pretty much went without regular female hormones until I was 19 or 20 and saw an OBGYN for the first time and he was pretty shocked that I wasn't on hormone replacements. Ordered bone density scans and the like and all was normal, so I started taking estrogen pills. All I can say is it was not fun. It was like an emotional roller coaster ride that I really, really did not want to be on and it never stopped. What stopped it was when I developed a ovarian cyst that ballooned to the size of a grapefruit. I later found out that the doctor had put me on a VERY high dose and should have been a mixture of progesterone and estrogen.

Apparently there was a small amount of ovarian tissue left over and stimulated by all the estrogen I was taking, went ballistic. I stopped taking the estrogen and pretty much haven't even thought about HRT in the last ten+ years. There are many thoughts on a negatives of hormone replacements, but each woman has to make those decisions.

Good luck and sending positive thoughts your way!!
Shannon

[malkin]

I'm giving them away for FREE! no...
I was SO looking forward to a fall on my bike... wah

I used to beg my Ob/gyn for one! He's a cyclist too, so now he just reminds me that I don't want to spend that much time off my bike. And I am "well managed" which I think is easier for him to say than me.

Best wishes to you and your robot!

Do you get to keep the robot?

[tctrek]

I had one the old-fashioned way -- hip to hip incision, a week in the hospital, 25 years ago. Never missed any of that stuff.

[elk]

I used to beg my Ob/gyn for one! He's a cyclist too, so now he just reminds me that I don't want to spend that much time off my bike. And I am "well managed" which I think is easier for him to say than me.

Best wishes to you and your robot!

Do you get to keep the robot?

It's too big...I barely have enough room for my BICYCLE!!!

So....this is my burning question...how MUCH time???

[snapdragen]

It's too big...I barely have enough room for my BICYCLE!!!

So....this is my burning question...how MUCH time???

I have no clue for a hysterectomy, but my mom had her gall bladder removed laparoscopicly (sp?) , and she was up and walking the next day. I would think your recovery would be much quicker than the open surgery type.

[Melalvai]

Recovery time depends as much on the type of procedure as the patient. Some people recover more quickly and some take longer, listen to and respect your body and its rate of recovery. But I know you are trying to estimate how long you'll be off your bike. My Fermi estimate is a week, give or take 14 days!

[blackhillsbiker]

I had a vaginal hysterectomy about 10 years ago. I wasn't a cyclist at the time. Minimal pain, much improvement over the extreme bleeding, etc. I had up to that point. I just got tired quickly for the first few weeks. It was way harder recovering from a tonsillectomy! I use a small HRT patch (Vivelle dot) because I could get a really low dose that way. Hope you're up to speed soon!

Deb

[itself]

I work for the local hospital, and discuss the DaVinci Robot with the women's practices. The uterus is removed vaginally, and women recover unbelievably fast. Not like the old days of months and months to feel better.

Oh, to get rid of these periods...

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Hi Elk!
I've not been around for a while.. lots of excuses, but one that really applies here!
I had a TAH (not vaginal, and no cool robots) on August 4. I was off work for about 5 1/2 wks and off the bike for a month. I was off the bike for about a month before surgery too -but not because the doctor said. It was just too uncomfortable to ride. This week was my first week back to work 1/2 days to start. So far so good. :cool:
If you'd like to PM about my complication-free surgery and recovery so far, I'll be happy to talk about it. :)
Best wishes to you!
Susan

[elk]

Hi Susan. are you on the hyster sisters forum too?
My robot started the surgery...but couldn;t finish it...so also ended up with a TAH...It has been 10 days and I'm takin it easy...!!

[ChillyWilly]

Had one done myself years ago. None of the new technology available then. But no matter, you are going to fee SO much better when it's all done.

You will be surprised at how good Good feels when you reach the other side.

All the best!

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

E,
Nope, not on Hyster. I Googled a few good articles from their site, but didn't join. Looked like a lot of drama to me. ;). Thankfully, I've had a pretty easy time of it. I just camped out in the bedroom with my laptop, Netflix, phone, and meds for a good while. The internal stiches (ab incision) kinda burned and if I twisted the wrong way, it felt like it was tearing...but it wasn't/didn't. ;)
After 2wks, I was feeling well enough to venture out to the other rooms for bits of time. The internal stitches were loosening their death grip on me...that was great!
It was really tough fighting cabin fever after 3.5wks when I started feeling pretty decent, but I was good and did what the doc said. Cabin fever was the worst.. I watched non-stop HGTV and DIY shows. Bet I can tile a floor now!! Haha
So..this last week I started back to work 1/2 days. Doc wanted me home 8wks, but comprimised with my cabin fever and is letting me do 1/2 days for 2wks. I saw her Tuesday and she checked my vag cuff sutures. Apparently I'm a great healer. All good there. I can have s now if i want. Whoopie! She cleared me for riding (easy, no hill workouts yet). Gotta let the abs heal more.
I believe it. I actually rode up a short 12% one Wed and that along with sitting at my desk 1/2 days hurts now a bit. So...lesson learned. Fight the urge to go back to work too soon (cabin fever be dam&ed) and don't ride any hills for a while. Hee hee
I'm actually feeling pretty good. It feels great to get back to some normal stuff.
I didn't mean to rattle off too much there. Hope some of it was helpful..or at least interesting. ;)

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

After all that, I forgot to ask you how you're feeling!!!

So they started the cool part and couldn't finish the "easy" way? Ack. Guessing that was a bit of a let down when you woke up. Bummer!

So do you have laparoscopic spots on your belly as well as the bikini line incision? I had a large fibroid (think large grapefruit) on my uterus. Lap/nor vag removal were available to me. I just have a thin scar from near my left hip about 3/4 across to the right. I was surprised how low it really was. How bout u?

[mcoleman]

I have a question for those of you that had a TAH...when does your heart rate return to normal during workouts?

My surgery was four weeks ago last Monday, with complications (he nicked my bladder, so more stitches and a catheter for 7 days). I had a huge fibroid, too, Susan, softball size, and I'm 4'11". Makes you wonder how they can get so big before you realize it!

Anyway, I've been on my bike on the trainer a couple of times and I started running (very slowly) last week. My heart rate has been really up there and I have not been pushing things. Legs feel great and incision area is OK, but my breathing & heart rate will not cooperate. I started walking 2-3 miles every day as soon as the catheter came out, so it's not like I hadn't been doing anything. I'm 12 weeks out from a marathon, so I'm getting worried.

I know I have to be reasonable with recovery and each day really is better, but my heart rate is not improving.

BTW-doc said it was ok to start working out. He said if it hurt, stop, otherwise it was fine.

[Catrin]

I have a question for those of you that had a TAH...when does your heart rate return to normal during workouts?

....I know I have to be reasonable with recovery and each day really is better, but my heart rate is not improving.

BTW-doc said it was ok to start working out. He said if it hurt, stop, otherwise it was fine.

Four weeks isn't much time at all, at least I don't think so. I think the body takes much longer to recover from that kind of surgery than we realize. We may FEEL better and not hurt, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of healing left to do.

My surgery was 2.5 years ago and while I wasn't active at the time, I remember being frustrated at how long things were taking - and my surgery was with the DaVinci machine - so most of my healing was internal with just a few puncture wounds.

My advice is to be patient with yourself, though I understand your concern. I think you will find that as your healing increases your heart rate concern will start to resolve. Your body has a lot to adjust to...

[tctrek]

I have a question for those of you that had a TAH...when does your heart rate return to normal during workouts?

Anytime I've been sick or injured and off the bike for a while, I go through a rather long period where my heart rate is elevated as I start back. I try to back off the intensity a bit and work up to more strenuous workouts. I also think a bit of it is stress-related because I want to workout and I have fear that I won't be able to.

So, I would say relax, be kind to yourself and do what feels ok... working up to more challenging workouts. Your heart rate is some indicator of your fitness, but how you "feel" is a better indicator.

Lately, I've stopped looking at my heart rate on bike rides - it is psychological. I go by my breathing, fatigue level, etc.