I had a laprascopic hysterectomy, but it wasn't vaginal. The recovery was a lot easier than I thought it'd be! The two days in the hospital were pretty bad for me, but I don't do well with medical stuff (surprisingly, despite all my surgeries!) I don't know if you've had any other surgeries, but I was really surprised that my hyst was way way easier to recover from than my laparoscopies, my D&C, and my hysterocsopy. I started feeling really good about 4 days afterward, and I made a trip to New Orleans for a bowl game with the marching band just 2 1/2 weeks afterward. I was really slow getting around, but I made it just fine. Just remember not to lift anything for several weeks(I learned that the hard way!!)! Good luck to you, and I hope everything goes as well as possible!!

OMG, CONGRATULATIONS!!! LOL

Just kidding. I had the da vinci surgery (robot) that the doctor used on me. Its 4 small laparoscopic holes in the stomach that they perform the procedure with and pull the uterus out through the vagina. I wish that I would have done this years ago! I had sooo much pain for 4 years. I had the ablation done and it only worked for a few months until the painful and heavy bleeding started again. I only stayed in the hospital for 24 hour observation. I was off for 7 weeks(i'll explain why so long) normally 2-4 weeks. After surgery, I felt groggy but not one time did it feel like I had just had a hysterectomy!
This brings me to why I was off for so long.......day 2 after surgery, I tried to drive to see my sister in the hospital. I got about a mile down the road and couldn't drive back home. The doctors say.....'NO DRIVING FOR 2-4 WEEKS', but I felt fine. No one told me that you use your stomach muscles when you shift from the gas to the brake on your car!! LOL
I learned my lesson on that one. Well, on week 2-3, my post op, I tried to drive myself again.....this time I pulled an internal suture and was stuck in a bent over position for about 2 weeks after that.

The surgery is great and I would recommend it to any woman experiencing the pain that I had.

Everything will go just find because your in my prayers!

Kay

All I can think of is...March 23, lucky! You have time to reconsider. I had this surgery and it went just fine. Wish I had not had the surgery though, its not always a cure, sometimes its a trade. Do yourself a big favor and read everyting you can, make sure you have exhausted all options to remain intact. Some women have been devastated by this surgery and surgical complications do happen. Your doctor is a consultant, you make the decision. Now..If you have cancer disregard everytthing I said!

Best to you!

I had a LAVH on Jan 20. At first it went great. Minimal pain. I did stay 2 nights due to issues with the cathater. However......about 10 days later I started bleeding. More than a period bleeding. It lasted on and off for about 5 day...long story short...I ended up back in surgery to fix internal stitches. Not fun. Even after I still had some bleeding anytime I tried to do anything. I was on bedrest for almost a month.
My case is not typical. My dr had never seen something like that. I just want you to be aware if you have abnormal bleeding (expect some spotting however) call your dr. Also remember to take it easy. Don't try to do to much to soon. Good luck!!!
Autumn

In my case, the surgical recovery was a breeze but new problems keep cropping up and it's been 5 years. If you want to know the details, I'll be happy to provide.

I had ovaries and tubes removed through a long vertical incision but my uterus was removed through my vagina. (I didn't discover this until I got my medical records.) Since removal via the vagina causes more trauma to the internal organs, I suspect it was done this way to give the two gyn residents experience in this more popular procedure (didn't know gyn residents were even going to assist until I was in pre-op).

Unfortunately, healing isn't complete when the abdominal and vaginal cuff (hate that word!) stitches dissolve. I've read that the internal healing takes up to a year. Since you have very young children, you'll need to be extra careful so you don't get adhesions.

Good luck - hope your outcome is much better than mine!

Thanks for the replies..I know everyone is different..I was trying to get a general idea about how long I would be out of work..or how long I would have to depend on help with my little ones..

It would be so great if you could get at least 4 weeks at home tending only to yourself. Avoid lifting as much as possible, vacuuming and use motor cart at grocery---wish I had thought to do that! You will be bored and think you can handle daily activities but you shouldn't...it's just a little while, give your body time to adjust. Surgery and anesthesia is hard on you no matter what.

I had a total Laprascopic vagnail hysterecttomy. I was up and dressed an hour after surgery,I stayed in the visitors lounge for close to 24 hours and went, home I had no problems,I stayed with my parents,of 2 weeks.No lifting no vaccuming. No hormones I had breast cancer that was hormone fed,so everything had to go.