When Terry’s doctor suggested a hysterectomy, she asked him several questions then did what a lot of women do naturally. “I talked to other women,” said the active mom of three teenagers. “Always ask other women – they’ll tell you.” Terry also researched medical Web sites and blogs for the latest information on the procedure that would remove her uterus.
For years, Terry had experienced very heavy, often painful and longer-than-normal menstrual cycles. In recent years especially the monthly occurrence made it difficult to visit schools with her college-bound children and get her regular walks in. Over-the-counter remedies and, later, prescription ones offered no relief.
“After a couple years,” Terry said, “Dr. Hutcheson and I sat down and he said, ‘If you’re not going to have any more kids, and you’re pretty content with that, this is what I suggest.’ Then he went over all my options for hysterectomy.”
The type of hysterectomy chosen depends on the reason for the surgery. It also depends on the findings of a pelvic exam. Your doctor may suggest abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopically assisted vaginal, or laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Terry appreciated Dr. Hutcheson’s approach. “He explained all of the procedures. And his staff gave me all the information they had.”
This was a bright beginning for her research, simplified by the doctor’s openness. “He’s just so easy to talk to. He listens to you. He doesn’t talk at you, he talks to you. And he wants to learn—if he doesn’t know, he’ll tell you that and promise to find out, and he does. I appreciate that in a physician.”
The information-gathering continued with anecdotes from friends and online research. Terry wanted to know the basics: about pain, recovery time and whether the procedure would make a difference. “Most of the people I asked had undergone the ‘old-fashioned’ hysterectomy,” Terry said, “yet still, no one told me not to do it.”
The first hysterectomy was performed in England in 1843. Much later, in 1929, an American doctor performed the first total hysterectomy. Today it’s estimated that one in 60 women will undergo a hysterectomy. However Terry was about to undergo a relatively new procedure, daVinci Hysterectomy.
In traditional open surgery, the physician makes a long incision and then widens it to access the anatomy. In traditional minimally-invasive surgery, the surgeon uses hand-operated instruments, which are passed through small incisions, and views the anatomy on a standard video monitor. Tools and equipment associated with the daVinci surgical system offer surgeons greater precision and dexterity, increased range of motion and visualization and overall improved access.
The approach may also return many benefits to the patient, including a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, fewer transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities.
Terry was sold on “less invasive and quicker recovery.” She said, “I have things I want to do and don’t want to be laid up for six weeks. And it was exactly that.”
Following a Friday surgery Terry reports she was out of bed Saturday morning before Dr. Hutcheson made rounds. “I was a little sore for a couple of days – compared to people talking about weeks of pain, so this was well worth it. I was pleasantly surprised. And it did fix my problem.” (Close Story)
