Robotic assisted laparoscopic bilateral salpingo oophorectomy +

Hello I had the same surgery last Dec and found recovery to be easy. I was sore when getting up from sitting but to me the key was to keep moving. I only laid down when I went to bed at night. I set small goals for each day and took short walks. The incision s were small and I left hospital same day with an abdominal binder which helped. I don’t have any pets at the moment but in looking back if the dogs just lay in your lap I don’t see a problem. Wishing you all the best

Thank you for replying back. Glad your recovery went easy for you, Did you end up having the minor surgery or a hysterectomy? I have never had any surgery. I was told no picking up anything over 10 lbs. did you have trouble going up and down steps?

Hello I had a radical hysterectomy (uterus, cervix, tubes etc ) removed. Sentinel lymph nodes mapped. All robotic assisted. No problem with steps. I did adhere to the 10 lbs weight restriction. Never needed any pain meds beyond ibuprofen and acetaminophen. My surgeon had me alternate between the two and after three days didn’t even need those. The robotic assisted really makes a difference in terms of recovery. I was able to go back to work after two weeks but my job is mire sedentary. Take care

@frito123 I had a robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy, the same as you described. I was surprised that the recovery was pretty easy. I took it slow with easy walks the first few days and rested when I felt fatigued. I had the same weight restrictions in what I could pick up as you do and I did follow that. I was 67-years-old at the time of the surgery (I'm 71 now) and did not drive my car the first week, started driving again the second week after surgery and went back to work after 2 weeks. I would think that dogs lying on your lap, so long as you don't pick them up, would be OK. You might ask your doctor or the nurse that gets you ready during the pre-op period about your dogs. The nurse who got me ready was full of good and practical information.

Thank you, they had told me recovery was 4 - 6 weeks. What about steps, we live in a split level and I must go up and down several times, especially with the dogs. What about housekeeping and cooking? Did you have a hysterectomy or just the minor surgery?

@frito123 I was told after robot-assisted laparoscopic total hysterectomy that walking and steps were fine, and even recommended to do, and I did a lot of both easily, but no lifting over 10 lbs, and no housework, except light dusting and cooking nothing with heavy lifting, pushing, pulling or excessive bending over. You might find, as I did (I’m 68), that you feel so good that you want to do more, but the advice is not to. They will hopefully give you written instructions at discharge with details on do’s and don’ts. I also have two dogs, and learned to squat down to them rather than bend over too much. I actually did not want either of them on my lap the first week or so, because even on my legs they pressed into my abdomen too much for comfort (both medium sized). Recovery for me was easy, only alternated between ibuprofen and acetaminophen occasionally. Good luck. As advised by another, ask these questions to your pre-op nurse as well.

My experience was the same as above. Had a smooth recovery but followed the instructions to to a tee. I was told to be careful around animals due to my incisions getting infected, I don’t have animals so this wasn’t an issue.

Thank you

My experience of robot-assisted, laparascopic total hysterectomy (including cervix) , bilateral oophorectomy, sentinel node dissections, 2/23, etc. was similar. I alternated between ibuprofen and acetopminophen for ~3 days, max. I followed the weight restrictions to a tee, as well. They really sell that to you. I did not drive for over two weeks, but it was mud season here and VERY bumpy on the roads. It was much better once I could drie myself. One purchase I remain happy about was a pillow that I ordered through Hyster Sisters. It has pockets and gel packs that can be warmed or frozen and put inside the pockets. This helped me when I had to fly from after the surgery from MN to VT. It also helped with my 55-pound, "over-attached" dog, who was SO happy to have me home after 10 days (lots of tests beforehand). The pillow was really helpful for me in that it allowed me to sleep on my side, with the pillow wedged under my slightly-distended belly. I put it under the seatbelt on the plane, and my dog could eventually put her paws on my lap without it hurting me. My husband had asked to be allowed to take over the housework, promising that he could get it all done with 15 minutes effort per day. That lasted one week of 0 minutes of effort per day. I then found someone young to come in and clean for 3 hours a week for the 9 weeks that it took before I could go back to MN and be cleared for full exercise. That was a huge benefit for my sanity (even though I wanted to rush around and clean before she got here). It was a lot easier to pick back up after that, as I wasn't digging myself out of a deep hole.

I wish you successful surgery, easy recovery, more support than you could imagine wanting and two pups who "get it" pretty quickly and give your abdomen a rest.

Thank you, they definitely spoiled and love sitting on my lap.