Hello,

I am having surgery tomorrow (June 13th) and was going over all my paperwork to make sure I do everything correctly. When I went to look at the appointment in my Dr's patient portal, I discovered that instead of being laparoscopic, I am having robotic hiatal hernia/gastric sleeve surgery. This is fine as I told my Dr ( who I researched and have had friendss use him with wonderful results) to do whatever he feels is best. I have a copay and my insurance is paying everything else.

My question has anyone else had robotic surgery? I have been reading up on it and it sounds pretty cool. I also watched a youtube video on it...looks like the Dr is playing a video game tbh. LOL

sounds very hi-tech

I think that’s what doctor Now uses on his show sometimes.

Mine will be laparascopic robotic, as well. It's still laparscopic in that they don't cut you from stem to stern, it's done with cameras through small incisions. But, they use a robot to manipulate the tools.

4 hours ago, Jeanniebug said:

Mine will be laparascopic robotic, as well. It's still laparscopic in that they don't cut you from stem to stern, it's done with cameras through small incisions. But, they use a robot to manipulate the tools.

How was your recovery if you don't mind me asking. Everything I have read says the incisions are smaller and supposedly recovery is easier.

My surgeon used the Da Vinci robot. He was oddly insistent that he (the surgeon) was performing the surgery, not the robot; I guess some people misunderstand the concept of robotic surgery and picture R2D2 cutting them open. He said he does the surgery both with and without the robot, but he prefers using the robot, and I was in favor of anything that made it easier for him to do the surgery.

My understanding is that the advantages of the robot are that it is more dexterous than human hands, and it allows for smaller incisions. My incisions were certainly quite small and healed quickly, and the scars are barely visible now (2 years later).

2 hours ago, Tatt said:

How was your recovery if you don't mind me asking. Everything I have read says the incisions are smaller and supposedly recovery is easier.

I haven't had surgery yet. Hoping for this fall!

I wasn't given this option. Sounds like if the surgeon is still ultimately in control of the procedure but it minimises the amount of rummaging in your insides that's required then it can only be a good thing. Best of luck for tomorrow OP!

Edited June 12, 20224 yr by Spinoza

My WLS surgeries were done with Divinci and a couple of my other ones. The surgeon has controls at a desk and operates everything from the scalpel to the stapler from there. I believe it makes visuals with the laparoscope easier to navigate. Healing was easy with minimal scaring and no stitches or staples on the outside just some surgical glue.

Good luck tomorrow!

Edited June 12, 20224 yr by Starwarsandcupcakes
Added info, fixed typo

11 hours ago, Tatt said:

Hello,

I am having surgery tomorrow (June 13th) and was going over all my paperwork to make sure I do everything correctly. When I went to look at the appointment in my Dr's patient portal, I discovered that instead of being laparoscopic, I am having robotic hiatal hernia/gastric sleeve surgery. This is fine as I told my Dr ( who I researched and have had friendss use him with wonderful results) to do whatever he feels is best. I have a copay and my insurance is paying everything else.

My question has anyone else had robotic surgery? I have been reading up on it and it sounds pretty cool. I also watched a youtube video on it...looks like the Dr is playing a video game tbh. LOL

I had the robotic hernia repair and sleeve. Took about four hours. First week recovery was uncomfortable but well managed with the pain meds. Since then, no pain meds even Tylenol. No nausea or vomiting and the incisions are healing very nicely. All in all, I was very gratified with how it went.

11 minutes ago, Zai2022 said:

I had the robotic hernia repair and sleeve. Took about four hours. First week recovery was uncomfortable but well managed with the pain meds. Since then, no pain meds even Tylenol. No nausea or vomiting and the incisions are healing very nicely. All in all, I was very gratified with how it went.

Wow that sounds wonderful. I might be able to go back to work in a week (I work from home).

35 minutes ago, Starwarsandcupcakes said:

My WLS surgeries were done with Divinci and a couple of my other ones. The surgeon has controls at a desk and operates everything from the scalpel to the stapler from there. I believe it makes visuals with the laparoscope easier to navigate. Healing was easy with minimal scaring and no stitches or staples on the outside just some surgical glue.

Good luck tomorrow!

Tyvm I have watched a few videos..kind of strange. I am all for easier recovery than what I was fearing.

55 minutes ago, Tatt said:

Wow that sounds wonderful. I might be able to go back to work in a week (I work from home).

My doctor said, "You should be able to go back to work in 3 weeks. Wait, you work from home... You should be able to go back to work in 2 weeks."

I'm asking for 3 weeks off, anyway. I'm thinking that I need a buffer, just in case. I can always go back to work early, if I don't need all 3 weeks.

7 minutes ago, Jeanniebug said:

My doctor said, "You should be able to go back to work in 3 weeks. Wait, you work from home... You should be able to go back to work in 2 weeks."

I'm asking for 3 weeks off, anyway. I'm thinking that I need a buffer, just in case. I can always go back to work early, if I don't need all 3 weeks.

=Truthfully I would love to take 2wks off but that depends if my fmla/short term disability goes thru. I am a single mom getting no support so my paycheck is all we have. I make enough to keep my daughter and I comfortable. But no paycheck serious problems. If I get denied I will go back in a week. My desk can go from sitting to standing with just a few cranks of the handle.

Edited June 13, 20224 yr by Tatt
misspelling

After my sleeve surgery, I drove about 30 miles to visit my sister for holiday dinner (I didn't eat much of course) and it was fine, spent most of the time sitting on the couch but I wasn't in pain or anything.

After my revision I think I was able to get out of the house by myself a few days later too.

I don't know if either of mine were done robotically or not, I don't think it really makes a difference, whatever the surgeon feels most comfortable with is probably what you want to go with. The procedure is the same either way.

I had no exterior sutures, the incisions were closed up with surgical glue and it all came off within a month or so I think, maybe less.

2 hours ago, Tatt said:

=Truthfully I would love to take 2wks off but that depends if my fmla/short term disability goes thru. I am a single mom getting no support so my paycheck is all we have. I make enough to keep my daughter and I comfortable. But no paycheck serious problems. If I get denied I will go back in a week. My desk can go from sitting to standing with just a few cranks of the handle.

I remember those days, of being a single mom with no support. Tough decisions. Thankfully, I do have a vacation time bucket that will cover one week - close to two, by the time of my surgery.