A Brownwood nurse manager is sharing her experience with robotic-assisted surgery after undergoing a hysterectomy at Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood. Josalyn Wheeless said the procedure brought less pain and a faster recovery than her previous abdominal surgeries.
Wheeless is the nurse manager of Acute Nursing at Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood, where she has cared for surgical patients throughout her career. That experience gave her a close understanding of the importance of pain control, early movement and a safe return to everyday activities.
Choosing robotic-assisted surgery
After discussing treatment options with Daniel Stewart, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist on staff at the Brownwood hospital, Wheeless chose a robotic-assisted hysterectomy using the Intuitive da Vinci Surgical System.
Before making the decision, she said she had heard positive feedback from friends and coworkers who had undergone robotic procedures. She wanted to learn more about the approach before choosing it for her own treatment.
The procedure required an overnight hospital stay. Wheeless returned home the following morning.
Recovery included an earlier return to activity
Wheeless said the difference was especially noticeable when she compared the recovery with her previous abdominal surgeries.
“There was a much faster recovery,” said Wheeless. “The pain was a lot less, and I was able to move around post-operatively a lot sooner than I had with previous abdominal surgeries.”
She had returned to most of her normal activities within four weeks. Her return to work took longer because her job involves lifting and assisting patients. She remained away from work for six weeks while following post-surgical restrictions.
Wheeless also pointed to the size of the surgical site as another benefit of the robotic-assisted procedure.
“My surgical site is much smaller than it would've been for any other procedure,” said Wheeless.
Care available closer to home
Hendrick Health said the availability of robotic-assisted surgery at Hendrick Medical Center Brownwood gives patients in the Brownwood area access to advanced surgical care closer to home.
For Wheeless, the experience was defined by three results: less pain, smaller incisions and a smoother recovery.