From an article by Jessica Wall with
Dr. Candice Greenan
McLeod OB/GYN Associates

“I had more than a surgery. I had an experience. I could not have asked for anything better.” — Sheila Roberts, McLeod Gynecological Patient

Sheila Roberts was not surprised to learn that she had fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus). While fibroids are not genetic, they can be more prevalent in certain families. Sheila’s sister, mother and grandmother all underwent surgical procedures to relieve the pain from fibroids. What did surprise Sheila, however, were the benefits from the many advancements in treating pelvic health conditions.

For as long as she could remember, 45-year-old Sheila experienced extremely heavy menstrual cycles, a hallmark symptom of fibroids. When this became bothersome, Sheila’s primary care physician referred her to Dr. Candice Greenan with McLeod OB/GYN Associates for an evaluation. Dr. Greenan discovered that Sheila also suffered what we refer to as ‘bulk symptoms,’ which included pelvic pain, pelvic pressure and urinary frequency.

Instead of prolonging her symptoms, Sheila decided to rectify the problem altogether and undergo a robotic-assisted hysterectomy.

“Surgical advances now allow us to treat this condition using minimally invasive robotic surgery with the benefit of going home the same day,” said Dr. Greenan.

After surgery, Sheila stayed in Extended Recovery for approximately  six hours before returning home to Bennettsville.

Traditionally, patients stayed in recovery for approximately four hours before being admitted overnight for observation. Extended Recovery, however, allows patients to remain in recovery a bit longer — usually six to eight  hours — and then go home. It is a convenient option for both patients and their families. The patient arrives and leaves from the same location, and the family stays in a single area to wait for their family member. Both McLeod Regional Medical Center and McLeod Health Seacoast offer this service.

“We have also achieved extremely positive outcomes with this program, including lower readmission rates and fewer visits to the Emergency Department after surgery,” explains Dr. Greenan. “We monitor patients closely to ensure they are ready for discharge. If for some reason the patient is uncomfortable going home, we can certainly admit them for additional observation.”

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE
If you are having pain and heavy bleeding during your menstrual period, see a Gynecologist and discuss the possible non-surgical and surgical options.

Find a Gynecologist near you.