Halo-RAR upbeat recovery story

Hello fellow souls in the HSC (Haemorrhoid Survivors Community)!! 😃

I like you, have suffered with these b****** and I know your plight ❤️

Firstly I wish anyone reading this, well and I am sorry you even find yourself here and part of this community - but here we are none the less.

I promised myself I would share my own account here too when able because reading other stories has been such a support to me during my own journey towards better health. I hope others can find help in my words now. Here's my account so far...

I underwent Halo-RAR almost four weeks ago - a result of two very difficult childbirths which lead to the development of grade 4 circumferential prolapse. Despite trying to manage for several years with less invasive measures, it was time to face the music and aim for a prolapse free life. I required 4 ligations and rectal repair.

PRE OP

I prepared for surgery by moving to a soft diet 2 days pre-op. I am so bloody thankful I did and I recommend everyone take measures to prepare their bowels in advance of this op.

DAY OF SURGERY

I was given an enema pre-op as is normal. I received a general anaesthetic. The surgery lasted about 50 mins and I was two hours in total, including whilst in Recovery. I was given fentynal, morphine and codeine by the nurses. Plus a local block in the area direct by the surgeon. I was in pain on waking but the pain was not where I thought it would be ie. in my backside. Instead I felt the pain in my bladder. It was really uncomfortable and I was desperate to pee. Fortunately, I was able to urinate about an hour later and when I did the floodgates opened. My body went straight to work, peeing out the heavy medications I had been given. I was fortunate enough to have this procedure done on private insurance and my own room with toilet was worth every penny of this £3000 operation alone! I was offered food post op but I stuck to clear fluids, jelly and soup. I arrived at the hospital at 7am and was home same day around 4pm. Pain was significant but I fast realised the opioids really didn't touch it. They only made me drowsy.

DAY 1-3 post op

Pain most severe. However, it was doable! I only took Ibruprofen and Paracetamol, nothing stronger. Mostly because I was petrified of developing constipation. I was also given Metronidazole antibiotics which I have since discovered act as pain relief too. Fortunately, I tolerated these well as my surgeon told me they may make me nauseous, but they didn't. Heat packs, sitz bath in the tub and bolster pillows for support in bed, became my best friends and really did help ease the pain. The pressure in my back passage felt horrible and it really did feel like someone punched me with a boxing glove up my bum, but I also soon realised that the pain was going to be managable all the whilst I relaxed. Passing gas was really painful. I used breathing and meditation to get me through. I cried at times and let it happen! BUT I got through well really, on reflection. You can too! It is not the horror story you may tell yourself it might be and you are stronger than you know. I ate only soup, mashed veg and potato, plus jelly those first days and kept meals small. I drank 2.5l of water and still do every day.

DAY 4

On day one, I was sent home from the hospital with Cosmocol stool softener which I took morning and evening every day before my first bowel movement arrived, which took four days of waiting to happen. Not gonna lie, the build up beforehand on day four felt like labour, due to the pressure I felt in my bottom. It took an hour of breathing and rocking back and forth before I felt ready to actually sit on the toilet. I waited until I was absolutely sure I needed to go. I was determined I was not going to strain and I didn't. You will know when it is time! The body is amazing. The stool softeners and liquid mush diet worked a dream and the pain of passing a stool wasn't too bad actually (at least not has bad as my mind feared it would be). I definitely let the neighbours know I was home - ha ha! It was more the body shock I felt afterwards. I had to lie down with heat packs to recover for a good two hours and the burning was intense - but the relief that I had now done the first do and was over that hump in the road, was actually worth it! I'd done it and survived! You will too. I will say, you do not want a hard stool, or even a normal one - you want to aim for a Mr Whippy ice cream consistency. Just take the laxatives and sort your diet, you'll be so glad you did. It really did make the experience I was dreading the most, into one of "oh was that it? - phew!"

DAY 5-10

I introduced fibre to my diet. Started taking a Fybogel in the morning too because I could ensure to drink 2 litres the whole day following it. I also take a stool softener at night so whilst asleep when I am not drinking water, it is working to keep everything soft. It has worked for me. Started eating wholemeal bread and lots of fruit and veg. I moved to a soft diet of chicken, fish, veg, potato, soup, banana etc, Pain was still a constant and especially during bowel movements, but again manageable. Small amount of blood and drainage. I found I was ok using the toilet as long as I held onto the towel rail for support - that rail has been my saviour - hee hee. You do what you gotta do and I had to hang on to something to deal with the discomfort. Again though, its doable folks. The first week was definitely not a walk in the park on a sunny day, but it was not as horrendous as I had imagined either. You can do it for the hope of a better future. Heat packs kept me comfortable on the sofa in the day and I rested totally. Didn't lift a thing. No straining on the toilet either and I never sat there for a moment longer than I needed. I also kept my pain relief up round the clock, day and night, alternating between ibruprofen and paracetamol.

DAY 11 -14

Pain less significant in the day. Gas hurts more than using the toilet. Bowel movements still uncomfortable but doable! No time to wait when needing the toilet, the urgency was real. Life getting easier daily. Could feel where piles are stitched up inside me and that was really off putting and worrying at times when using the toilet. I sat every time on a wing and a prayer. Still do. Post op anxiety is real and I think unavoidable. I just allowed it to be and then talked myself out of it. I took lots of showers using the shower head to keep clean, sitz baths in the tub and used heat packs all day which do an amazing job of relaxing muscle spasm. I did nothing but rest rest rest! No sitting at all or standing for long. I had to lie on my side. Laying on my back hurt. But all went well on reflection. It was liberating not to have a prolapse there and I started to see why I went through suffering in order to benefit.

DAY 14-20

Swelling lessened and no pain unless I had a bowel movement. The pain was more of an ache and pressure. Developed a throbbing sensation in stitched haemorrhoids which felt weird and unpleasant like a flare up of piles pain. Took that to mean the op was working! Fingers crossed. There is stress knowing the haemorrhoids are still there, just reduced and stitched up, but I suppose even with a haemorrhoidectomy you still gotta live with the idea you can still have piles. We all do afterall. Severest pain completely went after two weeks which was a relief beyond words. Still couldn't sit yet.

Day 21 to 27

No more pain on using the toilet! No prolapse! I still can't sit for too long in a chair. Trying for 5 mins at a time. Still feeling swelling and dull aches. Still taking ibruprofen as it's an anti inflammatory and I am still inflamed. Can feel the haemorrhoids are still there but shrinking. The throbbing still happens some days. My back is tense and I have a small bump externally now and itching which I am hoping is nothing more than the healing process. I will check with my surgeon. Otherwise, I am comfortable in the main although definitely not fully healed. Its so slow going and I am going to need 6 weeks easily before returning to work, but bowel movements are good, so now its about time and patience. I feel weak physically, but I am gaining stamina every day.

So, lovely people, I am surviving! You will too! It is not easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. Take 3-4 weeks at least off work, depending on what you do. None of this back to work in 48 hours nonsense you see being sold online about Halo-RAR and THD. This is still a major op. You've had the whole of your rectum stitched for goodness sake. My colorectal surgeon told me to do nothing for 3 weeks and scheduled a follow up with me at 6 weeks. That gives you an indication of how long this usually takes. Expect recovery to take its own sweet time and up to 3 months. There will be good days and bad, but progress will be made every day. Have someone look after you the first two to three weeks - you will need it. You must rest and don't lift anything heavy! Get your diet right and you can steer yourself through. Also get 99 percent water biodegradable wet wipes. You will need them. I will write an update once I see my colorectal surgeon for follow up. So far, I can see the benefits of this op. Just praying it stays that way! I do not regret taking charge of my health and my life either way. Thanks for reading and good luck x

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