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18 days post-op - am I getting any better?

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Dubizzler
Dubizzler

I am at day 18 post-op of my hemorrhoidectomy (one anal column removed) and it has been a rollercoaster ride. I am 49 years old and have struggled with bleeding painful hemorrhoids for a few years. In the last two and half weeks, I have had good days and really, really bad days. I feel like I am recovering but then after a bad hard BM I feel like I have moved back a week in my recovery. When does this end?

The forum has been very helpful and I can relate to so many of the active discussions which help me understand what is going on.

The issue I am having is figuring out a schedule for my BMs - it’s like I am thinking about them the whole day. They are not as painful as they were in the first week but they are still a 6/10. I am still on lactulose syrup (15ml two to three times a day) and I can’t figure out if I should stop or continue till the BMs stop hurting. I am going upto three times a day (which I suppose is a good thing) and whenever I have tried to reduce the lactulose, I find that I go only once or twice (12+ hour) and that is when I find the stool starts to become hard to pass. I am having plenty of fruits (pears, apples, bananas, dates) and veggies (carrots, peppers, lettuce, parsley and cucumbers) as well as multi-grain bread in the morning. I have lost 6kg in the last 18 days - a first for me in 10 years. Sometimes my stool has spots of blood which terrifies me - it really feels like I am getting them back! Should I still have spots in my third week of recovery? Am I doing something wrong? Should I assume this is reversing my recovery?

Sitz baths have been a blessing - best part of my day. I sit on them 2-3 times a day - although I cannot tolerate very hot water. I am continuing to use gauze pads and they don’t have blood on them any more but this brownish tinge - my doc told me that would go away eventually.

I tried going back to work today after two and half weeks and between stressing about my next BM and not being able to sit too long on a hard chair, I left and went back home after 4 hours. I have requested working from home for another couple of days and see if it gets better. Do hemorrhoid pillows help?

Does anyone here feel that psyllium husk (1 teaspoon a day) makes your stool harder (not softer)? I am drinking a lot of water per day - maybe 3 liters. I have read a lot of the posts on this forum and everyone has varying experiences and are so interesting to read. For me, the BM is on my mind the whole day - when do I go? When should I go? What if it doesn’t come in the next few hours? I just had my laxative, so I can't leave the house. My entire life has been turned upside down - I cannot go out peacefully and enjoy a cup of coffee!

I am sorry I am venting - I sincerely hope I can look back at this one day and think that I made the right decision. I have read so many posts here which are happy ending stories - I am assuming the others who have not written back have also recovered completely.

I am sorry for not being helpful - I really do feel only the people who have actually had this surgery are able to understand what the recovery is actually like. Thank you for this forum and for all the information shared. I will continue to post my progress.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • dean18425
    dean18425 Dubizzler

    Posted

    I completely get where you are coming from! I had my hemmorhoidectomy on the 28th Mar, 3 grade 3 ones removed, every day I fear my BM 🤣.

    First 5 days I was using the lactulose (2 x 15ml) and movical (3 sachets), i was going toilet 2/3 x a day and the pain was unbearable and non stop throughout the day. Since day 6 I decided to stop using lactuclose and movical so that I go toilet 1x a day max. They are not as soft as with the lactulose however still comes out fast. Now I feel like I can go for BM, suffer the pain for 3/4hrs, and then afterwards it is a lot better and I feel more of an uncomfortable feeling rather than pain for the rest of the day.

    After your sitz bath, try putting about a cup of rice in a sock tie it up, in the microwave for 30/45 seconds n u can rest that on ur ass, its quite soothing

    • Dubizzler
      Dubizzler dean18425

      Posted

      Thank you @dean18425 for your reply. I am really scared to stop the softeners right now as I am terrified to get constipated - the doc told me that would be a "disaster". I am get so tired and exhausted after the BM that I really don't want to do anything after that.

      I keep asking myself when a BM will be a form of "relief" rather than anxiety and grief!

      I like your idea of the sock - will give it a try. Thank you so much.

  • babsyboo
    babsyboo Dubizzler

    Edited

    hi

    im in my week 8 after having hemorroid sergery inside and outside

    cut and burned and like u i heard for days

    it gets better by the week i think

    thats how it was with me and yes bery painful after each BM for sure

    sit bath helped me a lot pillow not so much

    its been 8 weeks and i am still on milk of magnesia at night time before bed 15 mg laxative also stool softner 2 pills a day 1 in morning 1 in evening also drink 8 oz glass of citrucel fiber in the morning and still doing so as my stool still hurts me when i go also

    scared to stop the milk of magnesia laxative

    but need to sooner or later

    we see so far my dr said it was ok for me to use it all still

    to ur question will it get better yes

    im so glad i did itdid not think so weeks ago for sure 😃 way to painful but now i know it was worth it

    still not all the way healed up but on my way amen

    also question does ur BM come out soft and very thin skinny ????

    hope to hear back from u please

    • Dubizzler
      Dubizzler babsyboo

      Posted

      Hi @babsyboo@

      Thank you for sharing - I am approaching the end of week 4 (two days to go). For me the last week was not the best - BMs are still painful and I resumed full time work. A lot of my work needs me to sit on a desk and I can't do that - I can't sit on any kind of chair for more than 20 mins. I end up pacing 8 hours a day trying to work stooped over my cell phone - it is impossible. I am still on Lactulose twice a day and a stool softener - I can't take the risk of getting off that any time soon.

      My stools are often semi-formed so I cannot tell if they are skinny or not. On the occasion they are formed, I think they are okay....wouldn't call them skinny. Maybe they are shaped like that because you might be "holding back"....I know I do that whenever I go for a BM. It is a source of so much anxiety and stress - never been in such a situation before.

      I will see my doc this week - at the end of week 4. He often compares me to other patients who had the surgery after I did and are doing fine....then tries to console me by saying that "every one recovers at their own pace."

      The sight of blood in the stool and on the tissue is scary - not sure when that will end.

      It was good to hear from you and your experience. I love this forum - it really is a good place to share and exchange thoughts.

      Best wishes for your recovery - I hope you continue to improve every day.

  • Dubizzler
    Dubizzler

    Posted

    Hi again - I also wanted to know if anyone here is still taking over the counter painkillers (ibuprofen or voltfast 50)? I am at 4 weeks now and I really need it after my morning BM - the throbbing discomfort drives me crazy if I don't take it. I am able to get by with just one dose a day but I do need it.

    Any one with similar experience to share - any alternatives? Sitz baths are nice but the pain comes back after 30 mins.

    Thanks

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