Haemorrhoidectomy: Positive recover tips! 2 weeks on!

Hi Everyone,

Its been just over two weeks from my surgery and I really wanted to post some tips that I have found/finding helpful in my recovery and some positive thoughts post haemorrhoidectomy surgery!

Context:

I am a 30 year old woman, slim and in fairly good health based in the UK.

I have been suffering with IBS for about 15 years, haemorrhoids on and off for about the last 10 years, but more frequently in the last 5. I am a suspected coeliac, and have been gluten free for 5 years.

There is a history of haemorrhoids/polyps in the family, and as much as I have tried very hard with my diet, there was no escaping them it seems!

Just over two months ago, a haemorrhoid turned up, and progressively got worse to the point it was prolapsed (reoccurring from months previous). I tried every cream available but after four weeks, several doctors/hospital appts I was in agony and there was no sight of it getting better. With an impending wedding (six weeks to go) I went for a private consultation out of sheer desperation (the referral for the NHS was weeks away even though I was in A&E!).

It was advised I needed surgery for an exclusional haemorrhoidectomy, using diothermy, to remove three large haemorrhoids.

Like everyone else, I turned to the internet for some advice and insight … this is a good and a bad thing!

There was some great information out there, but equally some horrifying stories too that really put me off. I wanted to put a list of tips that I have found helpful, and a bit about how I’m doing too because I’m feeling pretty positive about it so far, and I think its important to not let your head take over from how your feeling physically.  

The key: preparation, preparation, preparation!

1.     Diet before surgery

I was taking Fybogel (stool softener) and Laxiode (laxative) for about a week before surgery on top of a high fiber diet. This was in part because I was having difficulty passing stools because of the haemorrhoids, but on reflection I think this really helped with the recovery.

I found a good balance of all the drinks/painkillers, had an idea of what all the gurgling/cramps were all about and felt like my stomach was moving well already.

2.     Buy spares of pants/knickers/Pj’s

Buy spare pairs of pants/knickers/PJ’s before the surgery. I found I was changing about three times a day for about a week and bending down to put things in the washing machine was not going to be an option!

3.     Everything in reach.

Go round your bedroom/bathroom/house and put everything in reach, ie not on the floor.

4.     Day of Surgery: Questions and snacks

Ask any questions you have, regardless how silly. It will make you feel better and in more control.

Take some snacks/drink with you. That sandwich that they wanted me to eat before I left … nope, not going to happen!

5.     First 24/48hrs: Support

Have someone drive you home, and lay down flat in the back of the car.

You NEED someone with you for the first 24 hours at least. I found the come down from the general aesthetic/surgery pretty awful. I was all over the place, very unstable on my feet and unable to think properly. I couldn’t get in/out of the bath without help, let alone the stairs. If I had fallen over in this time, I am not sure I would have been able to get back up.

Having someone to call on for fear of moving to cause pain was really reassuring, let alone bring you food/drinks.

6.     Pain medication: write it down!

Keep on top of your pain medication. Set an alarm if you have to, you don’t want to let the pain take over, its really hard to wait for the painkillers to kick in.

Write down what you are having and when. In the first 48 hrs I really couldn’t get my thoughts together and would forget what Id had. I managed to take too much one morning and was very sick. It also helps for the person looking after you to check in on how your doing

Listen to your body about what is/isn’t working. It took me a couple of days to work out that Tramadol was making me very sick! This was not helpful when trying to keep medication, food and drink down. Once I swapped out for Codine I felt a lot brighter.

7.     Mix laxative drinks with lemonade! (Specifically Laxiode)

I found the laxatives too awful to drink straight, lemonade really helped. 

8.     Deep breathing

Yes its going to hurt, but if you have to go, go. I read a bit about the lamaze technique and found this helpful. When the pain hits its easy to just stop breathing and strain (do not do this!) Keep taking long deep breaths, I found it really helpful and gave me something to focus on.

9.     Squatting Stool

I have a stool under my feet when having a BM. There is a strong argument that this position reduces the strain on the rectum, I have found this really helpful and recommend it.  I also use an empty plastic container upturned, it easy enough to kick out of the way when finished rather than picking it up.

10.  Sitz bath and showers

Before a bowel movement, get the shower running. You can hop straight in and get clean without wiping (not going to happen!). Don’t use soap, it aggravates.

Then run a bath (no salts or soap) and get comfortable for about 20 mins. The bath really was my savour, it really helped relieve the pain, hygiene and I felt promoting healing. (Also, make sure your plug works!)

Have two towels – drying off with a wet towel just makes everything even more miserable.

11.  Condoms filled with water!

There is nothing more entertaining than having your 60 year old mother fill condoms with water, this alone will cheer you up!.

Ice packs straight after a BM and throughout the day for the first week or so were a life saver. I really feel they helped get the swelling/bruising down. Icepacks were too bulky, crushed ice in bags were either lumpy or had sharp corners.

Condoms frozen in the freezer were by the best solution! Perfect shape, no leaks(!) and soft to touch.

12.  Moisturiser

a.     The baths, and the laxatives, really dried out my skin. Use a good moisturiser to save flaky itchy skin.

13.  Hydration

You need to drink lots of water, all day long, so get a bottle of water. Drinking out of a glass was just messy and a bottle of water (a half sized one) was easier to lift and allowed me to keep track of just how much I was drinking.

14.  Hair dryer

Using a towel to dry off was not an option, a hair dryer was a good option. I also found when resting if I was leaking mucus a folded up tissue was helpful.

I also used sanitary pads and tenna lady knickers for leakage. The knickers were really helpful to sleep in. 

15. Find your routine 

Because of my IBS and general panic over my bowl I was terrified about BM’s and how often they should be happening. Its safe to say, with the medications, altered diet and stress that my BM’s were all over the place in the first week. I think this is normal but I was keen to get back to a more regular pattern. I think its advisable to aim for your regular movement and not what the internet tells you!

16. Diet after surgery

For the first five days I drank a lot of fresh juices, fruit and veg. I did not eat any bread or red meat. I ate quite a lot of potatoes and rice too. Your aiming for soft stools, not watery or solid. You need volume as well, so try an eat as best you can.

Having some other little snacks available if the mood took me was a real nice to have. I have so far avoided anything sweet like cakes, caffine, spicey foods.

17. Rest

Week one - I literally did not get out of bed apart from trips to the bathroom. I found lying on my left hand side the most comfortable.

Week two -  I made a point of getting on my feet at least once an hour for a few mins, and increased as the week went on. I also started to go out for short walks for about 10 mins and found this really helpful for my mood more than anything.

Week three - I feel like I can sit down (all be it on the sofa). I am much more up and about around the house, and have been out for short journeys in the car. I am being very careful not to pick up heavy items or over do it.

18. Netflix!

I think Netflix may have saved me on boredom and been the perfect distraction!  I am an active person with an active mind so I knew resting was going to be difficult. I got stuck into House of Cards and found it the best distraction because I was so absorbed.  I also wanted to go and watch the next episode desperately so was forced to relax! (And yes, I did all four seasons in about 10 days!) I am pretty sure resting properly has really helped with my recovery so far.

19. Back to work

I am fortunately between jobs at the moment so feel I can take the time to get better at my own speed. Personally, I would not want to go back to sitting at a desk, commuting or standing around for at least 14 days.

I feel like I could go back today (day 16), but I think I would ended up taking painkillers for swelling.

20. Complications

Reading peoples experiences there are plenty of complications associated with this surgery and I have been, and continue to be worried about all of them. It really is a mind game. I have made the mental decision to listen to my body, and if something doesn’t seem right then I will go and see someone about it rather than fretting about it. If your not confident in the answer you’ve got, go and see someone else.

Conclusion

For me personally I had been in excruciating pain for about 6 weeks prior to the surgery. I was incredibly uncomfortable, miserable and stressed. I was very anxious that the pain would be worse post surgery as to be honest, I couldn’t take much more. To put it into context, for the two weeks prior I hadn’t really left the house as the pain from the BM left me with spasms all day long.

I read far too much on the internet before hand on the procedure and this really panicked me.

The day of the op and two days after were pretty miserable, but the painkillers really helped. I would say the pain I had before the surgery was far worse which is why I feel my experience has been relatively positive so far. I was just grateful to be knocked out for the surgery as I felt utterly drained with it all.

I have had some bleeding and mucus discharge, but nothing that has really made me want to dash to A&E. I was also sent home with a weeks work of antibiotics in case of infection which made me feel more reassured.

I can imagine if you have troublesome haemorrhoids on and off for a number of years and have got exasperated with them but are generally still working/on your feet, that the pain/enforced recovery could be a real shock. Its really not pleasant and there is no getting away from it. You essentially have an open wound in an unclean place, with muscles that move.

Its certainly a type of pain I have never experienced before.

I have been in a very fortunate position that I was able to go private. Not only was I seen quickly and feel really supported with numbers to call/information, I also felt I had some control over my surgeon.

I did a hell of a lot of research and ended up seeing a very highly regarded specialist in this field. I credit her largely with my recovery so far and confidence in what’s happening. If you have the option, go and find the best you can.   

Being on Day 16 I am feeling pretty good. I am on no painkillers, I would not say I am in pain in general, but I can certainly feel something there. The BM in the morning is still fairly painful, but manageable. For me it was about day 14 that I felt like things were finally improving properly.

For the next few weeks I am going to continue with the laxatives/stool softener as I feel over exertion could set me back if I am not careful. For the future, I think I will now take stool softners at least once a day and be even more vigilant in what I am eating – I really don’t want to have to go through this again!

For anyone reading this who is about to have surgery – remain calm and positive. It wouldn’t have been advised to you unless it was really necessary.

For anyone out there who is in recovery and having a bad day – hang on in there! Its done now, you are doing the best you can … it will get better!

Best wishes to all,

Sophie

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