Hemorrhoid surgery recovery tips
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Hemorrhoidectomy recovery
I had a hemorrhoidectomy two weeks ago. The doctor warned me that recovery process would be painful. But I didn't think it would be this intense. Here are a few tips to ease the pain. It made a world of difference in pain management for me:
1) ice packs-- most ice packs are not shaped for your butt and the flat ones only numb the butt cheeks, not the surgical site where you need relief. So make your own! Buy diapers (any size 3-6) and fill it with 3-4 cups of water and put it in a ziplock bag (for hygienic storage) and in the freezer. Once frozen, the diapers are curved perfectly to your anus area and won't drip as it melts either because the gel is designed to hold in liquid. I use one diaper several times before tossing. Just put it in a ziplock bag and refreeze.
2) squirt bottles--clean yourself with squirt bottles, not even wet toilet paper or baby wipes were gentle enough post surgery when the area is extremely raw. I bought two big squirt bottles at the drug store and fill them up before any bowel movements.
3) Boneal-- after cleaning the anus with the squirt bottles, I apply boneal (otc lotion for anal cleaning) lotion on toilet paper and dab it on my anus. It relieves the pain and itching that come later in the healing process.
4) sitz bath-- Do this 2-3 times a day and definitely after a bowel movement. Sometimes, I have my bowel movements in the sitz bath to ease the pain. Just remember to rinse it with soap and hot water right away if you have a bowel movement in there so you don't sit in fecal water and develop a uti on top of everything else.
5) if possible, stick to lots of veggies and soups for the first two weeks to allow the wound to heal. No starchy foods and anything binding!!!
These tips were given to me by the maternity nurses after I had a baby, but they are completely relevant here and I am especially grateful for the ice pack diaper trick! It was the ONLY way an ice pack can be applied to that anus area and not to my butt cheeks. Good luck and speedy recovery. BTW-- get all this ready, especially the diaper ice packs before surgery so you will have it immediately after you come home from surgery. You'll be in so much pain and not very mobile, so have all the relief remedies prepared ahead of time!
14 likes, 446 replies
kanjala20931 gee11215
Posted
last Friday, 1/25/19
matstus kanjala20931
Posted
trust me it will get better.
After day 9post surgery i stopped using opoids and starting drinking lots of water,increased my fiber intake and on the 12th feb will be exactly 1month i did this surgery i can beat my chest that i'm 85% doing great .The lump i had concern with weeks ago have really shrinked and dont feel any pain whatsoever again.
Glad i did this surgery and living a great life again
dscottesco27110 gee11215
Posted
Any advice ...I keep getting constipated...
trble gee11215
Posted
For me, I was at 6 days and getting very constipated. .... the most I have ever experienced. with comment on here and talking to my nurse, I stopped using the Opoids and just went to ibuprofen 800. what a difference... like I turned a corner.... The first BM after that was like making a new hole.. then everything was 100 times better. I took Milk of Magnesia first the first one... Tried some Miriam the second and they all helped... then someone on here mentioned Citrucel. .... that stuff is awesome and will be your friend from there on... good luck!
trble gee11215
Posted
For me, I was at 6 days and getting very constipated. .... the most I have ever experienced. with comment on here and talking to my nurse, I stopped using the Opoids and just went to ibuprofen 800. what a difference... like I turned a corner.... The first BM after that was like making a new hole.. then everything was 100 times better. I took Milk of Magnesia first the first one... Tried some Miriam the second and they all helped... then someone on here mentioned Citrucel. .... that stuff is awesome and will be your friend from there on... good luck!
trble
Posted
typo ... the second stuff was Miralax
kanjala20931 gee11215
Posted
today is 2 weeks post op: no pain meds just doctor prescribed lidocane. yesterday i had to go for a check up and had to get my stitches clipped. i return to work MONDAY. this has been a journey for sure!
milk of magnesia should get your constipation issues resolved
trble gee11215
Posted
Hello, I wrote from my mobile earlier... i can write a little more now
I am at day 16 with no pain and a little during BM. Had my two week doctor post op yesterday and he said that i was feeling like i was at 4 weeks congrats.
I believe that Citrucel had been my best stuff when i was on a regular routine. I would have all items in the cupboard in case you need them. They are over the counter and easy to get.
I forgot to mention.. i am also on a prescribed stool softner from my doctor.
At day 6 i thought i was gonna die that night with constipation. i couldnt even pee anymore and went to the store and got Milk of Magnesia and going off the Opoids that morning. The turning point. The pain was actually less when i went off the narcotics. I am only taking my stool softner... nothing else for pain.
Just make sure you don't over do and get diarrhea... you have to find the middle ground and what works for you... everybody seems to be different. Good Luck!
christine10388 gee11215
Edited
I had Hemorrhoidectomy 5 days ago!(April29,2019)!OMG!The pain is unexplainable!The"worst"or "intense"pain is not even a strong word to describe it !It's like a pain scale of 100 in a scale of 0 to 10!I'm just looking at the bright side though,that it will be better in weeks or so,(crossing my fingers).I've been to 4 surgeries but nothing compares to this.I'm screaming like crazy after I had a BM yesterday!It's the worst day of my life!Sitz bath help a lot,hydrocodone and Ibuprofen,but nah,cold ice pack make it worst.I can't wait for next mo.just to feel better.Even the way I pee,affects my surgical area.Just horrible,horrible procedure.I decided not to get pregnant again,don't want to have hemorrhoids again!For now,I'm taking stool softener so that I will not be constipated and eating only soup and drinking lots of fluids.I'm scared to actually start eating solid foods!The only positive is,I already loss weight!
holly36894 christine10388
Posted
im 18 months post op now christine and my haemorroids are back due to a problem with my bowel muscles.
i dont envy you currently because the pain was like something sent from hell, it lasted weeks for me but it did get better. i had suppositiries that numbed the area... and morphine. you need bed rest ! i was lucky, my mum had my kids for me while i recovered, never ever again will i get that surgery.
eileen18091 christine10388
Posted
I know it's bad but you are at the total worst pain of the pain. you will soon start to feel better in between BMs. My dr gave me valium which helped a lot more than painkillers. Also (sorry TMI ) when the pain of bm was too much to bear I pooped in the sitz bath. For me, i went back to work after 3 weeks but still had a lot of pain.
when I was at the point you are now I remember being in bed on my hands and knees and sobbing saying why did I do this over and over. But the fact is 2 months later (even with residual pain) I was so thankful I went through with the surgery. I know it's hard to believe but the pain does get better!! my good friend ended up having hers done too after I went because I loved my surgeon so much.
And for the record, it is WAY worse than child birth.
roger92021 christine10388
Posted
keep ur head up I'm here with you..
christine10388 roger92021
Posted
Thanks!Glad to found this site and to know it's not just me.1 week post op today,recuperating but bm is like torture!Called my doctor's clinic today,told me the same thing.I'm just looking forward for better days.
roger92021 christine10388
Posted
yes. I feel like I'm in constant pain day 7 is sucking bad... lip quivering but head held high.. we got this...
roger92021 gee11215
Posted
OK.... Professional truck driver. Military Vet. And Assumed Pain taker here. I came to this Glorious surgery with full understanding that pain was going to be my life for a few weeks. And as all good solider do psyched myself up for the journey..... If childbirth is even one tenth of the pain I feel now at day 6. Men are definitely the weaker sex. OMG..... So all pleasantries aside. After the surgery I did not see my doctor. I was told take oxicodone for pain. Take miralax for constipation. Sitz bath 3 times a day see you in two weeks. I have painful BMs and At night I also take Mineral oil as directed. I don't do the ice packs. maybe I will try. I'm having issues with my groin now pain I don't know if that's normal. and pain in my leg thigh muscles. is that normal also. I'm keeping my spirits high and making others laugh with my humor. Telling people you feel as tho your dragging your butthole around chapped on the ground. People laugh but you all understand it's not really funny. but very close to how we feel. Thank You for listening. keep up the fight it was a Good Decision. And any experience and advice would be appreciated.
jane16431 roger92021
Posted
Welcome to the club. Sorry you had to join. I also had some groin and thigh pains early on but they went away after the first week. For me it was a kind of "numbness" more than a pure pain. It's not a funny matter at all that's for sure! People who have been through it know the deal. For me it was 6 months before I was fully healed but the very worst was over in the 3-4 week range.
roger92021 jane16431
Posted
thank you. true inspiration that it will get better. today is a bad day...my wife feels I'm just being dramatic. I cry when I have to BM this morning..Omg...