Hemorrhoid surgery recovery tips

I had a pretty bad case of prolapsed roids for 15/20 years from child birth and a low fiber diet, straining, gluten indulgence, etc.  I had always feared the surgery due to possible incontinence.   But at the age of 50 I decided the risk was worth the reward.  I had also found a great surgeon (which is key I think).  Then I found this frightening forum.  Holy crap some of you have been through HELL! I am 23 days post surgery and wanted to share what I learned from the experience.   First of all I did a colonoscopy too and that turned out to be a great idea as there was nothing in my colon for a few days.  My pain never surpassed a level 5.  The colonoscopy did cause a ton of gas which hurt and the anesthesia made me barf.  I drank a two glasses of metamucil mixed with miralax every day and lots and lots of fluids.   On day 3.5 and still no BM I added milk of magnesia.  I was very full of metamucil by this point.   Day 4 was the epic moment I had dreaded.  My first BM was tiny and soft.  I think I had about 4 or five BMs that day.  They didn't really hurt too much and were very very passable.  I was so grateful after a few days of this what could best be described as the easiest turds to pass ever.  I have kept up with my twice daily cocktail during bath time.   I used about 5mg of oxycodone for 3 weeks during the evening to take the edge off.  Other than that I rotated advil and tylenol every 3 or 4 hours as needed.  I needed 10 days before I could work 3 or 4 hours a day.  Week 3 is my first back to full time experience and it's not too bad.  I see the doc for my checkup tomorrow and I think it will be great news.  I still have some healing that needs to occur as there is still mucus but all in all I am so happy I worked up the courage to do this.  I am loving the result so far.  I am hoping to get back to hot yoga class soon.    Best of luck to you guys and thanks for sharing your stories and tips.  They helped.

Had my hemorrhoid surgery a week ago today. Wanted to share some encouragement and "second" some of the things I read about it leading up to making the decision to have surgery.

My hemorrhoid trouble comes from childbirth. With most of my kids, they went away a month or two after delivery, but with my 4th child, they did not. It had been 2 years. They were mostly annoying, occasionally painful, but just down-right frustrating.

I knew someone who had the surgery, so I asked her advice. She got them after childbirth and waited 25 years to get the surgery. She said she wished she would have got them taken care of sooner. I also read the same thing from another man on the internet, he said they were annoying for 4 years, then got worse and he wished he had done it sooner.

I know there have been so many of you that have had a REALLY rough time. I'm truly sorry for your pain! More people right about terrible experiences, so since mine has been pretty good, I wanted to give a little encouragement that maybe for a few people -- it's not super terrible. (I also think it might be a little easier for the ladies since they are used to hurting down there!)

My advice  (since I was helped so much by hearing other people's experiences online):

*GET'R DONE! Get it done before they are terrible! Then there is less for them to have to "fix", therefore, a little easier healing.

*ARNICA TABLETS (they are homeopathic and help with swelling). I started these on the way home from the hospital and took them for the next week.

*PAIN MEDS: I made sure to set my alarm all through the night for the first week for pain meds. I'm nursing a 3 month old so I was trying to be cautious with the meds. I am also SUPER sensitive to meds (I can't take T3 or Ibuprofen, and usually Hydrocodone makes me throw up, feel dizzy and like crap). I was able to tolerate the 1 Hydrocodone with Zofran (for nausea). I had also read to lie down for 30 min. after taking the Hydro, which I did faithfully).

*ICE PACKS: I had read about soaking diapers and freezing them. I couldn't get this to work, they were rock solid, and even in the fridge, they seemed to bulky and awkward. I just used a flexible icepack, folded in half and then I tried to wedge this in between my butt cheeks (over my PJ pants, underwear and gauze). This way it stayed clean, didn't get too close to my skin and at least made me feel like I was doing something to help.

*POOPING: I tried to do everything perfect. Eating low gas fruits and veggies (apples, oranges, raspberries, tomatoes, cantaloupe, grapes, avocado). But I felt like I needed more to my diet, so I made some veggie soups with brown rice and some plain chicken (did this ahead of time just in case). After a few days of still not pooping, I started eating more stuff (mainly gluten and dairy free though). Even though I was on stool softners, Miralax and Milk of Magnesia, drinking 120 oz of water, taking 2 stiz baths, and trying to walk 10 min around our house - all daily, I DIDN'T POOP FOR 7 DAYS! I was freaking out that I had not gone, I tried every remedy I could find (listed above). I also realized day 6 that 3 things I was taking had a side effect of constipation (Hydro, Zofran and Unisom b/c I was having trouble sleeping b/c of the pain meds). I stopped those out of desperation to poop. A week after my surgery, I finally was able to talk to the doctor about it. She said it sounded like more of a fear to poop because of the pain, and not constipation. She said to cut out the Milk of Mag and be patient. I assured her, that I was not in a lot of pain and was trying to relax. Easier said than done! Thankfully, 5 hours later, I finally went.

Yes, it hurt, but it wasn't unbearable. And using a stool to put your feet on, the squirt bottle filled with warm water, and Lamaze style breathing (I read it helps you not strain on the toilet), it was manageable. I think not being able to control when I was going to poop was the worst part, but on the flip side, it gave my body more time to heal.

I had so many things I had been praying about leading up to this: I had a 3 month old baby to nurse and 4 other kids to worry about (family was able to watch the big kids), I had never been able to nurse lying down and it went fine, I had so many bad reactions to meds, but was able to take what I needed, and I was not in as much pain as I thought I would be in. God was kind and faithful in bringing me through it. Praise God! 

I know many of you had a rough go, but if it wasn't for the 2 people encouraging me, I would have been too scared. That's why I wanted to share, hoping it will help one of you! There are more horror stories than encouraging ones.

Good luck!

My Story

 There are a lot of negative stories out there and it scared me to death.  I am going to offer this advice, read those negative stories, but then go find the positive.  There are far more negative stories on the internet, but in life, there are far more positive ones.  Its just the people with the positive stories don’t post. 

 Reading the negative scared the s**t out of me, but also prepared me for this.  As things come up, I don’t worry, wondering if this symptom is normal, or bad or whatever.  My spirits are up because how I am feeling is not as bad as it could be.

 About me:  I am a 48 yr old male, weigh about 160 (lost 20 pounds  over the past month)  I am active, but by no means in shape.  Before this, I could probably run to the end of my street, but that’s about it.  I had 3 large prolapsed internal hemis and one large external.  I have IBS yet have lived off 3-5 sodas a day and a largely sugar diet…. I could have been Marty Brundle in “The Fly”.  I spend anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes at a time on the toilet… You’ve heard people call the bathroom “their library”…. That’s me, I have done a lot of work and reading over the years.

 The diagnosis and treatment options:  I usually have what I affectionately call, ‘constipated diarrhea”.  But sometimes I do get constipated.  Been to the emergency room 3 times due to being impacted.

 Two months ago I went to the Doctor about my hemis and she immediately sent me to a surgeon.  I read about the procedure and was instantly paralyzed with fear.  The surgeon said mine were stage 4 and I needed a hemorroidectomy.  He was matter of fact, told me there would be some pain, and that I would need to rest…I told him I had to think about it… I went home, searched the web, and realized that the surgery was the last thing I wanted.

 I researched for days and hours and saw that they were having lots of success with the CHR o’Regan system, so I made an appointment.  Over the next 2 weeks, I changed my diet completely.  No sodas, no candy, no ice cream…. Tons of water (never drank it before)  lots of fruits, veggies, grain cereals, fiber one bars.

 I was initially seen by the Physicians Asst who said I was a great candidate for the procedure.  I was elated and stayed on the diet.  A week later the doctor who would do the procedure saw me and said mine were too advanced .

 This sent me into a tailspin,  stayed on the diet but spent hours on the web.  Scheduled a meeting with a  collerectal surgeon who said yep, surgery.  Well, you need to know I’m a big baby…. I don’t even handle needles well.  I ended up in the hospital for a week when my heart kept going out of rhthym causing me to pass out.  Doc said it was combo of stress, diet, and some herbal supplements I was taking.

 My Story

 Day 1  August 10   No pain meds today

Ok had my surgery.  The doc gave me experel, I cannot stess this enough, make sure you get the experel!  If your doctor wont do it, go find one who will.  It’s a nerve blocker and will help over the next 24-72 hours.   I feel great!  I feel like I could go do anything I want right now, but I am smarter than that.   It’s a great first day and night and I am in good spirits.

 I don’t really need to, but I take 2 warm baths because I read  it’s a good idea to.  I go to bed and can snuggle with my wife.  Happy Man.

 Day2  August 11   1 percoset

No pain early, but I am sore, nothing major, but I can feel something went on down there.  Start doing the process, lots of water, fruit, a couple of fig newtons.  About 2 o’clock I started to feel some pain.  I am bummed, the experel must not last as long as they said(I was wrong, read later).  I take 1 percoset, not because I need it but I don’t want to take any chances for later… Everything I read says stay on top of the pain.  Eating fruit and veggies, and drinking plenty of water…33oz in morning, 20 oz mid day, 20 oz  late afternoon, plus 2 glasses of water with Metamucil, 1 glass with powdered magnesium.  I do this everyday.

Day 3 August 12  2 percosets

Woke up with pain about a 2 or 3, but starting to feel like I have to go, so I pop a percoset.  False alarm.  As the day goes, I can definitely feel my butt waking up. 

 Farting is an issue.  Was in kitchen and went to pass gas, and had to grab counter with both hands as my knees buckled.  Hard to describe it’s a pressure pain.  But instant relief.  If you ever had a toothache, and bit down on the tooth to get the relief afterwards, you know what I mean.

 Around 2:30 I realize its time for the bowel movement.. I panic, I have no pain meds in me, so I pop a percoset and hold it in for about 30 min.  Now its time.  I go and….. its not too bad.  It hurt. But I survived!  Lot of pressure to get started, but the pain/pressure drops from a 7 to a 4/5 once I finish.  Wiped with Bolneol, hopped in shower with  hand held  shower head, then took a bath, and rest. That wore me out.

 This really starts to wake up my butt, experel is starting to wear off.  With so much fiber, having lots of gas which hurts when I fart, but manage…you have to pause, brace, and then move on with your day.

 Day 4 August 13   2 percosets, 

Ok, definitely the experel has worn off.  It aches.  But not bad.  Pain woke me up at 4:30, about a 5/6 not horrible but uncomfortable to sleep.  Pop a pill and go back to sleep.  Around 10 I feel the need to go, pop a pill, wait 20 min and tried to go.  NO LucK!  But now I am uncomfortable.  I feel like everything dropped out of my ass and swelled.  It didn’t, I checked.  But, pain is not you don’t really fart, air just comes out.

 Around 5pm its time.  Pop my third percoset of the day, squirm for 20 minutes and then go to bathroom.  Pooped a lot but survived.  Everything soft, pain like day before.  Feel like I ran a marathon after. Definitely don’t like the feeling, but it does pass quick.

 Day 5  August 14       2 percosets,  4 tylenol

Had my first bowel movement today without percoset… Not on purpose, I just couldn’t get it in me fast enough before I had to go… and I survived.  It wasn’t pleasant and honestly the fear of going is scarier than the actual pain, it ended up about a 5 or 6 level and getting in the shower and squirting water up my butt really relieved me.  I hopped in the the bath later.  I ached the rest of the day, but nothing too bad, I didn’t take any pain medicine.

 About 5 pm I had my first complication from the surgery.   I got the chills and then a fever… 1o1.7… Called the oncall doctor and he said not to worry, easier said than done.  Popping the Tylenol and going to drink throughout the night…. I do Not want to be dehydrated

I had 2 really bad hiccupping spells today one around 4pm another around 10 pm.  Took a half an hour to get it to stop

 Day 6 August 15

Had a bad sweating episode last night.  Woke up this morning and immediately had to have a bowel movement.  Not ready for this, no medicine in me… It wasn’t bad, same as the others, I don’t like it, I feel pressure, but its over soon enough.  Pain is uncomfortable, bout a 6 or 7 but goes away quickly.  No worse than having really bad constipation.

 Really good day, no percoset. No Pain.  Had diarrhea, 3 bowel movements in the evening, pain is decreasing to about a 4.  Some stinging at night with meds.

 Day 7 August 16   1 percoset

Worked at home..  1 bowel movement, little sore, quick recovery

 Day 9  August 19  3 percosets

Oh what a day… started out great, and then…constipated diarrhea.  No reason, just was.  Stitches  are coming out, and there is stinging.  I don’t know if that plays a part or not.  4 or 5 bowel movements, incomplete, had bowel movement in shower with sprayer on my ass… Ice has never made a difference until tonight.. really helped everything calm down.

 Day 12  August 22

So Day 10 was the turning point.  Yesterday I had my wife drive me around town, I was getting stir crazy.

Day 15  August 25

Went out to eat today.  Sitting is no longer an issue as long as I don’t have to scoot.  Will head back to work next week.

 September 24th    All is normal and all is good.  Everything feels normal down there, and I am eating everything I ate before… My one dietary change is I drink 4 16oz waters a day, and no sodas.  I highly recommend the surgery to anyone who needs it.  A great doc m

Wow.... this tread has opened my eyes!!!....and also brought a tear to them (pain and laugh).

Well.... after a check-up at my Docs, I was told that I needed to go under the knife and have the 'Rockford Files' removed. Waiting time for the op would be 3-4 months (check-up was 17th Jan 18) but I ended up getting a call today (23rd)..... "can you come in on the 3rd Feb?". So much for preparing lol.

Reading all of your experiences, tears and pain....what have I let myself in for?? . haha....

Thank you for sharing and helping those who have yet to go through what you have.

Marky  

I appreciate everyone's stories and tips. I'm going to have this hemorrhoidectomy surgery on 1/25/18 and thanks to all that I've learned here, I know the extreme expectation of recovery pain that follows. There's no turning back now! Wish me luck! Hope the same for anyone else taking the jump!