Hemorrhoidectomy follow up story FYI
Posted , 6 users are following.
To those here who have gone through the ordeal of a hemorrhoidectomy I wanted to pass this on. I went to see a Colorectal Surgeon today in NYC. He is a top doc in this field, I’ve know him for some years now. He did not perform my hemorrhoidectomy in 2018 but I have been having some residual issues now 6 months later. I him to do an exam and tell me what’s what. I learned some things.
First of all, it is not unusual to have residual effects for months after. In fact, many people are not fully healed until after a year. The worst is usually over in the 8-10 week timeframe on average. But lingering issues can remain much much longer.
Second, whatever you do, get this surgery done by an expert in the field! A colorectal surgeon who is well regarded. The doc who did mine last summer is a well regarded colorectal surgeon. However I was informed today of some unfortunate cases where “corrections” had to me made, and not always successfully.
The long term prognosis is good. A hemorrhoidectomy is the suggested approach in some instances, like mine. It is important to go in with eyes wide open! It can take up to one year for full recovery. Don’t be misled.
I had a kind of incontinence problem. Turns out this is not uncommon at all. It’s not really incontinence, it’s more of a healing pattern that impacts BMs. In my case he expects it to resolve in 2019 without any further surgery.
Anyway I just thought to pass this on.
1 like, 13 replies
pita123 jane16431
Posted
Sorry to see you're still hurting man. We've really been through it this year!
I'm actually in rough shape still as well believe it or not. I ended up with a fistula, which was brutal. I had surgery for that with the same surgeon who did my hemmerhoidectomy and after 4 encouraging weeks of healing the fistula came back even worse than before. She finally had the sense to refer me out to a colorectal surgeon (only way for me to see one under my insurance) so I'm currently still just waiting for that to get processed and see them. It's almost certainly going to be another surgery. Possibly one where they put a drain in you, leave it there for a month or two, then remove it and do (hopefully) a final surgery to deal with it once and for all, so possibly 2 more surgeries.
I haven't had a lot of incontinence problems, but I do notice that ever since that first surgery, every time I poop, no matter how clean I get, a little bit leaks out after the fact. Probably similar in cause to what you're dealing with.
Anyway, hope you feel better and be happy that your surgery days are behind you (pardon my pun)
jane16431 pita123
Posted
oh man, sorry to hear that. Drain, not liking the sound of that.
My lingering issues are not so serious. The leaking is my problem. This doc did a rather invasive exam and basically said, "this happens, its not uncommon, and it will improve though maybe never back to normal. You could try another surgery." Another surgery? Uh.....NO
Be well. There needs to be a recovery group!
cindy51948 jane16431
Posted
wow jane, i dont know what i would have done these last 2 1/2 months post surgery without your suggestions, hope, and reassurance that everything "in time" will get better. i didnt believe it the first 6 weeks, but you were right, it does and it will, but you need to be patient! im still in the healing stage but able live my life much better. i still feel that they are still there but much smaller, more like loose skin tags. they do still itch, especially after BM but nothing like they use to. BUT my biggest problem that still looms is my incontinence at times and reading your post gives me so much more hope. prior to surgery and 6-8 weeks after i had very little control of going to the bathroom. when i felt that urge if i wasnt near a bathroom within 15 seconds i was going. my Dr explained that the nerves in the rectum are greatly affected from the hemmroids and are damaged over time but the good news is it will repair itself and it has so much but i still every now and then have an accident but nothing like before. also im either going 3-4 times a day or constipated. these are the things most people who have this surgery will go through. your colon has changed along with your digestive system after surgery and you just have to know that your body will hopefully figure it out and fix itself. any more suggestions or advice would live to hear. you have been a lifesaver for me and my mental health!! im still doing my sitz baths and baths as much as i can, and sometimes taking a stool softener. my diet is very light, nit a food liver anyways, very small meals and drink a ton of water! thank you and keep in touch!
jane16431 cindy51948
Posted
Going either 3-5 times per day or being constipated. YUP! I hear you. I have become better at managing that through diet. Another thing my doc said was to consider getting a bidet for home use. He said water cleansing is best. Soaps and loofas are irritating.
Glad you are doing better! Not to be dramatic but this surgery has been life altering.
cindy51948 jane16431
Posted
LIFE ALTERING is exactly the word you need for people going into this surgery need to know! i thought a couple weeks 3-5 max and ill be my old self!!! no way... i might have 7-8 months to go to maybe get to the point i can say im 95%... but in the mean time i can defienitly live my life the way i am now verses before the surgery. sometimes the hemmroids never really go away , like in my case , they become hanging dead skin tags months after the surgery which is fine. so for people thinking they will just disapear they dont in alot of cases. but i loved my Dr, he is a highly regarded RECTAL surgeon and i think alot of people need to there research on that..
jane16431 cindy51948
Posted
Hi Cindy. Well for me "life altering" was not meant as a positive. Yes my two Hems are gone and wont come back but I did not have a chronic problem to begin with. My error was not reading up on this before I had it done which is unusual for me, but in this case it all happened very fast. If I had it to do over i would not have had it done without waiting it out for a couple of weeks. Its possible I might still have needed it. Yet I would avoid this and only have it done if absolutely no other option.
cindy51948 jane16431
Posted
jane, do you mind me asking why you had a "emergency" hemroidectomy? usually these hems are with most if us for years and over time eventually you will need surgery. did these hems happen suddenly? you said they are gone now? do they always go away after surgery or they can stay there with no symtoms ?
jane16431 cindy51948
Posted
Yes, my situation was unusual. I had hems one day before running, due to straining because I was in a rush. Once the hems have been removed , they are gone. However, other (new) hems can still develop in the future.
daniel18685 jane16431
Posted
i have undergone hemorrhoidectomy last year . The doctor told me that this procedure would completely remove my prolapsed hemorrhoid , and here i am still suffering from it . dont know what to do now .
jane16431 daniel18685
Posted
Do you still have a hemorrhoid? Or are you suffering from post surgery issues?
daniel18685 jane16431
Posted
yes i still have prolapsed hemorrhoids
jane16431 daniel18685
Posted
I am curious what the doctor said. Did he miss some? Or, were there too many to remove at once? Or was there another factor?
jane16431
Posted
I wanted to add to the "incontinence" issue. In my case its not really incontinence. Its more like the leaking that pita described. Doc said not to use soap or loofas or scrubbing puffs. These are irritating and will make it worse, especially if any healing is left to be done. Instead just use water, ideally from a shower sprayer. He went on to say that the use of bidets in Europe are a reason that Europeans have less issues than Americans. There are others factors as well. But he stressed to avoid a lot of soaps or scrubbing.