Hemorrhoidectomy in 13 days any positive stories
Posted , 9 users are following.
hi,
I've been struggling with hemorrhoids for the past 15 years. After the birth of my second child things really got bad. The hemorrhoids have really destroyed my quality of life over the past two years and after two bandings I have a hemorrhoidectomy scheduled in about 13 days. I have literally tried every over-the-counter, prescription and folklore remedy for hemorrhoids, squatting, ice, epsom salt baths, icing, garlic and nothing has worked. Yes, some things have temporarilyrelieved some symptoms but nothing has been curative. The bandings took care of a couple of internal hemorrhoids, but I am now left with one hemorrhoid that is a combination mixed internal / external. The internal part of this hemorrhoid prolapses with any sort of activity. Even just standing at the sink doing dishes for several minutes will cause it to protrude.
I've been reading many of the posts on this site over the past few weeks. I have taken a lot of the tips to heart and have stocked up on needed supplies. I'm just wondering if someone can speak to the level of pain I could possibly experience?
My first labor was 2 days long and not medicated. The pain I experienced with that was on an animal/ primal level. I say this as I was completely disconnected from reality the pain was so intense and the sounds that came out of me where animal-like in nature. The pain was so intense that for two days I could barely converse, didn't eat, had only a few sips of water given to me by the nurse. My entire focus was inward and just trying to make it through the intensity of the pain. I've never in my life experienced this level of pain I would put it in an otherworldly category. When I imagine the worst pain, excruciating pain, that is my reference point. Is this what I should be expecting post hemorrhoidectomy? Many posters have indicated that the pain was as bad/worse than childbirth. Is this the type of pain people are referring to?
Any positive stories would also be much appreciated especially from anyone with removal of a single mixed hemorrhoid.
thanks!!
0 likes, 21 replies
chelsea86884 cat49131
Posted
Hi Cat,
your story sounds very similar to mine. childbirth made everything worse and after my second i had one that would prolapse and was ruining my life. I had the surgery last summer at 30. Both if my births were with an epidural but the post surgery pain didnt even compare to the contractions before epi. Surgery pain was more of a constant duller pain vs the sharpness of a contraction. i was prescribed percocet and after lots of repeated vomiting and dizziness realized on day 3 that it wasnt going to work for me. I was aboe to get by with alternating tylenol and ibuprofen and topical numbing cremes. your first few bms will be painful, but i promise youll be ok. I am a teacher and i went back to teaching summer school after 11 days. I was no means at 100% but it was doable and that fall i was completely back to normal. you wont reget this surgery!
cat49131 chelsea86884
Posted
hi Chelsea,
Thank you so much for your post. It's great to get a bit of a different perspective on the pain. That being said, I realize that anything could happen and also that the pain may be terrible. I'm just trying to mentally prepare for the worst case scenario with a hope for the best.
I'm glad to hear that I won't regret the surgery. I can go through days or hours where things aren't at their worst (the hem is still there though) and it makes me question whether I'm making the right decision. All I have to do to remind myself though is some light housework or play with the kids and my little problem rears its ugly head and flares up to remind me...
yes, it's time to get this taken care of...
Really hoping that I get my life back and am able to start running and hiking again. Heck even just normal pain-free activities of daily living would be great!!
thanks again for your post it has given me hope!!
k_in_ca cat49131
Posted
Hi cat,
I just had my surgery on the 23rd, both internal/external were removed. It's now day 9 for me. The pain was pretty unreal, I won't lie. Ice packs help a lot- I have kept them on nearly 24/7. Also, some kind of lidocaine cream is a must. In addition to all your pain meds. I was in pain around the clock for the first few days, then it would come and go mostly when my ice packs needed refreshing or I was almost due for pain meds. I've been in bed most of the time, the pressure from standing and walking is just too uncomfortable to be up much but as of today its much better. The problem remains pooping- when I have a BM the pain is just excruciating. Definitely primal animal-sound excruciating! I have had 4 babies and it is so much worse, mainly because with a contraction you get a break but not so with this. I am waiting for this part to get better as everything else has. The past few days I feel pretty good throughout the day (still taking full pain meds) but when I have to go- I dread it and it is so unbelievably painful!!
cat49131 k_in_ca
Posted
hi, thanks for your input. Your comments about the pain as well as your tips have been noted. I find it so odd that the pain is so extreme and yet this is generally performed as a day surgery. I broke my ankle several years ago and required a surgical repair of the break with an overnight hospital stay. I realize that there are other considerations for that type if surgery that needed to be monitored, but I also think that managing such extreme post op hemorrhoidectomy pains for at least 24 hrs would be beneficial. My worst fear us having to call an ambulance in the middle of the night because of pain. I don't have any family where I live and have two little ones.
One of the most frustrating things I've experienced in dealing with these hemorrhoids for so many years is the perception that they're not that big of a deal. People tend to see them as more of an annoyance and an embarrassment and I feel as if the surgery isn't really taken seriously by medical professionals either. Just gonna have to get through it 😦
sus62307 cat49131
Posted
Good day! I hope you are feeling much better by now, and wish you a full recover from your surgery. I hope very much that life is returning to pre-hems for you.
I've been a member of this supportive group for many months. I'm a 70 yo retired librarian, a very active person with the most nuisance case of hems after the birth of my 3 children years ago and years of constipation problems and poor diet. I agree, "people tend to see them as annoyance," but my internal/external fleshy lumps hanging out are now pinching and I can feel them moving around. It's quite disturbing and interfering!
Three colo-rectal surgeons have examined me and diagnosed mixed hems, internal, external. Since the exam, the hems have gotten larger...I wonder, how large and how many can grow over the next say, 10 years of my life?
Two surgeons would do surgery, the third said she would not ever do it because it would be so hard on my body and a long recovery. I don't know who to believe, or what to do.
Any input or thoughts on my situation would be most appreciated.
Sincere good wishes.
amber13270 cat49131
Posted
I had internals and externals grade 3-4 removed 4 weeks ago. The pain with the first BM will be intense, but will not stay that way for long. All the pain otherwise is bearable. I took my pain meds (percocet) around the clock for the first 3 days. I set an alarm and got up in the middle of the night for them. I also took ibuprofen. The bathtub will be your best friend. That's where I spent many hours the first week. I quit taking the narcotic pain meds totally by day 7 and continued with the ibuprofen as needed. You can do this. It will be difficult, but worth it to get your quality of life back.
cat49131 amber13270
Posted
Thanks for your reply Amber!! Do you mind me asking how many hems total you had removed? In addition to worrying about post op pain I've now also become paranoid about incontinence and stenosis. My surgery was delayed so unfortunately with this extra time to wait all I've been doing is reading the horror stories and focusing on the negative statistics. My surgeon has said that because I'm having only one hemorrhoid removed (combination external/internal) that they are not concerned for stenosis or incontinence. Did your surgeon make any indication of the risks of either? thanks again!!
amber13270 cat49131
Posted
I had 2 internals and 2 externals removed. My surgeon told me I would have no problem with incontinence and he was correct. You will have bleeding and discharge for several weeks, but that is not from incontinence. I feel stenosis would be more of a risk because my anus feels almost too tight. Once you have a BM post surgery, just keep making yourself go when the urge strikes. Take your pain meds around the clock for the first several days. Ice packs help too. I wet sanitary napkins, cut them in half, and froze them in a baggie ahead of time. All this won't be easy, but you will get through it. Anyone who thinks hemorrhoids are no big deal has obviously never experienced the feeling of their bum hole on fire! LOL.
Pono cat49131
Posted
Hi Cat,
I'm currently on Day 17 and I'm feeling quite good although still not 100%. The pain was excruciating but with pain meds the first few days I was fine. As for incontinence and stenosis I had the same concerns because I did feel quite tight down there and I didn't seem to have much control over BM. However, I can say after two weeks that function is starting to come back to normal. By the way, I had one internal hemorrhoid removed.
My suggestion to help reduce pain is to clear much of your bowel before the operation by eating a healthy, high fiber diet, and fast a day before. Some also mentioned taking a stool softener before hand which I think is a very good idea because it will help with your first bowel movement. Your first BM will be hard due to constipation from the anesthesia but you should manage.
cat49131 amber13270
Posted
Hi Amber,
Thanks again for your input. Yes hemorrhoids are definitely no laughing matter. Had another consult with my surgeon . The latest from her is that she was recently at a conference and the surgeons there have decided that the pain with a hemorrhoidectomy isn't as bad as traditionally thought . I'm not sure how people who have never gone through the surgery can make these types of decisions. She's also said she doesn't recommend stool softeners post-op as she says that they make people strain. She recommended coffee instead. I also asked her about a topical numbing medication. I've read on this forum about people being prescribed lidocaine. She said that you would not be giving me this as there's a concern for overdose with lidocaine. She had no other recommendation for any sort of topical numbing medicine..? She also said that she would not be prescribing any sort of antibiotic as this would be a "clean" procedure. I've really lost a lot of confidence in her after our most recent consult. Really hoping that her surgical skills are up to the task. Even though I know it's a relatively straightforward surgery, I'm concerned that if she botches the procedure I could end up with some life-altering complications. There's a part of me that feels that I'm just overreacting and then the other side of me is concerned with how different her approach seems to be versus what I have read on this forum and other sources including peer reviewed medical literature. I live in a smaller city and even to have a consult with a specialist in a larger center would be a minimum of nine months wait and then potentially another year before any sort of surgical intervention. After already having dealt with these for years and having them completely affect my quality of life over the past two, I'm not willing to wait potentially another two years before having this problem resolved. Definitely feeling a bit stuck without any options. I'm going in to see my family doctor today for an unrelated issue and may just discuss this matter with her to get her opinion. Thanks again for your feedback, I'll keep updating my status. Only six more days until the procedure now. I'm going to listen to the advice of people who have actually experienced this procedure and adhere to their post-operative tips. Thanks again
cat49131 Pono
Posted
hi Pono,
Thanks for your reply. My plan is to do clear fluids the day before the procedure and then two Fleet enemas to make sure that things are as cleared out as possible. I'm going to be starting stool softeners a few days before my surgery, despite my surgeon advising against them. She claims that they cause people to strain and recommends drinking a coffee instead. I almost fell out of my chair when she made that statement. As mentioned in my reply to Amber, I feel a bit stuck due to my geographic location and limited options for alternate surgeons. In order for me to see a specialist in a larger center I would have to wait a minimum of nine months and then potentially another year before surgery. Just going to have to hope for the best and chose to believe that this is a straightforward procedure and that the surgeon knows what she's doing. 6 days until the big day. Really hoping deep down that I'm making a bigger deal out of everything than I need to and that the surgery is going to help me get my life back. Thanks again for your feedback, I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Pono cat49131
Posted
Hi Cat,
If you don't take stool softener before the operation I don't think it's a big deal. I didn't either. I just ate a healthy meal of vegetables. I can understand your concern about the limited options you have. Not sure if this will ease your mind, however, I would say that hemorrhoidectomies are quite a common procedure with positive success for the most part. Complications can happen regardless of the even the best surgeons but they are few and far from common I believe. Regardless, I'll be sending you some positive thoughts and hoping that all goes well. Don't be afraid to reach out if you have any other questions now or post op.
cat49131 Pono
Posted
Hi Pono,
Thanks for your reply and support!! It really does mean a lot to have complete strangers reach out to provide some positivity.
I spoke with my family doctor yesterday and she provided some reassuring information. Yes, it appears that this surgery is quite common and rather simple in comparison to other surgeries out there. I think I've just spent too much time reading negative stories and I have really blown this whole procedure up in my mind. That's not to say that it isn't a big deal, but I've just turned it into worst case scenario.
My doc reminded me that I'm the one that's been dealing with these hemorrhoids for years now and I know the best ways to manage them, pain to that area, and the regularity of my bowels. She recommended that I continue on with what has worked in the past. Now all I'm doing is just putting the different pieces in place so that I'm as prepared going in and as prepared postoperatively as I can be. That's all that I have control over right now and the rest will be left up to luck. I'll keep you posted on how things go, thanks again!! 5 days and counting...
cat49131
Posted
hi All,
Home now 7 hours post hemorrhoidectomy. The surgeon removed the worse one I had at the 11 o'clock orientation and contemplated removing another at the 7 o'clock, but decided against it as the one she removed apparently had a lot on associated tissue. She was concerned for increased risk of stenosis. Now when I take a look at the site I see a very small lump where the 11 o'clock hemorrhoid was removed and the 7 o'clock one she was concerned about is all flared up. That same one has become thrombosed in the past and I'm worried that it's heading in that direction.
any thoughts?
thanks again
amber13270 cat49131
Posted
How's your recovery going Cat?
cat49131 amber13270
Posted
hi Amber,
Thanks for checking in on me. I would say that overall my recovery is going fairly well. Experiencing some pain which has increased over the past couple of days and having difficulty sleeping as a result, but overall I would say that I'm managing. Thank God for strong pain meds and some of the tips provided on this board. I definitely never want to go through this experience again but I'm getting by. My heart aches for those who may not get the tips and tricks provided on this board or from their surgeon and who are suffering through this on their own.
I'm just over 72 hours post-op and I've already noticed a significant reduction in the swelling. What is a little concerning to me now is that I haven't really had a bowel movement today. My first one was yesterday but today I've only just now had a very small amount and it was flat-ish. I'm trying not to get too paranoid as I recognize that it came out looking probably the way that it does as a result of the swelling that it had to pass through. Would you say this is normal? Did you have anything similar to that?
Going to bump up my laxative dose by a little bit and making sure to stay on top of the stool softeners and lots of water. I've kept my diet very simple and I'm eating soft fibrous foods only.
Again, thanks for any advice you can offer and for checking in on me.
Take care