Hemorrhoidectomy recovery experience
Posted , 93 users are following.
I had a hemorrhoidectomy a couple of years ago and I used this site quite a lot during recovery for tips so i decided id finally share what happened with me in case it helps others.
My piles were BAD. they didnt cause me pain but they eventually got to a stage where they were bleeding CONSTANTLY. I had appointments with the hospital (UK- NHS) on and off for about 18 months and was repeatedly told that they're been banded and i should be fine.
The problem continued and I kept going back. After one particular sigmoidoscopy the nurse was wheeling me back and was saying everything was fine. It was at this point i had to stop her and said no, everything wasnt fine. I explained id been in several times before and I kept getting told i was fine only to go home and bleed profusely. The bleeding was excessive to the point that I was anemic and was on verge of a transfusion.
Upon hearing this, the nurse took me back into the surgeon who said he would have another look. I dont know HOW differently he looked but he told me I had an extreme case of circumferencial hemorrhoids that were actively bleeding as i was on the table and that surgery would be required.
I had a weird sense of dread and relief. FINALLY they've found the problem but OH GOD, SURGERY.
I woke after the surgery and was discharged soon after having been told that i may have some discomfort but healing time would be 2-3 days.
I say this with no exaggeration or dramatics but that was just absolute inaccurate bullsh*t. I was in excrutiating pain when the morphine wore off. I couldnt move without severe pain, I couldnt walk or stand up or do anything without help and severe pain.
I didnt need to go the toilet until the following day and every single minute motion caused severe pain and the act of actually passing my stool was almost unbearable.
To give you some perspective on me and my threashold. I've been knocked over by a car and fractured by skull, I've broken my hip, pelvis and elbow in a bad fall, ive had tattoos etc etc....NOTHING comes close to how painful this was.
I dont tell you this to put you off....i tell you this because at one point i found myself sat on the toilet almost in tears (LOL i have to laugh at this now!) wondering if this pain would ever actually end and it was in this mood that i came across this website. It was a weird relief to read that other people have had horrendous experinces too and that it was not just me. I read about having sitz baths and what foods could help with toilet visits etc and I actually had some hope that I would get better.
The only thing that helped with toilet visits was showering after. I cralwed into the shower after each visit and let the warm water wash me up and it soothed the burning pain considerably.
I was bed ridden for 3 weeks and even when i could move around a bit easier on my own, i had these muscle spasms that would come on unexpectedly, cause a short blast of pain and then disappear.
All in all i experinced pain to varying degrees for around a month. I had on and off bleeding for around 1 - 2 months to the point that the doctor actually recommended i wear sanitary pads which i did!
The recovery obviously depends on how serious the piles are but if they ARE serious, you can expect a horrible bumpy ride after. I say this....because I wish someone had told ME this so i at least knew what to expect other than being told id be out of action for 2-3 days. I could have prepared myself a bit for it.
Do I regret the surgery? No way..... it was a month out of my life that wasnt great but its given me a lifelong solution and i've never had problems since.
SO my advice is, get the surgery but mentally prepare yourself for a crap ride afterwards but look forward to being rid of them for good! hurrah!
7 likes, 1223 replies
tonya1975 neil31417
Posted
I am so terrified.
carl43580 tonya1975
Posted
jesshouston tonya1975
Posted
jesshouston
Posted
jenny46037 jesshouston
Posted
Congrats can't wait to be there
latonya16208 neil31417
Posted
Hi I just had the surgery Thursday of last week and had to go to the hospital this pass Monday because I thought I pushed my hemroids back out but m surgeon said that it was normal buy I don't know what I van
jenny46037 latonya16208
Posted
alexis30257 neil31417
Posted
I have never been in so much pain. I wish I never had this done. I'm currently on day 5 and it's been Hell on earth to put it mildly. My poor family is taking care of me and I'm a baby and I'm fine with it. I wish I could go back to the day of surgery and say no. The second + third days I was fine because I DIDN'T have a BM yet. Then I was worried bc I had eaten a lot of non-fibrous foods but by then it was too late. The first BM wasn't too bad...but then let me tell you. Tuesday was pretty horendous. I had 3 BM's and each felt like I was passing a house (someone else said this) By wednesday I get up and am terrified. I'm dreading even having my first BM because I know it's going to be hard. So I'm stalling and then by around 3 I get anxious. My mom gives me barely an enema and I about die. Not only do I pass the HARD STONE like poop but also the urgency to pass more leaves my butt torn apart. I passed 2 more BM's and then almost passed out. I'm awake right now because my butt is in so much pain from today and because I didn't even eat anything all day. I'm calling the doctor in the morning so that I can schedule an earlier appointment. I'm a christian and I've been praying to God all day. Ya'll...I don't know how I'm going to get through this. I'm so scared.
carl43580 alexis30257
Posted
Hun alexis. I'm 5.5 months post op. You need to try and eat normal, but keep up with the fibre. I have been taking Fibregel; as this keeps stools large but soft to help keep things moving. You also need to drink plenty of water.
When going the toilet, try and relax (harder said than done I know), but by getting anxious you will tighten up. I was able to go any where near my but hole for ages, not even to wipe, but I have heard other ppl have put KY jel to help 💩 Slide out easier.
My pain was bearable, except for b/m & then the pain would continue for a couple of hours. My problem thereafter was getting the 💩 Out. I've narrowed slightly, so have to use a dilator, which is horrendous, but has really helped & stools are coming out slightly easier & less painful.
Like you, if I'd of known what this entailed I wouldn't of had it done. I was told 2 wks of pain, which is a lie. I think it will take a good 6-12 months to recovery/heal properly. It's a massive operation in a place that is constantly being used!
I hope things get easier for you xx
melissa45115 alexis30257
Posted
Alexis I cried for the first two days. I am also a Christian and I prayed constantly. I didn't want ppl at my church to know what kind of surgery I had but the pain was so bad I got them to put me on the prayer list. Hot water was my best friend after a BM. I would literally sit down in the tub and scream Thank You Jesus for hot water. If I had known how bad this was gonna be I would not have had the surgery. I promise it does get better though. I am at a phase right now where I am having diarrhea about 15 times a day and it doesn't even burn me anymore. I hope you feel better soon.
melissa45115 carl43580
Posted
Carla how you doing ole gal? I miss you girls but I'm glad to know we are feeling a lot better and don't constantly need this forum lol.
carl43580 melissa45115
Posted
Hi Melissa, lovely to hear from you
💩 Is still an issue... i struggle to get 'all' of it out. It's like the 'muscles' have been damaged or lazy or maybe it's because it's still slightly narrow.
I have to dilate, but coz it's so horrible (& unnatural) I hate doing it, but it has helped. I go back next wk for a check up. Skin tag is still there & hopefully can be removed at some point.
Where r u up to with ur recovery? Xxx
alexis30257 melissa45115
Posted
haha I feel you!! I told this lady at my church and she has been the sweetest and so supportive.
thank you. My BM are the hardest but I'm PRAYING these stool softeners work.
melissa45115 carl43580
Posted
Carla I think I am pretty much healed. I quite taking any kind of miralax or fiber in January and since I've quit I have had the worse diarrhea. I go like ten times a day. If I don't go for a few hours it does hurt really bad at first but it doesn't last. I hate that you are still having problems. I do still bleed at times. I still like using the flushable wipes. I am at a point where I think the surgery was worth it but I never would do it again. I have weird pains down there now too. Idk how long the affects will last.
tonya1963 carl43580
Posted
Hi Carla
I've been back at work 6 weeks now and struggling most days to get there on time. Mornings are the worst and still struggling to heal this damn fissure.I bleed even if only pass wind. 3 months now since the second surgery and at my wits end. 😢
carl43580 tonya1963
Posted
Tonya I remember being like that, I got about 2 minute warning & had an accident (lucky at home) one day!! Awful... but now I am aware of my body and know when I need to go & can control it much easier.
My problem is getting the 💩 Out, it's much easier when I keep up the fibregel.
Glad ur healing well Melissa, great news x
melissa45115 carl43580
Posted
Hey ladies. How is everyone? I'm writing you from my toilet (I know, I know it so been a long time since one of us had to do this). I'm starting to have quite a bit of pain with my BMs and lots of blood. Do y'all think this could still be post op problems? My surgery was the beginning of November. I just recently started having regular poo again and not mushy so idk if that's the problem or what. I would love to hear how y'all are doing these days.
samantha1970 melissa45115
Posted
Hi Melissa,
Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. I'd visit a doctor if I were you. I don't think after 7 months it would be the same issue. I guess you have to work out if the blood is bright red and just on the toilet paper when you wipe. Or if it's coming from inside?
All is ok here. Some of the bridge didn't completely go away, but I'm fine with what's left now. Not perfect but it's ok.
Take care and see the doctor and let us know x
jenniferslice melissa45115
Posted
Dearest Melissa, I 've been hoping for a couple months that someone would post that they're still having issues. I too still have painful episodes and some bleeding, but I remind myself that someone's doctor said the bleeding could last a year. My pain is from post💩 spasms. I'm still learning to ignore them and the urge to try to 💩 again. I end up aggravating everything and have more pain, bleeding and spasms. Occasionally, I use my sitz bath and I'm 6.5 months post op.
Love,
Jenn
melissa45115 jenniferslice
Posted
Hey Jenn I was doing fine with the bowel movements but I'm having a lot of blood now like as bad as it was when I had all the hemmis. I think I'm gonna have to see the doctor. Mine is the one who said u can have bleeding for up to a year. But this bleeding is worse then right after the surgery. It sounds like you may need to see a doctor too. I hate that we are still having butt and poop issues lol.
tonya1963 jenniferslice
Posted
Hi Jen
I'm now 6 months post op and still having issues. I'm going back to the docs today. Still lots of bleeding and pain. Spasms are awful some days and I have trouble going to the loo to 💩 most of the time. I keep trying different medication to help me go. I really am over it and never thought it would last this long.
samantha1970 melissa45115
Posted
Just a thought Melissa, I've been drinking aloe vera juice since January no to be honest forgot I've had an op. It really does help with the intestines. Might be worth looking into. Good luck
jenniferslice melissa45115
Posted
Hi Melissa, I'm waiting until the one year mark before deciding if I want to go back. Unless of course something major goes wrong like what you are experiencing.
Please keep us updated.
Love,
Jenn
jenniferslice tonya1963
Posted
I hear ya, Tonya! I wouldn't wish these spasms on anyone. And it doesn't matter if my 💩 is hard or loose, I still have spasms. Also, I'm still playing around with my diet and OTC meds. Currently, one bowl of raisin bran in the morning and 3 stool softeners washed down with Metamucil every night keeps me regular. That would probably rip a hole in anyone else's gut! I limit my intake of rice and red meat and if I miss a bm one day I take a laxative or else I'll be constipated for 5 days.
Please keep us updated on what your doc says today.
Love,
Jenn
katherine66252 melissa45115
Posted
Please put me on your prayer list. Don't know how much more I can cope with pain after this surgery. K
douglt katherine66252
Posted
Hang in there, it does improve GREATLY with time. I'm now approx.10 months Post Op & glad I went through the procedure. It took me better than a month (only figured 1 week off work but it wound up being a month) to get some normallity but then improved rapidly after that.