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Hemorrhoidectomy- will it ever gets better?

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Gettingbetter2
Gettingbetter2

Hi everyone! 

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience as they helped me getting through this recovery tremendously! 

Every body is a little different, reaction to the traumatic surgery, pain level, bowel movement BM, recovery time. I hope in sharing my journey, it’ll reassure someone that there is light at the end of the tunnel! 

I’m a very healthy woman in her 30’s with an active life style and balance diet habit. I exercise 2-3 times a week consistently ever since university days. Less than handful of times of constipation in my entire life.   My profession also requires me to be on my feet most of the time. I’m always moving. I would never ever imagine myself needed this surgery. 

So what I didn’t know was I have a family history of weaker veins and development of hemorrhoids. So what happened was I gave birth to my two beautiful children.  During all the pushing, my anus basically inflated into a golf ball. It subsided after, but ever since the area has loser skin and weaker veins which leads to hemorrhoids right at the opening and extended to internal, circumferential all around. Every time when they flared up, I’d be in extreme pain on bed rest for a week! 

So finally my GP told me to consider this surgery since after 6 years, they’re not reducing and I’m not having any more babies.  So I did it. The surgeon removed 4 decent sized external/internal hemorrhoids. Not sure if they considered a protruding ones becase the base is external and extending internally. It was very extensive that the surgeon reluctantly left a few anterior and posterior skin tags. She explained that if she removes all, my skin will be too tight and my opening will be way too small for passing stool. Even going through this traumatic surgery, I’m not going to have a baby bum. Oh well. 

The recovery of this surgery is longer than most surgery. I read a few  people recovered within a week- wow.  And some, 6 weeks. It all depends on the location and the size of the hemorrhoids +\- fissures. My recovery time is about average I would say. Not as bad as some people posted here and worse than some super-human-1&2-weeks recovery.  I would say the recovery is like the following:

First 5 days : Discomfort, and worsen after BM after day 3  (because of the local anesthetic freezing- save my life!! Only needed tramadol for pain, sometimes Advil to top up)

Second 5 days : Excruciating pain and bed ridden (spams after each BM, almost like contraction during labour that lasts 1-2 hours and needed Percoset —and still painful with meds )

Third 5 days : Tolerable pain ( 50% better, tramadol was enough to control the pain)

Fourth 5 days : Discomfort most of the time  and tolerable pain after BM ( 60-70% better; only taking tramadol after each BM; able to get out of the house briefly; drainage stopped; and still off work)

Fifth 5 days:  Pain free!! Slight discomfort after BM but no painkiller needed. There are a few small lumps still. They were hard, but getting softer and smaller each day.  Slight tenderness when pressure applied to lumps. I massage some hemorrhoid gel to help reduce them. 

So the pain will pass!!! It’s like a miracle that the pain is gone over night out of nowhere!! 

What helped me to recover:

1) right before going into the operating room before surgery, Ask and REMIND your surgeon to give you a good amount LOCAL ANESTHETIC  freezing to the area. It will numb your area for a good 72 hours and slowly subside after. From what I read, this save me for A LOT of grief. My pain level for the first night was 1. Second/third day maybe 2. My first BM was easy and pain free because the area was completely numbed. This is MAGIC and you need it!

2) Before surgery 1-2 day, eat clean. The night before surgery, use an enema to clean your system 

 3) Diet: first 5 days-soft food/lots of soup/stool bulking food like apple and pear and banana. After 5 days - slowly increase texture of food and the amount of food. If BM is too painful, stop eating high texture food.  Fruits are great -fine fibre vs coarse. 

3) Water- as you eat more, drink more. 

4) Stool softener-  take it religiously. VOID CONSTIPATION AT ALL COST. Do not take laxative regularly though  becase your body will depend on it and it might give you diarrhea. Stool softener will not build dependency.  But, if you have constipation, then take laxative as a one time thing. 

5) Squirt bottle for cleaning after BM. Isn’t he early days, even baby wipes hurt. Squirt bottle works so well!!

6)Sitz bath after BM and whenever pain elevated. I used a baby tub inside my bath tub. Some days, I lived in the bath tub. 

7) Pain meds: some opioid pain meds can cause constipation, BUT take them still, especially the first 10 days. Take them when the pain is level 3-4. Do not wait until 8-9 as it doesn’t work as well at that point. Drink a lot of water and take stool softener to compensate the side effect. Adjust your pain meds intake according to your pain level. You may not need to take Percocet around the clock. 

So I’m 3 weeks post surgery now, pain is gone. But if I eat something more textures like seeds and nuts, my BM will hurt. At 2 weeks mark, I was so worried about irregular BM and strong urgency to go. But now, it’s better 90%.  Once a day in the morning. Still taking stool softener- maybe forever!

 I’m trying to do some mild exercise today. Over the last 3 weeks, I lost 10 lbs and my muscle definition. I’m just happy that I’m returning to (almost) normal!  Hope this give you hope in your recovery!! 

Good luck!! 

1 like, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • me93627
    me93627 Gettingbetter2

    Posted

    Week 9. Just when you think you are getting better Then bam right back to having painful bm with pain lasting for hours later. . First day I've had no blood. But had a harder stool n very painful while passing.

    Stool was very thin like ribbion until yesterday n today it has some thickness to it.. Only because i didn't take stool softener.

    Will i ever heal...

    • Gettingbetter2
      Gettingbetter2 me93627

      Posted

      Oh Nooooo! I feel your pain! That is what I’m scared of.  Because I know how this is like- one day with mild discomfort and next day excruciating pain; and the day after is pain free again. And who knows when this will be consistent! 

      My BM is much thinner because of the stool softener too. And depending on how much I eat, I found that I have to take diffeeent amount of stool softener! During the first 10 days, I ate so little that my stool softener gave me diarrhea, so i adjusted to less. Now with regular diet and smaller portion, I have to take full prescribed amount. A few days ago I had a big meal, and oh my, my BM was harder, it started bleeding a little and almost cried. I had to rest for the entire afternoon.  Thank goodness I’m okay right now. But fingers crossed!!!!! 

    • me93627
      me93627 Gettingbetter2

      Posted

      I don't know if age has anything to do with the healing process but i didn't bleed until 5 weeks in. Reason why went in as i was bleeding for 8 months prior to surgery. Internal roids cut n cotorized. I like yourself have always been fit n my diet fairly healthy n clean most times.

      I'm 56 and my job consists of walking n lifting 8 hr shifts. I tried going back to work after 6 weeks but by end of week i was back to the starting gate. The walking put a lot of pressure and pain inside. So off work again. Hope to go back Monday. But Wed n today Fri. BMs put me back with severe pain.. I have a high pain talorence but this is a very sensitive area.

      I still do sitz baths. Take stool softener. Get plenty of rest.

      Surgeon wanted to put me under to do rectal exam as I'm still way to sore and he cant get near inside to check..Also said he may cut again.

      Well i felt better last week so i cancelled that procedure .. Even the thought of having this type of surgery again scares me beyond words.

      So i pray this is or was the last bout of pain I have.. Back on stool softener which i will be taken for the rest of my life.

      I just want my life back.. Tried exercising last week n some cardio. Well again put me back.

      So gonna give it another try this weekend.

      I will not let this control me..

      Time to fight back n get back to normal.

      I will win! Enough already...

      So upset n tired of this I sat down n had a good cry today.

      Sounds like you are recoverying well.

      Happy for you.

      Well wishes.

    • Gettingbetter2
      Gettingbetter2 me93627

      Posted

      I think age definitely is a factor. Age is also one of the reason my GP wanted me to get it done now : (1) faster healing time when younger, (2) it will not get better in its own. 

      I know what you mean by pressure. Sometimes when I walked a lot, I feel the pressure and heaviness. I have to sit to reset it. I never envy people with office job but now I do! How can they go back to work after 2-3 weeks?! I’m taking my 6 weeks off and then it’ll be Christmas. So I basically time it that I’ll be off work until January. (Surgery was in mid November)

      I hope that you don’t have to go under the knife again! I can’t imagine going through all the stages of recovery again. Judging from your 8 weeks post-op, normally your superficial wound from surgery should be healed. The bleeding maybe from a new wound. I don’t want to speculate too much. I hope this is only temporary and hope stool softener will help!! 

      You can do this!! You will get through this!! You’re almost there 😊

    • me93627
      me93627 Gettingbetter2

      Posted

      Thank you for positive feedback.

      It was a rough week only 2 good days last week. A bad day yesterday as i went to the lou 5 times. Crazy as never in my life have I ever been on the tolite that much. Well today i shall give it another try n go back to work. After having off another 4 weeks..

      All that walking is scaring me as this is what caused me to relapse. The more rest the weaker I get it seems.

      10 weeks tomorrow.

      Enough already.

    • Gettingbetter2
      Gettingbetter2 me93627

      Posted

      Hi there! Just checking in on how you’re doing! Hope you’re improving. 10 weeks is a very long time. 😉

    • me93627
      me93627 Gettingbetter2

      Posted

      Well it's like one day fine then then next day back with pressure discomfort like today.

      BM still like cactus coming out. Pain is much better tho.

      I passed on second surgery. Maybe i shouldn't have but i don't want to go through this again. Im thinking have anal strictures. Not back to work as i cant do my job in this much discomfort. Going to call tomorrow n rebook with surgeon as I cant continue living like this... Still cant see him doing a rectal exam without putting me out..

      My stool is so thin and still spots of blood which i thought last week had disappeared.

      Just taking one day at a time..

      Thx for asking.

      Hope u r well.

  • Gettingbetter2
    Gettingbetter2

    Posted

    Okay, I was going to work on arms and shoulders today, using much lighter weights : 10 -15lb dumbbell . But I was only able to 1/4 (15min). For some reason, I felt discomfort / pressure 5 mins in. So instead of standing, I decided to sit down while doing swimmer press, biceps curls, etc. It helped! But a few set later, I decided to take it easy and didn’t want to create any complications!  I’ll try something different tomorrow. 
  • sez123
    sez123 Gettingbetter2

    Posted

    Hi there

    I’m also in my thirties. Fit/healthy.   Needed a haemorrhoidectomy after birthing my second.   

    I’m actually makin the very painful decision to wean off breastfeeding as j suspect the hormones are binding me up preventing healing

    All I eat is fruit and veg /oats. Take a high strength softener and drink water so why are my bm even remotely difficult to pass?!! 

    I suspect hormones ...   it’s gotta be

    My son is 4 months old and I hate that I have to wean but I’m beside myself with dealing with that area....   truly 

    I’m still in pain while I go and may need the wounds scraped to encourage healing but without making sure my stool is ultra soft First I’m hesitant to have that op 

    Did u breast feed your kids/or noticed constipatiom as a result of it??

    Just need some solace from one Mum to another 😒

    Take care.  Your post will help many xx 

    • Gettingbetter2
      Gettingbetter2 sez123

      Posted

      I’m surprised to learn  more and more that healthy and fit people who don’t have issue with constipation experienced hemorrhoid problem. Childbirth seems to be a huge trigger! 

      Constipation after pregnancy is actually common because of hormonally changes overall. I’m not sure if it is directly related to breastfeeding or not.  I didn’t have constipation when I breastfed my children fortunately. 

      Sounds like you have done everything you could already like taking stool softener, healthy diet, high fibre food and drink tons of water.  Have you tried laxative? I know it’s not recommended for long term use, but if you’re constipated and BM is so hard, it may not be a bad idea for short term or only use as needed. 

      I would not beat myself up from weaning breastfeeding if I have had constipation and painful BM for 4 months, on top of recovering from pushing a human out of your body and countless sleepless nights!!!! You have done your best already, mama! Plus, 6 months is appoarching where your baby will start solid food and depend less on milk. 

      I would definitely recommend you to resolve your constipation before the surgery though!!! It’ll be suicidal to have constipation while recovering from a Hemorrhoidectomy. 

      For most people, hemorrhoidectomy is a painful surgery that requires long time to heal. Make sure you have someone to help you with your baby (almost full time) after surgery.  Your first 1-2 weeks will be almost bed ridden and hard to take care of a baby or toddler. I remember how cute but demanding they were at that age! 

      Hope you feel better soon!!  You will feel better and feel better about yourself! It took me a couple years to be back in pre-babies shape. Don’t give up! You got this mama! 

    • Gettingbetter2
      Gettingbetter2 sez123

      Posted

      Hi there,

      Sorry I thought I replied but the respond didn’t show up. Poor mama, I feel for you! I would definitely NOT going into this surgery being constipated. It’s be the worst nightmare. The number one advice that I surgeon gave me was to avoid constipation at all cost in order to recover from this surgery.  

      I’m know it’s common to experience to have  constipation during or after pregnancy becase of hormonal changes. But I’m unsure if breastfeeding contributes to this. I didn’t have constipation while breastfeeding my children fortunately!

      I would not beat myself up from weaning my child from breastfeeding after 4 months where if I had to endure 4 months of hemorrhoid pain, pain in BM and countless sleepless nights.  You have already tried your best!! Hope this will resolve soon!! Good luck! 

    • sez123
      sez123 Gettingbetter2

      Posted

      I actually already had the surgery wheb bub was 3.5 weeks old 😔

      It’s been a rocky recovery post op.   It was absolutely horrendous 

      This second small op is due to the fact that I still had pain before a bm and some bleeding which my surg said was due to two wound that hasn’t fully healed so he was going to scrape them to encourage further healing 

      I think the pain I now have is due to hormones just making my stool harder so not as easy to pass as it should be 

      I’m trying movichol which is stil on the long term use safe list 

      Ur right I did need full time help post op.   It was a nightmare to say the least (I have a 2.5 yo as well ). Good times ...   not! 

    • Gettingbetter2
      Gettingbetter2 sez123

      Posted

      I feel for you!! With a 2.5 year old toddler too!! I must be a nightmare! With the second surgery, hopefully it will heal better! It’s a tough area to heal with daily irritation from BM. I hope the new stool softener will solve the problem! 

      Hugs 🤗 

  • sez123
    sez123 Gettingbetter2

    Posted

    I’m trying very hard to persist with bf  I’m not coping with the possibility of weaning

    I’m trying to add movichol which I’m hoping will ease my issues.   I already take x2 plain coloxyl a night

    I’m just taking things day by day.  I’m just not sure if there should be any pain 3 months on. 

    It is getting better I guess slowly but surely 

    I’m glad ur healed up and better.  We need our strength to be Mums ey 

    Thank u for responding

    Hugs 

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