Hemorrhoids: HAL-RAR + Radiofrequency ablation

Hello, guys!

This forum helped me a lot and I'm very grateful for that. I want to contribute, writing my own recovery story, and I hope it would be a good help to someone. And I apologize for my English ))

Warning. I followed my surgeon recommendations and I described them in details here, but it doesn't mean they would be suitable for you! Always listen to your doctor!

Initial problem:

1. 1 prolapsed internal hemorrhoid (during defecation; can be manually pushed back into the anus with a finger tip) - 3rd degree.
2. 2 non-prolapsed internal hemorrhoids 1st-2nd degree.
3. No pain. No bleeding. No itching.

"Happy shopping" before surgery (recommended by my surgeon when we finally scheduled the day of my surgery). I bought:

1. Hospital bed pads (10).
2. Cotton pads (300).
3. Herbal remedies for wound (anus) healing (herbal bath) - Chamomile, Calendula (Marigold), Salvia, Oak bark.

   How to use: Make a dark brown tea. Cool it down. Put the hospital bed pad on the bed. Lie down on your back. Spread your legs apart. Soak the cotton pad in that "tea" and apply to the anus for 5 mins. Then take another pad and repeat the procedure. I used 10-15 soaked pads twice per day. It keeps wounds clean, decrease the swelling and increase the regeneration speed. Highly recommend.

4. Sea-Buckthorn Seed Oil (1bottle, 30 ml).
5. Suppositories with Sea-Buckthorn Oil (10 packs).

   How to use: Apply the Sea-Buckthorn Seed Oil to the anus, then insert the suppository into the rectum twice per day (morning and late evening) after defecation for 2 weeks (do it very very slowly and carefully). After 2 weeks post-op, use 1 suppository only once per day (late evening). Suppository helps with regeneration and it converts into the liquid oil inside of the rectum and helps with a stool passage (less painful).

6. Sitz bath (never used).

Preparation for surgery:

1. I stopped to eat 2 days prior to surgery and drunk a clear soup (beef-tea), herbal tea and juices only.
2. I had an enema 1 day prior to surgery (late evening) and another one 4 hours prior to surgery. Used the Normacol enema for adults, 130 ml bottle. My bowels were absolutely empty.

Surgery:

It was conducted on the gynecological examination table. They injected something IV and I slept peacefully for 1.5 hours (surgery duration).

What they did to me (surgery):

1. They ligated 6 arteries (HAL) using vicryl suture material (absorbable in 45 days).
2. The did mucopexy - 2 internal 1st-2nd degree hemorrhoids (RAR).
3. Removed 1 prolapsing 3-rd degree internal hemorrhoid (it had a size of a cherry) using radiofrequency scalpel with ablation.

"Wake up, everything is done":

When I woke up, nothing bothered me aside of dizziness. No pain. Nothing. My surgeon gave me common recommendations (part of them are listed above) and meds (non-opioid painkillers [NSAID's] and stomach protectors. He told me to use them for 6 days only.

Other "lifestyle" recommendations:

1. You have to have someone to take care about you and prepare food for you for 2-3 weeks. In my case, it was my really awesome husband. I'll be grateful for his kindness, understanding and patience to the end of my life.
2. Be, literally, bed ridden for 2 weeks (my surgeon repeated it twice).
3. Don't seat for 3 weeks.
4. Keep your wounds clean (use water and baby soap) and dry.
5. Keep your wounds constantly aerated - no underwear, no sanitary pads, no adult pampers for 3 weeks.
6. Do not wait for pain and use painkillers regularly (every 6-8 hours).
7. Don't use bath for 2 weeks (risk of bleeding), quick showers only.
8. Clean your wounds after every defecation using water and baby soap only.
9. Don't drive the car for 3 weeks (if you need to go somewhere, do it lying down on the back seat).

Diet recommendations (to follow them during 1.5-2.0 months post-op):

Warning. I've never had any constipations, my stool always was regular and normal, so beware, it might be not suitable to you!

1. Regulate the softness of feces using a lot of liquids - clear soups, tea, water - 2.5-3.0L per day. The surgeon told me, that an ideal stool has to be soft, but formed.
2. Eat the steamed and blended vegetables.
3. Eat the steamed and blended white meat (chicken, rabbit) and fish.

   That's all...

4. No alcohol. No red meat. No fried, salted, cured food. No bread, cookies, etc. No fresh vegetables and fruits (steamed only). No milk products (cheese, especially) aside of yogurts.

   The surgeon didn't prescribe me any stool softeners and laxatives. Also, he didn't prescribe me any antibiotics.

Okaaayyy...

"Happy" first week:

The pain was severe, but more or less manageable with painkillers.

I was in the bed almost 24/7.

I had zero appetite and ate only clear soups and drunk a lot of herbal tea and water.

Also, I used suppositories (twice per day) and did a lot of herbal baths using cotton pads (as I explained it earlier).

"Ecstatic" second week:

I started to eat at the end of the first week and my first stool happened on the 7th day post-op. It was...well...interesting. Lol. I was off of painkillers already and I really thought I would die. The stool was soft and formed, but it felt like I was giving birth to a very very big hedgehog.

The pain after stool lasted for 5-6 hours and I used 1 pill of painkiller, because that pain was hardly manageable. Other stools were the same and I used painkillers after them for the whole week.

I didn't have any bleedings, any unusual discharges and smells, just severe pain during defecation and more or less manageable pain after that.

I had stools 1 time per day only (morning; my normal pre-op regime) and I was in the bed almost 24/7.

Also, I continued to use suppositories (twice per day) and did a lot of herbal baths using cotton pads.

"Glimpses of hope" third week:

The pain during defecation and after that started subside gradually. I didn't use any painkillers, everything was manageable.

I started to take hot baths and it was really heaven on the earth.

I continued to keep my diet and continued to use suppositories (once per day, late evening) and did a lot of herbal baths using cotton pads.

Also, I started to walk more and help my husband to do chores (no hard work and not for too long).

Everyday I felt better and better.

"The light at the end of the tunnel" forth week:

The pain during defecation and after that was almost insignificant. I would say it was more a discomfort feeling, than an actual pain.

I had a stool once per day (morning) as usual and it was soft and formed. The diameter of feces was almost the same as I had pre-op.

I started to seat for 5-15-30 minutes. It wasn't painful, but uncomfortable.

I continued to keep my diet and continued to use suppositories (once per day, late evening) and did a lot of herbal baths using cotton pads.

I started to go out often and walk a lot (shopping or just simple walk without any goal).

Now, it is 5th post-op week and I'm doing well. I continue to keep my diet, do herbal baths and don't use suppositories anymore. I clean myself with water and baby soap after every defecation and don't wear underwear at home.

I continue to visit my surgeon every week to control the process of healing and every time he tels me "good girl". Lol.

I have two jobs and I want to give really big hug to my surgeon, because he warned me, that the recovery process would take 4-6 weeks, so I signed myself off of work for 6 weeks.

As you can see, my recovery period was normal and without complications, but it didn't last for 2-3 days as many advertisements say. Don't believe them. The full recovery takes a month! Don't think it is a minor surgery. It is not!

I want to say to you, guys, prepare yourselves for surgery thoroughly. Ask (hire) someone to take care about you and your kids for first 2 weeks at least. Take a break from work for 3-4 weeks at least. Be, literally, bed ridden for first 2 weeks. Use painkillers (they reduce pain and reduce spasm of the internal sphincter). Don't tolerate the pain. Keep the strict diet and really, really drink 2.5-3.0L of liquids. Keep your wounds clean and dry. Don't think about your anus 24/7, distract yourselves with books, tablets, phones, TV, etc. Stay positive.

All of that feels like a walking on a thin rope, but if you are very slow and careful, everything will be alright. Don't play a hero, let yourselves to be vulnerable.

My surgeon said to me: "Don't be afraid of pain. It is a good pain. It reminds you that you don't have hemorrhoids anymore...". Wise words.

I wish you, guys, to be healthy and happy!

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