My experience 5 weeks after Haemorrhoidectomy
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After 5 weeks of doing the operation and especially after passing through some really horrible times of pain and misery I promised myself that I owe it to everybody out there to share my experience so that you can derive benefit out of it. I had suffered from haemorrhoids for 20+ years and it is only because I became severely anaemic due to blood loss from passing stools that I was forced to do the operation. With hindsight I could have avoided 20 years of misery, of lost sports, of severe discomfort in cars and planes by taking the plunge and doing it earlier.
First and foremost, Haemorrhoidectomy is a very common operation and albeit there is a very small percentage where things get complicated the cases are getting less and less each year. I'm saying this because each and every person that does this operation will pass through so much pain that instinctively he or she will think that they are one of the few that is unlucky.
Secondly the pain WILL PASS!
I repeat it WILL PASS!
The absolutely horrible, can't take it anymore, about to throw up, about to faint, never going to be the same, never going to be happy, stuffiness, bloated feeling, blade cutting through your backside pain WILL PASS!
Realistically a person who does this operation will experience two annoying factors namely pain and discomfort. In the first few days the pain is so bad that you cannot think of anything else including the discomfort. After that the pain between going to the bathroom will slowly subside but the discomfort will increase primarily due to constipation. Hereunder please find my tips and what I would do differently if I could go back in time.
1. Increase your intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and water weeks before the operation to soften your stools and prepare your body for a life change. This diet change is a must EVEN AFTER the operation unless you’re a masochist and want to pass through it again.
2. Cut out anything that might make you constipated – research. This includes alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, refined foods etc.
3. Do a fresh water enema the day before the operation.
4. Do a list of all the things you missed out on because of your condition and promise yourself to enjoy life more after the operation and to take care more of your physical well being.
5. Mentally prepare that you are going to be in severe pain but also be aware that this is only temporary and that you’ll be tons better after that and the effort would have been worth it. Incidentally I was in excruciating pain for about 5 days, in agonising pain 5 days after that and in manageable pain 5 days after that. By the end of the second week I was 60% better. By the end of the fourth week I was 90% better with only the annoying leakage to take care of. By the end of the fifth week I’m 95% there.
6. Try and limit pain killer as much as possible as they will slow your digestive system and the resulting constipation is worse than the pain.
7. The feeling of still feeling massive haemorrhoids after the operation is normal. This is due to the swelling. The importance of having formed stools that are SOFT is important. Underline formed not diarrhoea as you need your system to re-function even if it means a little more pain.
8. The feeling of passing sharp blades during the first few days is unavoidable. This mixed with blood and excrement is not a pretty felling or site but I PROMISE YOU it will get better.
9. Keep the are dry otherwise you’ll develop sever rash – been there done that – more pain to avoid.
10. Keep moving. The more you move the better your digestive system works, the less laxatives, the less bloated feeling, the happier you will be.
11. Be prepared to go the bathroom at a moments notice.
12. Run a warm sitz bath often – it does wonders to sooth the pain
13. Squat not sit to pass stools. It’s easier to excrete, less painful and quicker. I’m still squatting and there is no way I’m going back to sitting. Before I sometime spent between 30 – 45 min on the loo. Now I’m in an out in 3 minutes.
14. Keep the area clean. Use a bidet, shower or whatever you want. Use only toilet paper to pat dry the excess water. Again with hindsight this should be norm. After all if you covered you hand in excrement you wouldn’t simply wipe it off with toilet paper but you’d wash the hell out of it.
15. Drink lots of water and take a reasonable amount of fibre. Taking fibre without water is a recipe for disaster.
16. You are going to have to live with sanitary pads for a few weeks until the area heals sufficiently. It will get gradually better. I have gained a new respect for women who have to wear these things once a month; very annoying.
17. After you recover promise yourself to share your positive experience and the things that worked out for you on a blog for the benefit of others. It’s kind of a chain get better advice blog.
18. Most important of all – KEEP POSITIVE and take care of your health. You only have one body.
36 likes, 343 replies
gordon44920 glen79281
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i am on 3 weeks and 4 days and believe I'm over the worst. I can relate to your story. My anxiety was that after two weeks I still had what I thought was a pile still prolapsed and had to speak to my consultant for reassurance that it would go eventually. He said about 4-5 weeks from op. On the day of my op I was told it would be 1 to 2 weeks so was quite surprised that I was still on Tramodol 3 weeks later and so were my employers. I will leave it until my 5 week before I tell my story when I hope I will be recovered and not wearing pads and applying sudocream anymore.
Thanks.
glen79281 gordon44920
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gordon44920 glen79281
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glen79281 gordon44920
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sheila19713 gordon44920
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shankar30312 gordon44920
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It has been 3 weeks. I developed Rectal prolapse. Not much pain but I need to put ice pack
me93627 shankar30312
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Two days now having very very painful bm if u can even call it that..
More like a watery discharge. Ive eating. Salads fruits. Protein shakes daily. My meal plan has not changed for the past year. Just ate more beef in past. But not for many months now.
And i try to get 3 liters of water into me daily.
Two days ago mind you. I was perscribed perks as nothing was takin away this pain. Now this. Cant have bm yet i get the urge to but nothing is coming out.
I also have two external hemorrhoids which came about the 2nd week.. Lovely why did i have this done. Just shoot me! Had problem with this for years internal bleeders and external.. And twin had colon cancer and uncle Chrones..
So off work for two more weeks doc. says.. Have not had follow up yet as surgeon is now on holidays Just great...
I have had pain 24/7 not getting better just worse.. No infection. Just lots of swelling.
My question how much longer?
And a kind nurse at hospital. Which i had two visits since because of excurating pain. Said
Wet pads. Put in freezer and put on bottom to ease swelling.. Sounds like a plan if i get to the store to get some of those goddy bulgging pads..
keshia57617 gordon44920
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tomorrow makes me three weeks. it looks worse than it did before and it's still quite very sensitive and painful. hoping the swelling reduces but it's looking like a long road to the end. you're not alone. reading these gives me some comfort especially knowing I'm not alone and so many others experienced exactly my worst moments. thank you
jon74437 me93627
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24 days post op for me now. I read horror stories of the bm pain. I did nothing but a a liquid diet ( smoothies, jello, puddings ) for 5 days post op, and it worked perfectly. No bm pain at all ! Came out soft, though it did feel as though I had to go again. At one point after the bm's it felt like someone had hit my tailbone with a small hammer. But the passing of " razor blades " after the bm's never happened. I slowly started more solid foods after day 7, and still no pain. Three weeks now and am onto meat and everything is fine. Lots of fluids is the trick, and I don't mean just water. I also took Mirilax, and stool softner. The only thing I have continued is the Mirilax as of yet. I am so glad I had this done, I had waited a year because of the fear of the pain I had read about. Anyone reading this do not hesitate. Yes it is uncomfortable, some pain but nothing that can't be tolerated. I was on tylenol 3 and Gabapentin, which worked wonderful. On day 15 & day 17 I was off all the meds, didn't even need any ibuprophen. Smooth sailing from here on out. Good luck to all.
bree96922 jon74437
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Hi. Wondering how you are feeling now? Were your hemorrhoids prolapsed internal ones? Did you have external, also? I am considering this and would like to think my experience will be similar to yours. Thank you!
glen79281
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gordon44920 glen79281
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Plus water is very important. I'm always being told to drink more water but until I had this op I didn't realise how much it helps with bowel movements.
glen79281 gordon44920
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I decided to squat right on the toilet :-) My only concern is that some of the new modern ones are supended from teh gfround and hung to the wall so my fear is that one day I'll be caught in the bathroom with a broken toilet - be very hard to explain - lol
gordon44920 glen79281
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jmehas4 glen79281
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glen79281 jmehas4
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It appears that once they reach Grade 3 or 4 the odds of success falls dramatically. Mine were grade 3 and I tried laser - didn't work. I don;t want to be the bearer of bad news but if I were you I would ready myself to go all the way.
Go for a third party opinion and see what they tell you. While the pain is sever for the first two weeks if I could go back in time I would have done it a decade ago.
gordon44920 glen79281
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jmehas4 glen79281
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glen79281 jmehas4
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jmehas4 glen79281
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