My experience 5 weeks after Haemorrhoidectomy
Posted , 172 users are following.
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
bertha44208 glen79281
Posted
These likely go away! Please tell me yes I don’t want this to all be for nothing ... thanks
robert37131 bertha44208
Posted
I’m sure there are plenty of people who haven’t had anywhere near the pain I’ve had.
After every bm I am in terrible pain for approximately 12 hours ...... pain that is unbearable!! On a positive note you aren’t suffering that so maybe you’ll be a lot more fortunate than me.
The docs think I now have a fissure and after reading about this pain on google I think it is a fissure I have ...... I’ve been given a new date Re-enter hospital in early July - I just hope I can wait that long !!
If I had the option over again I would never have this operation !!
It’s crazy how there is absolutely NO pain approx 12 hours after every bm - but my oh my, those 12 hours are excruciating!!
As for the return of your two piles - I was warned mine could come back ....... and they have !!
Sorry I can’t be more helpful
Jonlb79 bertha44208
Posted
Hi Bertha,
My whole first week I constantly felt like I had to poo but nothing would come out. I constantly felt pressure. Also, the things that feel like hemorrhoids might just be tissue that is left over. I felt that too and it eventually went away. I don't even remember when, but one day I woke up and they were just gone. Hopefully they're not in my bed somewhere. Now that I think about it.
theresa66255 robert37131
Posted
Robert, yes a fissure will hurt up to 8 hrs or more. I had a fissure before surgery and I had to lay in bed 8 hrs after every BM. It was horrible. They have me oxy to take and it still didn't help with the pain. I had to have the surgery along with external hems. I don't feel the fissure now but the hems are still painful even at 8 days post op. Have u had surgery for the fissure? I wish u the best.
robert37131 theresa66255
Posted
Theresa,
I’ve got an appointment for the hospital early July - I attended an appointment with a surgeon/consultant for him to check what was causing all the pain but my butt was swollen and very very painful to the touch so he said I’d need to be seen under general anaesthetic in order to check what he believed will probably be a fissure. I am hoping that during the time I am under the anaesthetic they sort the problem because this pain is crazy every time I have a bm ...... and I mean beyond crazy pain !!
I am not even enjoying any part of my life due to this ...... and I have often felt suicidal due to the excruciating pain.
I just hope it can be sorted in a manner as painless as possible ..... no doubt it will be very painful but if I could at least be told IT WILL HEAL I’ll have some hope !!
theresa66255 robert37131
Posted
Robert hang in there, I had to wait about a mth before my fissure @ hem surgery. I would have to hit the bed for 8 hrs after a BM with the fissure and when I went to the Doc. She couldn't touch it because I actually screamed out loud when she tried. I had the surgery I'm now 10 days post op. The fissure no longer hurts but my hems are still very sore. I read a fissure feels 100% better after surgery. Just take one day at a time. I was lucky I would have a BM every 3 days and spend 8 hrs in bed. The oxy never touched the pain so I know how u feel. I missed a lot of work days to but thankfully I had sick time. When is surgery? My doc still recognized i had a fissure even though she couldn't examine it. Hopefully u don't have hemorrhoids too. They are painful after surgery. I still have a hard time sitting. And burn after a BM. Thank gosh for stool softeners.
robert37131 theresa66255
Posted
theresa66255 robert37131
Posted
robert37131 theresa66255
Posted
I was in so much pain this afternoon I was in tears !! Seriously there are times when this pain is so so unbearable- I would understand if someone ended it all by accidentally taking too many painkillers .... or even intentionally taking too many.
If that sounds drastic it’s just an example of how much pain that comes with a fissure ...... I couldn’t imagine anyone having more than one fissure at a time.
I think I will try and find out who to contact and see if I can bring my hospital op forward ...... I’ve never considered that due to the fact that the NHS is so stretched that I never thought contacting them to ask for my appointment to be brought forward was even possible but thanks for mentioning it.
Bob
robert37131 theresa66255
Posted
I was in so much pain this afternoon I was in tears !! Seriously there are times when this pain is so so unbearable- I would understand if someone ended it all by accidentally taking too many painkillers .... or even intentionally taking too many.
If that sounds drastic it’s just an example of how much pain that comes with a fissure ...... I couldn’t imagine anyone having more than one fissure at a time.
I think I will try and find out who to contact and see if I can bring my hospital op forward ...... I’ve never considered that due to the fact that the NHS is so stretched that I never thought contacting them to ask for my appointment to be brought forward was even possible but thanks for mentioning it.
Bob
theresa66255 robert37131
Posted
Call them and tell them how bad your pain is. Insist on moving the appointment. U have to. I know about fissure pain, and I played in bed for 8 hrs in pain so I know what u are talking about. Surgery took care of that fissure pain. Yes I hurt a little while after a BM but it's from the hemrohoid I had surgery on. I don't feel the fissure pain anymore. I hope you call them and they move your appointment. If not try to find another doctor.
theresa66255 robert37131
Posted
Are u in the United States? I don't know what NHS is. I hope the move your appointment. It's worth a try. Or find another Dr. , July is too long for fissure pain. Keep me posted
.
theresa63071 robert37131
Posted
Yes, its really grim and I honestly feel genuine sympathy for you.
In the end I found a few things that helped (sorry, a few of them are rather basic):
Going to the loo .... I know this sounds gross but in the end I took the grid off my shower and actually squated in the shower whilst aiming the shower at the "pain" ! it really helped. Can't believe I am sharing this! lol. Thank God for bleach!
I also bought these little relief pacs from amazon. You put them in the freezer and they fit neatly where it hurts :-(
Lastly ... no underwear .... let the air do its magic.
I did ofcourse take loads of pain killers but they do constipate you so its a bit of win, lose situation.
oh yes, and "steri gel" it has anaesthetic in it. You can chuck limitless amounts up there!
You will feel better soon even though it may not seem that way now.
I felt like i may actually die... and considered serious drugs....
theresa63071
Posted
I hope you feel better soon.
Best wishes
robert37131 glen79281
Posted
theresa66255 robert37131
Posted
I'm in the United States. I hope u can get your appointment moved up.
robert37131 theresa66255
Posted
Right now the pain has subsided - thank God !!
Just the thought of going to the loo fills me with utter dread...... and I’ve been doing the squatting in the shower for many many weeks already. And I agree it really helps at the time but as soon as I’m out and dried ....... the pain hits again.
I am unaware of these gel pads and have never actually used anything COLD to relieve the pain ..... I have a gel filled pad which I put in the microwave and when it’s at a sufficient heat I wrap it in a cloth and sit it against my butt exactly where the pain and that does help a bit but the pain is never away until the usual 10 - 14 hour period is up.
And as for steri gel I’ve never heard of it but I have Lidocaine 5% cream which I believe is the strongest available but it does absolutely nothing to touch the pain.
I was thinking about buying a freeze spray (pain relief spray) and trying that - possibly using the heat gel pad intermittently with the cold spray.
To be honest I’d try ANYTHING !!!!
Thanks for your messages - they do help.
Bob