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
robpier glen79281
Posted
I am beginning day 6 post-op of 3 hemmhoroidectomies.
I feel reassured re: swelling, pads, blood and feces mess, squatting, water and fiber.
I’ve been pretty good, though will boost up fruits. Pat dry with slightly wet paper helps then Small witch hazel pad soothes before using adhesive pad.
Going right to shower and bath maybe 8 times yesterday. Gets messy and have urge to clean up in middle of pain frequently to spare my wife. Feelings of embarrassment and shame cannot be helped much. Was hoping to be back at work in 7 days or at least work from home. No clue when I will be able to ‘sit’ in a chair. Thanks much.
colby48070 glen79281
Posted
been 5 weeks tomorrow feel fine when i wake up then go to the bathroom a couple times then i feel like i have a really bad cramp inside and only gets better by walking then get to go to the bathroom a little over and over then i take a couple ibuprofen to take away some of the pain still taking miralax 1 time a day was doing three feels like its never gonna end any suggestions would be great
robert37131 glen79281
Posted
i replied to this post early in my recovery from my stapled hemorroid op which I got done in JANUARY 2018 ........ I complained early on about the terrible pain I was suffering and how even the strongest painkillers never helped.
well, 17 months later I still have excrutiating pain after each and every bowel movement.
I would far rather be on here telling you how things have improved greatly but they haven't - the truth of the matter is that the pain is still horrendous after every bowel movement and I am in bad pain for hours afterwards. Here's the good bit ....... after the pain subsides I am completely pain-free until my next bowel movement. I believe I developed one internal hemorrhoid due to over exertion or straining to do the toilet very early after my op. My fault? Possibly, but either way, the fact is I'm in the most horrendous pain and even after a further TWO exploratory operations the docs said they cant see anything that could be causing this pain and they've now more or less given up and now I've no where to turn with no further follow up treatment proposed or expected !!
I've done all the stool softeners, the changing of diets and strongest if pain meds ...... nothing helps any and now I feel as though I just have to put up with the pain.
I can only hope my experience is so unusual that no one else is in the same position because its destroying me mentally and physically.
I WOULD NEVER ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO HAVE THIS PROCEDURE DONE .... but I would also tell them that my experience seems to be extremely isolated even though I've read about so many folk who have terrible pain for a lot longer than most folk talk of ......its a horrible op and people should be made far more aware of the pain levels expected.
Today has been a really good pain-free day ....... simply because I have not had to go to the toilet !!! INCREDIBLE ISN'T IT !!
anonymous34027 glen79281
Edited
i am writing this because i made a promise to myself during the recovery that i would also be sharing my experience here once i am done with the surgery. I am a 26 year male. I got this problem during February 2019 and tried conventional method of treatment for 4 and a half months. I had my surgery done on 20th of June 2019. And oh god, the pain that i had to undergo for the first week was excruciating to say the least. I used to cry thinking what had i done to deserve this kind of pain. The pain kept on getting better starting with the second week. And in almost a month, i was 95 percent healed. As of today, i am glad that i decided to go through the surgery. Thank you God for giving me back my normal life once again. I can workout again, i can play sports and go to the toilet like i used to before without feeling any pain. To all my friends out there who are recovering, i wish a speedy recovery. And trust me, this surgery is 100 percent worth it. All the best. May god blesss you all.
keshia57617 glen79281
Posted
I'm 3 weeks post op and very curious about how long the swelling takes to go down? it is very sensitive and uncomfortable. feels much like the hemorrhoid all over again but worse wrt the pain. do u remember how long it took and was it loose or normal afterward? I have one large swelling with a number of smaller nodules all around.
theresa63071 keshia57617
Posted
Hello,
It is hard to know and to be honest I did not have the best experience.
I became constipated and to cut a long(rather grim) story short I ended up with new heammoroids which I had to have removed a while later.
I would recommend you go and have it checked .. find out the surgeons name and call the secretary to attend their clinic and check it's not Infected.
I had two styles of removal the first time. Open ... where they they cut quartarise (inside) and banded where they place surgical bands until they fall off, the latter was lumpy.
I apologise if my reply is unhelpful but what I will say is post operation I was in agony for 5 weeks and although I had another operation it was better than the first, now everything is healed no problems.
keshia57617 glen79281
Posted
I'm 3 weeks post op and very curious about how long the swelling takes to go down? it is very sensitive and uncomfortable. feels much like the hemorrhoid all over again but worse wrt the pain. do u remember how long it took and was it loose or normal afterward? I have one large swelling with a number of smaller nodules all around.
jennifer39681 glen79281
Posted
6 weeks post op - still having issues with pain during a BM and heaven forbid if I have to take more than one in a day. At least it doesn't feel like someone is trying to break my tail bone off anymore, just razors trying to shoot their way out of the darkness even if the stool is small in circumference. Did the surgery make it shrink?
i take in my metamucil at least once a day and still taking a softener 2x. l still have a little discharge. its smelly. Anyone else have that or do I need to call my Dr?
I am able to sit for my 8 hour job at a desk now and have basically gone back to my normal diet.
I guess, I'm just wondering when it will stop hurting. After how many weeks is the pain finally fully gone?
robert37131 glen79281
Posted
I posted this reply 6 months ago and it appears some egomaniac with too much power deleted it under the auspices of being an admin. How dare he !!
robert37131
robert37131
glen79281
Posted 6 months ago
i replied to this post early in my recovery from my stapled hemorroid op which I got done in JANUARY 2018 ........ I complained early on about the terrible pain I was suffering and how even the strongest painkillers never helped.
well, 17 months later I still have excrutiating pain after each and every bowel movement.
I would far rather be on here telling you how things have improved greatly but they haven't - the truth of the matter is that the pain is still horrendous after every bowel movement and I am in bad pain for hours afterwards. Here's the good bit ....... after the pain subsides I am completely pain-free until my next bowel movement. I believe I developed one internal hemorrhoid due to over exertion or straining to do the toilet very early after my op. My fault? Possibly, but either way, the fact is I'm in the most horrendous pain and even after a further TWO exploratory operations the docs said they cant see anything that could be causing this pain and they've now more or less given up and now I've no where to turn with no further follow up treatment proposed or expected !!
I've done all the stool softeners, the changing of diets and strongest if pain meds ...... nothing helps any and now I feel as though I just have to put up with the pain.
I can only hope my experience is so unusual that no one else is in the same position because its destroying me mentally and physically.
I WOULD NEVER ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO HAVE THIS PROCEDURE DONE .... but I would also tell them that my experience seems to be extremely isolated even though I've read about so many folk who have terrible pain for a lot longer than most folk talk of ......its a horrible op and people should be made far more aware of the pain levels expected.
Today has been a really good pain-free day ....... simply because I have not had to go to the toilet !!! INCREDIBLE ISN'T IT !!
michael87035 glen79281
Posted
2 years on I still have troubles, mainly getting constipated and having to strain, luckily I don't experience the pain I suffered in the first year, I too live a life on stool softeners just to avoid becoming blocked and partly regret that I had the operation. I can only add that it does improve with time and I haven't had to go back for further exploratory work, which I can only have sympathy for but I hope it gets better soon.
robert37131 michael87035
Posted
Thanks for your reply Michael.
The pain I get is really bad - I honestly wouldn't have got the op if I'd known what I would have to go through.
I know there are others who struggle with similar pain but its surely not right after two years.
Oh well, just gotta plod on.
justin00163 glen79281
Posted
ive been taking Miralax to stay regular, its been a miracle, draws water toward your intestines, keeps poop soft, do whatever to keep from constipation, you dont want a fistula to form, that happened to me and it was hell. drink tons of water and add a good amount of fiber with your meals, and dont eat big meals, break it up during the day so your stomache can process easier.
hemroidectomy glen79281
Posted
hi had hemroidectomy 5 weeks ago.. too large one n i did not know cut up in there to get some pules which is way worse. couldnt figure why not feeling better n found out the ripping knife pain was them.. the stuff ozing still although about 4 quarter size in 24 hrs still.. not sure how long recovery will be.. tried to walk dog but think he pulled to hard. bless u
clayton31599 glen79281
Posted
Its been 33 days. I can relate to almost everything you said! It was severely painful. I am only 36 and the only reason I did it is because my hemoglobin went down to 5.8 Had to get a transfusion then the surgery.
The pain definitely has gotten better but always feels like I have to poop. I can manage the pain until I pass stool then its back to discomfort and annoyance! I think I am causing a lot of it though by not drinking water and drinking lots of soda. I am a very physically fit guy and love the gym but this has gotten me in a complete funk! I wish I had never had the surgery. I would like to be back to normal. I hope eventually I do. I have a good day and then I pass stool and I'm down for the day.
kevin32821 glen79281
Posted
I am 2 1/2 weeks past my Hemorrhoidectomy/Rectal Prolapse surgery. This is by far the most difficult thing physically and mentally I have been through. I promised myself once I got to the point I could provide context and help for others I would share my experience. Well, today is that day!
I am a 53 yr old male that has been dealing with Hemorrhoids for the better part of 2 decades. I have attempted in the past to have these addressed but at each turn I would either have a Dr tell me it's best to let the body heal them and change my health habits or someone telling me all the horror stories of having this procedure done. So I continued to put off the surgery which actually compounded the prolapse issues. I exercise regularly, eat very healthy and not overweight. If I knew then what I know now I could have avoided a lot of pain, discomfort and restrictions of the past 20 years.
So 3 months ago I saw my Gastro and asked him about rubber band ligation. He thought it was a good idea to deal with my internal hemorrhoids. About a week after having the 3rd and final procedure completed I began to experience incredible pressure around the anus. This is where my experience and advice begin.................... IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HEMORHHOID TREATMENT GO TO AN EXPERIENCED COLORECTAL SURGEON!! A lot of doctors will tell you they are qualified but when thinking about surgery I want the most qualified available. You don't take your car in for repairs because the shop is pretty, you want the best mechanic. I ended up having my surgery completed by a surgeon who specializes in these procedures. There are no surprises which is critical before, during and after.
My experience: the surgery took almost 2 hours, he said I was one of the worst cases he has seen and believes I should have had this done quite some time ago. I had to stay in the hospital overnight which is never any fun. The first thing I noticed was how difficult it was to urinate. I finally solved this issue by getting in the shower with the wand and spraying hot water on my pelvis. Fortunately it worked because I was going home with a catheter if it didn't. The pain was bad but manageable for the first few days. I was able to have a b/m a couple days after the surgery. Then all the injected pain meds from the hospital wore off, the constipation set in and I was miserable. I would sometimes use the toilet 8 times a day because of the pressure and most of the time it was a small amount of fluid and discharge. Then it's in the shower to clean off. The entire process is exhausting. It became a game between pain meds, laxatives, b/ms, food and water. Trying to regulate everything to get it just right. I couldn't get it right but got it close enough to bear. A week after the surgery the swelling really began to set in and feel like the external hemorrhoids have come back with a vengeance. I honestly felt like I was in worse pain than right after the surgery. This is where it starts to beat you down mentally. Again, having the right Dr is key because he had already told me to expect all this. I just got back from my post op follow up and my recovery is going well and on schedule. This is difficult to believe considering the pain and discomfort I am still experiencing.
As for recommendations no question preparation is your friend.
You have to remember no two people are the same and as you can read in this forum we all have very different experiences. However, knowing what I know now. I would never have even considered the ligation procedure and would have found the most qualified surgeon I could and have it taken care of once and for all. God bless all of you that have had to deal with this issue.