My experience with my hemorrhoidectomy!
Posted , 6 users are following.
So a little back ground first.. I have had 8 previous surgeries, and have given birth before I decided to get this surgery done. After I gave birth, I got hemorrhoids. I had several internal prolapsed hemorrhoids that would end up causing severe pain but eventually burst on their own, and I was left with skin tags. Well for 2 years straight I've had an Internal prolapsed one that would come and go off and on that bothered me and itched. So I decided to get the surgery done! I never did research for the recovery or look up anyone else's experience, (wish I did). Well I had my surgery on 8/30/16 so tomorrow will be two weeks since my surgery. My doctor prescribed me Percocet and Valium for afterwards, and she injected a numbing medicine down there so that I wouldn't feel the pain for 3 days. Well on day 4 I had my first BM, and let me tell you something.. That was the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life. I almost passed out. It was excruciating!!!!! I broke out sweating, shaking, screaming and crying. Like I said before, I've experienced 8 different surgeries and child birth.. And those didn't compare. I was on and off the toilet for 3 hours that day. I could barely walk or move for 2 days after. It hurt so bad. On day 7 I guess I had fecal impaction. I was on the toilet all day because I kept feeling the urge to go but only a tiny bit came out each time, and it felt like I was pooping out the moon with razors. So that night I got in the tub, and I had to just stick my finger up there and get it out, and then the rest followed. Gosh it was awful... I felt so much relief. Well the next day, the miralax I had been taking everyday finally caught up with me so I had diarrhea all day long. So so painful. Burning and stinging sensation, and like I was being ripped open by the devil himself. On day 8 I stopped taking all pain medicine so that I wouldn't get constipated. Day 9 was still painful to go, and I was going at least 4 times a day. Day 10 and 11 was getting better. Day 12 I felt like a normal human being. I could sit and walk and do normal things again. BM's still hurt a tiny bit if they are kinda hard but if they are soft then I don't feel any pain but some discomfort. Still go a few times a day.
I'm on day 13, and feel great! I've gone to the bathroom 2 times so far, and no pain but slight discomfort on the first BM of the day.
What I found to really help is, getting on top of the toilet seat and squatting over it. If I sit on the toilet seat then it hurts pretty badly!
Stool softeners are life savers!!! Don't get a laxative.
Sitz baths are amazing. I took so many during that first week. I don't need them anymore. I still use wipes and tucks pads.
That first week was miserable and so painful. I fully regretted the surgery. Sometimes I laid in the bath tub after a BM and was just wanting to die rather than bear the pain. I'm glad my hemorrhoids are gone but I don't think it was worth it to go through that. My hemorrhoids weren't bad enough to go through something so torturous. I would only recommend doing it if it's seriously a medical problem like bleeding to death, can't poop because of it, or very very very bad. Make sure you cleanse your bowels before surgery because my surgeon didn't make me do that so my first BM was like 5 days worth, that's why I was on the toilet for 3 hours.
Just remember to breathe, know you will get through it, it does get better! I'm one of the lucky ones I think because mine weren't so bad because I have read many people don't heal and stop feeling pain until 6-8 weeks. I would recommend taking at least 2-3 weeks off work. I went back on day 9 for a full day. Like I said, I got lucky to heal so quick and soon.
0 likes, 25 replies
valerie323 heaven_43069
Posted
Thank you for posting this I wanted to hear from someone's recent experience with the hemorrhoidectomy surgery. I'm deathly afraid to get it done because everyone's outcome is different and of course very very painful after the surgery. I have internal prolapse hemorrhoids, I have pain with them after a bowel movement amd it can last up to half my day so I just don't go anywhere. I can't plan my day or plan to be anywhere and it sucks. Never have any bleeding, I just have to push them back in with Vaseline and just wait for the pain to go away. Sounds like you had quite the awful painful experience and that's exactly why I'm scared to get it done I don't wanna go thru any complications
heaven_43069 valerie323
Posted
Yeah it's pretty painful!! I had 3 large internal hemorrhoids removed and only one of them was prolapsed at the time because the other ones ended up busting before surgery. It's tough!
valerie323 heaven_43069
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Well let me know how your doing in a few weeks, I'd like to hear updates. I hope everything gets way better for you.
heaven_43069 valerie323
Posted
I will! I have my follow up appointment today, and we will see how I'm doing. I've been feeling the itching type feeling everyone talks about so I guess that means it's healing so that's a good sign. I'll take that over the pain I was feeling. Yesterday was a good day. I had those 2 BM's that didn't hurt, so I'll see how it goes today. I'm still fearful and anxious with every BM I have because I don't know how it will be or what to expect. I just keep drinking tons of water and taking 2-3 stool softeners a day to make it easy. Hope everything goes well today. I have my fingers crossed
I will most definitely try to keep you updated!
valerie323 heaven_43069
Posted
billi0721 heaven_43069
Posted
Thanks for sharing your experience! I am having this surgery done on Thursday (September 16th 2016). Ive been a raving lunatic for the last few days because I am a complete mess. I am so scared!
However, I have decidded to go through with it (I tried to cancel twice but my doctor called each time and talked me out of cancelling). I have stage IV thrombosed external hemorrhoids and internal hemorrhoids. My surgeon said surgery is really the only option for me at this point since they are too big for banding.
I was hoping to be back in school 6 days after the surgery, but I dont know how well that will work out. I have a three hour class on Wednesday evenings...i do not think I'll be able to sit for that long just 6 days post op.
I truly believe this is a barbaric surgery and I have been avoiding it for a year. Now it is just to the point that my every day life is affected by my hemorrhoids. I get thrombosed ones, which are very painful, and then I wont have a BM for days, which only makes everything worse. So I want them GONE. I just dont know if I am prepared for the recovery!
Good luck to both you and valerie.
valerie323 billi0721
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heaven_43069 billi0721
Posted
Just remember, everyone's pain tolerance is different, everyone's heals differently and at a different pace! I'm at two weeks today and feel amazing besides the itching down there due to healing. Feels like a cactus up my butt but I would rather feel that than the pain I felt before! I am glad I got the surgery done now that I can breathe with relief, but at the time I regretted it.
I'm at my follow up appointment now, and I'll see how it goes
I like to think I'm one of the lucky ones but looking back and reading everyone else's stories, my hemorrhoids weren't bad enough to have surgery. They hurt but they only flared up after BM's but it wasn't like excruciating. I mainly did it because the appearance and annoyance.
So I think I healed much faster due to that and mine were internal which I only had 3.
I'm not going to lie though, it was so so painful!! I definitely wouldn't ever do the surgery again if I had to. Good luck!
There's probably no way you would be able to go back after day 6. Maybe day 9-12?
Sitting that long will be awful too I'm sure since you will have incisions on the outside as well. It hurt to me and I had none on the outside. I still bring a pillow with me everywhere to sit down because it's uncomfortable still.
valerie323 heaven_43069
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I hope I get as lucky as you and heal fast and feel better in a cpl weeks. Mine prolapse when i have a BM too and i have to push them back in then i have pain. Its uncomfortable pain, can't never sit on my butt, always have BM 3 to 4 times a day so it sucks. I just want a normal life instead of being stuck at home every single day.
heaven_43069 valerie323
Posted
I saw my surgeon, and she was very surprised at how well I was doing! She said that another girl had the surgery done the same day as me and she just had her follow up with her as well, and she said she's still in excruciating pain and very miserable, so that's what she was expecting with me. She said by week 3 I shouldn't feel any pain at all if I feel this good now. She said my hemorrhoids were literally right around the butthole, that's why some prolapsed. She said like they were all surrounding the hole and on the verge of being external hemorrhoids. I never had a problem going poop though because ever since she took out my gallbladder 3 years ago, I've had diarrhea with each BM which was only once a day so I didn't have a problem.
valerie323 heaven_43069
Posted
I've also had my Gallbladder taken out the old fashion way, by the way I'm 48 but I don't look like it Lol. Ppl always think I'm around 35.. do you have any tips on what you did to make your recovery so smooth? I know lots of fiber foods and water. Or maybe its your age and you healed better.
heaven_43069 valerie323
Posted
Yeah I'm 21 so I'm pretty young and I have always been a fast healer when it comes to all my surgeries. I healed in 6 days with my gallbladder, when I had my appendix and a cyst removed on my ovaries at age 15, I healed in a week and was running and went back to volleyball. Then all my other surgeries I healed pretty fast too. Faster than what it normally takes to heal. All I ever drink is water. Inwent I think 4 years without drinking Soda. I ate really bad though but I never worried about it because I always stayed very skinny, so it's not because of my diet. Lol
I took a ton of sitz baths though! And used a heating bad. My husband helped me a lot too with our toddler, so I literally just laid around most of the time.
heaven_43069 valerie323
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I also (not until I had this surgery) squat over the toilet to go and it doesn't hurt as bad and is easier
valerie323 heaven_43069
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Well that's good to hear and yes your age is a good factor in healing. Hope I get lucky like you. I also drink alot of water I don't drink pop or anything sugary. Thank you for your input and updates
billi0721 heaven_43069
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I have one professor that I do not think will be happy if I miss two more classes. I only have the class one time a week, and i've already missed one.
I have to miss it tomorrow due to the prep, and then I guess the next Wednesday too. She told me I wasnt allowed more than two absences. I guess i'll see how it goes, and if I need to, I'll drop a class. I am actually in pain right now due to my hemorrhoids, so I need the surgery.
I am a bit scared. I asked my doctor's nurse about cramping, and she called me back and said "no one has reported cramping with a colonoscopy.": I was like "uh...I am getting a colonoscopy AND a hemorrhoidectomy." Then she was responded "Oh, yeah, you'll be fine with either."
The nurse at the hospital told me to expect anesthesia through my IV. Then at the end of the phone call she said "Oh wait, you're having general."
I kind of feel like no one is taking my surgery seriously. I am over here scared out of my mind, and they just keep saying "you'll be fine."
I dont know...guess we shall see! I start my prep tomorrow. Surgery thursday morning at 6:15am. I'll be posting a follow up for you all!
valerie323 billi0721
Posted
Wow!! Doesn't sound very professional to me.. my doctor and my nurse was honest about the surgery saying it is very very very painful after the surgery for the first two days and possibly 2 weeks. They also said you are gonna regret the surgery and hate us while your recovering but you should be fine with it and fully recover without any problems. Doctor did say one lady did very very well she put ice on her butt all the time and it helped her recovery.
billi0721 valerie323
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I'm hoping actually speaking with the anesthesiologist and surgeon tomorrow will help. I am going to demand go know what type of surgery I am getting and what is getting done exactly. Like is it an open hemorroidectomy? Closed? Stapled? No one has told me, and I am a bit irked. And when I ask about pain and recovery they just say "everyone is different"
Was told by the nurse that they only do these surgeries 2 or 3 times a year 😯 kind of wishing I'd looked for a colorectal surgeon but I don't have any that are in network with my insurance.
valerie323 billi0721
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heaven_43069 valerie323
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Mine were honest about the surgery too, my surgeon is an actual colorectal surgeon as well! I didn't believe her when she said it would be so painful and that I would hate her and cuss her out while I'm in the bathroom. I though tshe was being dramatic. HAH!
It does get better though guys!!
heaven_43069 billi0721
Posted
I had no idea what was going to happen when I went in for surgery. She tried doing a rebuke exam in her office before seeing if I needed surgery and she couldn't get the thing in to even look because it hurt so bad, and my hemorrhoids were blocking for her to see anyways. So she was just putting me under to do an exam, and said if she found anything at all, she was going to take care of it. So I didn't know what type of surgery she would do, or if I only had that one prolapsed hemorrhoid.
heaven_43069 valerie323
Posted
I also wanted to say, that during this process, I only stayed on the toilet for less than 5 minutes. If it couldn't pass in that time, I got up and left and waited until I could.