My hemorrhoidectomy recovery
Posted , 128 users are following.
Hi there, this is my first time posting to a forum of any kind regarding this issue, I have however read countless stories from all different places (over 99% horror stories) in the last couple of years.
This post is to share my personal experience, answer any questions and also to get some feed back from people who have had the procedure done also. Forgive me in advance for the long post but I am trying to be as detailed as possible.
First of all, I am a 33 years old male, 5’6 and 110 lbs. I have suffered from hemorrhoids since my teen years but within the last few years they have seriously affecting my life. I had 2 very large grade 3 internal, 2 external hemorrhoids and an extremely painful anal fissure. I had the 2 internal ones banded in April of last year but it didn’t work.
My surgeon suggested that I do a complete Hemorrhoidectomy of int and ex hemorrhoids along with a sphinterotomy, HOWEVER, I have decided not to do the sphincterotomy because I was afraid of getting incontinence.
DAY 1: I woke up in recovery at 6:00pm in excruciating pain, was given dilaudid thru IV with no relief and again about 15 mins later and then fentanyl about 10 mins after that and then 10mg of oxycodone by mouth, all which didn’t even touch the pain. I was then taken back to my room to get discharged. While waiting for the discharge nurse I decided to try to urinate but only a few drops came out. I then Signed my discharge papers and was wheeled out to my car and my father drove me home. During the car ride home (about 20 mins) the pain was still the same, I got home around 8:00pm, took stool softeners and ran a bath which offered some welcomed relief, repeated the bath about 30 mins later, ate some soup and crackers and took my second dose of 10mg of oxycodone and 1,000mg of Tylenol at 10:00pm. As I am writing this post it is 11:30pm and am in the bath again (3rd Time since I’ve been home). I Also would like to add that I am using extremely hot water because that seems to help better but am wondering if that could be harmful to the surgical area (any input would be greatly appreciated). The pain meds make me really tired but am not able to sleep for more than 15 mins because the pain wakes me up.
All in all so far it is every bit as painful as advertised and i ABSOLUTELY DREAD when I have to have my first bowel movement. I am hoping that this doesn’t become one of those horror stories but so far it has been. But on the bright side, it has only been about 6 hours post op.
I will be updating this frequently so feel free to any questions.
7 likes, 150 replies
k94257 bas84
Edited
Hello,
I am having mine Monday! I am 43 and had then when pregnant 16 years ago. During covid they all of a sudden resurged after a drive with my kids to get out of the house. I suffered for months, taking hot baths or sitz baths several times a day. I also lift patients at work. After 4 months of not shrinking and having a obgyn appointment they recommended I see a colorectal specialist. Thank you for sharing your experience, I will be following along fearful of Monday.
Prayers for fast recovery!!
anthony10555 k94257
Posted
good luck - i had mine 12 days ago - i was given tramadol at hospital but only took one the first night after the operation as worried opiates might cause constipation which is the last thing i needed. been following the meds strictly (other than the tramadol). using sitz bath after BM. the deep throbbing pain from the first week has gone but things still sore though manageable. i have a desk job and been back at work on day 8 sitting on cushion etc with regular getting up and walking around. have a follow up with surgeon on sunday - i think my surgery was done by laser - here's hoping will continue to heal. its not pleasant i wont lie but i think i made the right decision - will continue to post my progress on here from time to time
jan12722 k94257
Edited
Best of luck on Monday! I am 9 days post-op, and it has not been fun. After adjusting a few things like increasing the amount of Docusate Sodium (Colace) from 50mg to 100mg, it made quite a difference. I am 57 years old, and have suffered from hemorrhoids since my first child was born 28 years ago. They have gotten progressively worse to the point that it was affecting my workouts, intimacy, I stopped running because of them, and the overall nuisance of them after each BM put me over the edge. I had 4 bandings which didn't work, as 1 large hem became prolapsed and there were others that were large as well. I was then told they were Grade 4, severe. While I wish I was like some who say the recovery hasn't been so bad (happy for those people!), it is getting better. I have been vigilant with the diet I need to follow, Metamucil 3 times daily along with softener, frequent sitz baths along with jumping in the shower to rinse after each BM. The worst days of excruciating pain for me were days 4-6, however, I do believe the low mg of Docustate Sodium was the culprit. I'll be happy when I can look back and say I'm so glad I did this, and can enjoy the aspects of life that made me miserable with the hemorrhoids.
Best of luck to you and prayers for a fast recovery. There are some great tips posted here for how to deal with it all after the surgery, so keep them in mind.
lisa52655 jan12722
Posted
We have lots of parallels!
I've struggled since my first pregnancy 20 years ago and am 12 days post op with Phase 4's....internal and external.
I think i may need to up my metamucil. As crazy as it sounds, I want to go more. I feel BETTER after a BM.
j37070 k94257
Edited
I'm 40 and 3 weeks to the day and seem to be getting better. I still have pain with BM but some are worse than others. the night after and next day were excruciating! not saying there weren't other days that were beyond rough, but damn. I had to go back to work after a week and don't know how I made it though those first few days. I still soak in a hot bath daily to get some extra care down there. I have"good" days and then a really bad one, but I feel like I'm on the right track. I don't regret it, but wish things would hurry up and heal. my husband has been my superhero. it's a very intimate surgery. he has had to trim some long stitches and has "checked" things a time or two. last time he said the area is now identifiable so I take that as a win! lots of 🔥baths, heating pad, oxytodine for the 1st few days, alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen. I'm still taking fiber, but haven't figured out the best regiment yet. I still have feelings of needing to go more than I actually do, but that too is subsiding. I know I have a ways to go, but it's all good. of course you could ask me tomorrow and I might be singing a different tune.
cknight bas84
Posted
I'm considering hemorrhoidectomy surgery and am wondering if anyone has stayed at the hospital for recovery. I would like to know if an intravenous morphine drip would be more effective than the oral medication discussed.
bas84 cknight
Posted
following my first surgery i had a dose of 10mg oxycodone and was sent home with an RX. when i returned 10 days later my pain management consisted of 10mg of oxycodone followed by morphine shot 2 hours later and then another 10mg of oxycodone 2 hours after that and so on. i did stay over night the second time around because of the bleeding complications
sonia18427 bas84
Edited
I just had this surgery last week. I'm on day 6 and after reading this forum. I realize I am not going crazy. I regret it and want to punch my doctor in the face for not clarifying this level of pain. I've had to poop multiple times a day, and each time feels like I gave birth. my body is going into shock. but
jackie91099 sonia18427
Posted
Hi,
sorry to hear your bad experiences. Does the need to go to the toilet come on urgently?
Newflower bas84
Posted
hi! im a 47 year old mom and i had a prolapsed grade 4 hemroid along with extensive internal damage that got fixed on december 30th 2020.
That is thanks to years of straining and 40 hours of birthing labor! yay!
im so grateful to rhis forum. i felt very underinformwd by my surgeon and in hindsight went into this surgery quite naively. i actually thiught id be back riding my horse within 2 weeks!!!! WHAT A JOKE!!!!!
Anyway with all the information and play by play that the orher users have written here its given me quite a bit of relief knowing that im actually right in track in terms of pain amd recovery. really looking forward to the 2 month mark. hang in the bas 84. it does get easier. but goddamn is it slow!!!
Dobber bas84
Posted
Thinking you may need to hear this. I am 3 weeks into recovery from a full hemorrhoidectomy and 1 external, the first 2 were brutal. exactly as you described. painful and felt like it was getting worse as I entered week 2. 5 days in i tore the stitches on the external. that really added to the complications. heavy bleeding and non stop puss from the wound. But, I turned a corner just this week. I started to feel a little better so got out of bed and tried to walk. it was difficult but seemed to speed up the heeling as the next day, i was better still. I am still far from healed but I am wearing pants and much more mobile. for the first tome I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. it is a tough start but does get better. hope you heel quickly.
jackie4754 bas84
Posted
I'm 2 months in and still experiencing pain with BM, it's getting better but can anyone tell me how long it takes to get back to normal......normal being you aren't afraid in the morning to have a BM because every day is different.....you just get up and go without thinking about it..
paige2021 bas84
Posted
I have a small hemmorhoid (grade 2) since last year. Doctors had said it was small and that I definitely wouldnt need surgery; however, after seeing 2 different doctors and having 7 bandings, they are now suggesting it. if i am only having one internal one removed, what should i expect for pain and recovery time? I need to know when I would be able to return to work and be normal. I have a job that requires both sitting/standing/walking around. I keep reading 2-4 weeks, but reading these blogs are scary.. months?! Can someone share their experience for 1 hemmorhoid removal, especially if it was a positive one?! thank you!
christie37837 bas84
Edited
Well my fellow hemorrhoidectomy friends i really hate to be the barrer of bad news.... but i had this surgery i November 2020, its now April and its a daily struggle with pain.. heat helps (heating pads) fiber mag citrate, linzess prunes, prune juice, senna tea... it' s horrible. it throbs for about 2 hours after a bowel movement and not a pain killer one helps. I maybe a special case, but be aware the pain is real and it cam last a while. some days are better than others I just hope it goes away soon!! Good luck to everyone, i hope you all have better luck than me!
loren49232 christie37837
Posted
It's not about three months since you last posted in April. Has your pain abated yet?