New pain/swelling 6 weeks after Hemorrhoidectomy
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi all, I had a 'surprise' triple hemorrhoidectomy during a colonoscopy 6 weeks ago. i had about 2/3 really bad weeks of pain and bleeding, but then suddenly turned a corner.
I've found the psychological element of the recovery the hardest. It's all well and good when you feel yourself improve, but I've
noticed that the recovery isn't linear i.e. some days/weeks things seem to get worse before they get better.
One thing that's really bugging me is I keep getting these painful patches of skin on my left side, about 5mm-10mm from the anus. (All of my hemorrhoids were internal). The skin feels tender to touch. I can't see much going on because it's under hair (sorry this is gross), might be a bit red. It feels a bit like when you have a blind pimple under the skin, although there isn't much of a lump. it could almost be a rash but I haven't had a rash with that kind of tenderness before. Sometimes it goes away and then comes back in a different spot. seems to be getting worse, covering a larger area, although relatively it's probably a tiny area, like the size of a jelly bean, but almost completely flat.
It's not a major thing, but really bugs me. I'm extremely paranoid about infection, abcess, or any complication really.
Anyone else experienced this?
0 likes, 10 replies
Arok675 ash80473
Posted
You got to remember its gonna be a roller coaster ride, diffrent pains diffrent months... Stay hydrated eat the rite foods and by month 4 or 5 you'll be good, How they say it's a 10 day recovery.. These doctors must be smoking crack, I felt symptoms up to a year. Hang in there..
ash80473 Arok675
Posted
Thanks, yeah when I had my surgery follow up the doctor was all surprised that I had any pain at all, so weird. Thanks for your response
Jnf123 ash80473
Posted
Yes , my first sign of roids were rash like patches popping up. Which you usually get from irritation, leakage. Bear mind you're attacking this sensitive area, moisture,ans picking, spreading can lead to fungal,yeast infection. Don't be surprised if it pops up in the groin area or "crack". Yea its a $hitty all-around situation!
ash80473 Jnf123
Posted
Thanks for your reply, yeah I guess it could be a yeast infection, good point. I'll get some cream just incase. I hope it's not a sign of new roids forming after what I've been through!
ash80473
Posted
Small updated if anyone else is reading – now 8 weeks after surgery, not much has changed. I used Canesten cream for 2 weeks just incase I had thrush. Hard to say if that's what did it, but the pain has gone away mostly, but the random swelling comes and goes. Normally after a bowel movement the area is swollen and lumpy, which is weird as I didn't have that at all month ago when I had my follow up. Still paranoid that the surgery has given me new haemorrhoids – or that cutting out the internal ones has created new external ones...who knows.
One thing that I have found has helped is I have gotten a sit / stand desk at work so I try and stand a few hours a day. The sitting really wasn't agreeing with me. One benefit of all of this is that I made a load of lifestyle changes that I probably should have made anyway.
In other more TMI news, I put my finger up there the other day and it felt like a war zone so I won't be doing that again soon.
calva0940 ash80473
Posted
hello- how are you doing, any changes from your last update? swellling and pain go away?
Karirinkate ash80473
Posted
How are you doing now ash am 4. 2 weeks post op and the main problem is AFTER BM the swelling and discomfort/pain is just mentally challenging. I can't imagine having a BM outside home. Are you still swelling and in discomfort/pain after BM. and what helped in the swelling and that burning 🔥 sensation after BM.
ash80473 calva0940
Posted
Hi sorry I didn't see this sooner! Thanks for asking, It's now 9 months after surgery and for a while I thought I was 100% healed but I still seem to have pain that comes and goes. The swelling I mentioned did eventually go down. I'll add more details in response to another poster below....
ash80473 Karirinkate
Posted
Hi Karirinkate, How are you doing? I guess you're 2-3 months post op now?
Yes you're right – it's the mental challenge, that's what makes it so hard. I developed a habit of always carrying a small about of wipes in my pocket in a plastic ziplock bag. I became pretty OCD about it, like I wouldn't leave the house without having a BM and being pretty sure I wasn't going to need to go again that day. The few times I really had to go in a public bathroom or at work I were actually fine.
I don't have pain or swelling any more (9 months down the line), but something just isn't right in that area, not sure if I had nerve damage or whether there is some kind of new problem but sometimes I get this nagging pain, kind of like a pulling sensation that really isn't pleasant. From what I've read from other people this is pretty unusual so long after the surgery.
I've found a few things helpful. I take movicol (osmotic laxative like miralax) RELIGIOUSLY. This prevents me from having a painful BM. I'm kind of curious to see what happens if I stop taking this but I'm too scared as I still have pain randomly.
I had a lot of skin irritation in the area and I found that using some kind of barrier cream (Calmoseptine) was an incredibly relief. It has a minty thing going which makes your butt feel like you've brushed it with toothpaste (I'm saying that as a good thing). Calmoseptine also comes in a tiny tube you can put in your pocket, so applying that after you wipe also helps relieve any pain.
I haven't had any follow ups with my surgeon because of coronavirus but I'm going back there in a few months. I'm wondering whether to ask for him to have a look with a protoscope but I'm kind of scared that sticking a metal thing up my arse will create more issues than the problems it could potentially solve.
Anyway, hope you're doing well!
Anyone else out there still have issues after 9+ months?
Del77 ash80473
Posted
Hi. I'm nearly 4 mths in and thought I was sorted...WRONG...the pain is back!! so sore after a BM and same dragging feeling you spoke of. it is so mentally draining. I'm just glad that due to Covid, I only have to go to work 2 days a week and don't seem to go to the loo on those days, must be psychological! I am taking movicol aswell, do forget some days. Feels never ending!