NHS haemorrhoid surgery - what's the process?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I've had an intermittent haemorrhoid problem for a number of years now. Previously a course of 24 Proctosedyl suppositories over 8 days would get me back to normal, but this time round not so much.
I feel like if I'd had 2-3 days more Proctosedyl, that might have knocked it on the head.
Docs booked for tomorrow, and I'm considering asking for a surgical referral.
Were that to happen, what's the process?
I'm trying to get my head around the problem of it disappearing before I could be seen at the referal appointment. I guess the haemorrhoid has to be evident to operate on it?
Maybe that in itself means surgery isn't an option.
Your referal experiences would be good to hear.
Thanks
Sam
0 likes, 4 replies
robert02577 Sam.M
Posted
I suggest you look up hemorrhoid in wikipedia to a get a basic understanding of the issues. In general, people try to avoid the surgery because it can be a painful (and lengthy) recovery. If you think a few more suppositories will do the trick, I would try that before scheduling surgery.
In addition, there are certain life-style changes that you can make to reduce the possibility of recurrence in the future (check out many of the entries in this forum for advice).
Best of luck.
Bob
Sam.M robert02577
Posted
Oh I'm fully au fait with the various types of hem and treatments. I have an external thrombosed hem. Its the same one that flares up every time, roughly once every 6-7 months
Doc agreed to continue with the suppositories, but did agree that should they flare up again and I want a surgical consult that I can use her notes from that appt as a referral without having to get another appt.
I've also changed my diet plenty over the last few years to increase fibre and water intake, I also use a fibre supplement, and do no strain when going etc.
I don't particularly relish the idea of being operated on considering the painful recovery, however a couple of weeks pain and a hem free future is definitely appealing compared to a flare up and associated pain/hassle every few moths,
Hopefully another weeks worth of suppositories will do the trick, until next time!
My question was more surrounding the process, time taken to get seen after the referall is requested, whether or not the hem needs to be presenting for surgery to be possible, that kind of thing.
Cheers
Sam
robert02577 Sam.M
Posted
Some years ago I had an external thrombosed hem, and my gastroenterologist said that unless I have the surgery within 3 days to remove the clot it's best to leave it alone (pain of recovery vs pain of subsiding on its own). He did prescribe a gel with cortisone wihich was very effective in relieving the pain quickly. Luckily, the external hem never recurred.
As I'm in the US in the NYC area, I can't comment on NHS procedures.
Hope all goes well.
Bob
rob42298 Sam.M
Posted
I have been through the NHS process with a Trust in West London. So the set up may be different where you are but I think in general if you want to speed things up always call and ask for cancellations once you have a refferal/appnt letter. That has taken months of waitings times for me. You can try Calc Fluor as a management technique and or otherwise click my avatar to read a walk through of pre op prep and post op recovery. Hope you get it under control.
Cheers