Surgery on Monday

From my own personal experience I found out that stool softeners have stimulants in them so that makes your body involuntarily push. If you stay on top of the fiber that should help keep things going and flowing. I didn't find out that until yesterday or the day before and I'm nine days out. So my bowel movements were pretty brutal. I've also found that instead of sitting in sitz baths I found that just holding the shower head close to my bottom and letting the water run was more affective than sitting in the sitz bath the sitz bath seemed to burn the open or raw tissue. Good luck to you on your day of surgery and the following recovery days.

Hi!

I had mine done in May- traditional hemorrhoidectomy. I had the same situation as you- grade 3 prolapsed, had to tuck them back in every time. I also had an external one that was agony when it would flare up. I've had 4 pregnancies. It was all getting too disruptive to my life and I didn't want to deal with that for the next 40+ years.

So I'll say this...it was worth it. I'm SO glad I had it done. It took about a month to feel "functional", another few months until pooping wasn't painful, a few more until pooping wasn't just sort of uncomfortable and then 6 or so months to full recovery. Yes, the recovery is BRUTAL. Wayyyyy worse than any pain I've ever felt. Childbirth was a walk in the park comparatively. Plan on being out of commission for 2-3 weeks at a minimum. I had to have someone stay home with me for the first 2 weeks- there was just no way I could be home alone with 3 kids (mine are a little older- they were 9, 6 & 2 at the time). I couldn't really walk, couldn't get around at all. Couldn't sit for 3 weeks. No way I could've even taken care of myself. Ice packs were my savior. I had them on 24-7 for the first week and just laid in bed. Take your pain meds like clockwork. Eat soft, easily passed foods for quite a while afterwards. I don't know why they tell you to eat normally- DON'T. Pooping will feel like someone is shoving a knife up your butt no matter how soft the food is so don't make it any harder on yourself than you must!! Oatmeal, applesauce, soup, fruit, lots of water, gatorade. Warm prune juice will help you go. You need to go every day or you will be doubly punished the next day. What goes in must come out- bear that in mind with every single thing you eat!

I kept up with the stool softeners for about 6 months afterwards. Just didn't want to strain or tear anything. I still take fiber daily as a preventative.

If you've got family and friends nearby, anyone you can call on to help with the kids, meals, etc., do it. You're going to need it.

Not trying to scare you but want to give you an honest appraisal of what to expect. It will be rough but hopefully worth it, I know it was for me. Good luck!

I had a really good experience. I think it was a combination of skilled surgeon, pre-surgery drug regimen and food prep. I wrote a post on here with all the details that you can search for, but the quick answer is start your diet of soft/liquid foods at least 4 days before surgery, get a toilet seat bidet attachment and never, ever, ever "push" or strain.

Hi there, I am glad I have found this forum too!

let me tell you some background info ...47 yo female with three kids. childbirth has been the cause of my hems. 20 years I've been suffering on and off. I've had two stapled hemmerroidectomys which the first didnt work but second did and gave me 12 years of almost pain and symptom free until the last 6 months where hems have appeared again causing me to live life on a daily basis miserable, take ibuprofen and pain killers non stop, so, I decided to see someone again. The surgeon said i had one large 4th degree external and two large internal that only a hemmorroidectomy procedure would stop them coming back. I haven't been able to socialise properly unless i can sit down, cant exercise for long etc etc so I went with it and chose not to read any experiences until after the op as i wouldnt have gone through with it! I had my op on monday, tuesday I surprisingly felt not too bad but was still in hospital and fully dosed up. I was bleeding alot so they kept me in another night. I had my first BM on wed morning which was painful but bearable... then it kicked in! the laxatives started working and I must have had 4 BM wed afternoon. excrutiating pain with half hour after until the pain died down a bit. Thursday, 3 days after op i am ok and pain is bearable, im able to walk, potter around, do light jobs etc but the pain is unbearable when having a bm and after for 20 minutes. I ate very little yesterday to avoid too many bm today. Friday, 4 days post op, bm was again soooo painful but wasn't as bad as yesterday. I am keeping positive, taking all the meds i can and being very careful what i eat. I am hoping that the recovery will be worth all of this! Good luck with your op.