Very Positive Hemorrhoidectomy/ Haemorrhoidectomy Recovery Story
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After reading many stories of hemorrhoidectomy recovery, I promised myself that if my recovery was good, I would report back just to provide a balance, hope and perhaps ease some anxiety. I barely slept the week before my procedure because I was concerned about the pain, but I can honestly say that my entire experience was pain-free, and I do think there are steps that people can take replicate this.
First, some background: healthy 42 year old female with 2 grade 4 prolapsed hemorrhoids, a grade 1-2 internal hemorrhoid and external hemorrhoids. I would say I have the normal pain tolerance of a female my age, that is, several decades of experience with period pain, pain associated with meeting western beauty standards, childbirth (needed epidurals), parenting through illness, etc. I had my surgery 2 weeks ago.
Pain Management BEFORE Surgery
My doctor had me begin Celebrex five days before surgery and Gabapentin two days before surgery, including an additional dose of Gabapentin right before surgery. Both drugs were then continued for a week post-surgery. The theory here is to block the nerve pathway before the pain starts - sort of blowing up a bridge before your enemy can cross it. Additionally, he injected a long-acting local anesthetic at surgery sites. Although I had a prescription for narcotics, I never took them as I never felt any pain.
Obviously, everybody responds to drugs differently, but this pain regimen worked spectacularly well for me.
Diet Pre- and Post-Surgery
My diet is generally good anyway, I eat lots of home-cooked, minimally processed food. I also routinely drink 3-4 litres of water daily. 4 days before surgery, I limited myself to extremely soft food: essentially yogurt, cooked fruit and blended vegetable soups made with bone broth to keep protein high. The day before surgery, I switched to clear liquids and consumed only bone broth and water. After my surgery, I had only bone broth for the remainder of the day. For the next 3 days, it was back to blended soups, yogurt, etc. I added All-Bran to my morning fruit and yogurt to keep my fibre high and again focused on protein because your body needs protein for cell-repair. There was a lot of cell-repair going on, so this was a priority. I slowly returned to my regular diet over the following week.
Never Push
My doctor stressed that I was to avoid straining at all costs. I am lucky enough to have a treadmill in the garage, so whenever I felt the need for a BM, I got on the treadmill and slowly walked until it was urgent, then got to the bathroom, feet up on the Squatty Potty and let gravity take care of matters. The one time I attempted to push a little was the first and only time I got a warning that pain would be imminent if I kept on that path.
Thus ends my advice. I had my follow up with my doctor this morning and he has cleared me to begin regular exercise again. I do have some skin tags that will hopefully shrink and still have a little drainage and stitches are still dissolving. He told me to continue Sitz baths twice a day until all drainage ceases.
All in all, it could not have gone better. I hope many others have similar experience and can similarly share their stories to ease the fear. I’m going to post my daily notes in the comments.
3 likes, 10 replies
elizabeth93955
Edited
Day 1 (surgery at 11am, home by 3pm) - no pain, but awareness of swelling after urinating. Started using ice packs. Bone Broth and water only. Continued taking the Celebrex, Gabapentin and Colace. Have a prescription for Norco (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) but won’t take unless necessary. Surgeon injected local anaesthetic that should last 1-3 days.
Day 2 - awareness creeping in. Started Sitz bath followed by ice pack regimen. Started back on high protein yogurt, cooked fruit, AllBran Buds and blended vegetable soups made with bone broth to keep protein intake up (protein is really important for cell repair and healing). Irritation started around midday. Trying lidocaine on gauze. Started taking one 220 mg naproxen sodium on an 8 hour schedule. Generally mild, but constant burning sensation all afternoon and evening, can be easily distracted by reading or watching tv. Did a 20 minute very slow walk (1.7 mph) on the treadmill in the evening.
Day 3 - woke up completely pain and irritation free. A little bleeding. Perhaps a stitch came off and that was the burning yesterday? Same food plan as day 2. Shortly after breakfast, felt like a BM was possible so I got on the treadmill to walk until I was sure of the urge. 15 minutes later, went to the bathroom. Zero pain. Not much produced, but most of my presurgery BMs involved some degree of discomfort (because it aggravated the hemorrhoids) so this was a very nice change. Most wondrously, when patting dry there was nothing “there” any more. I forgot what normal felt like. Did several Sitz baths, but I have given up ice packs (no discernible swelling) and lidocaine (didn’t make a difference yesterday when the burning was present).
Day 4 - woke up knowing a BM would happen but wanted to wait until the urge was, well, urgent. After breakfast and a cup of coffee, had my second BM. Still no pain, but I made sure to not strain at all. I just relaxed into it. More formed than yesterday and a tiny amount of blood. I’m going to introduce non-blended (but still soft) foods into the diet today. Basically soups and stews for the foreseeable future.
Day 5 - had first sudden tweaks yesterday afternoon - the little spasms that last about 2 seconds then go. Still pain free, including when passing BMs. I can feel some stitches coming loose, which occasionally irritates, but is in no way painful. A little more bleeding today, which I think is related to the stitches dissolving. My diet is still pretty soft, but I am actually chewing food at this point. Still keeping protein and fibre high. My water intake is always high (3-4L/day). Sitting for more than a few minutes isn’t happening (feel like it pulls on stitches) and I spend most of my time standing, pacing or laying down.
Day 6 - Drove today. I found myself using my thigh muscles to sort of suspend me and avoid putting direct pressure on the seat, but otherwise fine (I’ve never taken narcotics, so that aspect was not a concern). All else continues the same. Bidet attachment is a godsend. I didn’t really like it when we installed it a week prior to surgery because the water hitting my external hemorrhoids was painful, but now I see why everyone loves them.
Day 7 - Last day of taking Celebrex. I finish the Gabapentin tomorrow. After I’ve been off them for 2 days, I’ll probably drop the naproxen sodium unless pain suddenly appears. Otherwise, everything pretty much the same. Sitting is getting easier. Food still fairly soft (I don’t want to eat anything that could have a hard edge).
Day 8 - I’m able to sit normally while driving and I’m also capable of a fast walk without feeling like I’m disturbing things.
Day 9 - weirder day. I’ve felt a bit of pressure all day, no pain, just pressure. Finally went to the bathroom to see if perhaps a BM was needed (unlikely, because that was this morning). After some gas passed, I looked down to see a mucus-covered Y-shaped form floating with a bit of bright red blood in the bowl. I used the bidet and patted dry and a small blood clot was on paper along with definite stitches. I am guessing this is an internal series of stitches? I don’t know.
Day 10 - I’m stopping the naproxen sodium. I have no pain so I see no need to continue. Feel very normal today, except still see bits of stitches when I do Sitz baths.
Day 11 - back to sitting normally to watch tv. More stitches coming out, which is making going to the bathroom easier in that I don’t need to concentrate so hard on making sure I don’t push/strain. Things seem to move through more easily - as if obstacles are gone.
Day 12 - all’s well. Nothing to report.
Lalo2001 elizabeth93955
Edited
thank you for sharing this positive experience!
I wished I had read this before my Hemorrhoidectomy. your advice regarding the nerve blocking pain killers makes a lot of sense. I wish my doctor was that good! well am just on day 1, very little pain, just discomfort. I have not had my first post OP BM yet, again I wish I had read your article before. Thank you for lighting my stress a little
elizabeth93955
Edited
UPDATE: I got my hospital bill yesterday and it notes that my surgeon used LigaSure equipment. According to several studies, pain scores are less when it is used for hemorroidectomies, so I'm sure that contributed as well to my experience.
Also, I tried to resume exercise two weeks to the day after my surgery. The exercise involved a lot of glute work and activating the glutes was like putting a tourniquet on a bruise. It was uncomfortable and I needed ice packs the remainder of the day. 5 days later, I tried again and everything was completely normal.
christine_78577 elizabeth93955
Posted
Hello I know its a while since your op. Mine is in two weeks. You gave me reassurance I'm having ligasure like you. Must admit I'm frightened to death.. More of the bleeding than a y thing how much blood loss did you get. Was the pain any worse than what these dreaded things give us anyway. Hope you are still doing well
christina83756 christine_78577
Posted
christine_78577 how did your surgery go?
christine_78577 christina83756
Posted
I'm now 4 and half months po . it went well thank you but loads more painful than I ever thought . After all this time I'm not 100 percent . . Still having trouble qith bowels and very sore bottom line nappy rash most days .
chaz34197 elizabeth93955
Edited
ok so here's my story so far.
36 male, 4 internal grade 4 hems. worst surgeon had ever seen. associated skin tags x 4 on outside.
day1 had surgery and woke up feeling fine. no pain. shaking from anisthetic
trolleyed back to my room, asked to stay in the night as was starting to feel throbbing. was given oramorph and ibuprofen
woke up through the night every few hours. pain 5/10
day 2)
had to be catheterised as still no wee post op. that hurt more than the operation site.
asked to stay in hospital as was able to keep access to oramorph if i needed it. pain 4/10
day 3) went home with catheter in. the catheter was more annoying than the operation site
spasms came and went maybe 20 all day and 7/10 pain when they happened. 3/10 when they werent
day4) first attempt at bowel movement . pain 9/10. passed a nugget
rest of day pain 2/10
day 5) 2nd attempt at bowel movement pain 9/10 but rest of day 1/10. catheter a real uncomfortable annoyance now
day 6) back to hospital. catheter out. pain 7/10 when removed. went home could wee and did massive BM with pain 4/10.
i now feel amazing. pain 0/10, empty bowels , empty bladder. comfortable feet up in bed. no hems when wiping bum. if youve read horror stories...remember everyone is different. i had the worst hems the surgeon had ever seen and am fine on day 6. way more healing to go but comfortable.
babsyboo elizabeth93955
Posted
hi
i know its been awhile anyone on this side
hope for some to see my message
i had my surgery 9 days ago
it was inside cut and burn shot and outside cut and sown shot
and im still in so much pain , after going # 2
yes i do sitting in warm bathtub 15 min
also take stool softner and citrucel and at evening milk of magnesia
yes dr gave me pain meds hydrocodone 325 mg i only take a half when in very high none stopping pain , also use ibuprovin 400 mg as needed
please anyone on here can u help me
thank u
sooooo scared
babsyboo elizabeth93955
Posted
please help
in so much pain after my surgery 9 days ago
is anyone still on this side
i pray there is
chris27562 babsyboo
Posted
@babsyboo are you doing any better? Hope you are no longer dealing with pain. 😦
@elizabeth93955 I was just wondering if you had any info on the dosages you were given for pre and post operative medication? Thanks!