After Hemorrhoidectomy Surgery - Recovery time, Swelling, Pain

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I had a hemorroidectomy 18/10/07(7months ago) and still experiencing bleeding, have only had 4 weeks of no bleeding during this time. Have returned to surgeon twice, he tells me it will settle down. Pain after the operation was equally as bad as before. Giving birth was much less painfull! Was given Agarol,Digesic and Codiene Forte for the pain which in turn caused constipation. Changed to Movicol for softer BM and Tramal for pain. Had sitz baths twice daily. Living on prunes, figs, pawpaw, oatbran lots of water- my shopping list consists mainly of foods for easy BM. Looking forward to the day the bleeding is gone for good.

amadeus · Newbie Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 1

Had the surgery 14 days ago,only now starting to feel a little better.

Area feels quite raw and dry and theres still discharge which smells a litlle off.Usually doing 5 BM a week which are painful as hell!

Any ideas on how long there should be any discharge and are there any creams I could apply to help soothe the area.

any help much appreciated

masterplan · Newbie Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 5

khansen46 · Newbie Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Houston

I'm no doctor, but I really don't think you should have any significant bleeding after the first 2-3 weeks. In my case, 1 week was the magic number. I had my surgery on a Friday. The following Friday, my wife and I went to Buffalo Wild Wings for wings and pizza. All of that went without any issues. I was still walking a little slow, but I was able to sit in the car and drive, and sit in the unpadded wooded chairs for dinner. I returned to work the following Monday.
Now, I did have a problem about a month later when I started bleeding again. It turns out that I had developed a fissure at the site where the worst hemorrhoid was removed. Every time I had a BM, it would rip open and bleed. From what I was told, this is not a common occurrence. I was stubborn, and waited over 10 years to have this surgery, and was in pretty bad shape. I am still undergoing treatment for that, but it is just about completed.

If you are still having significant pain and bleeding after 4 weeks, and certainly after 7 months as in the case of the previous poster, I would very strongly recommend that you seek a second opinion. The human body shouldn't take that long to heal. It may be an indication that you are not healing, or another issue has surfaced. Don't let this go on indefinitely.

One more tip: Fiber. I went to WalMart and picked up a container of Metamucil. (I don't normally buy name-brand items if I can help it, but WalMart was out of the Equate brand, which works just as well). Make sure you get the Original or Coarse Milled. Don't use anything that says smooth texture or anything similar to that. I found the hard way that doesn't work as well. I started with 3 teaspoons twice a day (morning and night). I'm now down to 2 teaspoons every morning. It will make you have BM more often, but it will come out a whole lot easier. You can take stool softeners along with it, but I recommend one without any sort of stimulant. The fiber will move things well enough, you just want some additional softening.

masterplan · Newbie Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 5

khansen46 · Newbie Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Houston

The treatment for the fissure consists of using a cream and a foam twice a day. If I remember correctly, the foam is 2% steroid and the cream is 4% steroid. The doctor advised me that the steriod is absorbed directly in the affected area, and does not linger or travel throughout the body. There is no lasting effect from the steriod.
Both are applied directly to the area with special applicators that are provided. It gave pain relief within 2-3 days, and stopped most of the bleeding in less than a week. I did have one day of bleeding this past Sunday, but it was only once and the pain is now gone. Tomorrow I have my 2 week checkup for this issue. I expect it will be the last appointment.

buttgirl · Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 31

as someone who has suffere with a fissure for more than 2 years, treatment consists of more than that. First, your dr should not prescribe steroids. those are anitinflammatories and used for hemmies, not fissures. for fissures, thedr should prescribe one of three ointments--nitrogylcerin, diltiazem, or nifedipine. These lower sphincter resting pressure and allow blood to flow to the are so that the fissure can heal. If youre dr prescribes a steroid, run the other way. these can thin the skin, which is the last thing you want for a torn up area. if youaer worries about inflammation, take an ibuporfen.

khansen46 · Newbie Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Houston

Buttgirl,
I appreciate your "opinion", but it is just that. My doctor is one of the more reputable doctors in the area, and his prescribed treatment has worked. If you look at all the current commotion about steroids, I assure you the athletes are not using them as anti-inflammatories. Steroids promote enhanced healing and building of muscle and tissue.
I would strongly suggest that if you have had this fissure for more than 2 years, you should shop for another doctor. There is no way it should take 2 years for that condition to heal. Most cases should heal in 2-4 weeks.

A couple of references to this condition and treatment:
familydoctor.co.nz/index.asp?U=conditions&A=14611
mayoclinic.com/health/anal-fissure/DS00762/DSECTION=8

As I previously stated, if someone has this condition, or any other, that persists, you should seek a second opinion. The human body shouldn't take years to heal in most cases, unless there is another underlying condition.

masterplan · Newbie Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 5

buttgirl · Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 31

After Hemorrhoidectomy Surgery - Recovery time, Swelling, Pain

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