How Long Does Hemorrhoidectomy Recovery Last?

Moxxi · Newbie Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 7

Hey longtimecoming66,

Glad to hear things are progressing well for you. I kept up with Colace and Senikot for awhile - but after about the two week mark I went cold turkey as I didn't want to rely on laxatives to keep things moving. I'm now back to eating regularly and no problems. My system seems to have changed from 2-3 a week to almost everyday, which is fine with me, as I'm in no pain or discomfort after a BM anymore.

Since your last post, I'm hoping the pressure has continued to subside...and the chaffing...ah the chaffing...I forgot about that which is odd since I still have a little of that going on. While things are getting better, I still have moments of chaffing and insane itchiness down there. The itchiness is all over the area, not just confined to ground zero. But even that has subsided almost 80% in the last week. It was so annoying though, I was this close to sitting on a pine cone and rocking back and forth just to get some relief.

I think it's great that you have a post op appointment. As I may have mentioned, NO ONE has looked at my surgery since the operation. Not even when I was in the hospital for the hemorrhaging. I went for bloodwork due to the anemia last week and my doc didn't look. I asked him if I should call the surgeon who did the op for a post op appointment and he said "Nah. Unless there's a problem." My doc says they won't be able to see anything anyway...seems a little odd, but my doc is fantastic and I trust his opinion.

I do have a smartie sized skin tag down there and I was afraid it was another hemorrhoid but my wife had a peek and told me what it looked like. At least someone's willing to look in that area! Good luck and hope all is well!

Guest · Guest

I had laser surgery to remove a very large external hemm. last week. No stitches involved.
The most painful part is going to the bathroom.
I have ramped up my intake of fiber and such but it still burns after
I go. Does anyone know if there are any creams I can apply
to help ease the burn?

Thanks.

AmyNMikeS · Newbie Joined: 07 Nov 2008 Posts: 6

Hello all! I've spent the last few days reading posts on this site about the traditional hemorrhoidectomy. I have to admit that I've been scared silly after reading some of the horror stories. I have to have this done...I just had the PPH (staple) surgery in February, and now they are back. My surgeon warned me before he did the PPH that they could come back, but I opted for the more "conservative" surgery first.

Well, I'm scheduled for Monday, 11/10. Surgery time 12:30pm. Being that I have already had the PPH, I do have a slight idea of what I need to do...I already have tucks pads and Metamucil, and I just bought gauze pads, more Milk of Magnesia, and the lovely fleet enemas needed the morning of surgery. I will be eating pizza tonight for the last time for a few weeks, starting the Milk of Magnesia tomorrow to help get somewhat cleaned out, and making sure everything is ready for when I come home after the surgery.

I'm hoping that I don't end up being one of the horror stories I've read. I have prepared for the worst - I have at least two full weeks off work and told them it could be 3-4 weeks (I have a desk job). Thankfully my job is very understanding when it comes to health issues. My husband is off work right now (truck driver) due to surgery for two herniated disks in his neck (worker's comp - it's been 8 months), and he's prepared to take care of me.

I just wanted to post a little before the surgery, and I will update after the surgery as soon as I am able to open the laptop. Wish me luck! Expecting the worst, hoping for the best Smile

LisaT · Newbie Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Posts: 1

I had a complete hemrroidectomy 12 days ago. I considered myself a very tough person but this has got me down! I am doing better and then I have a BM, which leaves me feeling like I still have hemorroids. I am physically and mentally drained from the pain, can't sleep and very concerned about getting addicted to the pain pills. I made myself cut back to only taking one or two after each BM.

Does anyone have lots of swelling still? I don't regret this as I am better than I was when I first had the surgery but I'm ready for this to be over.

AmyNMikeS · Newbie Joined: 07 Nov 2008 Posts: 6

It's been 5 days since surgery...two of those days I was taking 2 percocets every 3 hours. I also took milk of magnesia in preparation for the BMs. I had a tucks pad (at least one) in at all times, normally some gauze also. After the 2nd day, I had to all the doctor for a refill on the percocet. At this point he prescribed 1 every 4 hours. Not the best at getting rid of pain, but better than nothing. I must say the first couple days were heaven compared to the last few days. I don't know if I have some sort of rash from having the anal area constantly wet from the Tucks pads, or if this is normal. I can't sit. I'm doing sitz baths as often as possible. I'm taking percocet as much as possible. I must say the BMs are the most god awful pain I've ever felt. I shake, sweat, cry...and it takes a few hours to get over the burning feeling afterwards. I have my follow up appointment on Monday, and I know he's going to want to spread the cheeks and look, and that's going to throw me in to another dimension of pain. Does it look any different yet? Who knows! I'm in too much pain to spread them and look. I have resorted to applying preparation H on the area around the anus to try to get rid of some of this pain, which I'm not sure is helping as I've been downing pain pills left and right. Am I afraid I'm addicted? Hell no...I'm taking these for the incredible pain I'm feeling, not to get high. The sad part is that it's only taking the edge off. I can't get rid of enough of the pain to even THINK about going back to work (I have a desk job). I'm hoping the next few days will show some improvement. I have stopped taking the milk of magnesia for fear that it is what is making the burning pain. I'm still taking the stool softener, so we'll see how the next BM goes. Time for another sitz bath and more preparation H and Tucks pads. I'll update after my appointment on Monday afternoon.

Take care everyone!

Glenn Oldham · Newbie Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 2

Thank you so much to all who have posted on this topic. I have had the worst week of pain in my life following a haemarrhoidectomy four days ago. I was beginning to lose hope and think that I have been permanently crippled or something. Reading other peoples horror stories has given me hope and such relief that I wept while I have been reading them. I am not alone after all!

I am a 53 year old male in the UK who had two haemarrhoidectomies four days ago. I went in for injections under general anaesthetic but the surgeon found I needed surgery instead. That had been mentioned but never discussed in detail.

After it was done I was put in an orthopaedic ward overnight, (the only bed available I guess). Next day I was given a three minute talk about what had happened and when I would be discharged. I was not told what to expect when I got home, I was not given any new written information relevant to the procedure that I had had, rather than the one I had originally gone in for. And I was discharged without having the medication I was given properly explained to me, and one of the three items lacked any instructions whatsoever.

I had expected to be back at work within days, but have had the most severe pain of my life which terrified me. It has left me in despair and exhausted. It takes me three hours to recover from a bowel movement.

It has shaken my confidence in the medical profession (up to now, pretty good). After such experience you don't want to go back to the hospital in case it is made even worse.

There used to be a tradition in the UK that you don't mention side effects and complications because it only encourages people to have them. Maybe that tradition lies behind the terrible lack of information I was given. But If someone had told me 'this may be incredibly painful' and given me details about what might happen then I would have been in as much pain, but I would not have not felt such bewilderment , despair and aloneness. In fact the pain would have been less because I would have felt less despairing.

So thanks again to all those on this discussion forum. I am reassured that I am not alone and that this is (probably) not the end of my world or my life, and that things will get better. Glenn

abc123def · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 8

Hi Glenn

It gets better.

I had mine done on Sept 11. First 7-8 days were BRUTAL pain.

Twice I was damn close to going to emergency room.

I stopped all pain pills and any kind of pills after 2 days. Simple reason is I just don't trust putting drugs into my body....who knows what side effects will result years down the road. So I decided to "tough it out"

When I got the hemorrhoids initially about 8 years ago I had to literally spend a couple days at a time laying on my stomach the pain was so bad. But the pain on day 6 was well above that pain....a whole new pain scale I never thought possible. There was similar pain for about 3 days after each bowel movement.....it hurt like hell but nothing compared to that 1 hour or so of THE MOST SEVERE PAIN IMAGINABLE. But that episode ended after another quick defecation.....very weird.

For the first week I remember not being able to get comfortable at all......not one second. So I'd contort my body and this resulted in a scary pain in my leg/lower abdominal area. My guess was the CONSTANT tensing of the muscles to try and get less pain.

I also remember sleeping may 2 hours per night (if that) during the first week

I went for my checkup a couple days after week 6 ended.....of course the doctor said I should be pain free now......I wasn't.....he said OK let me take a look.

He found it wasn't healing as quickly as it should so he performed a quick procedure by sticking a needle in the wound and cauterizing it. A few days later I was 95% pain free for the first time in 8 years. It took 7 weeks and 3 days. But I'd guess others would be shorter recovery since mine wasn't healing right and need that extra needle in the butt (and that wasn't a pleasant experience...but he said it would help so I said go for it)

All in all I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I can finally walk and jog again....I still have a VERY SLIGHT pain but no throbbing at all.

Glenn Oldham · Newbie Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for the encouragement, abc123def.

Yes, you are right about the pain. Those of us who have suffered from 'rhoids think we know what pain in that region is like. To find that the cure is worse than the illness is a real shock! It is great to hear that it has an end, and is worth it!

much appreciated,

Glenn

Guest · Guest

I had surgery yesterday morning for external hemorrhoid at 8am I was back home by 9am with little or no information as to how I would feel, heal, etc, I left with no medication or instruction other than warm sitz baths would be my best friend for the next few days. After I got home I had to have a BM which was severe pain. Yesterday afternoon I was in tremendous pain and could not sleep due to the pain last night, it is the worst pain immaginable I spent a geat deal of the day and night in a warm bath. I have only been taking motrin for the pain. This morning I woke up with very little pain and had to have a bm first thing so I was terrified, but I sat there and did not push but let my body do what it needed to on its own, I kept waiting for the pain but very little came, until I wiped with the prep h wipes it was that stringing burning pain but not unmanagble. For most of today I have had very little pain and mostly discomfort. I feel my body healing and wanted to share this to say everyone experience is different not to say that I wont have anymore pain I know I will and I know this is a pain I will never forget but think in the end it will be worth it. God Bless You! Very Happy

Guest · Guest

I had my 'ectomy' about 4 weeks ago. like alot of these folks, I couldn't pee. So I had to wear a catheter for a week, which turned into a urinary tract infection. I must have been really blessed because I had pain the first week, I was having a hard time having a BM due to the swelling, but after about a week my stool was moving and I was feeling fine. My problem came from straining that first week, it caused me to developed into an external 'roid and of all the times to have a problem I had this problem right before the Thanksgiving holidays. How dare I have a problem before the holidays ! My appointment is in a few days and I'm sure my Doc will take good care of me.
Anyway, This surgery was pretty painful but I just had Bypass Surgery about four months ago and the comparison was very close to a tie.
My diet has changed and I'm feeling pretty good, though I don't want to do either surgery ever again.
If I were to do this surgery all over again , I definitely would !
I was tired of suffering with 'roids for the past thirty years and I would definitely do it all over again !

How Long Does Hemorrhoidectomy Recovery Last?

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