what is the recovery time for hemorrhoid surgery

god_help_me · Newbie Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 5

It is official. I hate my life.

Only now (12 days after surgery) am I starting to feel well enough to eat "normal" food (still all super high fiber and tons of water to keep the BMs soft) and go for a walk everyday...

new external hemorrhoid! And it hurts like HELL. Are you kidding?

The one I had removed I had for over 10 years and I was told I would recover in a week and be able to go biking again in 10 to 14 days.

I have a PhD qualifying exam in a few days and now all I can think about is how it will be months before I can exercise again and how I really may never ride a bicycle again.

The post above mine scares the _____ out of me.

I am so depressed. I cannot do this again. Is there any other option - laser, electro-cautery, something without open wounds and months of recovery?

buttgirl · Newbie Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 31

I didn't have a hemmerroidectomy, but i had an abscess that was in the anal canal cut wide open and drained. It is week 11. I am still not healed. the bleeding/pussing stopped after week 4.

BM's have been virtually painless during the movement because I have been taking Kondremul. Kondremul is an emolient laxative that make poos silky smooth. I know it is not good to be on laxatives for a long time, but this is an emolient laxative rather than a stimulant laxative and it allows me to have fairly comfortable days folllowing the inevitable morning BM.

a_mama · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 8

I thought I would post another update - this one isn't so great. Apparently I have a spot that won't heal and everytime I have a BM (which in itself is not painful at all) I have terrible burning and swelling afterwards, almost like the abscess I had in the first place. I am taking antibiotics for that. As long as I don't go to the bathroom for a while I am 100% fine though and have not needed pain medicine in a while.
Sounds like the surgery for external hemorrhoids is a lot less painful to recover from than the internal ones. (I had several very large external ones removed, a fissure repaired and a sphincterotomy).
I am still positive that I won't regret this surgery in the long run..... I hope it stays that way though and that last little bit heals up in a hurry. I am getting tired of having to beat around the bush to tell them at work why I can't come in (which is really just because I need my sitzbath after a BM - but I can't say that to my bosses!)

inneedofsomehelp · Newbie Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 3

I am feeling in the dark here and could use any help that anyone can offer.

I have had 2-3 severe external hemorrhoids for about 5 days now, don't know what made them show up then, wish they hadn't. After seeing that they were not shrinking or going away and BM being painful on the 2nd and 3rd day I decided to go to the doctor. Monday was day 5, they are uncomfortable but not as painful as day 2 and 3. I went to an urgent care and after waiting 2.5 hours in the waiting room finally got to see the doctor. He says I need to have them surgically removed or they will not go away. Any thing that he can do would be half a solution so he referred me to a surgon friend of his. The paperwork said they were thrombosed. I DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE and he said that the surgon would do the surgery in office and work with me about money issues. I am to call him today, Tuesday, in the am to set up an appointment to talk with him and have it done in the afternoon. Started to call him at 9am, ringing ringing ringing, called about 6 or 7 more times until about 1130 when i called through a different hospital line to talk to a receptionist that said the phone lines were down and they were being worked on as we speak (god send?). She took my name and phone number and told me he would give me a call a little later on. Hopefully this will buy some more research time.

After researching all last night and all day about the procedure and different options i stumbled across this message board... SOMETHING TELLS ME I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS PROCEDURE. I don't think that I can give the ammount of time and still have enough money to have food to eat and a place to live. I DO NOT KNOW. After reading all of the testimonials I am leaning away from the surgery, I don't feel I can afford to be off my feet for that long. I keep running across sclerotherapy on the internet also.

I am also planning on moving at the end of the month, or maybe in two, not sure yet, trying to iron out details. It's a long move from NC to IL.

Please give me some advice or good words to help my decision. And good luck to all of you who have been through it, I send you my best.

patch · Newbie Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 21

Well here I am again. I posted on this site in January 2007 just after my operation and many time since. There have been ups and downs and to be honest I am back on a downward swing at the moment.

Things were looking up as i mentioned when I posted a while back so I went off to Malaysia for business. The plane trip was "ok" and when I got there I was so busy that I basically drank less water and let my BM's be hard so I would not want to go to toilets through the day. Once I got back to the hotel at night I would go through the process of sitting and reading a book and letting nature take its course sloooowwwwly. That worked but the was a small amount of blood with each BM but I decided that was ok.

Unfortunately I ate something bad on the second last day of my trip and got food poisioning (first time in 28 years in Malaysia) so the plane trip back to Australia was not a lot of fun. By the time I got home the bugs in my stomach had infected the wounds from the operation and I got a massive infection. This is infection number 4 so this has totally put me back to square one.

Apart from that I have a feeling that all is not well with my recovery. Even without the infections this has been 14 weeks and I am in more pain now than I was at week 10. I cant ride my motorbike again and frankly I am tired of the whole thing. I can understand that if you were not as lucky as me and you had to go to work each day (I am the boss so I can work at home if I choose) and drive yourself around, look after kids etc this could be VERY depressing. I am a very positive person by nature and have been through quite indredible pain through my life so far but I am starting to crack around the edges.

I am just OVER IT to be honest. I am now told that I have 2 more internal hemerrhoids that he wants to band. I dont know a lot about banding but I seem to hear mixed redults as to whether it works in the long term. One thing to be sure of is that I am not rushing back to have ANY procedures that I dont absolutely need.

My mother had a full hemerrhoidectomy 30 years ago and they botched it totally. She is now 85 and lives in Morphine and Oxygen. SHe has pain everyday and for many years she was told by doctors that she was being silly. Well I now sympathise with her even more than I did for all those years.

This operation is the pits. I still have the outlook that I will recover totally and this will not beat me but if you are having issues with recovery please dont blame yourself. I think its the luck of the draw, quality of the surgeon, karma or whatever but some seem to have no trouble and other dont.

I would like some feedback on the banding procedure both for and against please.

Cheers to all

Graham

Had Enough · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 2

I've started reading this site only AFTER my surgery, had I found it before I would have been too scared to have the "simple procedure". I am convinced the doctors don't tell you about the recovery time because no one would ever have it done. I had mine on 3/2, it's 9 weeks out now. I would be a lot better if I hadn't had diarrea (sp?) for the past 2 weeks. I can't figure out what's causing it, but the fiber powders definitely make it worse. I've tried fasting, liquids, skipping dairy (which never bothered me in the past), brat diet, Pepto Bismal and nothing seems to work. I would be so much better if it weren't for that. Has anyone here had and solved this perplexing problem? I'm scared my hole is shrinking and I'll wind up with other problems. My dr. said it is already too narrow and boy does it hurt when he tries to "dialate" it. Yikes!

As for Patch's question on banding, it's much, much easier than the surgery. I had three done, separately, a few years ago, but the other 'roids were so bad and kept getting worse, I had no choice but to get them removed.

Thank you to everyone who has posted here, I've gotten some great suggestions and appreciate the camraderie, and it's good to know I'm not alone and this too shall pass.
Take care everyone
...Had Enough

Had Enough · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 2

Hi all,
I had this surgery done on 3/2-it's 9 weeks out now, and I'm convinced the doctors don't tell you about the recovery because no one would ever have this surgery. I've been reading these postings for these weeks, and it's comforting to know I'm not alone and not crazy.

I would be a lot better if it weren't for the problem I'm having with diarrea (sp?). This is causing me a lot of distress, once a day is enough but 5 times is excruciating. I've tried all I can think of, fasting, liquid diet, brat diet, Pepto Bismal, etc. I've given up the fiber powders because they seem to make it worse. If anyone has had and solved this problem, I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Patch, you asked about banding. I had three internal ones banded a few years ago, and it's a walk in the park compared to this surgery. A little discomfort-sure, but nothing like this. I'd wait a good year to make sure you're fully healed down there before you let anyone mess with it.

Thanks to you all for your comforting words and suggestions, I really appreciate your help.
....Had Enough

Guest · Guest

LONG WRITES AHEAD....from Newbie.

There has been a great amount of information from everyone in this thread sharing post operative recovery from hemorrhoids.

I have 3 internals; 1 big and 2 medium class internals.
The big has been prolapsing now and then, when I do exercises....or sit too long ( 2-3 hours ).
It has been a hard decision if I should do the surgery- harmonic scalpels, so I have yet to schedule an ops session with my surgeon.
I have been seeing him for the pass 1.5 months now, since my first feeling of a big bulge after BM, and some bleeding session between.

The first oral medication was Daflon, to try to reduce my piles to "controlled" form. Since, I never knew what questions to ask, except if I needed surgery, he had answered..."We will have to wait and see"....but until today did I heard the dreaded news..."You have the option to excise the big one via PPH stapling or ultrasound".

Still in a dazed,however full aware from the discussion here, I now know the amount and length of pain I need to sacrifice.
The answer is...Yes, I do want the hemorrhoid to go.....but I see some sharing on relapsedas well as other minor complications which deters my initial plan.
I know postponing my surgery isn't the best resort as well....and since I've just started a contract job...I had no insurance or health benefits to take medical leaves....
It puts alot of things in tight decisions.

As the day wears on....I begin to decide putting my surgery on hold,and see how severe will my hemorrhoid be without Daflon medication and the end of the month.
I know this is stupid, but now that I have regular BM,and a possibly good dieting, I'm the least controlling my possible chronic outbreak.

about 8 glasses of water. Hot/warm sitz baths, cleaning the "place" and making sure it's dry, 3 assorted fruits daily; bananas, apples, pears...fibre vegetables; carrots, eggplant, brocolli,cabbage, cucumbers, corns, raisin-fruit breads...brown rice powder drinks....

Regular training of passing motions....to not strain at all.. and doing it fast 4-6 mins.

In short, my young lifestyle ( I'm mid 30s ) has changed completely. I sleep earlier, I do light exercises, I observe my food intakes (oils, cholestrols,fats ).

I don't think all this makes much difference,but in any cases, postpones or controls my hemorrhoid from flamming up.

I can see two parts of pre and post surgery from this thread....and alot of risk, mental challenge , pain and more patience is up ahead for both scenarios....
I still get prolapsing after BM, but praise God...it is still in control, no bleeding, and no harsh pain...just stage 3 with occasional Stage 2 symptoms.

Final words...
Yes... I do believe it's meant to be cut...it should be cut/ excised.
If the pain is gradual, and causes emotional insecurities in your daily life...eg: bleeding, pain, itch and more pain...then I guess it should be removed. But then again, one needs to know the post surgical impact , as shared mostly in this forum....( which I am thankful and extremely grateful).

I wish everyone fast healing, and a quick return to their normal lives.
I pray that I myself would have this controlled....after all, I've been living with it since 8 years old...just years of bad dieting and hectic busy working life has summed up this issue...

Peace be with you folks.

hemsurgery · Newbie Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 1

i had my hems removed with the staple procedure in january. i suffered for several days. worst was not being able to urinate and i had to get a catheter (spelling?). second day of hell was my bowls locked up and got hard. i could not release myself. i had to buy a water bottle enema and that loosend everything and then i could release bm. the actual stapling only gave me light aching. so the surgery was quick and fast. it was the aftermath and other complications that stunk. anyway, it is may and my bm's are fast and small. but i am paranoid that they may come back. so i eat almost everything with prunes and water. plus a lot of raisin bran, salad, etc.

Guest · Guest

I'm so glad to find this board. I'm supposed to be on the operating table as I write this. I found this website last night and from what I've read, the usual..."oh you'll be back to work in two weeks" scared me. Only, my doctor told me I'd be up walking around after TWO DAYS.

It was a tough decision to make, but after reading the horror stories of the recovery time and the pain afterward made me think twice.

I have suffered with hemmorhoids for 10 years on and off. These last 5-6 years has been awful. Bleeding, swelling, itching and feeling sharp jabs occasionally. I have the tucks wipes..the annusol suppositories and creams at my fingertips at all times. I have external and internal. One each.

My sister looked into the surgery a couple of years ago and the RN at the doctors office said.."no way would I reccomend this surgery to anybody." So, my family could not believe I would actually go through with this.

Again, thank God I found all your messages. I will stay with my creams, wipes and suppositories until someone comes up with a less painful surgery.

I am in pain now...but with Advil and everything else...can manage. I cannot imagine laying in the bed for weeks..let alone passing a BM after I'm ripped open and sewed back up. I can handle pain pretty well, but my rear end??! No way.

Thanks to all who expressed what they were going through and for being honest. Good luck to you all who are still suffering. I'm in pain also, but seems like a breeze compared to the after effects of surgery.

what is the recovery time for hemorrhoid surgery

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