Hi! I know it's been over a year now, but I just read your post while I was looking for different alternatives to get rid of my piles. THD sounds really like a great option to me and I was wondering (and hoping that you are still active here), if you went for it in the end and how it was? Thanks!
All these posts are really bizarre. I'm not doubting your pain and discomfort, it's just that my experience has been so different. I went in this morning the first of my 3 bands - my doc does one every two weeks. The procedure was a snap, no pain or discomfort. I went home and had a BM with no pain or discomfort. I feel 100% - can't even tell that I had the procedure.
I'm not trying to rub in my pleasant result, just want to encourage others who come to this site. Be prepared for the worst, but I think what you're reading here are very rare scenarios.
I had three removed with one being removed at a time and two weeks in between each procedure. My first and third were the worst and the second one wasnt bad at all. The bad ones i did have a lot of discomfort and some bleeding and itching but after the first 24 hours my condition got a lot better> i dont think the procedure is that bad it just depends who you have doing it and i dont think doing more then one at a time is a good idea. My doc said it would cause too much pain.
This was my second round of banding. Did 4 the first time and was in hell for a few days. I remember it being pretty intense.
This time, I only needed 2 done so I figured it wouldn't be as bad...WRONG! I have never had pain this bad in my entire life. My GI does twilight for banding so I was out during the procedure but woke up in total agony! Thank God I had a good nurse. She gave me a shot of dalaudid that helped the pain quite a bit but when it wore off, I was home and in killer pain. I took two norco which dull the pain for about an hour. Then it's back.
I'm 48 hours post banding and feel like there's a fire burning in my rear. I haven't had a BM yet but I'm not looking forward to it.
They really REALLY need to tell you how bad the pain can be and they should really keep those of us with horrible pain in the hospital where the pain can be better managed
I am miserable. Day 5 after having 1 banding. Vicodin barely touches the pain. Motrin seems to help more, I guess because it relieves some of the swelling. I never would have done this if I'd known I could have this kind of pain. My doctor acted like he had never had a patient experience pain from banding. I felt like such a wimp until I read how many others have suffered as well. Anyone have a clue how long this lasts? At what point is enough enough? I have external hemorrhoids as well and honestly that's where my pain seems to be coming from. However they are not swollen. The pain is just inside. According to my surgeon, internal hemorrhoids have no pain so I must just be feeling pressure. Yeah, right! I feel like I have to pee and poop all the time. Hot baths help while I'm in the tub but the pain comes right back once I'm out. Should I just stay heavily medicated and ride this out? I'm reaching my wits end
I had two hemorrhoids banded yesterday, today I saw two bands in the toilet. Is 2428 hours too soon for them to fall off? I did not see Anything noticeable in the toilet with the bands, just a bit of mucous
I literally just returned from my 4th hemorrhoid treatment, which is my third banding for grade 3+ hemorrhoids. You'd think the experiences would change with respect to the discomfort following the proceture with my experience, though it's just as lame as every other time. The first was so painful I could barely stand it, however it was complicated with a painful exterior hemorrhoid. By a large margin the second treatment, which was an IRC was the least painful; effictive but not as effective as banding as there would still be the "deflated baloon" hanging on. I believe that overall, the reward far surpasses the short term discomfort.
On to the banding experiences and what I can recommend from a couple years of this now. The pain will indeed go away and you will have a much happier life, more confidence and cleaner BM experiences post healing.
Here is what I now plan for:
THE DAYS / WEEKS / YEARS BEFORE
Early in advance of the visit be sure to get used to taking psylium fiber and be sure to eat blean and healthy foots that are non inflamatory foods, foods to which you may be allertic, cause bloating, hard stools or gas. I cannot emphasisse this enough, FIBER AND HYDRATION, and you shuold really be living this way anyway, especially if you have these issues.
PLANNING FOR DISCOMFORT, AND SOME YOU KNOW WHERE
1. As mentioned by others and clearly how most medical decisions are made; is the persistent pain, discomfort or inconvenience of living with our little nemeses bad enough to warrant the likliehood of temporary increased discomfort for a good payoff? Clearly that is why you're reading this, and if it does then this is really the best long term, most sucessful and overall least hastle way to deal with advanced grade hemorrhoids.
2. I now try to plan the procedure in the late afternoon, on a Friday if possible. This way all my BMs are done for the day, esp. if I am having a lot of them, I want to be running on "E"; no surprises. This also allows me an early to bed opportunity to allow the pain to subside overnight. I also plan on taking the next day off, so use your sick leave or you have the weekend to recover. This time, thankfully, I had a few oxycodone left over, which seems to only help a little.
THE PROCEDURE:
This is really kind of the easier part as it's over pretty quickly and if you're able to relax and breathe it will be less painful and quicker. Think passing a stool, not easy if you're clenching. I don't have much to add other than trying to stay relaxed and breathe. Think about Fletch singing Moon River or something.
POST PROCEDURE:
This is where planning is crutial! Bring an ice pack to sit on during the drive home. I would also recommend taking any NSAIDS prior and pain killers just after.
Do both of the following for pain:
1. As funny as it sounds RICE still applies! Resting is clearly going to be your first impulse, so please allow yourself time to rest. Laying on the left side , place thin ice pack wrapped in a clean towel or sterile cloth as close as possible to the area of pain. This will help with the pain and swelling from the procedure as we all tend to have a bit of soreness from the probing etc. Laying on my left side helps to displace the pressure imposed on my lower abdomen and anorectal area. The left seems to work better for me and is better for my stomach too.
2. Sitz bath, NOW! Doesnt matter how but get your rear end soaking in some hot water and some epsom salt or some sea salt will really help relax the tensing muscles, deminish swelling and nearly immediately provide considerable relief. It's quite amazing really. I hear some like to sit in their hot tubs.
THE FIRST MORNING BM & ON
This could be the worst part of all of my experiences, sans the initial "Moon River" moment with a terribly painful external enimy. This first BM can be a leg trembling, forehead sweating, fist clenching, eye crossing dance with a different level of clairifying and out of body pain if you're not following the most important step, fiber and hydration. And even then it's going to bring you closer to your Diety than you ever thought possible of a BM. You'll also probably experience a bit of weakness and IMMEDIATE need to void the bowels when nature calls. Do NOT think you can just clench and hold it as it will likely be so painful you may have an accident. Another reason for taking the next day off or have it done preceeding a weekend.
DAY TWO AND ON
Here you will likely have far less discomfort, sans when you forgor your FIBER! I've had some blood spotting, with occasional heavy spotting in my stool and on paper, this goes away as the flesh is deprived of blood. Around day 3-7 when you have a BM, you'll likely see a tiny little black rubberband, similar to dental bands but much smaller in diameter and more robust. At this point you'll likely feel a relief of the fullness in your rectum, as the hemorrhoid is now likely in the stool.
LONG TERM EFFECTS
Way more comfortable overall. No more little guys popping out at the most inopportune times. Cleaner and less painful BMs, better overall health from eating better etc. Much more control long term controlling regularity of my bowels.
Good luck! It will be worth it long term.
I agree. It makes me so mad that all the literature says "its relatively painfree" I have had a total of 6 and 2 were awful and the last one wa a nightmare! What makes it so bad is I was telling the dr the other ones I had hurt and he still banded it anyway. So mad!!
I too had banding 6weeks ago no bleeding but constant pain down left tummy and groin ares eases abit after bowel movement, pain goe,s off a bit after walking, had a sigmotromy all clear so look,s like i will have to live with it sorry not much help.
Januray 6th i had 2 Hems banded.I was told it would be a little painful for a couple days then go away!HA! Extreme pain for 6 days so far, i had to go to the EMERGEGENCY ONCE
already due to thepain being overwelming (throbbing pulsating pain) that i have yet to compare to any other my whole life, basically the worst pain ive ever felt.This has been ongoing now for 6 days, ive been in agony. ER did nothing for me after 8 hours waiting, not even give me pain relief, im not sure whats going on here with this procedure but everyone just sais take tylenol and a sitz bath, ITS NUTS. The pain makes me feel delirious.I talked to my surgeon on the phone he said dont touch it its the bands if you take them off you will have to go through it all over again!!!!! Ive been in pain now for 6 days Throbbing/pulsating,dull, sharp you name it ON and OFF severely!!!i have an appointment on the 13th with the surgeon, to see how it is going....HERE IS MY ADVICE:For any one thinking of doing this procedure:1. Do a lot of research on the best surgeons around and the then narow it down to one by reading reviews, experience etc....2. NEVER do more then one Heamerroid at one time, and move on only until the fisrt one has Completely healed like a month or two after!!!!! WHY risk more pain and complications???3. Be prepard for the PAIN TRAIN! and several days of no driving and basically normal life.Nothing like being in Good Health!!!!Z