TexasChic, thanks for your upbeat story. I go to surgery on the 13th, for the second time. First hemorroidectomy was 21 years ago, a year after my second child was born. I honestly don't remember that the post op recovery was that awful, but my surgeon told me I would "have her picture on my dart board for two weeks afterwards." I started researching tonight for diet recommendations, etc. I do remember that I was well-medicated. Your last post about why you think you are doing so well is very helpful. I'll let you know how it goes for me! Some of these stories really are VERY scary!
Hi SecondTimeAround,
I've been checking back in to see if I had any response. As much pain as other people have been in I was afraid they would think I was being sanctimonious. I'm still doing ok, though. I think if you have a good surgeon and the right meds, the real secret is FIBER and STOOL SOFTENERS. I would be in bad shape if things weren't passing out with ease. Also, I will confess that sitting so long to type my last 2 posts was not a good idea. I've been a little sore ever since, but still, nothing like the pain that has been described before. The reason for taking off work even if all goes well is that you can't sit for long, and you do need to shower off after every bm, and sitz baths continue to be very soothing. So, eat LOTS of fiber. And I mean LOTS. I still highly recommend Fiber One cereal. I do not work for that company but they should pay me for advocating their product so much. lol And who knew it would be so good with a can of peaches or pears and their juices instead of milk? (Milk is constipating so we should avoid that.) But I find it ok for a diet that should only last about a month. After that I am really looking forward to a nice juicy steak. Anyway, things are still going ok, and I'm glad you are not scared. I'll be thinking about you, and everyone else, too. I swear I am still not in any agony, and it will be one week tomorrow.
I've been checking back in to see if I had any response. As much pain as other people have been in I was afraid they would think I was being sanctimonious. I'm still doing ok, though. I think if you have a good surgeon and the right meds, the real secret is FIBER and STOOL SOFTENERS. I would be in bad shape if things weren't passing out with ease. Also, I will confess that sitting so long to type my last 2 posts was not a good idea. I've been a little sore ever since, but still, nothing like the pain that has been described before. The reason for taking off work even if all goes well is that you can't sit for long, and you do need to shower off after every bm, and sitz baths continue to be very soothing. So, eat LOTS of fiber. And I mean LOTS. I still highly recommend Fiber One cereal. I do not work for that company but they should pay me for advocating their product so much. lol And who knew it would be so good with a can of peaches or pears and their juices instead of milk? (Milk is constipating so we should avoid that.) But I find it ok for a diet that should only last about a month. After that I am really looking forward to a nice juicy steak. Anyway, things are still going ok, and I'm glad you are not scared. I'll be thinking about you, and everyone else, too. I swear I am still not in any agony, and it will be one week tomorrow.
Hi all i had this surgery 6 7 weeks ago now, 3 hams removed which were thrombosed and 2 skin tags , it was very scary and higly painful the healing takes ages and one has to ahve faith and be very patient, lots of water and a good soft nutrotional diet is the way to go , i have been told three months before the buring on the bm will stop, luckily i work from home thank god as i need the warm water from the shower head after the bm to soothe the area, lots of stories on this site which are scary but honestly with rest no straining the right food understanding that this will be and is terribly painful one can get through it, the hams are no laughing matter the constant throb was terrible for me plus i had a small fisure was was experiencing extreme spasms which was horrific pain wise , the botox seems to have taken care of this , i think the surgery is worth it def and i hate pain and have cried honestly for the past year whilst in severe paina nd still cry now with the bm or even the thought of the bm but i know that in 2 months i will be so much better and my diet lifestyle has had to improve and also the way i treat my body and bm , breathing heps , crying helps and moaning and shaking the body to relax the bm and make things easier, always lots of water fruit and veggies oh and the dreaded fibre , good luck god bless and keep the faith .
Did you do anything special before your surgery? I am supposed to get my "marching orders" today or tomorrow. I don't know if they will have me do a complete clean-out prep or merely an enema the night before. I vote for the clean-out option. Also, I'm thinking I'm going to pay strict attention to my diet, esp. from this weekend on. I already eat a ton of fiber ... a very healthy diet. Lots of fruit and veggies. I'll have to cut down on the white flour and carbs, though. Has anyone eaten popcorn? I think I could live on popcorn.
Someone on one of these threads posted that the first BM post-childbirth was the one to remember, and I concur. THAT one I DO remember. And no one warned me. If I can remember that, and I don't remember post-op being so bad after my first roidectomy, I have to believe either I was so well medicated I don't remember anything, or it couldn't have been that bad. Oh well, I guess we'll see. And I am two decades older, YIKES! I am a retired veterinarian and like all good vets, I am a proponent of "knock me out and do whatever you need to do while I am asleep." So for my first surgery, I also had a D & C! I don't remember ANYTHING about the D & C either! Another time I had a vaginal hysterectomy at the same time as I had a nasal septum repair. The nose surgery was TEN TIMES WORSE than the hysterectomy.
TexasChic, hope you continue to do well. I'll be about two weeks behind you, no pun intended ...
Someone on one of these threads posted that the first BM post-childbirth was the one to remember, and I concur. THAT one I DO remember. And no one warned me. If I can remember that, and I don't remember post-op being so bad after my first roidectomy, I have to believe either I was so well medicated I don't remember anything, or it couldn't have been that bad. Oh well, I guess we'll see. And I am two decades older, YIKES! I am a retired veterinarian and like all good vets, I am a proponent of "knock me out and do whatever you need to do while I am asleep." So for my first surgery, I also had a D & C! I don't remember ANYTHING about the D & C either! Another time I had a vaginal hysterectomy at the same time as I had a nasal septum repair. The nose surgery was TEN TIMES WORSE than the hysterectomy.
TexasChic, hope you continue to do well. I'll be about two weeks behind you, no pun intended ...
All the surgeon told me to do pre-op was take 2 Fleet enemas one after the other two hours before my surgery. There are other things I wish I had known about though, and I'll share that list with you here. In my experience, you should acquire the following before you have the surgery:
disposable underpads to put between your fitted sheet and mattress
thin long maxi pads (not the ordinary thick kind--they are too bulky to sit on)
comfortable cotton underwear that covers the butt, at least 3 pairs (one you're wearing, one ready to wear, one in the wash!)
a hand held shower nozzle
a clean bath tub
toilet tissue (several rolls on hand for back up)
wet wipes to help clean up the general area back there before you hit the shower, and after the first week, to actually gently wipe over the anal area
a heating pad
baby oil to put on your skin while you're in the tub so your skin stays soft and doesn't dry out --mixes well with the warm water and is soothing (and for use in sitz bath, baby oil is mild enough not to irritate the anal area)
magazines to flip thru while you're in the tub for 10 to 15 minutes. (You can't concentrate on a book and besides a book can get ruined if it gets wet. Mags are easier to manage.)
A thermometer to make sure you are not running a fever.
Plus, I would insist on having all my prescriptions filled the day before the surgery. And your prescription meds need to be:
Vicodin or similar narcotic pain reliever
Valium to relax sphincter muscle
lidocaine ointment for anal area
plus these over the counter products:
Milk of Magnesia laxative (to use until first bm)
Dulcolax/Colace stool softener (to continue using while on narcotic)
Metamucil (my doc said 1 tablespoon with 2 glasses of water, and FYI a tablespoon is three times the recommended dose)
Beano (to use with high fiber products to reduce gas)
Advil for a little extra pain relief between med times (not Tylenol since that might be in the narcotic and you don't want to overdose on that)
And lots and lots of water. I bought bottles to keep by the bed. And I bought some unsweetened bottled tea for flavor when I was tired of water. No carbonated beverages or dairy products. You don't want gas or constipation!
Take your meds on a schedule, not when you think you need them! You can stay ahead of the pain that way and research shows pain is easier to manage if you keep it under control. Once you are in pain it is hard to get under control so stay ahead of the pain for best results. I have a little weekly pill box (seven compartments in a slender little plastic box) that I keep my meds in. I keep a notepad by the bed and write down the times of when I take my meds so that I can keep up with when I have taken what. I fill the pill box every day and go to each compartment when the time comes. Saves trouble of taking the lids on and off all the pill bottles all the time and just helps me keep them straight, for some reason.
And again I am going to tout this product: Fiber One cereal with a can of fruit including juices (peaches and pears work best for me). Use the juice in lieu of milk to avoid constipation. It is filling and 1 cup of Fiber One cereal is 28 grams of fiber. 28 grams. I kid you not. Your bm will pass out with ease if you use that stuff.
I think you need two weeks of meds at least. I am heading into week 2 now and I still need it. I'll let you know if I need it past week 2.
Good luck SecondTimeAround and everyone else. Let us know how you're doing.
Signed,
Texaschic
disposable underpads to put between your fitted sheet and mattress
thin long maxi pads (not the ordinary thick kind--they are too bulky to sit on)
comfortable cotton underwear that covers the butt, at least 3 pairs (one you're wearing, one ready to wear, one in the wash!)
a hand held shower nozzle
a clean bath tub
toilet tissue (several rolls on hand for back up)
wet wipes to help clean up the general area back there before you hit the shower, and after the first week, to actually gently wipe over the anal area
a heating pad
baby oil to put on your skin while you're in the tub so your skin stays soft and doesn't dry out --mixes well with the warm water and is soothing (and for use in sitz bath, baby oil is mild enough not to irritate the anal area)
magazines to flip thru while you're in the tub for 10 to 15 minutes. (You can't concentrate on a book and besides a book can get ruined if it gets wet. Mags are easier to manage.)
A thermometer to make sure you are not running a fever.
Plus, I would insist on having all my prescriptions filled the day before the surgery. And your prescription meds need to be:
Vicodin or similar narcotic pain reliever
Valium to relax sphincter muscle
lidocaine ointment for anal area
plus these over the counter products:
Milk of Magnesia laxative (to use until first bm)
Dulcolax/Colace stool softener (to continue using while on narcotic)
Metamucil (my doc said 1 tablespoon with 2 glasses of water, and FYI a tablespoon is three times the recommended dose)
Beano (to use with high fiber products to reduce gas)
Advil for a little extra pain relief between med times (not Tylenol since that might be in the narcotic and you don't want to overdose on that)
And lots and lots of water. I bought bottles to keep by the bed. And I bought some unsweetened bottled tea for flavor when I was tired of water. No carbonated beverages or dairy products. You don't want gas or constipation!
Take your meds on a schedule, not when you think you need them! You can stay ahead of the pain that way and research shows pain is easier to manage if you keep it under control. Once you are in pain it is hard to get under control so stay ahead of the pain for best results. I have a little weekly pill box (seven compartments in a slender little plastic box) that I keep my meds in. I keep a notepad by the bed and write down the times of when I take my meds so that I can keep up with when I have taken what. I fill the pill box every day and go to each compartment when the time comes. Saves trouble of taking the lids on and off all the pill bottles all the time and just helps me keep them straight, for some reason.
And again I am going to tout this product: Fiber One cereal with a can of fruit including juices (peaches and pears work best for me). Use the juice in lieu of milk to avoid constipation. It is filling and 1 cup of Fiber One cereal is 28 grams of fiber. 28 grams. I kid you not. Your bm will pass out with ease if you use that stuff.
I think you need two weeks of meds at least. I am heading into week 2 now and I still need it. I'll let you know if I need it past week 2.
Good luck SecondTimeAround and everyone else. Let us know how you're doing.
Signed,
Texaschic
This is a fabulous list and I will get ALL that you suggest. I have most of it already. I didn't get my stuff from the doc today but will call tomorrow if it doesn't come. I like the idea of getting my prescriptions on Monday, before Tuesday's surgery. I'll keep you all posted, thanks so much!
TexasChic, how are you doing this week? Tomorrow is my D-Day ... or H-Day, as the case may be. Got all my stuff ready to go. Just want to get this show on the road. Any last minute advice?
I just went to the doctor today and was told I needed to see a surgeon about my roids. I thought I would do a little research and became absolutely terrified!! Thank you for your positive post. I don't know if I will have to have the surgery, but your posts make me feel better if I do. Thanks!
Howdy SecondTimeAround,
I was thinking of you today since tomorrow is your big day. Today was my first day with no prescription meds and tomorrow is my 2 week anniversary so I guess you could say it took me 12 days to recover. I started getting a rash from something I was taking about a week ago and began taking an antihistamine to cope with that. Not an itchy rash but just skin that was sandpapery to the touch. It was so mild I didn't even call the doc about it. I began weaning off the vicodin and valium on Saturday, and today (Monday) was off completely. Can even sit to type now!
If you feel the need "to go" though, you better be near a bathroom for the first two weeks, but other than that, if you have a good surgeon and keep your stools soft and do your sitz baths, you are going to be just fine. The first 24 hours was the worst. What with the swelling in the first 24 hours which was most uncomfortable and expelling the packing for one horrible moment during that time, at most I was in true agony for only about one hour. You can get thru that, and then you will be fine. It will be so worth it. I'll be praying for you.
You check back in in a week or so and let us know how YOU are doing, OK? I'll be thinking about you till then.
--TexasChic
I was thinking of you today since tomorrow is your big day. Today was my first day with no prescription meds and tomorrow is my 2 week anniversary so I guess you could say it took me 12 days to recover. I started getting a rash from something I was taking about a week ago and began taking an antihistamine to cope with that. Not an itchy rash but just skin that was sandpapery to the touch. It was so mild I didn't even call the doc about it. I began weaning off the vicodin and valium on Saturday, and today (Monday) was off completely. Can even sit to type now!
If you feel the need "to go" though, you better be near a bathroom for the first two weeks, but other than that, if you have a good surgeon and keep your stools soft and do your sitz baths, you are going to be just fine. The first 24 hours was the worst. What with the swelling in the first 24 hours which was most uncomfortable and expelling the packing for one horrible moment during that time, at most I was in true agony for only about one hour. You can get thru that, and then you will be fine. It will be so worth it. I'll be praying for you.
You check back in in a week or so and let us know how YOU are doing, OK? I'll be thinking about you till then.
--TexasChic
Thanks for your thoughts and advice and well-wishes. I just want to get it over with. I have a clear schedule so I can hang out however long I need to by "john".
I'll post as soon as I am able. The first 24 hours, huh .... oh boy ...
I'll post as soon as I am able. The first 24 hours, huh .... oh boy ...
Pain meds, honey. Take your pain meds like your life depends upon it. It does!!! Take them on the way home if you can! You can't get started soon enough!
Wish we could meet each other in real life. It's good to be friends online though. (Take your meds!)
Wish we could meet each other in real life. It's good to be friends online though. (Take your meds!)
I wish I could meet you, too, TexasChic. I think I'd like you! You are organized and on top of things and in charge of your own destiny! I appreciate those qualities in a person!
Here's hoping the next 48 hours go by quickly. I just want to "get this behind me ..."
I'll take my meds! My doc doesn't automatically prescribe Valium so I will be asking for that tomorrow. I just researched any issues with using Valium while on a narcotic, and might need to have that discussion with my doc. I am all for better living through chemistry!
I'll post as soon as I can.
Here's hoping the next 48 hours go by quickly. I just want to "get this behind me ..."
I'll take my meds! My doc doesn't automatically prescribe Valium so I will be asking for that tomorrow. I just researched any issues with using Valium while on a narcotic, and might need to have that discussion with my doc. I am all for better living through chemistry!
I'll post as soon as I can.
Listen SecondTimeAround,
You tell that doctor that Vicodin is for the pain and that Valium is to relax that sphinter muscle so there won't be so much pain. It's not something you want to take to "calm you down." You need it so you can poop without undue pain.
Surely he knows that. And get that lidocaine prescription ointment for the pain around the anal area, too. It will help with the pain of the sutures where the Valium helps to relax the muscle so there won't be pain when you poop.
You cannot drink alcohol with Valium, but you will want to without it. You'll do anything to self-medicate if your bowel movements start to hurt. Tell him it's Valium or alcoholism. Ironically, Valium is used to treat alcoholism so you'll end up using it anyway!
Really, if he's a good surgeon he knows all this. It's just going to be too bad you have to get the RX filled the day of instead of the day before. Would have been one less thing to worry about, but oh well. I hope you have help.
But insist on the Valium. It is necessary!
You tell that doctor that Vicodin is for the pain and that Valium is to relax that sphinter muscle so there won't be so much pain. It's not something you want to take to "calm you down." You need it so you can poop without undue pain.
Surely he knows that. And get that lidocaine prescription ointment for the pain around the anal area, too. It will help with the pain of the sutures where the Valium helps to relax the muscle so there won't be pain when you poop.
You cannot drink alcohol with Valium, but you will want to without it. You'll do anything to self-medicate if your bowel movements start to hurt. Tell him it's Valium or alcoholism. Ironically, Valium is used to treat alcoholism so you'll end up using it anyway!
Really, if he's a good surgeon he knows all this. It's just going to be too bad you have to get the RX filled the day of instead of the day before. Would have been one less thing to worry about, but oh well. I hope you have help.
But insist on the Valium. It is necessary!
My insurance won't allow it ... so my hubby will fill my prescriptions tomorrow when I am in surgery. I suspect my doc (she's a lady!) will be fine with it. I don't think Valium has any DIRECT effect on sphincter tone ... it is an anti-anxiety drug and that helps YOU relax which then indirectly helps you relax the sphincter. But that's good enough for me. I want to sleep and float whenever I'm not in agony!
Well, I am among the living, and I have to report that I am doing FABULOUSLY well and waiting for the other shoe to drop. My surgery was 22 hours ago. I felt no pain yesterday and figured it was the anesthetic ... but I am still essentially pain free this morning. I am RIGOROUSLY following my med schedule ... Doc has me on 2-3 Advil every 6 hours and 1-2 Codeine every 4-6 hours. So, given that I expected the first few days to be the worst, I am on 3 Advil and 2 Codeine every 6 hours. My stomach is not terribly happy but not too bad. No BM yet, but have passed gas with no discomfort. Very little drainage. Only an external dressing, no internal packing to force out. I can sit on my bottom in my office chair or the bathtub with no discomfort. I didn't sleep terribly well last night, but no shock given that I slept much of yesterday.
The doc told my husband that because my 'roids were uncomplicated and because the surgery went so smoothly, she anticipated I would have an uneventful recovery. But I had no expectation that I would be doing nearly this well. The worst part so far was the wait yesterday morning! I was fine while they got me into a bed and drew blood and started the IV ... but then it was wait, and wait, and wait. It was probably an hour from when everything was ready until I got half of my Versed dose ... I could have gotten it a little earlier but had questions for the doc (Like, would you prescribe me some Valium?) and I didn't want to be drugged out when talking to her. After she left I got some Versed and it was much better after that. Got the second dose in the operating room around 11 and woke up after 1, but really didn't wake up enough to get dressed until 1:45.
Doc did give me about 8 Valium 2 mg tabs, but I have only taken one so far ... last night at my 2 AM dose of codeine, partly to help me sleep and partly in anticipation of my system kicking into gear this morning ... which it hasn't done yet. TexasChic, what dose of Valium did your doc use and how often were you to take it?
I also have to tell you, TexasChic, that your suggestions were SO APPRECIATED. I didn't get told about having pads for drainage until pre-op yesterday, meaning I would then have to go into a pharmacy myself after surgery or have my husband try and figure out what I wanted. As I tossed and turned last night and had the mild sensation of drainage (which felt like much more than it was) I was grateful that I had a pad on my bed to protect my mattress. The pill dispenser is a must-have as I juggle all my USUAL meds with all these additional ones. The cheap WalMart cotton panties are soft and airy and another great idea! The FiberOne caramel cereal isn't too bad, either, and neither are the caramel bars they sell.
I am heading to my favorite chair for the day, and I am even somewhat dressed ... at least not in my pj's! Wouldn't want to receive much company, but I feel plenty good enough to be walking around. I still wonder if this will all come to a screeching halt, but so far, so good. Thanks for ALL your suggestions, they truly were very valuable.
Oh, one more thing to add here ... you also pointed out the value of a good surgeon, and I can't agree more. My doc's nurse told me there are many GP's out there doing this surgery who shouldn't be. My gal is a colorectal surgeon, and so was the guy who did this procedure on me 22 years ago. She was recommended by my OBGYN, and he would see lots of women with 'roids, so he would know who is good. She was further endorsed by a friend (a nurse), and yesterday at the hospital, the nurse who attended me sang my doc's praises and said that was who THEY all used if they needed her expertise. I can see why, because she must be some kind of miracle worker. The nurse really liked my doc, saying she was not only GOOD she was NICE ... and the two don't usually come together in a surgeon. As an additional bonus, the guy who did my anesthesia was by FAR the most personable anesthesiologist I have ever met ... not common in his specialty either. The joke is most anesthesiologists have no idea how to communicate with an awake patient, hence they choose the specialty that they do! When I told this guy how much I appreciated his bedside manner, he said he was dual board certified in pain management as well ... that explained it. A doc who works with people in chronic pain needs to show empathy, compassion, and have good people skills. This guy was really neat and helped settle me down during my hour long wait!
So all in all, this has been far easier than it might have been. I'll keep you posted!
The doc told my husband that because my 'roids were uncomplicated and because the surgery went so smoothly, she anticipated I would have an uneventful recovery. But I had no expectation that I would be doing nearly this well. The worst part so far was the wait yesterday morning! I was fine while they got me into a bed and drew blood and started the IV ... but then it was wait, and wait, and wait. It was probably an hour from when everything was ready until I got half of my Versed dose ... I could have gotten it a little earlier but had questions for the doc (Like, would you prescribe me some Valium?) and I didn't want to be drugged out when talking to her. After she left I got some Versed and it was much better after that. Got the second dose in the operating room around 11 and woke up after 1, but really didn't wake up enough to get dressed until 1:45.
Doc did give me about 8 Valium 2 mg tabs, but I have only taken one so far ... last night at my 2 AM dose of codeine, partly to help me sleep and partly in anticipation of my system kicking into gear this morning ... which it hasn't done yet. TexasChic, what dose of Valium did your doc use and how often were you to take it?
I also have to tell you, TexasChic, that your suggestions were SO APPRECIATED. I didn't get told about having pads for drainage until pre-op yesterday, meaning I would then have to go into a pharmacy myself after surgery or have my husband try and figure out what I wanted. As I tossed and turned last night and had the mild sensation of drainage (which felt like much more than it was) I was grateful that I had a pad on my bed to protect my mattress. The pill dispenser is a must-have as I juggle all my USUAL meds with all these additional ones. The cheap WalMart cotton panties are soft and airy and another great idea! The FiberOne caramel cereal isn't too bad, either, and neither are the caramel bars they sell.
I am heading to my favorite chair for the day, and I am even somewhat dressed ... at least not in my pj's! Wouldn't want to receive much company, but I feel plenty good enough to be walking around. I still wonder if this will all come to a screeching halt, but so far, so good. Thanks for ALL your suggestions, they truly were very valuable.
Oh, one more thing to add here ... you also pointed out the value of a good surgeon, and I can't agree more. My doc's nurse told me there are many GP's out there doing this surgery who shouldn't be. My gal is a colorectal surgeon, and so was the guy who did this procedure on me 22 years ago. She was recommended by my OBGYN, and he would see lots of women with 'roids, so he would know who is good. She was further endorsed by a friend (a nurse), and yesterday at the hospital, the nurse who attended me sang my doc's praises and said that was who THEY all used if they needed her expertise. I can see why, because she must be some kind of miracle worker. The nurse really liked my doc, saying she was not only GOOD she was NICE ... and the two don't usually come together in a surgeon. As an additional bonus, the guy who did my anesthesia was by FAR the most personable anesthesiologist I have ever met ... not common in his specialty either. The joke is most anesthesiologists have no idea how to communicate with an awake patient, hence they choose the specialty that they do! When I told this guy how much I appreciated his bedside manner, he said he was dual board certified in pain management as well ... that explained it. A doc who works with people in chronic pain needs to show empathy, compassion, and have good people skills. This guy was really neat and helped settle me down during my hour long wait!
So all in all, this has been far easier than it might have been. I'll keep you posted!