hemorrhoidectomy recovery time

36 year old female. I had mine done a week ago today.  Doc said I was one of the worse cases.  Internal and external.

I only received 20 Tramadol 50mg's.  I'm on Panadol's at the moment that I buy at the grocer store.

I was wondering what all the fuss was about "all the pain" eh .  I had a bit of discomfort and my first BM (very hard stool) on day 2 that was a bit painful, but not bad.  I even went grocery shopping right after discharge from hospital the day after surgery.

UNTIL yesterday!!!!!  Out of the five BM's (all soft stools) I had, I cried 4 times out of the five like a little girl :'( .
I had two more BM's today and almost cried after the second.  The BM's itself is not so painful, it's right after it's all over when the pain begins and then the horrifying thought - I still have to wipe myself clean |-O .

Unfortunately our home has only two showers and NO BATH, so I don't have the luxury of lying in a bath; with that I have a toddler of 1 1/2 and a 4 year old who doesn't understand that mommy can't do things normally because of all the pain.
I too was hoping for death yesterday - hope things get better from now on!!

Unfortunately I started coughing and sneezing last night - which is very painful.

I didn't want the surgery, my hubby talked me into it.  I told him, he'd better pray all this is worth it!!  He's going to be in my debt forever!! XD

Hope everyone's getting better real soon!!

How is it going now? looks like a year later, and yes I'm a Halo player :o)

I'm finally back to normal, no pain, no blood, no nothing!! Yeah!! For you whot's thinking of doing it - do it, you might not think it's worth it right after the surgery, but it is!! Just hang in there!! :-)

Thanks for the reply. Do you remeber how long it was until you started doing things again just dealing with some pain and then how long before you felt normal?

The worst pain was over after about a month, I felt normal about 12 weeks after surgery, but unfortunately developed a fissure, which also caused me pain, but about a week later everything was normal and no pain!!

This is awesome advice and its the first one that has addressed the oozing. Noone else seems to mention this and I was getting concerned.

Sorry I'm new at this website. I was trying to attach my comment to another person's post about the oozing. But question: How long was it before the BMs stopped hurting? I am 1 week out and Ihad both internal and external/prolapsed rhoids. I'm having oozing of fluid that is annoying because it seems to keep the are too wet to heal. And I haven't had a BM but I'm also on about a 99% liquid diet. I'm afraid to eat solid food. The only thing I have eaten solid is a few saltine crackers with my soup each day. Also today I started drinking slim fast shakes to add variety and to give me some protein intake.

Also, do you think the pain is because of the internal repairs done or actually because the anal skin is ripped on the outside? I'm very scared of the BM pain! Its a mental thing for me and I'm trying to get past the thought! If I have to I will do liquids for a month! LOL....

I'm also new to this website :)
I think it was about 2 to 3 weeks (the worst pain) after that, there was still pain, but bearable.
I had oozing too, but the salt bath (in a baby bath cause we only have showers) helped a lot.
I started using Metamucil, it makes the BM's very soft, I think the worse pain is not that the BM's are hard, but because it burns the raw area - just think about a baby who's poo nappy isn't changed quickly enough, their bottoms are red, burned (rash) or blisters (in bad cases).
Just make sure you clean the area thoroughly.
If I was out and could not take a bath after a BM, I would wet rolled up toilet paper with HOT water and clean myself that way.

I think the pain is of both internal repairs and the raw anal area.

Haha, I would never survive with just liquids!!

Came accross this site as I'm nearly 6 weeks post and still very painful BMs. I had internal hems(I think) done+ large ext anal tag removed + botox for anal fissure. I have been a sufferer for years like most and had a previous Botox for my chronic fissure a couple of years ago which went ok post op. So when my fissure just wouldn't settle this year I decided whilst having the Botox I could sort out the rest. Nothing prepared me for the pain! Sadly I am still having to deal with it so many weeks after. It's definately MUCH better and mainly during BM and the bad stinging afterwards that lasts for several hours. I still have bleeding during BM. I am on regular stool softners.I use dulcoease and a supplement from holland and barretts called aloe Vera colon cleanse(in the UK). I found the lactulose gave too much gas.Even farting(sorry) hurts! And laxido tastes vile. I also have co-codamol for the pain which I've rlly tried to cut down as codeine constipates but only thing that rlly helps. I no longer have to have sitz baths but I still wet tissue to wipe. I also use a stool to get my legs up when I go.Squatting works best but not the most comfortable.The best advise I found to be honest, makes it so much less painful. I wonder when I will start to finally have normal BMs as currently dread going each time :( For those on liquid diets etc as painful as it may be be aware of the fact that strictures and anal stenosis can happen and you need to have some firm stools to help avoid that otherwise dealing with the complications later will be even worse. Good luck to all those recovering!

I am now at exactly 1 month. I'm still having this clear liquid oozing periodically and throughout the day. It doesn't smell bad and its like water almost. At times I also have like a thick yellowish type of secretion! That smells a little strange but not really too bad and its not constant. How long does the oozing last? I'm actually tired of this. Its still sore it seems like on one side. Not extreme but I can feel a little tenderness at times when I move or sit a certain way. I noticed I still have burning after BM when its hard. But when its soft there was no real burning. I ate some raisin bran cereal yesterday and that softenend my stool a lot. So I didn't have the pain as usual. Instead of Metameucil or other pill stool softeners, I find that the raisin brand cereal works better. Those stool softeners just didn't work for me. I think I'm going to do another bowl of raisin bran today and see if I can completely clean out my system. My question again is how long did the oozing last? Sorry for rambling.

What are strictures and anal stenosis? Also, even on liquid diets, you still have a BM, just not as frequent. I actually didn't go for a week after the surgery! When I went in for post-op visit the doctor said, have a BM this weekend or else! LOL...so I took several stool softeners and went. It was extrememly painful and hard---even on the liquid. I am dreading less and less going BM now at 4 weeks. But I still cringe at the thought of it. Passing gas does actually HURT! Which tell ya something about gas! YUCK! I wonder why that hurts so much. It hurts worse than the BM itself! In my opinion.

Strictures/stenosis are when the anal canal narrows after surgery so much so that it required dilatation and sometimes repeat surgery to widen canal.It can happen if stools are too soft or liquid so having a good motion very important..

Hi, I'm 30 year old male from Sydney, Australia. I got the OP because these roids were messing with my bowel movements but they werent extremly painful or extreme bad case.

Hemorrhoidectomy is now 13 day post op.

I have seen a few of these posts so I’ll just copy what I wrote on the others forums because I went to many.

I have to say that if it wasn’t for finding these posts I most surely would have died of pain. I need to thank everyone who posted their experiences, tips, resolutions and nightmares.

I guess I’ll give my experiences because reading other peoples storys was enlightening.

 

This is something that I definitely did not expect in regards to pain. I’m pretty sure that if governments use Hemorrhoidectomy as a form of torture to get information from spies or something then I’m pretty sure any agent including James Bond would have sold his soul to make the pain stop.

 

I mean it was bloody ridicules, what the hell is up with the specialists, nurses and doctors not giving you the appropriate information to be prepared for such ordeal?

 

After coming back from hospital the great anaesthetic that they give is still in action at-least until the next morning, After that it’s a rolla costa.

 

First 3 days were horrible horrible pain, 4 showers a day with 4 baths just to make the pain go away for a few minutes. Blood after every BM, more throbbing and the reflexes OMG what’s up with those. You half way urinating and then BANG you lock up stopping everything and then pain from that reflect.

 

4th day was deceiving I thought I was getting better and I stopped the pain killers, BIG MISTAKE!

Day 5,6,7 were still just as bad if not worse especially after passing BM, I mean I couldn’t sleep properly or I wait wake up every hour to go toilet or wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning and have a bath because the pain was too much.

 

One of the most frustrating things is that you don’t know if you’re getting better or making it worse or you’re not healing? You think you’re getting better then you have a BM and rips something open again, how was I meant to heal?

 

Day 8,9 were still bad. There was this feeling especially after BM with the throbbing and constant pain, not being able to release gas properly. There was this feeling that little bubbles were coming out of my anus without my consent, it was weird had no idea. I just felt like ripping my A-Hole out.

 

By 10 I decided that if I was getting better the next day I would go GP and if still nothing I would go hospital but thank God by Day 11 I was feeling half normal. I gave it two more days until I knew for sure that this was a FOR SURE thing.

 

In saying that I am now much better, I don’t feel like passing out when going to bathroom and the 5 hour throbbing after BM is gone.

 

The things that helped me get through this are.

 

Endone Pain Killers 1 every 6 hours.

Nurofen (Anti Inflammatory) 2 every 6 hours

Panadole (attacks the pain the brain) 2 every 6 hours

MAKE SURE YOU STOOL SOFTNER not the laxative ones unless you need it the one I used was Coloxyl 50

Important to get Anti-Biotics

Xylocain 2% (lignocaine) was what I used first but wasn’t too affective

Then jumped to Xyloproct Oinments 15% (lignocaine) highly recommend

A-lot of Salt bath A-LOT! Epsom salt if possible otherwise regular but not highly recommended.

 

 

So there is light in the end of the tunnel, obviously everyone is different but for me it took about 12 days to feel like a normal human being. I would say after 10 if you’re still bad go to the damn hospital because there is something wrong.

 

HANG IN THERE GUYS!!! There is life after this. Good luck everyone.

 

9days after surgery and this morning was a nightmare. I stayed in bed to prolong the inevitable BM which accompanies my morning wake up. It came like clockwork 3min after I got up and started moving. Day 9 and it was still painful as all get out. Seriously, who put razor blades on my boys tonka truck and parked it up my butt?! Who was it?!

I'm 32yo male in Australia, had roids for 17years and decided this was the year to get them sorted. Turns out a chronic fissure came along 8 weeks ago and forced my hand. I'd have a BM and it was hell. Roid protrudin, fissure tearin hell. I'd push the prolapsed roid back into its place, lay on my back for 2-4 hours while my body recovered from the fissure pain then try to pretend to have a normal life. I'd drive to work (1hr away) but the posture would push the roid back out and tear the fissure again. I'd make a discrete exit to the bathroom as soon as possible (without causing alarm to my colleagues, I'm picturing Kramer entering the room..) and put things in their place then I was ok for work. One day it was so bad i went to the emergency dept at hospital in the hopes of some relief, but got an unceremonious poking around by a young doctor who said its just a prolapsed roid, she'll be right in a couple of weeks. (i didn't know at the time that i had the fissure and i understand why my butt took exception to being poked and pulled at. it hurt more than ever the next few days which i now figure was the fissure being manually torn by the doc). Weeks went by without any progress and needless to say, this lifestyle wasn't sustainable so i booked for a colorectal surgery visit.

I found a highly recommended colorectal surgeon whose secretary said he doesn't see uninsured patients (which i am),but send an email with the referral. I emailed my story and assured him I was self-insured and was booked in for the initial visit 6 WEEKS later! Maybe figured id go away and it worked, I found another one (waiting 6-12 mths for the public system was never going to happen..)and left my dignity at the door again when I visited for some poking and prodding. (Again that day was a nightmare after the poking..) this doc booked me in for the following Friday for surgery and that was 9days ago... And where the recovery saga begins.

Being self insured, and in the interest of keeping costs down it was a day surgery, but the doc placed a nerve block on the area so I couldn't feel much other than discomfort for just more than 24 hrs after the surgery. I hadn't eaten for a day so when the lovely nurse in the recovery room came and offered a delicious looking ham and cheese sandwich I said YES, X2! Bad idea? Find out on day +1. Should definitely have had a litre of water before eating.That night I had a fairly normal type of meal of post-fasting proportions (far too big) and was clearly not thinking strategically about this ordeal.

The first BM came on D+1 and saying I was anxious just doesn't cover it. It was not that easy, and the gauze that was left in there didn't help.  That one,  plus the next 4-5 BMs felt like China Shipping had lost a few ocean liners and they were found sailing out my but. Incidentally they were the most finely shaped stools I've seen from myself in 17years.. My toilet training boy has shown me the model stool shape on a number of occasions so I know these were Well shaped. Back to the point though they were huge and had to stop! I was on like 2 endone (oxycodone) tabs every 4 hrs for the unbelievable pain and just to feel like life was more than being afraid of that little room and all that it means.. There were a number of occasions I would be writhing in pain lying in bed waiting for the endones to kick in, or pleading with Heavenly Father to give me strength to endure just long enough to run the hot bath. I have definitely developed a level of empathy for people in chronic and prolonged pain, and for the mother of my children going through labour.

Those first few days are now an oxycodone faded memory, but I know the extra warm Epsom salt baths after each BM were life savers. They helped to ease what seemed to be cramping sphincter muscles or muscles which didn't realise they could stop squeezing cause there's noting else comin. Boy are those killers! So I decided to cut my food intake right back, increase liquid uptake and reduce the endone intake, on a 'I'd die if I don't take one' basis cause I don't like the idea of consistently pumping toxic chemicals into my body and they lead to constipation (public enemy #1 right now, and forever!). 

 I had 5 BMs before lunch today, the first was the mad max tonka truck and the rest were tiny little things. i think my bowls are overreacting and making me go more than I should.. Those were all accompanied with the crampy / spasmy anal area muscles (anyone else get those?) and an interesting / amazingly painful new development of a SERIOUS butt cramp on the right side (any one get that?). I think it's from how I've been compensating for the pain with changing my posture, not sitting straight, tensing a lot etc. After some google searching I'm fairly confident it's the beginnings of piriformis syndrome. I found a great video on YouTube some fella posted about stretches for piriformis syndrome. The stretches kill like no other but do relieve the pain for a few hours. 

2 more BMs since lunch one just 40 min ago, 9:30pm! Thanks lactulose for the bed time toilet run! At least it was softer than some others or I prob. wouldn't be ipading right now.. And now the piriformis wants to remind me it's there. Seriously, if you wanted to design a torture regime to break someone's spirit, I've got some ideas!So I have one more week off work and hopefully by then my body is giving me more than 30sec warning before a BM. Actually yeah, now I think of it that would be quite important.. I am sure I'll need the full 2 weeks off and am lucky I can still do some work and uni work from home when the head is clear. I'll maybe try and do some more walking this week, I've basically laid down for the majority of the past week, venturing out for a family lunch yesterday which was nice. But the most important thing right now is healing 100% so I don't EVER find myself with a reason to go through this again. For me, these things have helped.Firstly, a wife who is patient and caring. It would be super tough to be going through this by yourself.An understanding and knowledgeable mother with ideas and gifts to make it easier, eg magnesium for relaxing (chia seeds and salvital) and Epsom salt baths, vital greens and more!The warm Epsom salt baths are incredible. I have a hose section duct taped to the faucet and use it like a warm spa bath on my butt which feels INCREDIBLE after a BM. My wife makes these incredible mango, banana, apple, grape, chia seed, honey, blends which were my staple for the past few days. Still having baby wipes in the house has been great. There's no way tp is touching this butt anytime soon. I have been gifted some rectinol wipes though which are even better! Having something to do which takes your mind off things is good. I've played some PS3 and watched some movies. Beats writhing in pain in bed wondering when it's going to end. It's hard to relax (which is important) when you have nothing to think about other than the pain. This week will be more work and a uni assignment.Other than that, I decided to cut the Metamucil because it seemed to be significantly bulking up my stools (hence the ocean liners) but will start it up again tomorrow after reading how you don't want the sphincter to get used to overly small stools or you could be in for more roids down the track.Would I recommend it, yes. For someone suffering like I was, for sure. I'd recommend a strategic approach to eating and meals though. Also, be aware that if you have this surgery, it is possible that you will find a level of pain you didn't know existed waiting for you, but that the frequency and intensity does subside. I am looking forward to further subsidence myself. (I realise that it is different for everyone aswell. It seems like my experience was middle of the road when it comes to how long it's taken to not need the heavy pain killers all the time. At least from what I've read. I feel for those who say its been 2 weeks of 24/7 intense pain.)2 weeks (i hope not more) of a torturous, rollercoaster nightmare to regain a healthy, pain & roid free life. It's worth it. I'll hopefully be on the way to full recovery before the first doc could even see me. Actually, I've gotta cancel that appointment still. That'll make someone's day!Best Wishes to anyone planning this surgery or recovering from it. Hang in there! Choose life! PS. I had a large prolapsed haemorrhoid on the right side, and a 20mm chronic fissure on the left which wasn't officially diagnosed until surgery. (No touchy while i was concious)The surgery was for the roid, and doc gave me nifedipine 1% for relaxing the muscles to heal the fissure. Problem is it relaxed the area so much that it have me a couple of small external roids, so that cream usage stopped quick smart. Gotta ask the doc about that..

Hi all, I'm 3 days in since my hemorrhoidectomy and is been great to hear all of your experiences and suggestions do I thought I'd add mine to the thread. So had my op on Wednesday and tbh I want really prepared for the pain or the length of recovery. So far I've had 3 mixed days of pain, discomfort and the bms of a newborn baby. To keep this brief the things I've learned so far are as follows 1) ensure that you're taking Fibre and stool softener supplements 2) get some strong painkillers 3) I've had diarrhea this week so whilst doing a bm, squat in the bath/shower over a paper plate, you can use the shower head as a bidet to reduce the pain and lubricate the movement and wash any little bits. 4) Disinfect the bath and fill with salt water to relieve the pain I'll update this as i learn more Cheers David