Lenght Of Hemorrhoidectomy Recovery?

its been one week today I had the surgery. Im going greeeat today! I took my last pain pill yesterday morning and not feeling the need to take more (I still have 35 codeine pills, took about 30 in 6 days), and the pain is gone, except when I go for BM; but its like 75% less painfull then the first BM lol. Im still taking Metamucil fibre everyday and mineral oil every 2 days. BTW Metamucil orange flavor sucks, but the pink lemonade is excellent! I still take sitz baths after every BM... the real tub works better I think, the stiches are almost all gone, theres only one that I can see.. staying in the tub for a good hour everyday helped alot. The bleeding also stopped yesterday! YAY! im still wearing liners because of the nupercainal cream and just in case it bleeds... The swelling in my case is really minimal, it hasnt worsen or gotten better yet but im hopefull its gonna look perfectly normal soon. I had sex today also, everything went fine, didnt hurt at all... I warned him to be carefull and not to poke the sensitive area, kept it clean and simple and it was great!
I recommend not to wait till it becomes a nightmare to do this surgery! Waiting means bigger problems to cut off and stitch back up and a longer and painfuller recovery.

Okay, I had the surgery about 4 days ago!!! I was great the day of surgery no pain...until the next day it was bad!!! I have not taken the pain pills cause the make me constipated as hell!!!! I have stuck with fiber stool softeners and fruits and vegetables!!! I have this one issue will frequent passing of gas it seems like tht happens more then the BMS!!!! is anyone else having this issue!!! Also I can be walking around fine and all of the sudden I feel overwhelming burning in the rectal area and I know this means BM time doesnT anyone also have this issue!!! If you could let me know I would appreciate it very much!!!

ALL THE BEST EVERYONE

I had the surgery done 3 and a half weeks ago to remove 2 internal and 2 external hemmoroids and I can describe this as being nothing more than a complete nightmare, in which, I wish I could just wake up and it would be all over with. After surgery, my doctor kept me in the hospital for 5 days where I was administered morphine and demoral for pain relief which still never really took the complete edge off the pain for me. (I think everyone should at least stay a couple of days in hosptal to receive better pain meds to try and cope with this "pain shock" you are in when your rectum wakes up after the surgery). I could not pee with all the swelling and had to have 5 in and out cathetors. Because of this, ended up with an awful urinary tract infection to go along with the pain I was already experiencing. When I was let out of the hospital, I was prescribed stool softeners, and Tramacet for pain relief.

Now to get to the worst part which was the famous 1st bowel movement. I had this on the 6th day at home. I had already read all the post on here before the surgery and followed all the advice on what people said to eat and take such as fruits, veggies, fiber etc. I followed it all as a rule. But I think no matter what most people do, the 1st movement is still going to be....plain hell on earth. Alot of prayers said and alot of tears shed.....uncontrollable shaking, sweats.......a feeling of despair. The pain afterwards is just unbearable. Like a hot poker just stuck in the rectum and lasts for a few hours later. A feeling like you have not completely emptied and have to go again. Pain meds just don't cut it. At least they didn't for me. The bathtub has been my best friend since my surgery and the bathroom my second home. When this ordeal is over with, I don't know whether I will bronze my sitz bath pan or beat it up into little bits. I still haven't decided that one yet. Up until now, I am still having painful bowel movements (not like the 1st but still awful pain) and the pain lasts for about 2 hours later. Just can't waite until the six weeks are up and hoping that I will feel better soon and be thankful that I got this surgery to remove these freeloaders for good. By the way, a big THANK YOU to all for sharing your stories it has been a really BIG help in getting myself and I think alot others through this horrific ordeal. I will never ever forget this tramatic experience for as long as I live. I am just hoping that the pain that I have suffered for years is finally over with in a couple of weeks time.

Hello fellow sufferers,
I am a 32-year old caucasian male. Had hemorrhoids for about 10 years now. Had them operated on (external only) in 2002. They came back around 2004 and stayed with me since. Since my Health Insurance was about to run out, I visited a surgeon, Dr. Hugo Barrera in San Diego, CA. He told me that I probably have feasures and need surgery to fix.

On Friday, 2/5/2010 I have had the procedure. Afterwards Dr. Barrera told me that I had no feasures, but large internal 'roids instead. So, he removed them. I was taken home by my friend that day and felt slightly sore...up until the anestesia wore off. Oh, the pain I experienced after! Only you guys and girls know what kind of pain it truly is! First night was the worst, I was only able to fall asleep around 4AM. I took the Oxicodone (the painkiller) and some Avil too, to help with swelling and pain. Strangely, Advil seemed to help better. Go figure. I as also given antibiotics and a stool-softener. In addition, I kept drinking Metamucil 3 times a day.

Day 2 was a little better. I spent a good portion of in the Sitz Bath (a wonderful thing). I ate some canned chicken soup and steamed some vegetable (colyflower, broccoli and brussel sprouts - all mixed with avocado). Ate apples, oranges, bananas...

Day 3 I started having bowel movements. Painful, but not as much as others have said it would be. However, what worried me from the get-go was that I kept having discharge. I called the surgeon on Monday, 2/8/2010 and he told me that was normal.

Around Day 6 I stopped taking Oxycodone. The pain was manageable and I from that point on I was most worried about my BMs. The stinging was very bad at first, but I always had my trusty Sitz Bath ready and I would also wash myself up with the shower head after each BM.

It's Day 9 now and I can not say I am too happy about my BMs. Yes, the stinging has subsided a bit, but it is far from comfortable. I absolutely DO NOT strain. What-so-ever! I believe the straining is what has caused my hemorrhoids to flare up in the first place. What it means now it that I have to do 3-4 or even more BM/day. None are big, and I always feel like there is something left there still after each BM...Exhausting.

I am also worried that the discharge has not stopped - I have to apply pads ot my rectum constantly, even around the house. It is mostly redish substance, but whenever I pass gas, there is some liquid yellowish stuff as well. There is not much of it at all, but still...How long does it usually last? How long did you guys have to wear some sort of "protection"?

So, just like many people here I am at home, dreading Bowel Movements. I went on 2 shorts walks on Days 6 and 7 *just round the block) and on a longer on yesterday (Day 8) - around 1 mile. I am about to embark on a similar walk right now.

Wish me luck! And best of luck to all of you who are suffering - this is an increbly painful procedure to recover from, but let's have faith and overcome! Reading this and other threads has helped me gained knowledge and perspective, so thank you very much! Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Please keep posting and so will I!

reznik,

It sounds like your recovery mimics mine. I'm at 5 weeks and still healing. I too still have discharge, although not as much as the first few weeks. But enough to keep wearing pads. I met with my surgeon last week and he said if the discharge doesn't stop by week 8 he wants to go in and clean-up the incision sites.

I know personally the worst part of the day is the morning BM and subsequent burning afterwards. I quickly hop in the tub after a BM to help lessen the pain. Afterwards, the burning can last for hours. My advice to you would be limit yourself to one BM a day. I know you don't want to push, but the constant BM's is probably causing you more pain then necessary. I wait until I absolutely can't hold it anymore and then go. I'm on the toilet for no more then a minute. Once in a while I might have to go again within an hour, but that's it. I really try to limit the BM process to being fast and efficient.

Unlike any other injuries or illnesses I've ever experienced, there's nothing slower to recover from then this surgery. You can go weeks with little to no noticeable improvement.

Hey Myassisonfire,

Yesterday (Day 9) I went out for a 1-mile walk, which I completed at a decent pace. Came home winded, but happy. Later on during the day I even drove to the store to get some groceries.

That might have been a mistake - today I feel quiet a bit worse. It feels (and looks) like there are a couple of external hemorrhoids there now. Is it even possible to develop new 'roids this fast? I was NOT straining all this time, not once...any thoughts?

I've had 4 small BMs this morning and might go again...it's not even noon yet. With the amount of stool softeners and Metamucil that I take, there is simply no way I can limit my BMs. Luckily they are very quick, but still sting a bit. And after each one there is a feeling that my bowels were not emptied - have you had that?

I keep applying Neosporin and Prep H to the site, taking Sitz Baths and trying my darnest to keep the area clean. I will not use Metamucil today, just some high-fiber foods. We'll see if it helps.

I feel a bit discouraged today, to be honest. Yesterday made me feel like I am making good progress in recovery and today I am in more pain and feel like there are new 'roids there.

Thanks for your relpy. Wish you (and myself) a complete and speedy recovery!

I think it was probably around day 9 or 10 that I too made my first trip out, to the pharmacy. It's good you're walking, but don't push yourself. If you start feeling pain then stop.

As for the stools, your probably feeling the sensation to go frequently because of the Metamucil or additional of fiber. Like I said earlier, a stool softner should be all you need. Obviously drink plenty of water. For me, the worst part during the first 4 weeks was the burning after a BM. So why have to go through that more than once a day. If you can limit yourself to one BM, let the burning subside you should feel much better the rest of the day. Think of it this way, every BM opens up the wound and prolongs the healing. Minimize the BMs will give your anus a rest and time to heal.

After a couple of weeks my ass was sore not from the incision but I think raw from all the baths and keeping the area clean. So I tired Prep H Extra Strength and it just burned. So I washed that off and have been using just petroleum jelly. I only need to put a dab on a few times a week when things are a little raw. I've noticed the same thing with soap. It seems to irritate the anus.

I know what you mean about feeling discouraged. I've suffered through that myself. I'm not accustom to going through something that takes so long to heal from. I would say for the first month, you're going to have good days and not so good day. Fortunately, they just that, not so good. The worst is behind you, LOL, you just have to be patient and go through the process.

I'm at week 5, and over the last few days I haven't seen any more trace amounts of blood in my stools. Although the puss discharge is still present, but I think it's getting better. I really looking forward to week 6 and seeing where I'm at.

You're absolutely right about the burning. I haven't taken any Metamucl yesterday (Day 10) and I still went like 10 times. I do suspect that my burning is not as intense as yours - it does start to burn toward the end of BM, but a couple of minutes in the Sitz Bath and I am good to go. I also put ice to my rectum after each BM and it seems to take some of the swelling away.

However, going this frequently is not good for me, as you said. From now on, I will limit myself to stool softeners and might even take an Oxicodone or two...for its contipating effect. I just can't keep running to the bathroom 10 time a day, this is insane!

Besides as you said, the less I do it (BM), the more normal I feel. Well, normal is an overstatement, but you know what I mean.
Interesting point about Preparation H...did not notice this kind of effect on my butt, but will try to use Neosporin ONLY next couple of days and see if there is a difference there.

However, what does help me is...weed :-D

It was a life-saver first few days, when the sphincter muscle spasms were insanely painful. Weed relaxed me sufficently, helped me sleep and took the edge off that terrible pain. It still works wonders - subdues the pain (even though I have very little now, more like discomfort), relaxes and helps me get much-needed rest.

Try it, you might find it helpful too! ;-)

Today (Day 11), I will again try to walk (I did a shortened version of my walk yesterday and was very exhausted by the end). I also drove to my friends' place for a little party...stayed there around 1 hr, because I felt I might need to go to the bathroom again. Which I did, of course. I will go (drive) to the CVS pharmacy tonight - I need some items anyway. Am I over-stretching myself?

Thanks again for your input and comments - you have no idea how much this helped!

I'm 22 and just had mine. In alot of pain after 5 days post-op. All BMs are liquid-- is that bad? Still very painful.

scunning8275,
Don't despare: it is normal. You gotta persevere through the first week, it gets easier. It's a terribly difficult and slow procedure to recover. Hang in there.

What I keep noticing for myself is that I can not "hold it". Meaning, that when I feel the urge to move my bowels and I pass gas it feels moist and there is (almost) always "something" on the pad that covers my bottom.

I always manage to make it to the toilet itself, but I imagine had I not had the pads, I would have had embarassing skid marks on my underwear...

Has anyone had this? My follow-up with the surgeon is on 3/1, I will definately bring this up with him.
Other than that, I think I feel better. I sleep better, have no need to take meds anymore. Maybe a stool softener before going to bed, but that's all.

Hello All,

It is a little surprising to me the length and severity of the pain that many of you have reported having to endure. I know that many doctors have a tendency to underestimate the pain associated with these procedures. However, remember that you can do your own research and negotiate the pain management with your surgeon before you have the procedure done.

A good way to go about that is to ask some of these individuals in this post what they were prescribed for pain. More than likely it was just Vicodin which is typical for non-specialized doctors to prescribe, but it really is a poor choice for internal rectal pain. I actually read one person say they were on Vicodin for four days then the doctor put him on Tylenol? The doctor should be sued for malpractice!
A companionate surgeon and good colorectal surgeon shouldn’t want their patient to be in any pain and this is not a procedure where you need to feel a little pain to protect yourself from injury.

In my opinion, if you want a pain free procedure and pain program should consist of some form of the following:
First 24 hours after sugary:

- 2 vicodin every four hours (Yes wake up and take them you don't want to feel the pain and vicodin needs to build up in your system)
- 1 Zipsor every six hours

2d day to 8th day
- 1 vicodin every four hours (As needed after 5th day and you don't really need to wake up and take them at night at this point)
- 1 Zipsor every six hours

8th day to 3 weeks
- 1 Zipsor every six hours (As needed after 14th day)

The vicodin numbs some of the external pain but does very little for the internal pain that you experience. Zipsor is an excellent MODERATE pain medication that numbs from the inside and I have personally used it after a complex hemrodictomy and there was absolutely no pain at anytime including my first Movement!

Make sure that you don’t have these types of surgeries preformed by anyone who is not a certified COLORECTAL surgeon as pain management is part of the extra two to three years of training that go into that expertise!

Hope this helps and don’t be afraid to negotiate your pain management with your doctor!

Brian-- About your most recent post-- You're pain program was very helpful! My surgery was about 9 days ago, and needless to say, I'm still in a little pain. They changed me over from Percocet to Loratab, which seems to be working a little better (the Percocet was making me sleep constantly). I've been hearing alot about this Zipsor lately. Do you think it would be a waste to call in and ask them about prescribing it? I've heard alot also about painkillers, in general, alightly causing constipation-- what about Zipsor? Sorry to get a little off-topic, just in need to help!
thanks--

Hello scunning8275,

I am really glade that my post was helpful to you and in answer to your question if I were you I would call them ASAP. Loratab is just another way to say Vicodin without the Tylenol so whats the point as its almost useless with moderate internal pain. The problem that I see a lot is that the Medical Journals indicate that pain associated with these types of sugary are mild to moderate but that just isn’t the case! The pain is moderate at minimal and Vicodin is the drug of choice because it claims it is for mild to moderate pain but it really is only for mild pain which is why it isn’t helping any of you where as Zipsor and other drugs are for a high mild to middle range moderate pain threshold and is much more effective with the pain management of this type of procedure.

Now when you call your doctor’s office the girl who answers you call is going to tell you the doctor wants you to be on whatever your on and that’s that. Why, because that’s basically what we tell our staff to say and that weeds out those who are in pain from the ones who really aren’t. Tell her you want

to talk to the doctor at which point she will tell you he is busy and then you tell her to have him call you back today and get her name!
Then you call her back every hour until he talks to you at which point 9 out of 10 times you will get a stronger drug.
Zipsor is an excellent choice as it is a lot stronger then vicodin but does not make you groggy.

Hope some of this helps you!

Brian McMullin

Hey Brian,
Thanks for your posts here!
One question: how long have you had the drainage for? I have to keep applying pads to my rectum and although the yellowish discharged diminished somewhat, it has not gone away...