Being the naturally curious (paranoid) person that I am, I grilled my surgeon and can share that if you're worried about your own potential pain to keep in mind that the position, location, and size of tags are factors. Anything completely external will be lower pain; if you're having actual hemorrhoids removed the process will likely be much more painful for you as well. Tags on the side closest to the vagina (like one of mine) are trickier to remove and will obviously affect your sex life a bit more afterwards.
As for the actual surgery, I couldn't eat anything for over 24 hours before the surgery, which is rather unusual but not unheard of. I was under anesthesia and the whole thing took maybe 3 hours including hospital recovery time. Stitches were put in and I was told they should dissolve in 1-2 weeks, though the actual wound will take a month to look healed. It will take 8-12 weeks to fully heal inside (you should note that the stitches are likely internal but are left somewhat open to let the wound drain and decrease the likelihood of infection. The drainage persists for me after almost two weeks and doesn't smell great but isn't an awful lot fyi). I was prescribed 50 relatively low dose Vicodin.
The first two days I had zero pain. None. The third day I woke up to mild pain and took a pain pill right away (the nurse instructed me to take a pill as soon as any pain occurs to catch it before it progresses, and it will). I also started to become uncomfortable from not having a bowel movement since the surgery day. Several stool softeners, laxatives, and an awkward suppository from my nurse sister later I had success on the toilet. The actual passing of stool was only mildly painful but the 30+ minutes afterwards were verrrry painful (9 out of 10, Vicodin worthy for sure). Fortunately this only happened a few times. I'm told that the pain comes from the anus spasming after going to the bathroom, so the trick is to relax even though it seems counterintuitive when all you want to do is tense up. Warm water also helps. Sitz baths are uncomfortable for me so I use a squeeze bottle to squirt warm water on the area after I go every single time. This also helps with cleaning, as it's uncomfortable to wipe. I was instructed to eat soft foods for the first couple of days after surgery; obviously avoid constipation causing foods and spicy dishes (this includes ordinary table pepper). Surprisingly, my surgeon cautioned against fresh fruits and veggies; they apparently cause an acid to build up in the intestines and will burn a compromised anus on the way out. Steam everything and you'll be set.
It's been about a week and a half since the surgery and I've been off pain killers for maybe 6 days (get off them as soon as you can; narcotics cause constipation). Back to a completely normal diet. My backside is still uncomfortable in certain positions but is pretty pain free except for bowel movements. I still experience pain afterwards, but only a 5 out of 10 or so and for about 10 minutes. My diet isn't particularly high fiber, but it's enough to keep stools soft and regular; I still pop the occasional stool softener. As for the appearance, on day one it looked rough. I got an eraser sized ball near the stitches, which was swelling and has entirely disappeared, so don't worry! There is no tag leftover but there is an area leading towards the vagina that is tag-like that couldn't be removed. I'm still healing (doctor says another 2 weeks until I feel no pain during BM) but it looks pretty good, and I'm already glad I went through with it. Hope this helps!
May I ask, how did things turn out for you? I am one week in to recovery and worried as it's all very swollen. I too had two tags removed
Hi everyone!
I'm almost on day 10 after my surgery and I'm doing alright and feeling much more confident!!! Keep in mind that the area is incredibly sensitive and requires a major effort on your part in order for the surgical site to heal optimally. I'll write down a few things that were of concern post surgery.
1. LEAKAGE: This is by far the worst part of the entire event. It stinks, it's discolored, and it comes at any given point without warning (and theres so much of it!) SOLUTION: Fibre. Consume 20-35g of fibre daily. Fruits, Veggies (I've been bringing fibre gummies to work in a zip loc bag) powder..whatever! Gradually increase your fibre intake and you'll see the difference. Dont forget to drink water all the time! For the first 2 weeks I had been using Carefree liners. I'd use 2 at a time. They're thin and trap odors.
2. BATHROOM: The majority of bleeding has stopped now (mind you, I do see a tiny spot once a day..but it has pretty much come to an end) I've been using Colace stool softener (not a laxative!) I've also been using Proctal on my butt hole prior to going to the washroom. I feel as if any kind of lubricant on the anus will help the attempt. I have also been using tea tree oil spray on my bottom. Due to its antibacterial and healing properties, I feel as if it could be aiding with my positive recovery. It WILL burn at first! A good kinda burn! It also takes away leakage smell.
3. DIET: You will have to change your diet for the first while. Loads of veggies and fruits and fibre as recommended. You will not be willingly able to eat 30 chicken wings covered in hot sauce and then expect your surgical site to be kind to you. Be open and honest with yourself. Do yourself the favor of changing your bad habits. Hit the gym eventually, eat right and you'll love yourself for it.
If I could turn back time, I probably would not have undergone the surgery. Ask me again in a few months and maybe I'll have a different answer for you.
Cheers!
Ok so I'm telling you all my experience to help if I can. Three weeks ago I had a fisher repaired and apparently I had two to fix, most likely from all the hemroids. So I have had 8 years of pain, blood, itching after having my second son. I put off seeing someone until a few years ago, I gave In, swallowed my pride, and seen a dr that tied them, the next day they came back. So I gave up, because I knew the real sugary would hurt and they could still come back. Well this past year I've had more and more trouble, lots of blood like fill toilet with blood after going number two, itching, pain! So I called the surgeon, I was told he was the best in my area. He said your suffering is more from from fisher, so il fix that and get rid of skin tags from fishers and you will be all good. Confident! Well he did fisher surgery and forgot to remove skin tags hemroids, and I had to go back just this past Wednesday to get that done under local, he removed 4 and sewed up 3 the one was in the opening, shots over 3 given I lost count because the pain was unreal, but he gave more than 3 rotten shots, and I had way more pain from this surgery than the fisher one. All they gave me was pain meds and said take stool softener only after I asked a few times what I could do to heal with less pain. Well first night was horrible, I woke with two hours sleep and was in horrible pain, but was also feeling as if I had a sunburn from hell, took pain meds vicaden, suffered still and took ib pro, and then I felt ok, had to clean a clients home next day, pain was horrible, had help went home exhausted from pain, took good meds because you can't drive with them and I rested,2nd day horrible still, so pain meds round clock resting, i have kids so not too much rest, then 3rd day, meds rested some, met with my client briefly she said get the spray they tell moms to use if they rip during child birth, I had been using lidacaine cream but it hurt putting it on, so I started using spray, burn relief w aloe and lidacaine spray, it was awesome, cooling relief, then dr said put cream on after, then meds and I could function, also have taken baths with organic coconut oil spoon, of it, it soothes, it naturally heals wounds, kills bacteria and it works. My but it's not on fire anymore, pain is getting much better to manage, but is no longer dark red from the trama. Ok so pain is better but I wanted to add I see issues too around my area and I will be fuming mad if it's more hemroids. Because I will have gone through two surgery's back to back all this horrible pain for nothing. i will see a second dr for his opinion on this in a week or so after it's had time to heal more. It looks awful and I'm so disgusted. The dr was so nice before all this but the day of sugary he was grouchy upset they screwed up his surgery time and as if it was my fault. I can safely say I'm not ever allowing this again. I did some research they have a better banding surgery that claims 99. They go away, I will find them and try that form of tying them off before anyone cuts me again. If I can find this site again. I will try To let you all know how I heal since dr said it takes two weeks or more and this is only day 4! But right now I do not have a perfect but that's for sure.