My recovery from a haemmorroidectomy - the good, the bad and the useful

I'm a 35 yr old mum of 6 young kids and I'm from the UK so certain meds etc might not mean too much for most US readers. I endured internal and prolapsed, thrombosed piles on and off for 10 years. I made the decision to have the surgery last thurday (8 days ago) and it really has been a journey! I've read so many posts about the recovery and most I can relate to at some level. Immediately after surgery, I felt great - the local doesn't wear off until about 6 or so hours later. The hospital packed me off home an hour after I came round from the surgery and yeah, I felt pretty ok. I went to bed, had some food, took by ibuprofen and paracetamol and then the pain started. I won't lie but I'll also try not to be a drama queen - sh*t, the pain is bad. Indescribable. Like Hell. Frankly, I believe one should be kept in over-night and administered morphine for 24 hours.

Before my surgery I went on a liquid diet and took laxative sachets in the hope that I wouldn't need a BM immediately post-op. I think this was a good thing to do. Who needs a huge steak dinner to clog up your bowels only to try and work it's way out 12 hours post-op?? I had Movicol (laxative sachets) 3 times per day from then until now and really just ate brown toast and fruit and veg salads for the first 4 days. I did have about 3/4 BM's per day and they hurt like hell (sweating, feeling faint etc) but they were soft and smooth and I was only on the toilet for a matter of minutes. What helps MASSIVELY  is running a warm bath ready to collapse into straight after the BM. I can't stress enough how I wish I'd realised that before day 4! Also, I am lucky to have a step down into my bathroom right opposite the toilet and leaning forward bearing my weight on to my hands in front of me was wonderful. It may be worth having a chair placed in front of the toilet to do this with. Then, douse cotton wool in warm salt water to dab yourself clean. I often lie on a towel after a BM as my legs become very weak and the pain really does take it out of you. Then, get in that bath (tub!) It seems to stop the spasms. I have also been lying on my front and urinating in there too as although it sounds gross, you can spasm so much your bladder kind of goes in to shock. The ideal would be to have a mobile gas and air unit to take to the toilet - but hey, that doesn't seem possible - not here in the uk anyway!

I have had a plethera of medication, convinced that nothing was working. Tramadol was terrible for me and made me feel very unwell. In the first few days codeine, paracetamol, ibuprofen - they didn't seem to touch the sides of the pain. I was getting maybe 1 manageable hour out of 4 and it does start to send you a little bit insane. Eventually, I found that a combination of Naproxen (anti-inflams) and paracetamol worked well with Dihydrocodeine. I'm on day 8 now and have only taken 1 dihydrocodeine in the evening when I am tired and the I feel the pain more. My doc gave me Diazepam too which I have tried and was good in that I felt more relaxed but I can't say that for me, it helped with the pain too much and I don't take it now. My doc also gave me some steroid ointement (Betnovate) to apply as and when and that has been BRILLIANT. Really reduced the swelling and external soreness.

My friend got me some Arnica 200c and again, I wish I'd used it sooner. I'm not really into homeopathy but this really did help. Take one pill 3 times per day. In the evenings I have been lying on my side with ice cubes tied in a sandwich bag wrapped in a muslin cloth and stuck between my arse cheeks. Again, FABULOUS. I had very bad external swelling and this really eased that.

To sum up, yes, the pain is something else, almost 'out-of-body' type sh*t at times but over the last 3 days my progress has been tremendous. Yesterday and today I went to the garden centre and bought some new plants for the garden. I am desperate to get back in the gym and am frustrated by my tiredness and intermittent pain. Do too much and your body will tell you - you'll bleed out of your arse as well as feel like c**p!

In the early days, the pain was too much to be able to read, write or even watch tv but I've tried to use the time to think and re-evaluate stuff that I don't usualy have the time to think about! I have 6 kids and if you have kids too, get some serious help with them for at least one week. When you're lying on the floor after a BM shaking and sweating, the last thing you want to hear is "Mommy, Joe just hit me with his toy truck so I tipped my milk over his head!"

Hope at least some of this is of some help to someone out there. Good luck, stay brave and keep your sense of humour. We're all  sure to be laughing about this in times to come xx