Had 3+ h'roids removed on Monday so have multiple sets of internal stitching now. I was released same day with next to no advice on what to do or what to expect in terms of recovery and no follow up. I rang the day surgery people back today but I might as well have rung McDonalds for the quality of answers, so hoping you can help with your experience to any of the following?
1) I was told to shower, not bath... but when is it ok to? Should I add table salt?
2) Is it beneficial/harmful to stick an ice pack between the cheeks?
3) My stitches are all internal.... I was told to wash after bowel movement. How? - do I have to try to open my anus and spray the shower up or do they probably mean just wash the outside?
4) Immediately post-op, my rear looked like a horror movie. Now I still have swollen veins that are causing pain. How long does swelling normally take to go down?
5) Can I use creams on the swollen vessels? e.g. h'roid cream with hydrocortizone to reduce inflamation? Or is that a no-no after surgery?
6) When can I resume exercise?
Sorry for so many questions, but I'm feeling a bit ignorant at the moment!
Many thanks!
1) I was told to shower, not bath... but when is it ok to? Should I add table salt?
2) Is it beneficial/harmful to stick an ice pack between the cheeks?
3) My stitches are all internal.... I was told to wash after bowel movement. How? - do I have to try to open my anus and spray the shower up or do they probably mean just wash the outside?
4) Immediately post-op, my rear looked like a horror movie. Now I still have swollen veins that are causing pain. How long does swelling normally take to go down?
5) Can I use creams on the swollen vessels? e.g. h'roid cream with hydrocortizone to reduce inflamation? Or is that a no-no after surgery?
6) When can I resume exercise?
Sorry for so many questions, but I'm feeling a bit ignorant at the moment!
Many thanks!
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Hi Honey! That's disgusting that they let you go with no self care instructions so I will answer your questions on here for you OK?
1. You can shower right away, just keep it warm though - as heat will bring blood to the surfae and perhaps blow one or more of your stitches! and you can start now!
2. TOTALLY beneficial - if an ice pack is too painful, you can use a maxi pad, spritzed with water and frozen! OR a panty liner - same process - this is good even if you are male (who's going to know?!)
3. What they mean by "wash" is a thing called a sitz bath and or a squirt bottle! I and others have been told to put some hydrogen peroxide in it to keep the wound clean, but others on here have been told not to do anything!!! Since you ahve been told then go ahead, the squirt bottle you can take anywhere with your! You just rinse the area of any debris - CLEAN is the main word here!
4. With using Ice - individuals vary of course - you shoule start seeing a difference in about a week!
5. The creams there is 2 sides, I and others weren't told about creams, but others - who were told not to rinse, use a numbing cream! This is your preference.
NOW for the gross part! Have you been told what to do for a bowel movement? If not I can gross you out with a WTMI how too manual OK? Just let me know if you have any further questions! Good luck and health!
1. You can shower right away, just keep it warm though - as heat will bring blood to the surfae and perhaps blow one or more of your stitches! and you can start now!
2. TOTALLY beneficial - if an ice pack is too painful, you can use a maxi pad, spritzed with water and frozen! OR a panty liner - same process - this is good even if you are male (who's going to know?!)
3. What they mean by "wash" is a thing called a sitz bath and or a squirt bottle! I and others have been told to put some hydrogen peroxide in it to keep the wound clean, but others on here have been told not to do anything!!! Since you ahve been told then go ahead, the squirt bottle you can take anywhere with your! You just rinse the area of any debris - CLEAN is the main word here!
4. With using Ice - individuals vary of course - you shoule start seeing a difference in about a week!
5. The creams there is 2 sides, I and others weren't told about creams, but others - who were told not to rinse, use a numbing cream! This is your preference.
NOW for the gross part! Have you been told what to do for a bowel movement? If not I can gross you out with a WTMI how too manual OK? Just let me know if you have any further questions! Good luck and health!
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Thanks so much for your reply, it is useful... since then I have also been able to see my family doctor and, for the benefit of others, he said:
- Bath after 2 weeks, shower until then. Something to do with dissolvable sutures and too much water (though that seems strange as they are in a naturally damp area anyway).
- Exercise - only after 2 weeks.
- Cleaning - just use shower hose (or as you said a squirt bottle). Ultimately its whatever can be reached is fine but don't try to clean too far in.... just the outside and close to that... that will suffice. And then use a hairdryer if possible.
- As for creams - h'roid/hydrocortizones etc... he said best to avoid if at all possible as could interfere with healing. He gave me some Lidocaine for numbing though (although I've not really used it).
- Primary swelling normally takes 7-10 days to recede.
- Loads of fibre + laxatives (though tbh I think it is a balancing act between too little and going too often).
Thanks again.
- Bath after 2 weeks, shower until then. Something to do with dissolvable sutures and too much water (though that seems strange as they are in a naturally damp area anyway).
- Exercise - only after 2 weeks.
- Cleaning - just use shower hose (or as you said a squirt bottle). Ultimately its whatever can be reached is fine but don't try to clean too far in.... just the outside and close to that... that will suffice. And then use a hairdryer if possible.
- As for creams - h'roid/hydrocortizones etc... he said best to avoid if at all possible as could interfere with healing. He gave me some Lidocaine for numbing though (although I've not really used it).
- Primary swelling normally takes 7-10 days to recede.
- Loads of fibre + laxatives (though tbh I think it is a balancing act between too little and going too often).
Thanks again.
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