Recovery after Sphincterotomy and Hemorrhoidectomy

Oh yeah, drink plenty if water since your fiber intake has increased.

Hello all! I am a 24 year old female, soon to be married and definitely wanted to not wake up on my honeymoon a debbie downer. I recently had a sphincterotomy and fissurectomy to help rid the pain that seriously decreased my quality of life (on Sept. 29, 4 weeks ago). I began to grow scared after reading all these forums, almost backed out of surgery, luckily I had a flare up the day before my surgery so I was definitely willing to try something to help change. Today, I feel great, no more pain during or after BM, mild itching, which is normal for a healing wound, can feel the stitches a little which is annoying, but I have my 2nd post-op appointment in one week. Prior to surgery I was taking stool softeners (they are gentler than laxatives) twice a day, morning and night, and took 17mg of Miralax (non habit forming, non bulking fiber supplement) daily. My DR told me to up the miralax to twice a day for the 1st week after surgery then go back down to once a day (with miralax its Important to take it around the same time daily to have a better effect). With recent rectal surgery, the medicine they give you is incredible! I was told that I would not have a BM until 48 hours, this proved true even with not being able to go before surgery, this is due to the numbing medicine they inject in your bum. You literally cannot feel your butt for the 1st 2 days, once that pain wore off I felt very tender and...like I had been stitched up. Ive only had my wisdom teeth removed, and can honestly say this surgery was a breeze. My diet following surgery was very high in fiber and you must drink about a gallon of water a day, to stay hydrated and keep things smooth while you take pain meds & bulk up your fiber. I ate high fiber oatmeal, beef stew broth with only the veggies, I ate a quinoa and brown rice and spelt mixture with fish. I was living off 1 or 2 eggs and a multigrain english muffin-no cheese, must stay away from things that make you constipated. I honestly was scared to eat, because everything that is consumed, must come back out, and I was warned about how painful the BM post surgery was. I would love to say that I had zero pain during BM, between the water, miralax, stool softeners and super high fiber diet I had almost liquid stools but, not dyaheria, so my bum wasn't irritated. PLUS I took the recommended 5-6 sitz baths for the first week, they helped keep everything clean of infection and soothed any discomfort after BM because you can't use toilet paper nor wipes of any kind. Week 2 I decreased the baths to 4 baths a day then week 3 I went down to 2 baths and now I'm not soaking at all. The first week post surgery I was glued to the couch and didnt move much, by week 2 I was carefully making small trips outside the house, after 16 days off I returned to work as a bartender without any discomfort. Although if you have a desk job there will be more discomfort due to sitting all day. Best tip I read before surgery: if you have a fissure, you've already experienced the worst amount of pain, surgery is only helping stop the pain. :) I hope this helps ease some worry, my doctor told me that if you haven't had recent rectal surgery, it was painful, but now with the numbing agent they use, it really helps out the initial days post surgery.

First off, I never share stories on the internet, but I'm compelled to share mine about this horrible topic. I suffered for about 3 years from hemorrhoids and they eventually go worse. About 6 months ago, I developed an anal fissure and a skin tag to go along with the issues. I decided to get surgery after a BM one day. After I finished, I laid in bed for hours in pain. I couldn't move or do anything. So I made an appointment and had the surgery. They removed the skin tag, did the lateral Sphincterotomy, and removed 3 hemorrhoids.

Surgery day, 1500hrs, everything went fine. Had trouble peeing afterwards, because I received the spinal shot. As I finally was able to pee, because I started getting feeling back in my lower half, the pain from the surgery came with it. Horrible horrible horrible pain and it made lying still uncomfortable. Got home, pain medicine wasn’t strong enough…I found out a few hours later. The next morning, at around 0400hrs, I had to go to the emergency room. The pain had me. I was defenseless. The random doc checked it out and said, yeah, you had surgery and it looked good. Meanwhile I’m lying on my side twisting and moaning in so much pain. He gave me some useless medicine. I couldn’t call my real doc until day 2, because he was off on day 1. Went back home to deal with the pain all day. The surgeon has given me Norco, but it did nothing for me! I was taking ibuprofen as well to help with the pain. The “most” comfortable positions for sleeping and pretty much anything was on my knees, bent over the bed. Or my favorite, laying on my back on the floor with my legs on the bed. Of course these positions only work if you have a low bed. These positions took away some of the throbbing I felt from the pain.

Day 1, the pain was very much still around. I don’t suggest this, but I started taking every piece of ibuprofen I could find in my house. I took enough to at least give me some kind of relief. It worked, but only a little. So I took a hot sitz bath…didn’t work. So I tried a full hot bath instead. The hot water gave me some relief, but not as much as I wanted. I dealt with it the whole day. It was a holiday, so most things were closed.

Day 2, the dreaded time that’s in the back of our minds when we have this surgery…BM day! Previously because of my hemorrhoids, it would take me 30 minutes to use the bathroom…without straining. The good news, this BM took about 4 minutes! I had never done it that quick before, so at least that made me happy for the future. One thing I took from the day of surgery was Colace and Aloe Vera Digestive Aid tablets. The BM was nice and smooth. But, it still felt like I was squeezing out a watermelon. The pain was incredible. As it was coming out, I could feel it rubbing up against the sore area where the hemorrhoids were inside and it felt like the cut from the surgery busted open. I grabbed a mirror to check, but everything looked in order. I was surprised! I had to take a bath and lay down afterwards. The pain lasted for about 3 hours. I called my doctor and asked for something stronger. He couldn’t get with me until after the pharmacy was closed, but he put in a prescription for Percocet.

Day 3, I went to get the Percocet first thing in the morning. Percocet worked like a charm! Most of the pain was gone or I’ll say I couldn’t feel it. I took a lot or Percocet, a little more than was prescribed, but I felt I had no choice. The pain was great. On a side note, since day 1, I’ve been pretty much laying on my back with my feet up on the bed. This position is a tricky one, because if you’ve been laying on your back for a while and you go to stand up, blood, feeling, pee, etc. rushes back to the lower half of your body. 20 minutes after taking the Percocet, I felt I needed to pee, so I stood up to go into the bathroom to pee. No pee came…this happens a lot, but it’s gotten better. After about 20 seconds of standing, BM number 2 approached. Again, I was terrified and scared to let it out. So I sat and it hurt…a lot…but it wasn’t as bad as the first one, so I figured it must be progress.

Day 4, pain was still lurking, but I kept up with the Percocet. Also, this entire time I had been eating high fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, and soups. To sum this day up…Percocet and food. Up to now, I’ve been passing gas every 20/30 minutes. It hurt at first, but then so much relief came from it.

Day 5, Pain, Percocet, sleep and food. I was starting to think, this is going to be a breeze now…then I got constipated. Guys, if there’s one thing you want to avoid through this procedure, its constipation. The 1st BM I had this day hurt more than the first one I had on day 2. And only a few pellets came out. I assumed the Percocet was doing a number on me, so I had to stop with the Percocet. Day 5 was not a good day. I could not pass gas. The pain in my bum was healing, but my stomach was hurting all day. BM 2 and 3 that day, hurt so much. I took one Percocet at night to help me sleep, but I told myself that was the last one.

Day 6, my bum is healing…there’s a lot less pain. It’s mostly just uncomfortable now. I got a donut cushion and so far it feels great. I just want to be mostly healed by day 13, because I’m going to be taking an 8 hour plane ride. I was not able to pass gas today. The stomach pain from being constipated was still there. Felt like I needed to have a BM, but nothing would come out.

Day 7, a week since my surgery and the surgery part is feeling a lot better. In the morning, I felt like I needed to have a BM. I went…one pellet and a huge log! It hurt a lot, but I felt like I wasn’t constipated anymore. I can’t describe the feeling. My stomach started feeling better almost immediately and then I began to pass gas again an hour later. Hopefully the constipation has passed. Sounds weird, but I’m looking forward to the next BM. I want to see if everything is working like it should now and I want to measure the pain from the surgery.

 

Side notes: This entire time I had a wonderful woman taking care of me. I’ve never had that before and I gotta say it was amazing. She made the food I needed, went to get the medication I needed, and rubbed my back and head when I was in pain. She also slept how and where I slept at night. Remember guys…everything is temporary…even the pain you’re feeling right now.

 

I had the surgery 10 days ago. The pain post surgery is a cake walk compared to my 3 months of torture. There is pain, but a different kind of pain. More of a muscle ache than glass shards stabbing me for hours after a bm (like I has pre surgery). Been off all pain meds for the past two days. Only had two times that I took the prescribed 2 Norco. Took one a couple times a day for a few days, then just motrin. I read up a bunch before surgery and am so glad that I didn't put it off. I'm sad to read about others experiences, but I wanted to make a point to go online and write that I had a relatively pleasant experience (as pleasant as butt surgery can be). Good luck to everyone.

My wife was in severe anal pain for last 5 days. Her primary doctor could not examine her anal thru scope due to severe pain so she gave her Hydrocodone suppositories, which make her pain and burning worst. after that she asked her to see general surgeon, he also suggested to look inside anal after General anesthesia. we went to emergency where that surgeon came and di Hemorrhoidectomy and Sphincterotomy for Fisher and Hemmoroid. Hopefully we took right decision to go for surgery as first treatment. But her condition was worsening day by day and no doctor would start treatment without looking inside, which was not possible without anesthesia. I thought it was going to be single day outpatient procedure and she will be back home same day, but it seems that she will staying in hospital for 2-3 days, she is still very painful and i am worried about her recovery. Does anybody has similar experience and if we did the right decision to go for surgery? any help or guidance will be helpful

Hi, my wife got this surgery done last night, just wanted to know how long was your hospitalization? my wife is still in pain but different kind of pain, and also worried about recovery

I hope things are going better by now. I had the same surgery 4 weeks ago and although I do still have periods of pain, they really have lessened in the past week. I continue with the hot showers right on the butt after a bm and soak in a hot tub still, at least 3 times a day. I am back to work, and look forward to fully recovery. I have experienced everything your wife has. I did not know how in the world I would tolerate a further exam by the surgeon after my surgery, but it did NOT hurt like the first time. In fact, it barely hurt at all. I still am using pain med once a day, and I also use Tylenol as needed. I still take miralax and benefiber daily. I still tuck a small gauze back there to catch any drop of anything. It does help. It is minimal, but there. I expect that will heal. I am still sore on one side where I have a stitch, and I keep the area scrupulously clean as I can. The surgery was NOT a mistake. I wanted my life back. I hope the day will come when I am not so concerned about my butt! I hope you are better. It is the slowest recovery, but one day you will realize your pain is almost gone. And you can live your real life again!

Totally related to your post. I also am recovering on a diet of quinoa and kale, brown rice, whole wheat products! Before the surgery and "shards of glass" event I had been on a LOW CARB DIET. I blame most of this on that diet. Blessings.

Hi everyone . I had a fissurectomy and sphincteromy done three months ago. I am still in some pain , even though I must say the pain is definitely less. But I still have some pain and discomfort also still have some blood in stool . My surgeon said I need to have a colonoscopy now to see what's going on. Would love to hear some feedback. Thanks Stephanie

Hi. I just had a hemmorrhoidectomy 8 days ago. My experience seems much like yours with the fissure. When I was under though, the doctor injected my anus with botox, she recommended every three months to get botox to help my anal fissure. it relaxes the muscles making it a breeze to poop. Ask your doctor about that.

Hello. I had an anal sphincterotomy about 3 years ago. I'm fully healed however, this small amount of mucus thing...enough to be annoying and bothersome, has never gone away for me. I hope yours has improved. I know now that this is a permanent thing... It's not awfully disgusting because it has no smell and isn't like poo but it can get uncomfortable and even irritating throughout the day. I assume... If you're still experiencing it.... That you just do what I do now and just give it a wipe every single time you're in the bathroom... Hahaha it's hard time talk about this stuff.. But it can cause such bad itching.... :::sigh::: this surgery saved me from the months of severe pain from that stupid fissure but dang I wish I could've fixed it another way. Sending love and positive thoughts your way. :)

L M F A O

there is a surgery to correct an over-cut sphincter, it's called sphincteroplasty. i ran across it the term reading about fissures and sphincterotomy. it is a repair surgery, so google it to learn more. most seemed to have decent results. strange how you said your doctors said nothing can fix a sphincterotomy wear the surgeon maybe cut too deep.

I just had lateral internal sphincterotomy and hemmoroidectomy yesterday 02/17/2016.
I am in terrible pain. I have been crying, and please don't tell me that men don't cry because we do, and we are not any less men because we do. So you all cry away if you need to, men or women. I have read many of your posts here and how some of you have been suffering for weeks. I'm sure I will experience some of that.
I do want to say though that we as humans tend to come to these forums and blogs when we need help and support. It's our nature to not come to these sites if we are doing just fine. I'm sure for many people, recovery takes only 1 or 2 weeks, and things go smoothly for them, so we don't hear from most of them here. So I keep telling myself that we are all here because we are suffering, and we are looking for hope.
JUST LISTEN!!! We will all be just fine a few weeks from now, and we will have learned from this experience. Where I come from we hug a lot, so here goes a big hug to all of you, whether you like hugging or not!!! :-)

Hi , I'm wondering how your procedure went since I have the same issue, scar tissue/keloid after my LIS. Please let me know if the second surgery worked in your case.