Recovery Time For Hemorrhoid Surgery

Now 10 days since I had surgery and things are good. Still taking motrin, diet back to normal but eating fiber 2-3 times daily and drinking 6-8 glasses of water thru out day. BM are slightly uncomfortable for a few seconds and I do have a small bump which MD said would probably occur, it should eventually go away. Planning on going back to work next week.

Hello,

Here is my hemorrhoidectomy story.  I have included as much detail as I could about my specific condition, and have provided list of things you will want to do before your surgery to make your recovery go more smoothly.  I am NOT a medical professional, and none of this should be taken as medical advice.

I’m a white male, 41 y.o., 5’9”, was weighed at 183 lbs a week before the surgery (169 a week after surgery).  I don’t have a regular exercise regimen (yet), but I play a lot of golf (I walk and carry my bag), am generally healthy, and eat fairly well.  While my diet in my 20s and 30s could have been better, my condition was most likely brought on by a sedentary work lifestyle (IT related).

I had three Grade III hemorrhoids, two near the “back” of my anus, one near the “front.”  The one near the front was banded, the other two were excised and the wounds closed.  The date of my surgery was 7/6/12 (2 weeks ago, as of this writing).  I was sent home with prescriptions for

-          800mg Motrin (ibuprofen) 3x a day

-          5mg Oxycodone, 1-2 every 6 hours

-          Cipro antibiotic, 2x a day

-          Flagyl, 2x a day

-          Lidocaine 2% gel

I was sent home later that day, and stayed home through the weekend, then had to go to the ER for nausea and vomiting.  Their best guess was that the antibiotics were making me sick.  The site looked clean, and my white blood cell count was good, so they stopped the antibiotics.  I stayed in the hospital overnight for observation and then went home the next day.    I also stopped using the lidocaine gel, as it worked for about 2 minutes, and then just burned until I washed it off.

I was at home a couple of days, and then went for my one-week follow up with my surgeon.  Things were progressing well, but I was still battling a lot of pain.  He gave me a new Oxy script and a note for 2 more weeks off of work.

I’m at day 14 now, and can actually have a BM without major pain.  I still need to get right into the tub, but it’s not as severe.  I’ve stopped taking the Oxycodone, and just use ibuprofen now.  My challenge now is sitting for extended periods of time, and I still think I have several days before I can drive.  I understand now, from reading all the posts here, that I probably have another month or so before I’m feeling normal.

This site has been a tremendous resource.  Along with all of the valuable info, it helps to know that others understand your pain!

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Here are the things that I wished I knew before getting the surgery. 

 

Tips for BEFORE Surgery:

1.       Take at least three weeks off from work, four would be best.  I realize that this is a pipe dream for a lot of people, but if you can save up enough money so that you can go on medical leave, do it.  Dealing with the pain of recovery will be enough to handle without the additional stress of trying to get back too early.

2.       Set up your bath room, kitchen, laundry, and bedroom supplies for easy access.  Your bath room is going to be your home for the next 8-10 days, so it’s important that the layout is conducive to you getting what you need quickly.   If possible, there should be a bathroom dedicated to you during your recovery.  In an ideal world, you have a bathroom with separate tub and shower, so that you can jump right into both after a BM.  During recovery, you might want to take baths in the tub instead of the sitz bath, which can be awkward to use.  Make the water in the bath as hot as you can stand, and add hot water regularly.  You do not want to let the water cool while you are in the tub.  I used one cup of Epsom salt for about one-quarter of a bath tub of hot water, or two cups for half a tub.

3.       Get your water heater checked; you will be using a lot of hot water.

4.       Create a care calendar.  Every day for the first week or two you will need family and friends to run errands, do laundry, take you to appointments, etc., and it is better that people know when they are on duty rather than springing requests on them without warning.

5.       Eat a high-fiber diet for at least a week before surgery.  Try to clear out your bowels in the days leading up to surgery, as those first post-procedure BMs can be scary.  Get used to the high-fiber diet, this is your life now (unless you want to have the surgery again).

6.       Take down the towel rods in your bath room or you will inadvertently rip them out of the wall.   You’ve been warned.

7.       Get a haircut.  You won’t be going anywhere for a while.

8.       Trim the hair down there about a week before the procedure.  DO NOT SHAVE, just use clippers or small grooming scissors.  This will help with staying clean for the next few weeks.

9.       Have sex, because it’s not happening for at least 2 months. 

10.   Purchase/acquire everything on the shopping list, below. 

 

Pre-Surgery Shopping List:

Bath Towels – Ten would be a great count to have on hand.  Ask friends and family for any old bath towels that they were thinking about getting rid of, as you will be using a mountain of them.

Boxer shorts – I would recommend these for everyone, male and female, at least for the first week.  I tried briefs, but found that even the slightest pressure from the elastic was too much.

Maxi pads – A large bag, at least 20-30 pads, to protect those boxers.   NOT panty liners, guys, those aren’t absorbent enough.

Epsom salt – I suggest starting with a stock of 8-10 boxes (it’s sold in milk cartons).   5-6 baths a day, 2-3 cups per bath.

Pill box – Preferably with AM, Afternoon, PM slots to help keep track of when you took/need to take them.

Timer – For the countdown to the next pain pill.

Bottled water – You should drink a lot of water during recovery to help with stool softening.  Even if you usually drink from the tap, having a bottled water around for when you need it quickly is a good idea.

Granola bars – Fiber heavy, you’re going to eat a lot of them.

Scented candles – I found that my time in the tub was a little more soothing when I turned the harsh bathroom lights off and lit a candle.

Portable tv/video  player/iPad – I watched almost every movie in my iTunes library.

Laundry supplies – You will need detergent and bleach, should all be unscented.  I suggest the “one-shot” detergent options, where you just throw a capsule into the wash, no need to measure anything.

Books, crosswords, etc – Anything to keep you occupied.

Bath tub pillow – Definitely one for your head.  I don’t know if there is a waterproof option for round pillows.

Pajamas, T-shirts, etc. – All comfortable clothes.

it takes a few weeks before you recover from your surgery. Additionally, it depends on your body's coping skills. Eat right and sleep well. As much as possible, do not strain on your bowel.

You can never have enough soft tp on hand on baby wipes. If you dont', you'll always be going out for more..no fun. If you can stock up, that's my tip. I live alone and it was excruciating running out for tp.

Great journal..thank you so much!

Another update: while the pain was mostly gone by three weeks after surgery, wiping was crazy - the tissue there was still bumpy and sticking out but at least pain free. Now, 22 weeks after surgery (and 12 weeks after giving birth), it is finally completely healed and I don't need multiple wipes and/or baby wipes...

My husband had a fishers tear and had surgery aug.7 then complicayions which we found out that following sunday it was a lg. hemroid and was removed aug.12,doc said this past mon. he did not need any more pain meds and may husband normally frowns at taking an advil and as of 3 days ago he feels like he is back at square 1,he is in alot pain doc wont give any pain meds and we are gonna have to go to e.r because of pain. do you think ,since you have gone through this something else is wrong,because he is in way to much pain and when he does take the pain med it does dull it but he cant resume walking,sleeping,pooing,or anything the doc says he should already have been doing.the doc said after 3 to 4 days after surgery he should start to get relief but he has not and it is getting worse,i am dealing with a very stubborn man and thought coming from another man that has had the same surgery he would listen to you{PLEASE HELP US}

I wish I had found this forum BEFORE surgery.  My doctor said I had 3 large clusters.  I was a 8.5 on a scale of 1-10 of being bad/worst.

 

I highly recommend and told my doctor he should change his policy to you MUST go on a liquid diet 3 days prior to surgery and remain on for 2- 3 days after. 

It was suggested I take stool softeners.  It should be mandatory to be on stool softeners and laxatives before.

I had EXTREME constipation immediately after surgery.  It was the 2nd worse pain I have had in my life.  1st was when I ruptured L5/S1 disc and was paralyzed from my waist down for 2 weeks until surgery.

Although pain meds contribute to the constipation I could not go without.  I was in extreme pain starting 24hrs after surgery for 3 days until I had my 1st bowl movement and then still for the next couple of days.  7 days after I had severe bleeding for 24hrs ever 30 minutes but it subsided after 1 day.

 

3 weeks now since surgery I still have to be on stool softeners and mild laxative or I get bad constipation along with the pain of trying to pass a cantaloupe.  Not fun. If I knew before what I know now I would not have had it done unless I had no choice due to the pain but I think most of the pain can be avoided if you make sure to go on a liquid diet before surgery and take enough stool softeners and a good cleanse before surgery. I hope this can help someone else avoid what I went though.  It was one of the worst experiences of my life and I have had plenty. :(

worried wife wrote:

Galahad_KoA wrote:

Since I posted last I had my first bowel movement about an hour ago. I didnt have to go much considering I havent ate much, but it still wasnt as painful as I was expecting it to be. I definately jumped in the tub of very hot water the second I was done because the feeling of absolute discomfort was the same intensity as the pain.

The night before I took Metamucil, a stool softener, and milk of magnesia, which was the first time I took them all to produce a bowel movement. It definately works. My suggestion to others dreading their first bowel movement is to eat light at first, and when you do eat heavy fiber foods, like Fiber One cereal. Give your bowels a few days to heal if you can, and when you think that bowel movement might be coming make sure your on your pain medication. I guarantee you the pain for me would have been a lot worse if I had not taken the pain meds a hour earlier and had not waited 4 days from the surgery to have my first bowel movement.

The downside of course is you cant have heavy straining or you may tear the area or make your problems worse so be careful however you approach this.

The amount of bleeding and discharge coming out of me me after four days is still pretty large which is bothering me because I wonder when it will really start to go away.

Till next time!

My husband had a fishers tear and had surgery aug.7 then complicayions which we found out that following sunday it was a lg. hemroid and was removed aug.12,doc said this past mon. he did not need any more pain meds and may husband normally frowns at taking an advil and as of 3 days ago he feels like he is back at square 1,he is in alot pain doc wont give any pain meds and we are gonna have to go to e.r because of pain. do you think ,since you have gone through this something else is wrong,because he is in way to much pain and when he does take the pain med it does dull it but he cant resume walking,sleeping,pooing,or anything the doc says he should already have been doing.the doc said after 3 to 4 days after surgery he should start to get relief but he has not and it is getting worse,i am dealing with a very stubborn man and thought coming from another man that has had the same surgery he would listen to you{PLEASE HELP US}

Look he needs to take the pain meds, Tylenol extra strength every 4 hours without fail, worked for me, and sitting in a sitz bath for hours, just to ease throbbing in my butt. I was like a mermaid for two weeks, most of my day was spent in the bath, or in a sitz bath.
When i wasn't in a sitz bath, i sat on a hot water bottle, just to keep warmth under me, it worked for me. I was fine after 2 weeks, still swollen but bearable and off the pain meds.
I sent my husband to work the day after surgery, so i could see to myself, i cannot stand having people around me when i am miserable.
He needs to keep heat under it it helps enormously!

If you haven't been eating, this could really make you dehydrated which may worsen your situation. Go to the store and buy pedialyte. It's in the childrens section and it comes in flavors. It' s good for when you are sick also. It has many nutrients and vitamins you need in it and it tastes good too! We always drink it when we have the flu!

I have been told cause can vary

Bad or Low Fiber Diet without enough fluids
Standing to much or sitting to much ( kinda screwed up)
Genetics
Straining During a BM
Extremely High Anxiety or stress that manifest sub con in that area
Pregnant Women get them commonly

I'm on week 6 of my recovery from rectocell and hemorrhoid ( both internal and external) and still am sore. Someone please tell me there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I had surgery it was terribly painful, it took me 6 full weeks before I forgot about it...but then they came back! I was so upset and did not know what to do, I knew I did not want to go back through that again. I never had them until my early 30's and then twice in a year. I had scheduled my second surgery and after reeling to a friend, I'm forever thankful I brought it up. Turns out my friend had been suffering in silence for years, and had tried everything on the market. He told me about Hem-eez a hemorrhoid supplement. I was skeptical as my doctor said that may help but would not work. I started using the Hem-eez and within 24 hours i noticed much less stinging and pain, within 5 days they were 99% better. I was speechless as my doctor did not tell me about it, in fact he was more pro surgery, again. I do take it regularly as not to have any more episodes, and I have had no other signs of Hemorrhoids using the Hem-eez. My Doctor was impressed and has started recommending it to his patients post surgery.

I am 2 days out from surgery I read a post about squatting over the toilet to have your bm do it do it do it it helps so much its unreal

had tradition hemrectomy 4wks ago overseas..am 36 yr old man...1 that was protruding when i had b.m & 2 internal ones that were dug out. i have stitch that i was told it would dissolve on  its on. outside is healed, but inside one still has hole/bruise. am prescribe pain med to be on need to basis & lignocaine 2%jelly(local aneasthtic) to be put inside the rectum after i take my sitbath/after cleaning & metamucil & stool softner at bedtime.

pain is bearable now, but little yellowish stool like stuff stains when i sit down. diet anything but no spice or oily food for about another mn. 

will having many sit bath be any problem?

do i need a post checkup here its already a mn, but am not fully recoverd & what dr should i see? colorectal or proctologist?

are there any other med that usually dr recommends for fast healing? or usually at this point its only pain med thats given.? and it heals on lits on?

 

My 62 year old husband had hemorrhoid surgery almost 4 weeks ago and has been miserable every day since. He had a very large external hemorrhoid and two internal hemorrhoids. He is no longer taking the Vicodin for pain but is taking Motrin as needed. He has been unable to go to work because every day after his BM and shower in the morning he needs to lie down and rest (he states he feels exhausted..and he looks tired all the time). He has not had any fevers and still has some rectal drainage but not much. The description of his pain has changed (it is more of a pulling sensation). Each day he stays in his robe and just stays in bed becasue every time he tries to do something he feels tired again. Note that this is a man who got up at 6:30 AM every day and went to the health club. He saw his surgeon a few days ago who did a visual check and put some ointment on his wound. Like so many others who have posted on this site my husband felt that the surgeon really didn't want to hear how he was feeling and told him to give it another 3 weeks. I feel the medical system has really failed at teaching and preparing patients for how they would feel post op/ and that they may have to be on disability for a month or more. My husband is lucky in that he is self employed.