It's a shame that hemorrhoids are such a taboo subject in our culture; they are certainly common enough to deserve discussion. I found this site when my doctor had scheduled my surgery and I wanted to know what to expect. At first, the posts scared me witless, then I began to find certain patterns and helpful suggestions. But what struck me was that all of us are trying to make sense of our experiences without much general support. Since my surgery I've quit blushing when I discuss hemorrhoids, knowing that my frankness could be helpful to others.
From what I read here (and later experienced), the first thing you should do is consult a colorectal surgeon, NOT a general surgeon. You definitely want someone who does this every day/week. You need to know that hemorrhoids have flare-ups and remissions, but they don't go away on their own. Basically, after you've stretched out those veins, they are shot. (A 300 pound woman will never be a swimsuit model without some surgery!) And you have to make some lifestyle changes (eat more fiber, drink water, exercise) for life to avoid developing new ones. But you also have to respect that any surgery creates a finite period of pain & swelling, and know that coping with that will require different strategies.
I probably developed my internal hemorrhoid when my daughter was born, 33 years ago. I also had a small papilloma in the rectal area that was never removed (picture a taste bud that has grown into a stringlike shape). A few years later the papilloma had grown enough that I could feel it after a bowel movement, and eventually the internal hemorrhoid would pop out with it, but suck back immediately when I stood up. Life was easy....then. As the years went by, the papilloma was shorter than the hemorrhoid and I began to have to manually push it back in after BMs. No pain, so no biggie. Then, after a couple of decades, I began to occasionally have some pain and bleeding, especially when I wasn't consuming enough fiber. Then, about once a year (usually summer, for some strange reason) I would have stabbing pain during BMs (felt like the hemorrhoid was ripping open, which it essentially was) and a great deal of blood. Those episodes would last for a few weeks and then subside, and chicken that I am, I lived with that. Finally, last summer, I had an episode where the hemi would not push back in no matter what I tried. After a week of living with it out, I was able to push it back in with liberal tub baths, witch hazel and creams. OH MY GOSH!!!! The sphincter spasms afterward were pure hell. After a BM I would have hour long waves of spasms that had me moaning & crying. I finally consulted a colorectal surgeon (my angel!!!) who prescribed pain meds and a regimen to get through the episode (I was unemployed and had no insurance). It took about 2 months but I got through it. A year later, out of the blue, it began again. I went back to my surgeon and he began to do the exam. As he began to probe, the pain was so searing that I screamed! He numbed the area, finished the exam, and the verdict was clear...no more prolonging the inevitable...it was time for surgery. Even this little scaredy cat was convinced.
So I went home and looked up info online...and found this site. It scared me to the point that I almost cancelled the surgery...but I kept reading. I am so glad I did. I began to notice that internal hemis seemed easier to recover from than external ones, and that not everyone went thru hell afterwards. I was determined to recover with the least pain, so I made notes. The next morning, I was prepped for (outpatient) surgery. I was very nervous (kept crying out of pure fear), but everyone was very comforting and when I was wheeled into surgery, I remember shifting onto the table, adjusting my position, and then.....waking up afterwards. Ahhhh...the wonders of anesthesia! My surgeon asked if I wanted to see the little critter that had caused me so much pain...and I did. It was larger than a golfball!!! And then, he said something that eased my mind. Where before he had told me that he "wasn't going to lie, it will hurt a lot the first week" he said to me, "I think you have been through the worst." My hemi had prolapsed the day after my exam (probably due to the swelling) and he saw it at its worst during surgery. I asked him if he had also removed the papilloma and he said it had wrapped itself around the hemi, so he got them both with one incision. (Now I realize that the papilloma was probably aggravating the hemi all this time.)
On the way home, my boyfriend stopped at the drugstore and got my hydrocodone prescription filled, and we used generic stool softener instead of the prescription Colace...much cheaper, and the same stuff. I took my first pain med when I got home, and highly recommend staying ahead of the pain. Don't be a hero; days one and two will be hard core otherwise. I wasn't very hungry, but every bite I ate was pure fiber. I drank loads of water and ate nibbles of lettuce, raisins, prunes, apples, and Fiber One cereal straight out of the box. I was determined that when I had a BM, it would be an easy one. (The fear of those "broken glass" BMs made quite an impression on me.) I slept a lot. Took tub baths, and used a heating pad in that vicinity, warding off sphincter spasms...I was petrified of experiencing those again!
The postsurgical instructions said to call if you had a fever or had not had a BM by day two. The fever part is interesting, because I was on tylenol, so didn't realize I had a fever till day 3 when I let the pain med/tylenol combo wear off so I could get a temp reading. I was over 100 degrees. That wasn't too distressing to the doctor, so I let that run its course; I had no other worrisome symptoms. But when it was Day 3 and I still hadn't had a BM, I was getting concerned. I experienced a lot of gas and rectal pressure, which felt like I had to go, but I knew there was a lot of swelling in the incision area, and that in that small space, it was difficult to discern peristaltic contractions from swelling. I decided that I did not want to pull any stitches, so I tried to ignore the pressure...no pushing for me! However, the pain meds combined with the stretching they had done during surgery also made it difficult for me to pee, and I asked my doc for a milder pain med on day 3...I could stand the discomfort, and I was able to pee. On day 4, I felt a cramping feeling. I went into the bathroom to pee and suddenly.....I pooped! No pushing, no straining, just a whoosh feeling. I actually had to look to see if I had really pooped! After about 2 seconds, I felt a wave of discomfort, but not the stabbing pains I had had presurgery. I gently wiped (warning...do not wipe like you used to...make the paper fluffy and dab yourself...then get premoistened wipes and do the same afterwards), and then got into a warm tub for a soak. Afterwards, I told my boyfriend I was concerned because the actual act of having a BM didn't have much sensation....he said "welcome to normal." LOL
When I was braver, I explored a bit and found that I did have stitches protruding outside of the rectum, as I had suspected. The hemi had ripped so badly that my doc had had to stitch from the inside out. It is 16 days post surgery and the stitch hasn't dissolved yet, but it will. I am still not 100% at sitting, but I find that a pillow on the car seat helps, as does shifting position regularly. 10 days post surgery we took a 4 1/2 hour car ride to the Florida Keys, and I was sure glad the car seat reclined. I wish I had taken a cushion on the flats boat, especially when we were pounding the waves to get around, but I survived. I quit taking pain meds 2 days ago (I had gotten it reduced to darvocet, and was taking 1/2 a pill at a time), but am having some headaches, probably secondary to getting off those pills. BMs are still easy. I do have a little drainage after BMs, sometimes a little oozing, sometimes bleeding, but I use a pantiliner (in the feminine protection section) adhered to the back of my panties, and it gets it all. This is all doable.
Would I do this again? Absolutely. Would I have done it sooner had I known how recovery would be? I think so. I endured a great deal of pain and fear, and all without pain meds, before I was forced into this surgery. But surgery was inevitable. I had a wonderful colorectal surgeon who did excellent work. I read some of the other posts, and my heart goes out to those who suffered so much. If I could give any advice to reduce the pain someone might endure, it would be to get a good colorectal surgeon, don't mistake the pressure for an impending BM (remember, the incision needs to heal and your body will push things out when it's time....just keep things hydrated & soft), and take it slowly till you're ready to move around. You don't realize how much affects the rectal muscles until after surgery, when every cough or sneeze creates a sensation there, and you sure don't want to irritate this area. Your body needs several days to simply heal...the incision...the stretched out muscles (that the surgeon held open so s/he could reach everything)...and your emotions after dealing with the pain and suffering for so long. Get your sleep. Keep up with your pain meds. Take 4 stool softeners a day (spaced out). I used an index card to keep up with my pain med/stool softener/"butt bath" schedule.
Oh! and to tell you how important a good colorectal surgeon is, I went to a regular surgeon last summer when my hemi had been prolapsed for several days. He took a look, said, "Wow!" and his nurse commented, "It looks like you're giving birth!" And THEN he had the audacity to charge me over $200 just to look & insult me...never touched me...wouldn't prescribe numbing cream like I asked... and told me to see a specialist. Took him 5 minutes. (And yes, I disputed this charge!) Would you want someone like that doing your surgery??? I sure wouldn't!
From what I read here (and later experienced), the first thing you should do is consult a colorectal surgeon, NOT a general surgeon. You definitely want someone who does this every day/week. You need to know that hemorrhoids have flare-ups and remissions, but they don't go away on their own. Basically, after you've stretched out those veins, they are shot. (A 300 pound woman will never be a swimsuit model without some surgery!) And you have to make some lifestyle changes (eat more fiber, drink water, exercise) for life to avoid developing new ones. But you also have to respect that any surgery creates a finite period of pain & swelling, and know that coping with that will require different strategies.
I probably developed my internal hemorrhoid when my daughter was born, 33 years ago. I also had a small papilloma in the rectal area that was never removed (picture a taste bud that has grown into a stringlike shape). A few years later the papilloma had grown enough that I could feel it after a bowel movement, and eventually the internal hemorrhoid would pop out with it, but suck back immediately when I stood up. Life was easy....then. As the years went by, the papilloma was shorter than the hemorrhoid and I began to have to manually push it back in after BMs. No pain, so no biggie. Then, after a couple of decades, I began to occasionally have some pain and bleeding, especially when I wasn't consuming enough fiber. Then, about once a year (usually summer, for some strange reason) I would have stabbing pain during BMs (felt like the hemorrhoid was ripping open, which it essentially was) and a great deal of blood. Those episodes would last for a few weeks and then subside, and chicken that I am, I lived with that. Finally, last summer, I had an episode where the hemi would not push back in no matter what I tried. After a week of living with it out, I was able to push it back in with liberal tub baths, witch hazel and creams. OH MY GOSH!!!! The sphincter spasms afterward were pure hell. After a BM I would have hour long waves of spasms that had me moaning & crying. I finally consulted a colorectal surgeon (my angel!!!) who prescribed pain meds and a regimen to get through the episode (I was unemployed and had no insurance). It took about 2 months but I got through it. A year later, out of the blue, it began again. I went back to my surgeon and he began to do the exam. As he began to probe, the pain was so searing that I screamed! He numbed the area, finished the exam, and the verdict was clear...no more prolonging the inevitable...it was time for surgery. Even this little scaredy cat was convinced.
So I went home and looked up info online...and found this site. It scared me to the point that I almost cancelled the surgery...but I kept reading. I am so glad I did. I began to notice that internal hemis seemed easier to recover from than external ones, and that not everyone went thru hell afterwards. I was determined to recover with the least pain, so I made notes. The next morning, I was prepped for (outpatient) surgery. I was very nervous (kept crying out of pure fear), but everyone was very comforting and when I was wheeled into surgery, I remember shifting onto the table, adjusting my position, and then.....waking up afterwards. Ahhhh...the wonders of anesthesia! My surgeon asked if I wanted to see the little critter that had caused me so much pain...and I did. It was larger than a golfball!!! And then, he said something that eased my mind. Where before he had told me that he "wasn't going to lie, it will hurt a lot the first week" he said to me, "I think you have been through the worst." My hemi had prolapsed the day after my exam (probably due to the swelling) and he saw it at its worst during surgery. I asked him if he had also removed the papilloma and he said it had wrapped itself around the hemi, so he got them both with one incision. (Now I realize that the papilloma was probably aggravating the hemi all this time.)
On the way home, my boyfriend stopped at the drugstore and got my hydrocodone prescription filled, and we used generic stool softener instead of the prescription Colace...much cheaper, and the same stuff. I took my first pain med when I got home, and highly recommend staying ahead of the pain. Don't be a hero; days one and two will be hard core otherwise. I wasn't very hungry, but every bite I ate was pure fiber. I drank loads of water and ate nibbles of lettuce, raisins, prunes, apples, and Fiber One cereal straight out of the box. I was determined that when I had a BM, it would be an easy one. (The fear of those "broken glass" BMs made quite an impression on me.) I slept a lot. Took tub baths, and used a heating pad in that vicinity, warding off sphincter spasms...I was petrified of experiencing those again!
The postsurgical instructions said to call if you had a fever or had not had a BM by day two. The fever part is interesting, because I was on tylenol, so didn't realize I had a fever till day 3 when I let the pain med/tylenol combo wear off so I could get a temp reading. I was over 100 degrees. That wasn't too distressing to the doctor, so I let that run its course; I had no other worrisome symptoms. But when it was Day 3 and I still hadn't had a BM, I was getting concerned. I experienced a lot of gas and rectal pressure, which felt like I had to go, but I knew there was a lot of swelling in the incision area, and that in that small space, it was difficult to discern peristaltic contractions from swelling. I decided that I did not want to pull any stitches, so I tried to ignore the pressure...no pushing for me! However, the pain meds combined with the stretching they had done during surgery also made it difficult for me to pee, and I asked my doc for a milder pain med on day 3...I could stand the discomfort, and I was able to pee. On day 4, I felt a cramping feeling. I went into the bathroom to pee and suddenly.....I pooped! No pushing, no straining, just a whoosh feeling. I actually had to look to see if I had really pooped! After about 2 seconds, I felt a wave of discomfort, but not the stabbing pains I had had presurgery. I gently wiped (warning...do not wipe like you used to...make the paper fluffy and dab yourself...then get premoistened wipes and do the same afterwards), and then got into a warm tub for a soak. Afterwards, I told my boyfriend I was concerned because the actual act of having a BM didn't have much sensation....he said "welcome to normal." LOL
When I was braver, I explored a bit and found that I did have stitches protruding outside of the rectum, as I had suspected. The hemi had ripped so badly that my doc had had to stitch from the inside out. It is 16 days post surgery and the stitch hasn't dissolved yet, but it will. I am still not 100% at sitting, but I find that a pillow on the car seat helps, as does shifting position regularly. 10 days post surgery we took a 4 1/2 hour car ride to the Florida Keys, and I was sure glad the car seat reclined. I wish I had taken a cushion on the flats boat, especially when we were pounding the waves to get around, but I survived. I quit taking pain meds 2 days ago (I had gotten it reduced to darvocet, and was taking 1/2 a pill at a time), but am having some headaches, probably secondary to getting off those pills. BMs are still easy. I do have a little drainage after BMs, sometimes a little oozing, sometimes bleeding, but I use a pantiliner (in the feminine protection section) adhered to the back of my panties, and it gets it all. This is all doable.
Would I do this again? Absolutely. Would I have done it sooner had I known how recovery would be? I think so. I endured a great deal of pain and fear, and all without pain meds, before I was forced into this surgery. But surgery was inevitable. I had a wonderful colorectal surgeon who did excellent work. I read some of the other posts, and my heart goes out to those who suffered so much. If I could give any advice to reduce the pain someone might endure, it would be to get a good colorectal surgeon, don't mistake the pressure for an impending BM (remember, the incision needs to heal and your body will push things out when it's time....just keep things hydrated & soft), and take it slowly till you're ready to move around. You don't realize how much affects the rectal muscles until after surgery, when every cough or sneeze creates a sensation there, and you sure don't want to irritate this area. Your body needs several days to simply heal...the incision...the stretched out muscles (that the surgeon held open so s/he could reach everything)...and your emotions after dealing with the pain and suffering for so long. Get your sleep. Keep up with your pain meds. Take 4 stool softeners a day (spaced out). I used an index card to keep up with my pain med/stool softener/"butt bath" schedule.
Oh! and to tell you how important a good colorectal surgeon is, I went to a regular surgeon last summer when my hemi had been prolapsed for several days. He took a look, said, "Wow!" and his nurse commented, "It looks like you're giving birth!" And THEN he had the audacity to charge me over $200 just to look & insult me...never touched me...wouldn't prescribe numbing cream like I asked... and told me to see a specialist. Took him 5 minutes. (And yes, I disputed this charge!) Would you want someone like that doing your surgery??? I sure wouldn't!
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I had some internal and external hems removed a week ago and I am pleased to report that I am recovering well. BMs are never going to be pleasant after this procedure but I have found that they are getting less painful by the day. I am still bleeding and have a discharge but have been checked out and told this is normal and part of the healing process. I was up and out of bed on day 5 and am now comfortable when sitting on the couch. I'm glad I didn't find this website before my procedure because it totally would have freaked me out and I may have cancelled the operation. My heart goes out to those people who have suffered a lot after having this done.
If I may I would like to give some advice:
DRINK WATER - 2litres a day minimum, this is essential! My Doc told me that anything else I drink (tea, coffee, OJ) does not count towards this 2L target, its got to be 2L of water and anything else is a bonus.
DIET - I will not claim to be an angel when it comes to eating a balanced diet, but before and after the surgery do your very best to eat fruit and veg. Apples and grapes are your new best friends! Avoid greasy food and anything too spicy. Eat brown bread, brown rice...the sensible stuff that we all know we should eat!
PAIN RELIEF - You're gonna hurt after this surgery, you're going to have a numb throbbing in your bottom for a while and you need to accept it. The more pain relief you take the more constipated you will become, this will cause the stools to harden and will ultimately cause you more discomfort when passing them. When reaching for the pain meds assess the pain on a 1-10 scale. If you feel the pain is over a 7 then take something, if its less try and tough it out. Ask your Doc for a numbing gel that you can apply to the area, this helped me more than the tablets did. Hot water bottles also provide relief. (Just so you know, I consider myself to have a low pain threshold, papercuts have made me cry before!)
BATH - I was told to have 1 bath a day, at night, as hot as I could manage for no more than 20 mins. Apparently it delays healing and can cause an infection if you sit in the bath for long periods. I was told that I could have as many short showers as I wanted so I jumped in the shower after a BM and then applied the numbing gel when I got out - Sorted!
HYGIENE - Don't wipe the area, just dab it very gently or hold the loo paper against your bottom to soak up what it needs too! Baby wipes are highly recommended. Use sanitary pads to keep your underwear feeling fresh.
My life before the procedure was ruled by my hems. They were terrible and caused me a lot of discomfort, I am glad I had this procedure.
Good Luck to the rest of you out there. :-D
If I may I would like to give some advice:
DRINK WATER - 2litres a day minimum, this is essential! My Doc told me that anything else I drink (tea, coffee, OJ) does not count towards this 2L target, its got to be 2L of water and anything else is a bonus.
DIET - I will not claim to be an angel when it comes to eating a balanced diet, but before and after the surgery do your very best to eat fruit and veg. Apples and grapes are your new best friends! Avoid greasy food and anything too spicy. Eat brown bread, brown rice...the sensible stuff that we all know we should eat!
PAIN RELIEF - You're gonna hurt after this surgery, you're going to have a numb throbbing in your bottom for a while and you need to accept it. The more pain relief you take the more constipated you will become, this will cause the stools to harden and will ultimately cause you more discomfort when passing them. When reaching for the pain meds assess the pain on a 1-10 scale. If you feel the pain is over a 7 then take something, if its less try and tough it out. Ask your Doc for a numbing gel that you can apply to the area, this helped me more than the tablets did. Hot water bottles also provide relief. (Just so you know, I consider myself to have a low pain threshold, papercuts have made me cry before!)
BATH - I was told to have 1 bath a day, at night, as hot as I could manage for no more than 20 mins. Apparently it delays healing and can cause an infection if you sit in the bath for long periods. I was told that I could have as many short showers as I wanted so I jumped in the shower after a BM and then applied the numbing gel when I got out - Sorted!
HYGIENE - Don't wipe the area, just dab it very gently or hold the loo paper against your bottom to soak up what it needs too! Baby wipes are highly recommended. Use sanitary pads to keep your underwear feeling fresh.
My life before the procedure was ruled by my hems. They were terrible and caused me a lot of discomfort, I am glad I had this procedure.
Good Luck to the rest of you out there. :-D
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I am a 27 year old female and I have had 2 natural births over the past 10 years. My doctor told me this is the reason my painful issue. I have been married for 10 years and this has been a secret and still is. My sex life is horrible because there are certain areas I will not let him go and he doesnt know the naked truth of why. I am so embarassed (I dont know why) but I am. This issue has taken over my whole life and I am even scared to have more children because of this. After my second natural child birth, my private area wasnt sore or bruised but my rectum kept me in the bed for over a week and I was still swollen. I slept in a chair in the worst way, I was on my knees with my head laid in the chair. Even if I pass gas my rectum swells up. If I use the restroom without straining I swell up worst as if I used it with alot of pressure, I also bleed everytime. The last straw was 1 August 2010, I was just cleaning around the house and all of a sudden blood involuntary rushed from my body. It was so much it was like a horror movie and I was in it. I had no warning and it just happen! Whats if I was in a grocery store? I stayed calm and clean myself up and rushed to the emergency room. The doctor told me what I already knew, it was hemrroids and I had old blood and blood clots that pushed out.<----YUCKY I know. My surgery is Monday 16 August 2010 and I am happy because I know after the pain I can have my life back. Living with this for all these years and this taking over my life is giving me the strength to just do it and get it over with. Although everyone story is horrific and scary my doctor told me even worst stories and I am prepared to just get it over with. I know its not going to be easy, but after reading what everyone is saying is giving me hope. I thank you all for telling yur stories, I thought I was alone and writing this is pretty much bring me to tears because I didn't know there were so many people out there like me. I WANT MY LIFE BACK
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Today is day2 for me after my surgery, I got stapled inside and cut on the outside as well. The surgery went as well as expected. My nerves were the worst because of reading about this surgery before having it. I'm still glad I read everyone post before the surgery b/c I know what to expect. My biggest problem right now is passing gas and having a BM. I am prepared for the stinging and the 20 minutes of pain afterwards that everyone is talking about but I cant use it at all. Maybe its to early to use it but I been eating alot of fruit anf taking my stool softner. I still have a gauze stuck in my bottom and that seems to be a big problem for me. My doctor told me to pull it but not only does it hurt, there is some skin stuck/dried to it. After taking a sit bath for about 20minutes it loosen up but it still has a burning sensation.Did anyone else have this problem? Right now my concentration it to have a soft BM and although I know its going to be great pain from what everyone is saying, "The BM's coming is when your body begins to heal and get use to them. I am able to walk and dont need to help around the house I'm just watching TV, sleeping and reading this website which is very theraputic for me. Thank you all for sharing b/c I know what to expect although my doctor told me some stuff I rather hear the icky truth. Another person who posted said she had a BM in the tub and it was easier. I tried and it didnt work at all for me, so maybe im not ready to have one yet. I am having the muscle spasms in my but and they burn as well but Im going with the flow. Does anyone have any advice for the gauze that is still lodge in my bottom?
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Today is my 4th day of recovery. Had my surgery on Friday the13th. Sunday and Monday were the worst days. Had a very hard time sleeping due to the sphincter spasms. THey would make me jump up out of a dead sleep. I've had good BM's and mostly painless. Like others I have said is I usually wipe with flushable baby wipes and Tucks then either take a shower or a SITZ bath.
In general just have a burnng achy felling down there. THe spasms were to the point id lie down on my stomach or eside and they would start. Probably a couple every 15 minutes or so and I have a pretty high threshold for pain and would dang near bring me to tears. I called the surgeon back and he prescribed Valium. Most people think of Valium as an anti-anxiety drug but it also controls spasms. Since taking it they have subsided somewhat. Still get them when the Valium wears off but much more tlerable today.
As far as my diet I stick to what the Doc said. Ill get up and either have Raisen Bran or oatmeat followed by 2 stool softners and 3 FiberCon tab. Also drink plent of water and usually at night ill take a dose of MiraLax. Its not a fast acting laxative but seems very useful. For lunch usually soup and sandwich and dinner varies. At night take a couple more stool softners and more FiberCon.
Ive lived with hemi's for years and like most found it embarrassing and hard to go to Doctor about. Not any more. I tell my friends and co-workers what I had done and why. I ignored them too long which Im sure made them worse. I work in law enforcment and stay active, backpacking, bicycling, car detailing, brazilian jujitsu and have 2 active boys tshat like the same so it was really starting to impact my life and things I like to do.
I wish you a speedy recovery and with this this type of surgery I think it just takes time.
In general just have a burnng achy felling down there. THe spasms were to the point id lie down on my stomach or eside and they would start. Probably a couple every 15 minutes or so and I have a pretty high threshold for pain and would dang near bring me to tears. I called the surgeon back and he prescribed Valium. Most people think of Valium as an anti-anxiety drug but it also controls spasms. Since taking it they have subsided somewhat. Still get them when the Valium wears off but much more tlerable today.
As far as my diet I stick to what the Doc said. Ill get up and either have Raisen Bran or oatmeat followed by 2 stool softners and 3 FiberCon tab. Also drink plent of water and usually at night ill take a dose of MiraLax. Its not a fast acting laxative but seems very useful. For lunch usually soup and sandwich and dinner varies. At night take a couple more stool softners and more FiberCon.
Ive lived with hemi's for years and like most found it embarrassing and hard to go to Doctor about. Not any more. I tell my friends and co-workers what I had done and why. I ignored them too long which Im sure made them worse. I work in law enforcment and stay active, backpacking, bicycling, car detailing, brazilian jujitsu and have 2 active boys tshat like the same so it was really starting to impact my life and things I like to do.
I wish you a speedy recovery and with this this type of surgery I think it just takes time.
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@ visaliaipa how long did it take for you to have your 1st BM. Today is my second day after surgery and I was only able to push the gauze out. I am having a burning sensation which is not that bad but I really want to have a BM but cant. I have been taking stool softners and eating fruits and veggies. my doctor says it isnt wise for him to give me numbing cream. do you have any suggestions? I know the BM will hurt but im so ready to just get it out and over with. Im happy with my surgery so far b/c ive never seen my but w/o hemroids around it. I am quite pleased with the look of it. how are you feeling?
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I beleive I had my first one the night after my surgery. Mind you a small one. Hvae had them now with more frequency. The first day is going to be alot of "gas" as, at least with me, they fill your abdomen with air. Right after recovery at the surgical center I went twice and passed the infamous gauze packing.
The buring sensation will be with you for a few days. Been 4 days and I still have it. I'm sure its not the burning from hemi's, its burning because its swollen. I saw a youtube video on the procedure and to put it mildly your very strecthed out. I tried the prep H cooling gel but didn't do much. The worst for me are the spasms which started after day two. They arent quite as bad today as far as frequency but still hurt like holy hell. I have a fairly high p ain tolerance and dang near brings me to tears. When I told the surgeon he prescribed the Valium which helps tremendously, but I can tell when it wears off. I've went though my first bottle of vicodin and getting it refilled. Just cant take the Valium within 2 hours of taking Vicodin.
I do take alot of SITZ baths. They do seem to help and take away some of the discomfort.
As far as eating just eat lots of fiber. Dont eat for fear of the BM. Would be far worse if you get impacted. I eat oatmeal or raisen bran in the AM with whole grain toast and take 2 stool softners and 3 fibercon tablets. Lunch I have soup with more fiber con. At dinner i also take 2 more softners and more fibercon. Also at night I do one dose of MiraLax. Its a slow acting laxative that the surgeon said to take daily. Not something that you take amd makes u run for the toilet. Very mild and does seem to help.
Thats basiclly what I am doing. Don't get me wrong its not pain free but getting more manageble. Thank goodness for golf and preseason football. I hope this helps.
The buring sensation will be with you for a few days. Been 4 days and I still have it. I'm sure its not the burning from hemi's, its burning because its swollen. I saw a youtube video on the procedure and to put it mildly your very strecthed out. I tried the prep H cooling gel but didn't do much. The worst for me are the spasms which started after day two. They arent quite as bad today as far as frequency but still hurt like holy hell. I have a fairly high p ain tolerance and dang near brings me to tears. When I told the surgeon he prescribed the Valium which helps tremendously, but I can tell when it wears off. I've went though my first bottle of vicodin and getting it refilled. Just cant take the Valium within 2 hours of taking Vicodin.
I do take alot of SITZ baths. They do seem to help and take away some of the discomfort.
As far as eating just eat lots of fiber. Dont eat for fear of the BM. Would be far worse if you get impacted. I eat oatmeal or raisen bran in the AM with whole grain toast and take 2 stool softners and 3 fibercon tablets. Lunch I have soup with more fiber con. At dinner i also take 2 more softners and more fibercon. Also at night I do one dose of MiraLax. Its a slow acting laxative that the surgeon said to take daily. Not something that you take amd makes u run for the toilet. Very mild and does seem to help.
Thats basiclly what I am doing. Don't get me wrong its not pain free but getting more manageble. Thank goodness for golf and preseason football. I hope this helps.
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@ visaliaipa thanks for the response. I just had my first BM 30 minutes ago. I was so happy b/c it came out very easy but then the after affect came! I was burning bad as h*ll and I sat in the tub for 20 minutes and I am still burning bad. My body is completely stiff right and my rectum wont stop burning. I am now totally afraid to use the restroom although it felt great coming out. I dont know if I can handle the after effect. I have been in good spirits the whole time and was doing pretty well until I got this burning sensation that wont go away. I put vaseline back there so the skin wont touch but its not helping. I refuse to watch a utube of the procedure until I totally heal. My mind is already all over the place and I don't think it will help me mentally. Also after I had a BM I had the feeling to throw up. I guess the pain was just so severe that I had the shakes and that throw up feeling. Again it doesnt hurt coming out, its the after affect of buring that is breaking me down. I just took more medicine and im going to hop in the bed. :'(
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The bad thing is the burning will last a few days. My 4th day and I still have the burning. When Im lying down and go to get it it hurts and burns. Take alot of baths as they do help. I tried the vaseline and prep H but didnt help at all. I think the burning is from the healing and the "area" getting back to normal size.
Just managage your pain meds and diet real well. The spasms if you havent had them yet are no fun either. Thats why I have th e Valium to deal with the spasms.
Wanna know the worst part..? Because mine were so bad he was only able to get 3 so I may have to have it again since he was ubale to get it all the first time around. I am not looking forward to it but will be awhile as the current procedure has to heal. Yippee for me..!!!
Just managage your pain meds and diet real well. The spasms if you havent had them yet are no fun either. Thats why I have th e Valium to deal with the spasms.
Wanna know the worst part..? Because mine were so bad he was only able to get 3 so I may have to have it again since he was ubale to get it all the first time around. I am not looking forward to it but will be awhile as the current procedure has to heal. Yippee for me..!!!
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@ visaliaipa please keep posting your daily routines and results. I am a few days behind you and this is helping me to know what to expect. This website in the past week has become a very important part of my life while dealing with this issue. My friends joke about it, my parents tell people who I don't want to know and I am going through a divorce from a 10 year marriage and I kept it a secret throughout the whole marriage. This website is important because everyone is very serious, telling the naked truth and we all can relate to each other. When I am feeling depressed I just read through all of the posts especially the ones from 2007 and I see that these people have their life back and the surgery was a success. I pray for you visaliaipa that some way and some how that you don't have to go through this again. But if you do at least you know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Its is 2:38am eastern time and I woke up from my sleep from spasms and burning becuase I made the mistake of forgetting to take another pill before I went to bed at 8pm. @ visaliaipa Do you know what caused your problem, mines came from childbirth, I have a 10 yr old and when I had my 6 yr old it really messed me up. I know women/men who does EVERYTHING with their butt I mean EVERYTHING (including sexually) and they have no issues at all. I just find myself asking the question WHY ME! I'm just thankful that I was able to have a pretty good doctor and insurance. Thank you all for listening to my rants and raves. :$
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No one knows why you get Hems, some say it's genetics, some say it's from straining, but i think a lot of it comes down to diet and not drinking enough water. Straining is a major cause for it. A lot of trades people get like Brick layers, Plumbers, Chippies get hems and this is not by straining on the toilet just general straining in the work environment, but it could also be that their diet is no good too. So in essence anyone can get Hems through no fault of there own, but i pisses me off how people joke about it as if they went through it they certainly wouldn't.
If you are not going to the toilet twice a day and your stool comes out with no effort at all then you are fine, but if you have to go more or less than that and are pushing when you do go well then you are in trouble. Your stool should be long about 2-2.5cm in diameter and consistent and moist not lumpy or like pellets if they are you are in trouble.
What you need to do is sit back and reassess your diet and make the necessary changes to it so everything gets back in order.
What needs to happen is an education program about why you should eat properly and if you don't what the consequences are this might save some of us going through this horrible operation.
If you are not going to the toilet twice a day and your stool comes out with no effort at all then you are fine, but if you have to go more or less than that and are pushing when you do go well then you are in trouble. Your stool should be long about 2-2.5cm in diameter and consistent and moist not lumpy or like pellets if they are you are in trouble.
What you need to do is sit back and reassess your diet and make the necessary changes to it so everything gets back in order.
What needs to happen is an education program about why you should eat properly and if you don't what the consequences are this might save some of us going through this horrible operation.
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@ Craig2 thanks for your post its enlighten. My problem never occured until I had kids so you think it was there all along and the pressure from the kids triggered it. I have been doctoring on myself for 6 years with ointments and pushing them back in myself. I would probably still be doing those techniques if I didnt lose so much blood last Saturday. A flush of blood ran from my bottom and I was rushed to the ER. My insides ruptured out of the blue! My kids were there to witness it and its hard to try to look like nothings wrong with blood everywhere. I didnt want them to panic. My mom and dad hasnt really had it but my oldest brother had it really bad but all he did was stop eating spicy foods and he never had the problem again. I hate spicy foods but I do eat fast foods alot because I'm always out during the day b/c of school. As far as the jokes I can't stand them but I just go along with the humor. I feel like every time I say my bottom is bleeding or sore my family looks at me like what am I doing with it to make it bleed. I have never done anything sexual with my bottom but I am ashamed of what people think if I bring the issue up. This morning I am feeling a little better but from the other post I understand the burning sensation will not go away anytime soon. I am afraid to have another BM but Im still eating, taking stool softners and prepared for it for when it comes. My nights are becoming longer it seems thats when I am in pain the most. To be honest I didnt know men had this issue until my brother had it shortly but being on this sight I see some men have it worst than me. Im just glad I can have a serious and honest conversation with people about this situation. Although we all are complete strangers to each other we are bonded through this painful issue. Just being able to talk to you all is a blessing and I am thankful. Not only is this a physical pain disease/injury it also takes a mental toll on a person to. I would like to report today is a better day so far but its still early so I wont bragg just yet... 8-|
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I just had mine remove today, its a level 4 hemi... after the surgery i had to catch a 2hr bus home and that was crucial. I am in constant sharp pain but its a bit manageable. As far as peeing I can pee just fine without a problem. My surgery went fine without complication, THANK GOD!!! one less problem i have to worry. My surgery went well without any complication, I am praying that it remain that way until I somewhat heal. GOD this pain is agonizing, constant sharp, burning up in the ASS.. if you haven't experience it you have NO IDEA!!!!!!!!!! I don't think i can sleep tonight with this pain. The only thing that alleviate the pain is SITZ bath but as soon as i get out the pain come back to haunt me... haven't got my first BM yet. FAKKKK its gonna be out of this world pain i can feel it........
Day 1 - painnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn alot of painnnnnnnnnnn and percocet help like 10mins and pain again.
Day 1 - painnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn alot of painnnnnnnnnnn and percocet help like 10mins and pain again.
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A 2 hour bus ride.....ouch bro that had to have sucked. I had a 10 minute drive home and that wasnt the most pleasant thing in the world. Yeah the sharp burning pain will last a few days. Today is my 6th day and it still burns. A pain, like you said, that cant be described unless you have it.
My first fews day I got very little sleep. Even taking two Vicodin didn't really help. The spasms didnt start until mid second day so stand by. Those are the most painful and make it very hard to sleep or rest. The best position I liked to lay was on my stomach, which for some reason made the spasms come one worse. I think those are the worst. When I told the doctor he also prescribed Valium. Normally associated with anxiety it does very well for muscle cramps. I just cant take it within two hours of taking Vicodin. The Valium really helped. I was able to get a good nights rest since it not only makes you drowsy but keeps the spasms in check.
I am a firm believer in the SITZ baths. Although the burning does return it helps you relax. Last night I actually went out in out spa and that felt really nice too. Kinda of like a giant SITZ bath. Its an inground spa built with the pool so felt nice to just hang off the side and float in it.
Today is day 6 and still have the burning but not quite as bad and still have the spasms. Suppose to go back to work on the 23rd but may extend that a week cuz not sure if id honestly be able to chase or fight a bad guy at this point. It does get better just takes a little time.
Just remember to take the stool softners, the FiberCon fiber tablets and copious amounts of water. I also take one dose of MiraLax every night which helps too.
My first fews day I got very little sleep. Even taking two Vicodin didn't really help. The spasms didnt start until mid second day so stand by. Those are the most painful and make it very hard to sleep or rest. The best position I liked to lay was on my stomach, which for some reason made the spasms come one worse. I think those are the worst. When I told the doctor he also prescribed Valium. Normally associated with anxiety it does very well for muscle cramps. I just cant take it within two hours of taking Vicodin. The Valium really helped. I was able to get a good nights rest since it not only makes you drowsy but keeps the spasms in check.
I am a firm believer in the SITZ baths. Although the burning does return it helps you relax. Last night I actually went out in out spa and that felt really nice too. Kinda of like a giant SITZ bath. Its an inground spa built with the pool so felt nice to just hang off the side and float in it.
Today is day 6 and still have the burning but not quite as bad and still have the spasms. Suppose to go back to work on the 23rd but may extend that a week cuz not sure if id honestly be able to chase or fight a bad guy at this point. It does get better just takes a little time.
Just remember to take the stool softners, the FiberCon fiber tablets and copious amounts of water. I also take one dose of MiraLax every night which helps too.
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@ painvictim o.O you earn your name. I have so many ?tions about that bus ride but I will leave that alone. I am truly sorry that you couldnt jump straight into your bed after surgery but hey we got to do what we have to do but I'm sure you slept the whole way back. Tomorrow is officially my day 4 and while I am feeling a little better, everytime I have a BM it sets me back. I have literally been sick to my stomach and have severe shakes after my BM's (the stinging lasts for hours). I have been sleeping on the couch and today I had to pull away from my pain pills because the were making me sick to my stomach. I have been taking motrin and I laid off the pain killers unless I have another BM. I know soaking in the tub is essential and while I have been doing them like I suppose to, I have to admit I cant stand em! When I get into the warm water thats when I have spasms and I have the feeling or urge to use the restroom, but its just the feeling I really dont. I really dont have much more to report its been the same this whole week; eat, sleep, pain, pain, sleep, sleep, pain, eat, BM, PAIN amd more PAIN. My 1st BM was okay but the one last night was full of blood and kinda solid so I have to amp the stool softners up some more. <-----Yucky I know but Im just reporting the real deal and thats what I appreciate about this site.
Side Notes: I saw a posting of someone wanting to know how soon could they have sex after this surgery o.O o.O and im just like ARE YOU FK'ing serious ! all of this pain and someone is wanting to know about sex? This is my opinion only but I find it sick and that should be the last thing on someones mind at this point! My opinion only, have a good night.
Side Notes: I saw a posting of someone wanting to know how soon could they have sex after this surgery o.O o.O and im just like ARE YOU FK'ing serious ! all of this pain and someone is wanting to know about sex? This is my opinion only but I find it sick and that should be the last thing on someones mind at this point! My opinion only, have a good night.
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