Hi Danielle - I too am scheduled for surgery - mine this Monday September 24th. I'm also scared to death but know it is the only solution. There are some positive posts out there. While this is clearly not without pain, the best advice I have been given is to start taking Metamucil NOW and work yourself up to 3x/day to help you after the surgery (where you will continue that AND laxatives to counteract the pain meds.) I corresponded with Gary who started this thread via email and he is doing much better. I'll be happy to share my experience with you...Here's hoping for a permanent solution and to someday be pain free!
I have been wanting to email you! I am believing God for a quick recovery and also for your mental state. Stay calm & let tomorrow worry about itself!
Danielle, you can do it! The first 8 days-2 wks are the worst part but it does get better. I am in the begining of my 5th week and my pain is really starting to go away.... MJS is right about taking fber now but I like a softer fiber rather than metamucil. I got mine from my local vitamin store... The clerk at my store is amazing & super knowledgeable so ask your local vitamin clerk what the have..... I will be praying for you too! Do you know how they are doing it? If not ask, my Dr. used "Ligasure" & it's supposed to be much better than the older ways of doing the surgery. Are your Hems inside or external?
-Gary Stanionis
Hi Everyone – Sorry I have waited so long to reply, but I was afraid if I did too soon my good fortune would change as it did for Gary. But as I am now entering Day 6 – I guess it is safe! Already typed this reply once and it deleted so I’m going to copy from word next time! I hate that!
Overall this experience has been NO BIG DEAL! I am thankful to God, all my family/ friends and everyone here for the prayers, ideas, preparation as I believe it has made all the difference. What is clear to me now is that I was in so much pain and having such issues before the surgery that after has been relatively easy! Here is how it went for me:
1) Weeks before the surgery I began doing Activia Yogurt, berry, & organic fiber powder smoothies (thanks Gary) and Metamucil powder 2+ times a day to get my bowel movements soft and easy. It was key as I was having so much pain/bleeding. I got myself to a good place with 1 soft bm per day. I worked on just letting it happen and not straining/pushing as this would be key after surgery.
2) The scariest part was that I had a BM about 9 hours after surgery. My Dr. had me prep with Milk of Magnesia and an enema and I could still feel it gurgling post-op. I had a spinal block which took over 4 hours for me to regain feeling in my legs. In the meantime they gave me an omelet, toast and a smoothie so I was ready when it came time to start the pain meds. The BM was very fast and watery, it burned but NO BLOOD (this after I bought the bed pads, maxi pads, etc.)! I began the sitz baths right away.
3) Per my Dr’s orders I have been quite religious about taking my pain meds (1 vicodin every 5-6 hours) and 2 on the days I thought I would have a BM and have been adding Colace/more Metamucil to offset the meds (he says likely to heal much better if not fighting the pain). I have also kept my eating extremely clean. I made some homemade butternut squash soup (basically pureed squash, veggies & chicken broth – no cream) as well as my signature Chicken Chowder (with split peas, lentils, barley….fiber in a cup!). I start each day with a smoothie and wheat toast then have been eating the soups/chowder with plenty of wheat toast to save my stomach from the meds, and snacking on Fiber One cereal. I did have some Mac & Cheese, just trying to keep things soft and easy to digest. I do sitz baths 4-6 times a day just to soothe the area.
4) Next BM’s came on Day 3 (soft & easy) and Day 4 – I think I overdid the Colace/Metamucil with my Chowder – it wouldn’t stop coming! Very soft but a ton of volume – really cleaned me out! While the BM’s are painful, after soaking in a bath and 15 minutes on the couch – I’m good!
5) Now Day 6 I expect to have a BM today – I reduced the Colace with my chowder so hopefully it will be better. I’m starting to reduce my pain meds (slept through the night for the first time last night!) and will slowly introduce more solid foods. The worst is now I am entering the healing phase where I feel the “pricking/itching” constant down there. Annoying, but not pain. Typing this is the longest I have sat all week. I’m just taking it easy, catching up on some good books, watching the Ryder Cup golf. The best part is knowing this will only get better!
For me it is clear that with the pain/bleeding I had with my prolapsing cluster and 2 internal bleeders every time I had a BM, having to put it back in, etc. that this really has been no worse (almost liberating not having the cluster hanging out!!!). Yes, I feel like I had the hemi’s cut off but it is no more pain that I was dealing with on a daily basis and the great feeling is knowing it is permanent and will only get better! I know everyone is different and every situation is different. I just feel blessed and fortunate to be where I am right now. It is NOTHING like I was expecting. Had I known this I would have done it sooner! Key also is I had a great experienced surgeon.
Thank you all for your ideas/prayers. Danielle – you can do this! Just get yourself in a good place before, and keep a positive attitude – it only gets better! Gary I hope you are now finally in a good place.
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Best of luck!
Maggie