Hi sorebutt, I havent booked an appointment for follow up yet as I couldnt bear anyone touching me again down below as I had a colonoscopy done two weeks ago after my re admittance for my blood transfusions and feel maybe I can wait a bit longer to see what happens. Had a bit of a setback yesterday, totally my own fault but boy am I suffering for it! My lovely daughter went out to buy me some chewy sweeties (had a craving for a few weeks now) and I thoroughly enjoyed munching a handful. What I didnt know at the time was they were SUGAR FREE a total disaster for me as even one such sweet acts as a laxative. You can imagine the rest, I spent 5 hours constantly on the loo. Today I am feeling extremely sorry for myself and cant walk without looking as if I have just got of a horse. More than a few steps and I feel as if someone is dragging all my insides down and out. Had this feeling just after the op as well. I think I have put myself back a few days on the recovery road! BMs still painful and back to having to lay down afterwards for at least 2 hours before I can even consider walking to the kitchen and back. OH WILL THIS EVER END.
Hi Big Mama, Wish eating sweets would work like a laxative for me. Then maybe I wouldn't eat so many! I hope you're feeling a bit better now and no more sweets for you!
I went to the doctor for a check up today and he said I am having anal spasms and that is why my bladder feels like it's falling out. Perhaps you're having spasms as well. He prescribed nifedipine ointment which I'm supposed to insert into my anus, but I'm nervous about doing this. It can cause headaches and I am so prone to them. My a--hole still hurts and I nearly went through the roof when the doc examined it today. He said the ointment should help and I should also sit in the sitz bath three times a day to relax the muscles. Are you using any ointments? Each day I wake up hoping this will be the day that things turn around.
Now when you wake up tomorrow, try to do a little more than you did today. Getting back to your daily routine will help you feel better mentally. Try to do just one additional thing than the day before. Hang in there. We will be well one day.:-D
Thanks for that sorebutt, took the plunge and booked an appointment for the 4th December to see a consultant, just hope he speaks english (some do and some dont) ouch cant wait. My spanish is not bad but medical terms are beyond me. Did something positive this morning like you suggested, dyed my grey hair roots!! After 8 weeks I was beginning to look like an old granny. You are right, positive thinking is the best and today I am going to venture out of the house for a drive if I can persuade my husband to take me only concern I have is when I need to go for a BM its then or hell. Any way will keep you posted on the outing. I have not been prescribed any cream or ointment only some for the outer region to numb was told I couldnt use it internally. I suppose the dragging sensation could be spasms I dont really know. What I do know is that when I want to pass wind it doesnt give the same sensation as it used to pre op. Never know if its wind or urge to go. Thanks for all your support I think its all the positive responses on this site that is keeping me going.
Hi Big Mama. GOOD FOR YOU! So glad to hear you started the day on a good note. When I venture out, I always take a "to go" bag with me. I put Tucks Pads in there, a small bottle of disinfect spray, some gauze pads in case there's any seepage, panti liners (I use two Always liners and overlap them so they line my underwear from the front to the back), and also the bag and hose that came with the Sitz bath. Before I "go", I fill the bag half way with warm water and take it in the stall. If I go, then I just hold the bag in the air and use the hose to clean the area. Works like a charm. Hope this helps you venture out more. Glad you made an appointment for Dec. 4. Where do you live that there's so many Spanish speaking people? That's got to be tough. I would never be able to communicate as I don't know Spanish at all. Hope you have a good outing today and just take it easy, walk slow, and enjoy the fresh air.
Hi Sorebutt, well I made it out of the house yippee and the pain is bearable now as long as I take my painkillers. Tried to purchas a sitz bath but spanish pharmacies havent heard of it and offered me a bedpan! I have to resort to using the bidet after each BM. I live in an area of spain called Murcia, near the historic town of Lorca the epicentre of the recent earthquake and floods!! It is mainly spanish and fairly rural but some of the medical people speak english, however most of them dont want to. Went to the doctor today and not good news, apparently the scar tissue internally is not healing and has reduced the size of my colon which is causing painand difficulty passing BMs which in turn is inflamming the scarred area and so it goes on. I have now got to have another operation to open the scar and remove some of the tissue. I cant believe this is happening especially as I was told not to worry the operation would be easy and recuperation would only be a couple of weeks. The main problem for me is undergoing aneastetic as having a heart problem it is a risk but I cant stay like this unable to heal. So I am visiting another doctor on the 12th to decide when to have the operation, most probably after Christmas. I am wondering though if the pain is going to be the same all over again. Am wondering if anyone else has had to have this done if so please let me know how it went. Anyway I am sure you must be near the end of your recouperation and things should be going well for you now.
Hi Big Mama,
Now it all makes sense. I'm in the US and thought you were too. I am soooooo sorry to hear this. You are going through a terrible time. My doctor also told me it would be a couple of weeks for recuperation. I fear your recuperation from your next surgery is going to be the same and this is horrendous to even think about. Can you go on-line to your department stores and see if they have a sitz bath? I went to the doctor on Dec. 3 and I do not have to go back anymore. I am healing, but have to continue to use the nifedipine cream for quite some time. I also saw my gynocologist yesterday as I felt something was "falling out" down there and she said my bladder has dropped a bit, but thinks the pressure of the constipation could have contributed to it and wants me to wait another couple of months to see how I feel. She's not alarmed by it and it made me feel much better mentally. I hope you're not going to use the same surgeon that did for your last surgery, are you? I am praying for you!! Let me know how you make out on Dec. 12. Hang in there..... hugs.
Just wondering how you made out at the doctor. Did you schedule another procedure. Thinking of you.
Hi Sorebut, I havent scheduled one yet mainly because my daughter is expecting her first child and needs her mum at the moment and to be honest I am frightened to death both about the operation and "going under" and the after pain. I am tolerating well although its not healing at least its not bleeding much, so I am going to hold off until January and visit with the specialist again and ask if there is anything else that can be done as an alternative. I hope you are fully fit now and looking forward to Christmas. Thanks for thinking of me its helping me through this a lot.
Hi Big Mama,
That's exciting news about your daughter having a baby! Congratulations. I am expecting grandchild #3 in June 2013. Exciting times!
I don't blame you for waiting at all. I would never want to go through another surgery. I pray that maybe by you giving it more time, you'll heal. For the past two days, I have been feeling much better. It'll be six weeks tomorrow since my surgery and that's seems to be what people were posting is the recuperation time. I still use the cream daily and will continue to do so until it's gone.
Keep me posted on how you're doing after the holidays. Hope you and yours are blessed with a beautiful Christmas!
Hey Sorebutt,
Yeh sometimes you just gotta laugh because its ridicluas.
I'm back at work now but I found once i went to the bathroom about 5 times in one day and I think reopned a wound, not sure but now theres pain in every BM not extremly but still painful I got my 6 week check up next week so lets see how we go :) hope things get well for you.
Hello everyone. This is OceanBreeze. I'm not sure this logged me on and I can't remember my password! I had surgery May 16. I had terrible spasms after surgery that have been an ongoing, long-term issue. They are gradually getting better, but it has been a long, long journey. Five weeks after surgery I developed an anal fissure that was in the same area as one of the sites of the hems being removed. The fissure has just not healed up. I had a bad experience with my first surgeon. I switched to another surgeon that I have been very pleased with. I am doing EVERYTHING I was supposed to from the get go, but it is just taking me a long time. I have had daily pain and some bleeding, mostly after a BM. The spasms make going hard, so the surgeon said it was okay to take some Miralax in the evening since it was gentle. She said I would not become dependent on it, but I am still worried about it. In fact, I didn't try adding this for a month or two after she suggested it. Finally about a week or so ago, I have added it, and I am noticing a big difference. I think it makes it easier to pass the BM and lets the muscles not get too upset. I eat a high fiber diet - lots of beans, veggies, and fruits. I wish I had never had this surgery. The first surgeon did not EVER mention the possibility of a fissure or of such an extended healing time. There are days I wonder if I will ever get better. I have had a lot of anxiety about all of this. Aussie has been a tremenous support to me! I think most people have much better experiences than me. I also think it can be helpful to know that there are these possiblities, and if you do not absolutely have to have this done, I would really think twice about it. I had hems for 20 years after having my first child, and I would get flare ups about once a year that would keep me off work for about a week. The last flare up was horrific, and I had 2 surgical consultations that both recommended surgery. I would recommend that someone really stop and think even in that situation. This is not an easy surgery for some (most?) of us, and I think the 4-6 week recovery rate they tell you about is pure BS. This is a very sensitive area of the body, and it should not be a surgery that someone recommends to you as if it is just routine. I am still waiting to have one day pain free, one BM painfree. I was much better off before all of this. I hope no one ever has this kind of experience! I am better than I was, but not better than I was before the surgery. I wish you all the best and hope that if you are pre-surgery, you make the best decision for you, and if you are post-surgery I hope you heal quickly, and well!
Hi OceanBreeze I know what you are going through, if you read my previous you will see that I have a similar problem - I was taken back to hospital twice with hemmoraging, needed 6 blood transfusions all due to a muscular ulcer caused by the surgery which I only had because I bled a lot from internals (no pain) which was making me anaemic and due to a heart condition was very bad for me. Haha, I now look 10 years older than I did am more tired than I was and have had to take a lot of time of work (am self employed) which has caused more stress than I need!! I remember the doctor telling me what an easy option this was and how the recovery time would be 15 days. At the time I was devastated as pre op information didnt mention any post op pain or recovery problems. I am now in my 15th week post op, and have been told I now have to have another operation as the scar tissue has caused the canal to shrink in size which means my bms if not very small and soft cause the ulcer to rip and pain and bleeding to continue. The after surgery pain i have been informed this time will be the same as the previous. I am putting it off until after Christmas - dont really want to go through it again. I am with you on the view of unless absolutely life threatening dont have the operation. Have you tried Flaxseed, I have found this a wonderous food. I dont eat a lot of fibre as it makes me go to the toilet too many times a day. However 3 tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day sprinkled on anything (I use it with yoghurt) makes my bms very soft and easy to pass. I hope things get better soon and will let you know how I get on after my 2nd surgery.
Hi Big Mama and Oceanbreeze,
Oh how I feel for you both. I am at week 7 now and unlike the both of you, I am pretty much recovered. I feel your pain just thinking of you having to go through additional surgery. I, too, was told the recovery would be 7-10 days, but that was not the case at all. I believe that if we were REALLY told the truth of how horrific the recovery is, we would not have done the surgery. I did not have pain with my roids. I only had bleeding and it would flare up, but then I would be good for a month or so. I would never recommend this surgery to anyone.
And now to make you both laugh. I kept waiting for the magical 6 week mark which was on December 14, 2012. Well on December 12, I was feel pretty good and thought, wow.... all those posts were right. It does indeed take at least six weeks to recover. Then on December 14, my husband comes home from work and says "I think I have a hemorrhoid". I said "you've got to be joking. You will NEVER have this surgery". Well by Monday, December 17, he had a HUGE, and I mean HUGE, hemorrhoid. By Tuesday morning it was no better and with the holidays approaching, I called my ass doctor (I had sworn I would NEVER go back to him again) and begged him to take a look at my husband. Well.... my hubby had a thrombosed hemorrhoid which had to be lansed to release the blood. The doc said he should be fine in a day and I reminded the doc that he said I'd be fine in 10 days. Well, here it is 4 days later and my hubby is still laying in bed and wearing..... ready for the laugh..... maxi pads!!! Too funny. He continues to bleed, takes two baths with epsom salts every day, and is taking colace and metamucil. He came off the Percoset within 24 hours. The doc didn't say to do the epsom salts, but my hubby's boss told me about it and I would like to recommend this to the both of you. What can it hurt? My hubby says it's helping. So fill up your tubs and put in about a cup of epsom salts. Now take a face cloth and fill it up with about a 1/2 cup epsom salts. Get into the tub and put the facecloth containing the epsom salt against your roids and let the epsom salt just melt away while being held against your roids. It is definitely helping to shrink the roid.
So what are the chances that both a husband and wife have ass problems within six weeks of each other? We can only laugh about it. Of course this has changed all our holiday plans as we can't make the 10 hour car ride to visit our grandson because my hubby can't sit yet. Sound familiar? And I totally understand his pain - LOL. Hang in there ladies. And I pray the epsom salt can help heal you both or at least make things bearable. Also, I take Miralax every morning and a rounded tablespoon of Metamucil every night and my bowels are doing well. I don't care if I shouldn't take the Miralax every day. I don't want to ever get constipated and this is working for me. Just wanted to share.
Merry Christmas to you!!