Swelling and Pain After Hemorrhoidectomy Surgery

Tomorrow's your big day. I hope you're more excited than anxious. I remember so looking forward for the surgery day to come. I was completely aware of the long road to recovery, but I was so ready for the flare ups to end. The way I saw it -- I was in so much pain before the surgery even happened, it was like wasted time. If I was going to be in pain, I wanted that pain to count toward my recovery. 

I am actually scared to death. Part of me just wants it to be over. And part of me is so tired of hurting already that the idea of hurting more for even another several weeks just feels so overwhelming. But I am also trying to think lke you said - at least after the surgery the pain will count toward recovery instead of the ongoing, never-know-when-it-will-end-or-get-worse pain of hems.

My husband is very supportive. I am very, very fortunate. My kids are great kids, but they are teens/young adults and not exactly focused on mom. Plus our family has had some significant traumas/health issues that I think we are all just worn out with it all.

My coworkers have been great. They are mostly women, and we are mental health counselors/workers so they are the perfect group to be understanding and compassionate.

I did have an interesting thing happen today. I dropped off my FMLA papers to the surgeon today and the woman at the front window commented that he would probably give me a week off. I was pretty shocked to hear that and explained that with the work I do, I don't just sit at a desk, I have to actually be present mentally and physically with my clients. I figure that if he does indeed just put one week, I will re-evaluate how I feel and push back if needed. I do not plan to go back to work until I know I am up to it. Period.

I just wish I wasn't feeling so anxious. I think I'm fearing the worst and hoping for the best.

I am to report to the hospital tomorrow at 11, and hopefully the procedure will be done by 1:15 they tell me. Then it is just a matter of how quickly I can eat something, drink something, pee, walk, and have the pain under control.

I am really really hoping that the guided imagery I have been listening to will have an affect!!!! 

Good Luck to you! All will go well. You are more informed than I ever was. I hadn't read anything about it going in. Stay positive and take as much time as you need. Everyone is different. I think the people at my work didn't think much of it because it is day surgery and a relatively short procedure. But let me tell you, it isn't day recovery. Fear can make things worse so try to relax. I remember that when I had my first BM, an old T.V. Guide was on the bathroom floor. The front cover was the two guys from NCSI. It helped to focus on their faces as I didn't feel like I was alone. The next time I was to go into the washroom, I remember thinking..ok guys here we go. Somehow..those guys helped me through as weird as it sounds. I discovered this site when I was lying on the couch trying to distract myself and wanting to see how long the recovery would be. Somehow I ended up being directed to a site called Poop report or something like it. This one man wrote about his experience with hems and his surgery. I laughed so hard I cried. Laughter is the best medicine. Soon you'll be laughing and feeling like yourself again. Will check back to see how you are doing. All the best.

Soar, thanks for your post! I went into our bathroom/washroom to see what magazines my hubby had left in there. Both were Rolling Stones - one with the picture of President Obama and the other with Peter Dinklage from Games of Thrones. I don't think I want to look at either of them when pooping. They look like they are looking right at you. HAHAHAHA!!!! I think I will find another magazine here to put in there to have someone to look at. I will think "this is what Soar did!" and it will help.



I also looked up the poop report and will add it to my "fun" sites to check out when I need a smile and laugh. Looks promising. :)

Soar and oceanarcher, Just want you to know how much I appreciate your support and presence these past few days especially.  It sounds crazy to say that someone you met online in a forum like this could be so helpful, but it's true!!!!  Thanks for being willing to share your experiences and to check in on me. I hope both of you experience continual healing and freedom from hems forever, as well as total body and mind wellness!

You might want to put N-Acetylcysteine on your list of questions to ask doc. It protects your liver from the onslaught of acetaminophen that you'll be taking (included in vicoden and percocets). I learned too late that my liver took quite a beating from these meds, and I never exceeded the daily max of 4 grams. I'm unable to drink any alcohol now without getting horrible nausea and headache the next day. I've had 3 attempts at alcohol since my recovery (all in moderation). All went very badly. I wasn't convinced it was a liver issue until blood tests showed very elevated liver enzymes this past Monday.

Oh, you've probably read this already, but in case you haven't, don't eat meats or other high protein foods until your BMs are much more manageable. These foods are really constipating while on narcs even if you eat a high fiber diet with stool softeners.

Well, Day 1 after surgery. Here's a summary of how things have gone so far.

I was in a good bit of pain yesterday morning so I was looking forward to getting the IV line started with the goodie medicine.  The surgery itself went well, according to the surgeon. He said that he was surprised they caused me so much pain because they didn't look that bad. I did run into problems with anesthesia, which I haven't seen anyone post about on this forum (unless I missed it). The plan was to do a spinal block to allow for better transition of pain management. However, I experienced a lot of pain during the tap to the point it brought me out of the sleepy state. I still remember that pain! Yesterday after surgery I had a lot of back pain and still have pain at the spinal block site.  The low down on this is they said it could hurt for several days but hopefully will resolve. It is very rare to have long-term problems from this. I am pretty scared about this and wish I had not even tried it. So, they switched to general anesthesia and the surgeon pumped the area with numbing medicine that didn't wear off until early this morning. Overall, at this moment, the spinal block site hurts worse than the hemorrhoid surgery! I did not sleep well last night at all. In fact, I didn't sleep at all until about 5 am, for just 2 hours.

I also got nauseas and lightheaded and all shaky after coming out of the anesthesia. I think the nurse tried to stand me up too quick for one thing. But they kept me there a long time. I didn't get home until 7:30 pm last night. One good thing is that I have not had any trouble peeing!

I was given Percocet and I am taking 1/2 pill every 2 hours (which equals out to 1 every 4 hours). This keeps the medication a little more stable in the system. It helps, but makes me feel revved up instead of sleepy!  I start to get sleepy right before the next pill is due, but then wake up after I take it. Odd, I know! Mostly I am taking it for my back.

Now for the butt. I am having some discomfort in that area and the medicine is helping. I have had lots of gas starting last night even with some gas pill and the beano this morning. The hardest part today is I keep feeling like I have to have a BM while laying but as soon as I get my butt in the water it goes away.  I am eating small amounts of whole grain bread and fruit, lots and lots of water. Taking stool softeners.  I think at lunch I will take a small amount of Miralax and then later today I will have some warm prune juice followed by some coffee.  I know my body pretty well, so I think just keeping small amounts of these things going on a regular basis will help.

I plan to back off the Percocet when a) my back feels better (which hopefully will be soon) and b) I know how a BM will feel. I can say that right now, the butt feels better than it did before surgery.

I was pretty anxious last night. I kept waiting for the numbing to wear off and the pain to kick in, but it hasn't been like that. I still know it could get worse, but I am hoping not too much worse.

The anesthesiologist let me listen to my guided imagery programs during the surgery, and I think that has been helpful. I have also been listening to it a lot all night. It has helped me.

I am still not sure why the Percocet is revving me up instead of letting me rest! 

Oh, and I did have an allergic reaction last night about 1:30 to something, but I don't know what. My tongue/lips swelled up. Not too bad. But I have a lot of allergies, so I was just praying it was not the Percocet. It seems to have either been the gas pill or a new water filter pitcher. Can't think of anything else I had at that point.

 

Oh, and I am doing warm baths in the tub an also using some ice on the surgery site. Not having a lot of drainage right now. Pain is there but is manageable with the Percoet. Waiting to see how the BM goes. Not looking forward to it, but then again, I am looking forward to getting these first few days and BMs over with!

sorry to hear about your anesthesia complications. I've never read of anyone on this forum experiencing that, but probably because it's a very rare complication. I've come across it while researching epidurals for my wife, although that's a slightly different procedure. I hope it goes away soon for you.

also, percocet made me sleepless as well. I wouldn't say it really revved me up, but it put me into a dream state before I was fully asleep. That messed with my head and prevented me from sleeping well until I got some Flexeril a few days later.

Hi there. Well as the day has gone on I have had a worse time of it. The Percocet is not working for me. I have only slept 2 hours since coming home from the hospital at 7:30 last night. The Percocet revs me up and I am not able  to rest at all. Plus it doesn't seem to give me much pain relief at all. I am very gassy despite taking Beano. I just took a Gas-X and realize that is what I have the allergic reaction to!!!!  (swollen mouth, tongue, lips) - Not severe but enough to let me know I probably shouldn't keep taking it. The gas is painful, but the worst part is I keep feeling like I need to have a BM when I'm laying down. As soon as I get up and go into the bathroom and get the water ready nothing happens. Just more gas. I am really trying to be positive and just let it happen, but then .... nothing. This has been going on for hours.

I have some hydrocodone left over from my back issues and am going to give that a try since I know I have had a good response to it in the past. I will call the dr tomorrow about it one way or the other. I feel pretty swollen in the surgery area which I know is normal and I am doing everything I can not to strain. I just wish the poop would come out! I don't necessarily think I'm constipated, although the Percocet probably doesn't help. I have taken fiber this morning and 2 stool softeners across the morning. The I took a small dose of Miralax a little after lunch. Then I drank some warm prune juice followed by some decaf coffee. Then just took stool softeners after dinner.  Maybe I'm wanting things to move too fast since I just had surgery yesterday?  I'm sure that some of the gas is just from having surgery and having my system all upset with all of the reactions, etc. I have been drinking tons of water today. Only eating fruits and a little whole grain, chewing well, etc.

I am trying to hold on and keep telling myself in a week it will be better. I hope! I will check out your posts to see if anything there can be helpful. :) Thanks.

I just had a whole  post and then it disappeared! Ugh!  Anyway, oceanarcher, I read your journal and it was helpful to be reminded it is a journey. I just feel so worn out from having 3+ weeks of a flare up and all that pain and now all this pain to look forward to. I'm trying to just stay positive. I think I will also add Advil. My doctor didn't mention it, but I have seen others post that they used it for swelling.

My doc was adamant about not using Epsom salts either. Only warm clear water.

I am just so tired from not sleeping. The Percocet really revs me up. Not foggy, dreamy, nothing. More like hyper. I can feel that I have not rested. My nerves are on edge.

 

I'm also feeling scared about that first BM because of the way this day has gone. I am beginning to wonder if I'll be able to tell if it's really going to happen. I'm a little afraid to go in water since I'm a female and the last thing I need is for poop to get in my girl area.

I lost count of how many times today I got up, grabbed my laptop and cell phone, hopped to the bathroom and got ready to go and then nothing. LOL You would have been laughing at me probably! I was like all ready to have something to do to distract me after the MAIN EVENT!  The bathroom got soaked with all the times I was filling up the sitz bath and the tub then emptying them when nothing happened.

The tub doesn't really feel all that good to me. Didn't do much in the way of soothing. I can't lay on my back at all because of the spinal tap area and pain. So I just lay on my side and my arms fall asleep.

I just do not want to get constipated!  I'm trying to stay positive. It doesn't help that I haven't gotten much rest.

Man, it sounds rough. The anesthesia (especially general) will slow down your bowel movements way more than any narcotics you take. They can also cause gas. Beano and Gas-X will not help with that. Did you get any Toradol from doc? That was a life saver for me. For the actual pain, the NSAIDs worked better, and Toradol is the strongest in its class. If not, take your Advil.