Swelling and Pain After Hemorrhoidectomy Surgery

Soar, It's good to hear from you! I'm glad that you are feeling well enough for life to be busy again. That is encouraging. I remember not too long ago I was feeling overwhelmed by life and saying 'give me a break!' and now look where I am!  I would gladly trade all of this pain and misery for getting back to normal. I have missed you! I have not heard of the toilet stool you mentioned. I just did a google search and found something called the squatty potty. I think this is what you mean. I don't know anything about it, but it looks like it would be worth finding out more. I also have told my kids to start eating healthier and eat more fiber! My son eats almost no vegetables or fruits. We have plenty of those to choose from, but he rarely eats them. I do not want them to go through this when they get older!

PITA, I'm sorry you are still having problems with your bms.  Before the surgery, I had good luck using Benefiber once in the morning and then taking Colace 2 in the morning and 2 at night. And drinking lots of water. It may be that a food diary and trying different things could help you find what works for you. I've had the plug-followed-by-niagara-falls before as well, and it is not pleasant under the best of cirumstances.

I am trying to change up my fiber and stool softener intake to decrease the loose stools. It's not exactly diarrhea, but it is loose. I don't mind the soft stuff but a little while I go I had the urge and ran in and it was just gas with some poop. Not exactly painful - it burned - but it is frustrating to feel like my insides are not working like they should. As soon as I eat anything at all, I have to run to the bathroom. It's like everything is going right through me, no matter what I eat. It is making me not want to eat much, but I'm trying to make myself eat because I know I need to! Would it be possible for the anesthesia and pain meds to still be affecting my gut so much (I'm at Day 10 now!) or is it more diet and fiber and stool softeners? I have decreased the softeners and tried to increase fiber a little bit. Trying to find a magic mix without getting things too hard. I'd rather have soft any day of the week!

How long was it before the BMs stopped hurting as much and/or you had to jump in the tub right after?  I am spending most of the day in the tub!!!  I took a very short nap this afternoon and woke up feeling like I was floating in water! LOL  Weird feeling.  I did not sleep well last night. I had to poop like every 2 hours. It's driving me crazy!!!!

Hi lonely. I'm sorry you're having to go through this. I can't believe how hard it must be to be back at work already. I can hardly get up off the futon to make it to the toilet and tub. If you have time, try soaking in a tub after a BM if you aren't already. It can be more soothing to that area and put less strain on you as well.

I think I have finally figured out what is going on. I think I am having an attack of diverticulitis.  When I had the colonoscopy right before the hem surgery, the surgeon said I had diverticulosis throughout my colon. I was looking back over the information and I have most of the symptoms for the diverticulitis. The recommendations are to rest and go to a liquid diet for a day or two and then gradually add in soft foods and then resume a normal diet. I'm going to see if that helps.

It's officially Day 11. I have only had 1 1/2 hours of sleep in the past 2 days due to the BM issues. I am so tired and know I need to rest, but between frequent trips to the bathroom and my butt hurting so bad, I just can't sleep.:-)

The diarrhea/loose stools have been going on since early afternoon yesterday so I finally called the surgeon on call this morning. He said he does not think it is diverticulitis and that it could be just about anything causing the diarrhea. He recommended the liquid diet for 24-48 hours, using 1/2 dose of the Benefiber (to help absorb some of the moisture), and taking 2 priobiotics per day, as well as hydrating "the hell" out of myself. The probiotic I have (Culturelle) was "okay" but he'd rather see me using a broader-spectrum one, so I'm hoping my wonderful hubby will be able to go out today and pick up a different one. The surgeon did not want me to use immodium or pepto bismal since there "are all kinds of problems with them." He felt it would get better and just take time. I told him I was worried about the hem surgery site, especially getting a new hem, and he said that was the least of his worries. He was very empathetic about the pain. He  didn't say he'd had this experience, but it seemed from his voice and response that he at least had an understanding of the pain. He was okay with getting in the tub to clean off after every BM and then suggested trying a heated rice bag in between to soothe the area rather than extended soaking. 1/2 cup to 1 cup of rice in a sock, tied shut, heat up in microwave for about a minute or so, and then apply to that area. As soon as my hubby gets up I am going to ask him to make one for me to try. I just don't have the energy to climb the stairs at the moment to go get a sock. I also can't seem to stay out of the bathroom very long.

I told him I had 2 bouts of diarrhea earlier in the week, but he didn't seem very concerned about that. He said that the diarrhea could be from a virus, bacteria, food issue, any number of options, but he said the basic way to treat it would still be the same. He didn't think it was caused by the stool softeners or soft foods as that would have cleared up by now. He reminded me that some viruses/bacteria can take up to 2 weeks or more in your system before they show up, so it could have been something I was exposed to before I ever even had surgery. There was a nasty bug going around at work right before my surgery, and of course, all my lady coworkers were giving me hugs of well wishes right before I went out on leave. And at least 2 of them got sick within a few days to a week after that..... I'm not sure that is what it is, but maybe. I just want it to go away!!!  My butt is so very sore. I'm down to only taking 2 tylenol every 6 hours and that barely touches it.

Sorry to moan and groan so much. I'm just exhausted. I can't rest because of the constant runs. And my butt is hurting/burning. At least having talked to the doctor I don't feel as worried about the surgery area - still worried, but not as much!

Archer, thanks so much for checking with your friend! How very thoughtful of you!!!!  It helps to have that information, and it makes sense.  I haven't eaten solid food since 8 pm last night. I haven't taken a stool softener since yesterday morning, and no laxatives since at least Wednesday.  I have taken fiber 3x a day yesterday and so far 2x today -  at 1/2 the dose. Have not eaten meat in weeks since we are switching to a vegetarian diet anyway. Definitely no spices! I won't take anymore pepto, but I will admit to feeling quite tempted by immodium today. I haven't taken the narcotics since at least Wed and don't plan to take them. They just make me feel so sick. My hubby is heading out in a little while to get some more things, and he is going to look for the probiotic you mentioned - or at least one with more in it than the probiotic I already take.

I don't have any other GI issues going on, other than the hem surgery and diverticulosis.  The surgeon said that he didn't think it was diverticulitis based on my symptoms, and I think he's right.

I am having diarrhea at a minimum of every 30 minutes - sometimes more often. It is like Niagara Falls. :-| There have been several times I have not even made it to the toilet in time!!!! It's been horrible!!!!!  Doing lots of laundry today. Did your friend give you any ideas on how long this may last? I am so exhausted and can't even catch naps due to frequency of the diarrhea. I keep trying to just tell myself it will get better, but it feels like insult being added to injury on top of having this surgery.

Again, thank you. I understand that he is just providing helpful information and without seeing me he really can't know for sure, but it makes a lot of sense. It also is pretty comforting to think that maybe it's all just related to this surgery and recovery process.

Breezie,

I was talking with my mom about her diverticulosis and she said that when she would have a flare up her tummy was sore and she had diareah too.  She needed antibiotics to help with the infection.  Have you spoken to a nutritionist about what to eat etc. for the diverticulitis?  You definately need to get that under control first.  As long as you are taking stool softeners, it won't matter that you are slightly constipated , because the BM will be softer?  I am not a dr. so I don't know all the answers or anything like that but I am just making some suggestions.  Last week I had a little bleeding too after BM but that was probably because I hadn't gone in a few days.  My mom swears by psylium husk and she says that helps to keep her regular but if you are trying to stop the runs, it is probably best to eat what the dr. suggests for now. 

A glimpse into the future:

I rode my bike (cruiser with wide ass seat) but nevertheless, it was something I thought I wouldn't be able to do after having the surgery.  My butt was only slightly sore...not more sore than riding for the first time this season.  Quality of life has improved and I have no regrets.  Keep focussing on all those activities.  Try to stay positive as I know how depressing it can get, thinking that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.  Take it one day at a time and on those really difficult days, take it 20 min. at a time. 

Wishing everyone painfree (or less painful) BM's.