Swelling and Pain After Hemorrhoidectomy Surgery

I had my surgery 5 days ago. After what seemed to be gradual improvements day to day. No problems with BM's I am very concerned about the pain on the left side. Feels like pulling of hair or when you sit on it. This pain seems new and the string hanging out which is all related to the pain. Pray nothing is ripped been being extra careful. At 43 besides These Rhoids and Thrombosis issues a healthy adult. Mentally taking a serious toll on me. I noticed not one answered a previous request about the exact pains.

I had stitches come out on me at a week and a half this can be normal but you may want to check with your surgeon. Again I keep this updated and will reply to answer any questions. I'm currently at two and half months or 78 days. I'm still not normal i have a skin tag at the left side where the biggest incision was made and it still feels achey after I go. So to be honest it can take longer then three months before you even are close to normal bm. I stopped bleeding after the first week and then started bleeding again at week 4 for another couple weeks so don't be surprised if you have set backs is a very frustrating recovery.

-Dom

Blue, re exact pains.. I'm three weeks out from surgery tomorrow. Week one was horrendous. Day 13 seemed to be a turning point of sorts. Between the end of week one and day 13, there was serious throbbing anytime I had a BM and/or, God forbid, I sneezed or coughed. I ended up taking off work 'til the end of week two. Pain w/ sitting, etc. seemed to move from actual incisions to the healing are where the sutures were. I went back to work day 18 and was fine (I kept a memory foam pillow in my office chair and BMs didn't hurt). So, I stopped my pain meds (1k mg Tylenol/600mg Motrin, alternated every 6 hours). Mistake. I woke up day 19. It felt like something was tearing. It felt like I pulled a stitch from sitting all day. BM in the morning didn't hurt; so, I went into work. Another mistake. While I could stand, I couldn't sit. I had to leave work early. I went back on the meds and contacted my surgeon. He said this was normal, to stay on the meds, and get a topical that contains 5% lidocaine (available over the counter). I did this. What a relief. I ended up working home day 27/28 and taking off day 29. BMs still don't hurt as much (I take one colace with every meal, drink lots of water, eat one plum with lunch and dinner and fiber one for breakfast -- which helps a lot.) It is soooo crucial that you not strain during BMs. Hot reverse-facing showers help a lot. Sorry to be so graphic, but, it kind of comes with the territory. Sneezing/coughing is still rough at day 28, but it's getting better each day. It helps to lie down and clench your cheeks to help lessen pressure placed on sutures. While intense (say a 7 out of 10), the pain only lasts 10 min. My sutures are poking out, which stinks; but the surgeon said he used chromic sutures. Full tensile strength is up to 21 days. Dissolve time can take months. He basically told me to deal with it, as they need to stay in to ensure things heal well - despite any related poking (which feels like someone stabbing you w/ needles and pouring salt in the wound). Either way, I'll take all this vs. the hell I went through the first week, especially, and the second week to lesser degrees. Everyone recovers differently. I hope this info helps. If you're worried about your sutures, call your surgeon. Ask him/her what they used, what to expect pain/healing wise, whether you should be concerned, what you can do (including the possible use of a topical... which they really need to okay, as everything I read said don't use one unless your surgeon says it's okay). Wounds need to stay clean to heal. While I can't speak for you, frequent hot showers helped, as did the occasional hot bath (after the shower to ensure things were as clean as they could be before sitting in filth). I wish you, and all who go through this hell, the very best. We're in it together.

As I'm still healing I know there are others that need reassurance that they're healing normally. As for squeezing your sphincter muscle do not do this until you're at least in the final process every time you squeeze you're causing trauma to the wounds which may cause a fissure like in my case. It's the same thing as the spams and it is not good. For example if you had a cut on your arm that scabs up then you pinch the skin around it or flex the muscle you might notice that scab may reopen a little bit this is the same thing with the incisions from the surgery do not push and do not try to clinch the muscle to push things out it will cause fissures.

Call doctor now, it is infection

I would like to share my experience as well. I had two surgeries in 8 weeks. The second one was to fix the complication from the first one. My first operation was the circular stapled hemorrhoidectomy and the doctor also removed a skin tag as well. Pain wise it wasn't unbearable but I was extremely swollen and developed new hemorrhoids as a result of the operation. During my first bowel movement three days post surgery, I had a fat donut shaped prolapse because of the swelling and new hemorrhoids. So after every bowel movement, I have to push all of it back in again. Nothing seemed to work for me. I tried cream, gels, took medication, had sitz baths, ice packs but the swelling didn't go down much. New hemorrhoids kept erupting causing me pain. And if I walk too much - more than an hour - then it will prolapse. It was 7 weeks before I noticed any real difference in the swelling I had. It made me quite mad and depressed as I chose to have the surgery because I had prolapsed internal piles with bleeding and now after the surgery, I am dealing with the same problem with the added pain.

My second surgery was to fix the new hemorrhoids that have formed and removed the swollen tissues. It was an open hemorrhoidectomy. I am now 2 days post surgery and I have swelling (again) which I cannot push back in. Doc advised that i should push it back in to avoid further swelling but try as I might, I can't seem to push them in or for them to stay in. I am trying to do the whole sitz bath etc in hopes that this time around, the swelling will subside. Pain wise it is manageable as the hemorrhoids and skin tags that were removed were internal and not that large. I truly hope there is a light at the end of this "swollen" tunnel.

You're not alone sounds like my case. I had stapled procedure then two months later hemorroidectomy to remove the swollen tissue that was prolapsing right inside. I'm at three months from the last procedure what you're seeing is swollen tissue from the surgery not new hemorrhoides. Just ice and take baths it will take a long time to go down. Mine still has not not receded and it won't all the way as new skin tags will form this is common after hemorroide surgery. My doctor will cut mine off once the healing is complete. But right now I still have a acute fissure or slow healing cut that hasn't completely close just yet so once that goes away then I'll be fully healed. Be prepared it will take awhile for the swelling to go down. You got to remember you just had two surgeries!!

Oh that fissure sounds painful. I hope it heals up soon. I am hoping that the swelling will go down faster than the one before. I am not expecting a miracle but if I can see some improvement, I'll be so happy. Thanks for giving me hope! Here's hoping that both of us will heal soon!

Yeah no worries. Stay in touch I find its always good to talk to others as it's a lonely recovery.
-dom

Hi, there. What happened two weeks after? Did you have another surgery to remove the skin tags? Thanks

I haven't yet. I'm still healing last night I bled not a whole lot but still enough to know I'm still healing. This isn't the usual case I happen to just be having regular sized bm so it's stretching causing the tears. Kinda sucks I go see the surgeon next Friday right now I'm at 96 days so three months five days. How are you holding up I still have a little swelling where the skin tag is. I don't think it will ever go completely away. I'll keep you updated currently staying home from work so it's along recovery. Still not sure if I think it was worth it or not.

Just had this surgery 6 days ago and I was also told that the extra tissue will go away but probably not completely. The extra tissue is more then the external hemorriods I had and looks much worse. I'm very disappointed and really wish I would not have done this surgery. I wanted to get rid of the external tissue and that did not happen! Just added more and am in constant pain. My original doctor talked me out of this surgery 10 years ago....I wish I would have listened to her!!!

Yeah unfortunately it will not go all the way away. Mine is worse then before as far as the tissue on the outside I never had any until after surgery. I still have a full feeling everyday which is ridiculous. I went to see my surgeon Friday of last week I still have a minor open wound or acute fissure but I'm still doing better then a month ago just takes along time for some people. I will be glad when I never have to worry about this again but I would probably say I have another month and a half before that. I can workout and sprint for the most part and sit on hard services just get the full kinda sore feeling after I use the restroom which is every morning. Hang in there if you have questions I'll answer them I have had the stapled and full hemorroidectomy so pretty seasoned unfortunately and I'm only 31 God bless you hang in there.

I totally understand what you're feeling I am 59 years old and waited too long to have the surgery internal hemorrhoids it's been 5 weeks I still have a difficult I'm moving my bowels I eat I have diarrhea but I'm constipated and I am so swollen inside I always feel like I have to go to the bathroom when will this end is anyone experiencing what I am feeling

Hi everyone
I am 4 weeks, 2 days post surgery. I am on laxative and fybergel every evening. I have a bm every morning and it feels like I am passing a razor blade and when I'm finish, the only and quickest way to stop the pain is to sit in a hot bath. I am using XylocAine and Sheriproct. also taking Nurofen.. Still have lumps on my anus so not sure what they are. Haven't last the house in 5 weeks in case I have a bm and need the bath. Will see the surgeon next Thursday (9th June ). How much longer will is pain last, Debbie