what is the recovery time for hemorrhoid surgery

I had a hemorrhoidectomy on 11-8-06 to remove only some of the internal and external bad boys and my doctor said I may need another surgery (couldn't remove them all or he said my anus could close up!) NEVER AGAIN! I have had many surgeries and NOTHING compares to the pain I am constantly in. It feels like someone is constantly ripping open my anus with a knife... I had Vicodin Extra Strength, but it didn't do much of anying. Percoset barely takes the edge off and I am absolutely dreading a BM. Yes, I have tons of bloating and flatulence, but if that is all I had to deal with, that would be ok. Can anyone tell me when the acute pain starts to subside???? I am having only broth with noodles to try to mitigate the horrible nausea from the Percocet, but it doesn't work - does anyone have any suggestions of any soft foods that won't turn into a BM and will work with Percoset to help with the nausea? I only wish I had been more educated about the pain beforehand, as I would NEVER have had this done in a million years...

Any topical ointment that anyone can recommend?

Best of luck to you all - I know what you are going through! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks, Cathy

I had this done Nov 1 and am still not feeling so great. I want to go back to work next week but at this rate I dont know if I will. I will say that the end of the first week was the worst for me. Just so awful. I was awake all night and I found this list at 4am one morning just looking for an answer as to when this might be even slightly better.

I havent heard any of you mention sitz baths. I got one from the hospital. its so much easier than a full bath if you're going to be in there a few times a day. This is a must if you ask me.

As far as eating, I got organic dried prunes since I could not stand that juice. I have grown to love these. I actually over-did it one day so you have to regulate how many you eat, but they work very well.

I normally eat only meats fruits and veggies. So I added some oatmeal in the mornings and stick to the less gassy green vegetables like green beans. Raisins, apples, all I eat is stuff with higher fiber content I think.

If you get to the point you are having a real problem going to the bathroom, I used this product called senokot-s. the nurse recommended it during one of my "bad" days. I simply could not go, not because I was constipated, but because I was too scared. My brain was not going to let *that* happen again! Ouch. I am so glad I am beyond that now. I also got metamucil pills that I tried a few times with meals just in case.

This is all so I can take the vicodin. he said to limit to every 12 hours but he has to be crazy. I was taking it 4 times a day now I am down to 3 and that seems to be working fine at 2 and a half weeks. Its still throbbing but its bearable. I am using witch hazel also, especially for the burning and itch.

good luck people. this is the worst thing I have ever been through, and I think I have a fairly good tolerance for pain.

Hello All,

Today, was the FIRST day I had to run to the bath tub filled with HOT HOT water to ease the discomfort I felt after a BM. OMG, never in my life have I experienced this pain. I've had a small prolapsed hemorrhoid over the years but never had problems with it, until the last 3 days. Researching pain relief, i.e. hot water, prep H., and others, I think I will finally stop being embarrased and put and end to this scenerio. "Surgery" I dread it fully!!!

After researching the 2 types of surgeries and reading all of these post, I think I will take my chances and go with the lesser of the 2 evils, the stapling. My heart and empathy goes to all of you whom had the conventional surgery and are still experiencing HELL. Also, I wish to thank all of you for your personal stories on the outcomes of post hemorrhoidectomy procedures. For me, it has answered many scary questions of PAIN & RECOVERY. Once this is done, I will come back here and post my story.

Sincerely,

AJ

Anyone know how long the bleeding lasts? I had my surgery (1 removal, one banding) end of July. I'm usually fine, but after BM, about 30% of the time there's a small amount of blood on the toilet paper. (Fresh blood.) Oddly enough, the more painful ones (not 'black out' painful, just 'this shouldn't still be hurtin' painful) usually don't result in any blood, its more the ones where I think its finally starting to get better. I take stool softeners (metamucil) at least three times a day at every meal.

I would have thought almost 4 months later I'd be completely healed. Anyone else have this problem?

Here I am again, awake at 2am in pain from BM and I just had to eat to take a percocet and I am just loving the thought of work in 6 hours.

exactly 2 months today. I'd say the pain eases up in 4 - 6wks. But as for the blood, I am still bleeding ALOT after BM, I mean the toilet water is just plain red. I don't know what this is all about. And let me tell you about my lovely doctors apt.

I don’t know how far you’ve let the doctor go with his post op exams, I can barely handle his “finger” exam, and would not even consider the speculum thingy.

Anyway, when the nurse took me into the examination room and ask me to put on the gown, I told her I wanted to wait and speak to the doctor. Actually, that's the first time in any of the exams I was told to put on a gown, I mean there is no need to be TOTALLY buff...and you know those paper gowns are as good as nothing. I was already painful and irritated and humiliated.

My boyfriend was sitting in the waiting room when this nurse left the examining room and apparently she said very loudly, clearly and sarcastically: "I do not know why she comes here; she won’t let him touch her, she just wants more pills” This comment was said loudly enough that anybody in the waiting area could have heard it. My boyfriend did.

I am curious...I am female....how about the rest of us? I know that everyone I know personally except for one person that has had this done is female. So I was just curious.

Today I scheduled my appt. to see my NEW MD of hopefull savior. Unfortunately, it will be Dec. 4 at 1pm... OMG, I thought 2+ weeks of hell. I need a better combo of relief.

Altho, trying to be optomistic, today was a hell day at work. Sitting became an uncomfortable chore, constantly shifting and at some points standing. So, I began to research topical anelgesics to help with some of the swelling, itching and discomfort. Then, I remembered the Hydrocortisone cream from aveno together with Prep. H~ both over the counter creams. Since I work in a hospital, we use lidocaine to numb surface areas of the skin on contact. Viscous lidocaine is another form which can be administered orally. (We use it to numb the throat of our patients)...

In the hidden world of the bathroom, I brought with me the 2 creams (cortisone & prep H) and mixed it with a little lidocaine. OMG, a small but immediate relief to get me thru the rest of the day. I applied it 2 times at work. Sometimes in medicine, you need a combo affect to help, yet I still use the HOT water bath and 2 motrins at bed time. (preventative)

At the moment, thank God, I do not have pain post a BM. But, walking around and sitting all day makes it sore and painful. My new trio combo is a small stepping stone with me until my doctor visit.

****babybeans*******
After reading your last entry, I am so sorry that the RN was so unprofessional & not caring to your needs. (BTW, I am not an RN!) Yet, I think a small comment should have been made to your physician and let me tell you, absolutely nothing gets the attention of an MD or office Manager stronger than a letter signed by YOU stating time, specific instances, NAMES of party involved, and the comment which was made. There is a policy that all health professionals follow and is madated by LAW which I am sure you have heard of.. HIPPA.... This small acronym is in place to protect our patients in the strickest of confidentiality. Food for thought for a new friend!! :-)

AJ

Hi AJ,
I'm glad you found some relief. Work can be hell! I have the lidocaine, but it didn't do anything..and I have hydrocortisone (i think that is it)..I will try the combo!

I wrote a letter the very next day. My boyfriend was concerned about who opens the mail, and about it never getting to the doctor or the office manager. That was Friday that I wrote the letter.

I hope your doctor visit goes well. Please keep us posted.

I had surgery 10 days ago and I'm soooo glad I didn't find this forum prior. I would never have had the procedure.

I was going to complain that after 10 days I thought I could still feel a hemroid. But I won't. After 10 days I am taking no more medication, can sleep the night through and can sit. I stopped taking Sitz bathes after a week. So, it isn't always a disaster.

I will add this: prior the surgery I should have altered my diet on gotten on the Metamucil plan. I didn't, so the first 2 days after were not fun. Otherwise, not bad.

Good luck to those of you who weren't as lucky I have been.

To ouchy: I got it end of august and I am exactly in the same situation. And since I have to take ibuprofen for another problem, I am sure this does not help healing AND bleeding. I am 29 yo and in good health otherwise. I have blood when the first stool passes, even a drop or two before, and then on the stools and paper. Pain does not seem to correlate with blood, at all. Blood amount depends on the day (and diet.... cereals and bran=bad!!! because irritant and cutting). I saw the surgeon a few days ago, and he said everything looked fine and healed, but that the sutures sites (3) were still raw... It is apparently unfortunate but not "abnormal"... nice. I have pain, a bit tough during BMs (granting I am loaded with fibers...) but I feel OK after.. just sore and itchy for a little bit. My problem is that it then inflammes and peaks after 3 hours... lasts for about 3 to 5 hours and then calms down...unless I take ibuprofen. The surgeon, afraid I may also have a little fissure, gave me nitroglycerin ointment. I works well so far. It is lubricant, helps blood flow, relaxes the spincter and limits this post BM cramping. It gives headache, I still feel quite raw and irritated but I can deal with it! Knock on wood. It seems it increased bleeding though... not too surpricising I would say.
Had I known, I would have NEVER had this surgery... I had some "mild" discomfort and bleeding because of bad diet and long colon but the pain I have now, even though it is way better than afetr the surgery, is not worth it...And I almost feel lucky compared to others!! I guess all the diet changes I do now may have healed me without surgery.. Anyway this is done, hopefully no more. Good luck!

I had the surgery 16 days ago. I have been trying to eat small portions and take fiber. The first 2 weeks, it hurt after I went to the bathroom. I took a Tylenol for inflamation and a Motrin for pain-both together. That usually eased the pain in about 15 minutes. Now, finally, things are better.
The surgery is no fun, that is true. It is hard to sit, walk, and even find a good position to sleep in. NO ONE should expect going back to work in a few days.
The worst thing about this surgery in my opinion is the amount of time it takes to recover from it. I am about 40% healed.
I am young, have been eating healthy, taking vitamins, and still....the healing is taking a long time.
Good luck to all! Please remember Motrin works well for the pain without the side effects.

Hello All,

Well, as I promised (babybeans) I will comment on my recent visit with my MD. First and foremost, my physical exam was not at all embarrasing as I thought it would be. Yes, I am the modest one.

The past 2 weeks, I have been diligent with my hot water baths, hydrocortisone & prep. H creams. Funny, the pain, swelling, itching and all went away, except the tissue was still shown and looked unacceptable.
I explained to the doctor about my ordeal and how thru reading of this post and some internet research, my situation had improved.

Post physical and thorough exam, the doctor and I sat and we began to discuss my case. He said, "I don't believe you have an enlarged hemorrhoid. It appears that you have a small ulceration on the tip of the inner orifice of the sphincter muscle which became abscessed and inflammed." (This is the tissue and bump I felt.) Furthermore, the doctor explained that this small ulceration, because of its location, was a breeding ground for bacteria. The area of small ulceration had a small discharge which he prescribed some antibiotics to treat and hopefully heal. It still bleeds a very tiny bit when I wipe, so I use baby wipes gingerly.

I have a follow up visit in 10 days and recheck the area . If for some reason the area does not clear up with antibiotics, he will remove the lesion and the surrounding tissue. He said that the excision will be sore, but not as bad or terrible as a hemorrhoidectomy. Either way, for me to see this extra little skin is horrid and IT will be removed.

Today, I don't feel pain or discomfort in any way. Yet, I still apply the creams for extra preventive measures and hopefully with the antibiotics, it will resolve the problem. I will come back and let ya'll know the results of my next visit.

One last thing I would like to say. Eventho, I was not diagnosed with hemorrhoids, all of your post and comments were a wealth of information and somewhat encouraging. I only hope immediate relief and comfort to all of you whom have had the surgery. :-D

AJ.

P.S. Babybeans~ did you ever receive any further acknowledgement from your doctor's office?

Hello,

I just wanted to share my experience with everyone. I had hemorrhoid surgery on 10/31/06. Pain afterwards was unbearable but eased up within a matter of 2 weeks. However I had to go back in surgery 11/21/06 because the doctor could not do a rectal examine because it was still too painful and I was experiencing some discharge and he needed to see what that was. Well needless to say my pain level was very high again after the second time. Its now 12/06/06 and my pain is pretty much gone all but bathroom time. Having a BM is not something I look forward to at all. It is very painful but bearable. The doctor stressed to keep the stools firm so that narrowing would not occur which is what Im trying to do. However this causes great pain and the need for a sitz bath afterwards. I also have to push with this stools so Im not sure if Im doing more harm than good by doing this. I really want this ordeal to be over but it seems like it may be another month or so before I can say that. Good luck to all of you! I feel your pain and believe me had I known about this pain prior to having surgery, I would not have done it.

I wish I had read these posts before surgery. I NEVER would had had it done. I am going on 5 weeks since surgery. I am back to work.
The Doctor told me I could go back in 2 weeks. Realy!!!
I was off a total of 4 weeks. Luckily Thanksgiving came in the midst of the 4 weeks. I still cannot sit in a car to drive! BM's are terrible.
The pain lasts 3-5 hours. I walk the floor crying. And nothing seems to help. One pain pill has become 2.5 pills. Then I get some relief. I am now trying to use just otc meds. I used to think I was a
a strong person about pain! Oh Brother! Was I wrong.
When, O When will the pain go away? If I do not have BM I am good....
but keep the bath water handy when I do have one.

Hi, I was so glad to see there are more people who had this surgery. It is an embarassing one to have. I only just turned 30 and I'm a mother of 2. Both my kids were C-sections. I think recovering from this present surgery is more difficult than a C-section. Trying to deal with the pain, work, and take care of them is no fun. I had the surgery on 10/19/06 so I'm basically 2 months out. The doctor promised full relief in three months total. I experience a whole lot of itching still after a BM--no fun. I end up the tub everyday after a BM. Does anyone else stil have itching/ o.O pain 8 weeks after surgery?

Misery does not begin to describe the pain here. I have given birth NATURAL ( I mean No pain pills at all) to a 9+ lb baby and let's face Large heads run in my family. That was nothing compared to this.

I had them inside , outside and my rectal skin was damaged from using too many suppositories with Hydrocortisone in them for relief from the pain.

The HC thins the skin and it had to be pulled up and snipped off. I have had the banding in the past and that was a piece of cake compared to this.
Basically it feels as if I were trying to poop a 15lb watermelon wrapped in razorback wire, while at the same time splashing acid out of my rectum at a very high velocity. The bowel movement comes any where from 15-45 minutes after I consume anything..... even a graham cracker. The result is either so explosive or it is the size of half the thickness of my pinky.

It causes immediate severe pain and drugs don't begin to touch it. Think of that panting breathing they teach in labor. I do a bath after every movement, but that sure drys the skin and seems to cause more itching and pain. There also is "weeping" from the area which sure is miserable and more itchy. Lately (12 days post -op) I have been getting these pin stick feelings as if some little monster were in there poking me with a sharp pin.

The only thing that helps... DRUGS, Valium (to relax your anus) and more Drugs. My husband bought me a nice fat Aloe Vera plant from Lowes and cuttting off a chunk , peeling it (very gooey) and placing between the cheeks (the low down ones) has given more relief than the bath can. I still do the bath after each movement, because I feel cleaner and I sure as heck don't want to get an infection down there.

I have been going through a load of towels, underwear etc everyday.

I have even resorted to drinking in the middle of the night when I have woken up from the pain. I'm just not really a drinker, so people who know me realize how desperate I am.