I had stage 3 external and had hemorrhoidectomy six months ago. Although my experience was not necessarily a success yet (I am still dealing with some issues), I wouldn't discourage you immediately. Here's what I learned after the surgery.
I realize that before my surgery I was not drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, I was constantly under mild constipation (my trigger seems to be wheat and lack of water intake ) and was therefore straining often but I always thought constipation meant you couldn't go at all. I never did anything to fix that. So I were to do it again, I would have tried increase water intake and better diet first to see if symptom improves. I drastically changed my diet after the surgery, and wished I knew what a good diet was before.
I did not get a good rapport from the surgeon prior to the surgery. I was too embarrassed and frustrated as well to look for second opinion or second surgeon option. My surgeon never gave me the emotional and physical support I needed after the surgery. In fact, she left the practice shortly after my surgery. If I would do it again, I would definitely shop around. Embarrassment has no substance after the surgery when you try to survive.
Also you need good family and social support. I don't have much of that. The loneliness and helplessness could increase the anxiety which prevents healing.
If you have Stage 4, I can understand your decision to head into this surgery.
If you ever have the surgery and heal, please share your story on RearCare. Search for it. It's a new place where patients share success stories.
I realize that before my surgery I was not drinking at least 8 cups of water a day, I was constantly under mild constipation (my trigger seems to be wheat and lack of water intake ) and was therefore straining often but I always thought constipation meant you couldn't go at all. I never did anything to fix that. So I were to do it again, I would have tried increase water intake and better diet first to see if symptom improves. I drastically changed my diet after the surgery, and wished I knew what a good diet was before.
I did not get a good rapport from the surgeon prior to the surgery. I was too embarrassed and frustrated as well to look for second opinion or second surgeon option. My surgeon never gave me the emotional and physical support I needed after the surgery. In fact, she left the practice shortly after my surgery. If I would do it again, I would definitely shop around. Embarrassment has no substance after the surgery when you try to survive.
Also you need good family and social support. I don't have much of that. The loneliness and helplessness could increase the anxiety which prevents healing.
If you have Stage 4, I can understand your decision to head into this surgery.
If you ever have the surgery and heal, please share your story on RearCare. Search for it. It's a new place where patients share success stories.
If you have successfully recovered from hemorrhoidectomy, please consider sharing your story, especially helpful tips on RearCare. Search for it. You can really make a difference to a fellow patient's life.
I hope you will see this. Our stories sound very similar. Mine are not painful, they just randomly bleed, so I always wear a pad just in case. I am 53 so I'm thinking if surgery is inevitable then I want to get it over with. However, if they aren't hurting, and I just keep doing all of the fiber, water, exercise things I should be doing, do I really need to endure all of the agonies of the surgery. Did you have it done?
If you had asked me if I would have a hemorrhoidectomy again 5 weeks ago, my answer would've been HELL NO. Now that I'm all healed up and back to normal, my answer would be yes...if I had too.
The doctor told me before my surgery that it would be painful, but that I would "get through it". He said most people regret having it done during the first 7-10 days, but after that 99% are glad they had it.
My experience was like most everyone's. The first four to five days weren't fun. I was in extreme pain my first night and unable to urinate normally...took forever to pee. Once I did it was with great relief. I didn't have my first bowel movement until the afternoon of day 3 post surgery. It was extremely painful and I went three times within 10 minutes. Each time just as painful as the first and so I nearly wept, but even though it was painful, I felt great relief having finally gone.
I stayed on my pain meds as directed and from day one took a sits bath 8-10 times a day. This was so relieving...the hot water erased the pain almost immediately and relax the muscle spasms (where are common). Sits baths also help me go to the bathroom.
I couldn't sleep on my side, stomach or back - too much pain. Instead I put a pillow on the floor next to the bed and knelt on the pillow with my stomach and face on the bed. It took the pressure off my butt and surprisingly I was able to get two to fours of sleep at a time.
By the 5th day I was beginning to feel some relief - still painful during bowel movements, but for the most part a manageable pain level.
The doctor recommended I walk often and not to sit around. The more I walked the quicker things would heal. Walking gets your circulation and digestion going, bring blood and nutrients to the area. I tried to go a half mile a day and made sure I didn't sit in one spot too long.
By day 10 I was feeling almost normal, still some pain after bowel movements. I returned to work after 8 days (the doctor told me it would be up to 4 weeks), but I felt ready...just took it slow.
I'm now post 5 weeks and feel completely normal. It is so nice not to have to manage my life around bleeding and oozing hemorrhoids. I can go to the bathroom and not lose a bunch of blood and I no longer worry if I'm bleeding out my ass while at work or out with friends.
Yes, it is a tough recovery - I won't lie or sugar coat it - but as my doctor said, "you'll get through it". The pain is temporary and the freedom (if I take care of myself) will be for a lifetime.
Best of luck to anyone considering or schedule to have the surgery. Feel free to contact me with questions, I'd be happy to share more of my experience. Stay positive!
The doctor told me before my surgery that it would be painful, but that I would "get through it". He said most people regret having it done during the first 7-10 days, but after that 99% are glad they had it.
My experience was like most everyone's. The first four to five days weren't fun. I was in extreme pain my first night and unable to urinate normally...took forever to pee. Once I did it was with great relief. I didn't have my first bowel movement until the afternoon of day 3 post surgery. It was extremely painful and I went three times within 10 minutes. Each time just as painful as the first and so I nearly wept, but even though it was painful, I felt great relief having finally gone.
I stayed on my pain meds as directed and from day one took a sits bath 8-10 times a day. This was so relieving...the hot water erased the pain almost immediately and relax the muscle spasms (where are common). Sits baths also help me go to the bathroom.
I couldn't sleep on my side, stomach or back - too much pain. Instead I put a pillow on the floor next to the bed and knelt on the pillow with my stomach and face on the bed. It took the pressure off my butt and surprisingly I was able to get two to fours of sleep at a time.
By the 5th day I was beginning to feel some relief - still painful during bowel movements, but for the most part a manageable pain level.
The doctor recommended I walk often and not to sit around. The more I walked the quicker things would heal. Walking gets your circulation and digestion going, bring blood and nutrients to the area. I tried to go a half mile a day and made sure I didn't sit in one spot too long.
By day 10 I was feeling almost normal, still some pain after bowel movements. I returned to work after 8 days (the doctor told me it would be up to 4 weeks), but I felt ready...just took it slow.
I'm now post 5 weeks and feel completely normal. It is so nice not to have to manage my life around bleeding and oozing hemorrhoids. I can go to the bathroom and not lose a bunch of blood and I no longer worry if I'm bleeding out my ass while at work or out with friends.
Yes, it is a tough recovery - I won't lie or sugar coat it - but as my doctor said, "you'll get through it". The pain is temporary and the freedom (if I take care of myself) will be for a lifetime.
Best of luck to anyone considering or schedule to have the surgery. Feel free to contact me with questions, I'd be happy to share more of my experience. Stay positive!
I had the surgery 2 months ago, and it wasnt too bad. I had 2 internals and 2 externals that kind of looked like a baboon's butt. The first week is no picnic, but it gets better quickly after that. My doc gave me Experel immediately after the surgery and that gave me the 1st 2 days pretty much pain free.
I think the key is in what you do prior to surgery. I went high fiber, no meat, and little sugar for 2 weeks prior to surgery and 1 month after. The first couple of bowel movements are tough.... but after day 5 you are more scared than anything. The pain passes quickly. I installed a mobile shower head and that was priceless. After each bowel movemnt, I immediately hopped in the shower to clean, and then took a 20 minute bath.
I read all the horror stories, so I was prepared. I had an awesome doctor.... I strongly advice that you dont go with a general surgeon, but use someone who specializes in this.
I think the key is in what you do prior to surgery. I went high fiber, no meat, and little sugar for 2 weeks prior to surgery and 1 month after. The first couple of bowel movements are tough.... but after day 5 you are more scared than anything. The pain passes quickly. I installed a mobile shower head and that was priceless. After each bowel movemnt, I immediately hopped in the shower to clean, and then took a 20 minute bath.
I read all the horror stories, so I was prepared. I had an awesome doctor.... I strongly advice that you dont go with a general surgeon, but use someone who specializes in this.
Do not have piles surgery unless they all prolapsed everyday and affected you for many years.
surgeon just want to earn money, after you hv surgery, more problems will come compared to before surgery for you to fix.
i urge this type of surgery should limits to only those are needed. it should be stopped.
surgeon just want to earn money, after you hv surgery, more problems will come compared to before surgery for you to fix.
i urge this type of surgery should limits to only those are needed. it should be stopped.
Thank you so much
OMG thank you!! everything I have read has been so scary--but I am tired of living with this and ready to move on--I have tried everything-- and it is painful everytime I go to the bathroom, I constantly feel uncomfortable and it is an ordeal everytime I go to the bathrrom
Hello Chris, where did you get your surgery?
I feel your pain and I am on the same page as You, I had an horrible experience, recovery is brutal, and I now have them again...it seems to be a constant battle that I will have to live with
I had radiofrequency surgery of internal prolapsing piles. 4weeks feeling 60 percent better. But something is outside worries me. Doctor says it is swelling. Still a bit pain. Taking pain killer
I am taking Jawar floor liquid best in fibre. Good for soft deification.
I just had a hemorrhoidectomy three days ago(a Monday) and I was really on the fence about having it done because of all of the scary recovery stories I was reading. It sounded like everyone who underwent the surgery had a horrible time post-op, sometimes for months. I just want to be a ray of hope for others who are also feeling scared. I'm feeling pretty good! My first day after the sedation started wearing off was kind of painful and I'll be honest, the first night was brutal and I didn't get much sleep. The next morning after surgery day, I had pain and on top of that I had nausea from the narcotics I was prescribed, but I took a sitz bath, and then a short nap and when I woke up at 11am I was almost shocked by how good I felt. There was a dull ache, but I wasn't struggling to sit up like before and I'd describe the pain as being a 3 on the 1-10 scale. I was able to get by with just a few ibuprofen throughout the day, drinking LOTS of water, taking colace, fiber powder, and miralax. I took some milk of magnesia at bedtime, along with another percocet even though I didn't feel much pain(I just didn't want to wake up in case the pain came back at night) and I slept really well. Today, Wednesday, I'd still say my pain is at about a 3. I was terrified to have my first BM, again, due to horror stories I'd been reading, but I was surprised that the pain was probably no worse than a 3-4. No blood, no extra pain after the BM. I feel pretty good!
I just want others to know that extreme pain and lengthy recovery times are NOT inevitable! Time will tell, but my doctor, and the nurses all said the first 4 days are the worst of it, so if this is the worst of my recovery, then I feel happy that I went ahead with the surgery!
I just want others to know that extreme pain and lengthy recovery times are NOT inevitable! Time will tell, but my doctor, and the nurses all said the first 4 days are the worst of it, so if this is the worst of my recovery, then I feel happy that I went ahead with the surgery!
Yes I would have it again for sure. I lost ability to function normally prior to the surgery due to a painful grade 4 hemorrhoid and surgery was the only way to get better. I am 3 days postop and post op pain is nothing compared to the pain I was in before surgery! Stay positive
I wish people with good outcomes would mention who their doctor was. I’m in Albany NY and looking for a good surgeon.