Hemorrhoidectomy

[Joeyandjanicesdayoffun]

Going in for this soon, and terrified! Has anyone had this done? Any recommendations of anything I need to buy beforehand to help with recovery?

My husband suffered with hemorrhoid for about ten years. He addressed for help when it was a little bit late. He tried different meds, like Preparation H cooling gel from Canada Drugs, but they didn't work. But it's not so scary like it looks. Don't worry. Take some painkillers cause it'll still ache for a weeks. It takes about 2-4 weeks to recover. In about 1-2 weeks you'll be able to do everything as usual. But don't do things that require lot of efforts.

@Joeyandjanicesdayoffun have this soon, scared ! Can you tell me about it how was the recovery ? How bad Isit actually during when you are awake and they are doing it I want to die of embarrassment already at the thought of it ! Are you glad you had it done x

@mrssunshinexxx
I had an open hemorrhoidectomy 3 weeks ago for multiple internal and external hemorrhoids following pregnancy and birth (8 months postpartum). I was very nervous about the pain of recovery, having read some horror stories on here! So I did a lot of research and prep beforehand and it paid off. Although I did have a degree of soreness, I've had NO pain whatsoever, not even during/ after a BM.

Here's my advice.

1. Avoid any scratchy foods 4 days prior to surgery i.e. seeds, sweetcorn etc.

1. Drink LOTS of water in the days leading up to surgery, at least 3 litres spaced over a day. The body heals much more efficiently when hydrated.

1. I asked my GP to prescribe me some Gabapentin which acts as a nerve block. This needs to be taken 2 days before surgery (do read the dosing instructions carefully as it needs to be slowly increased). And DO ask your surgeon for advice though. Mine said I wouldn't need it due to him using local anaesthetic but I didn't want to take any chances 😬

1. Stool softeners are essential as constipation is very common after this kind of surgery. Your surgeon should prescribe you some. Make sure you take these without fail. AVOID codeine or any narcotics as they cause constipation.

1. Ensure you include high quality protein (or vegan equivalents) in your diet post surgery as the body needs protein to repair. Bone broths, chicken/bean soup with veggies etc.

1. Don't wipe, post BM. Use a shower to stay clean and you only need water.

1. Buy a sitz bath if you don't already own one. They are invaluable for relaxing muscles after a BM and soothing the area. I added a combination of rock salt, calendula tincture and lavender essential oil to warm water as these all help to heal the skin and prevent infection.

1. Homeopathic remedies are helpful. Especially Arnica and Hypericum 30c or 200c the evening before, morning of and straight after surgery. If you want more info on remedies let me know and I'll post it on here.

1. Think positive and envisage / visualise the best possible outcome you could wish for. The mind and body are so intricately linked and the body will respond so much better to the surgery.

10.Your surgeon should use plenty of local anaesthetic on you (mine did). If in doubt, ask them if this is possible. It'll make a world of difference.

11. Make a makeshift bottom tailored 😁 ice pack by filling a nappy (any size, I used my baby's size 4) with a little water and pop it in the freezer. Ice the area as soon as you get back from hospital and on and off for the next few days. This helps with swelling.

3 weeks on and I have a brand spanking new bum! It's healed so well and you'd never know I had surgery ..or hemorrhoids!

I hope this helps. Wishing you (and others that may read this) the best of luck with your surgery.

Much love xx

@Cozzieozzy thank you so much ! So how long would you say you needed any help with looking after baby for x

@mrssunshinexxx

Very welcome.

My OH took off two weeks as I wasn't sure how long my recovery would be. I was actually up walking around and doing 'light chores' the day after surgery. However our healing journeys are all different and it is a good idea to rest for a few days as surgery is tough on the body. As you have a bub you will need someone about to help you look after them as you're not supposed to lift anything heavy for at least a week or so (but again do check with your surgeon, this might be less or more depending on what you are having done). Xx

@Cozzieozzy thanks can I ask were yours internal ? They have wrote down when they did my pre op that they were just skin tags however I know there is definitely atleast one haemorrhoid due to the pain, skin tags don't cause pain x

Wow, this is my post from Feb (name changed though!) - I didn't have the surgery then as my daughter got covid so they wouldn't have me in. Mine is under general anaesthetic. But it has finally been relisted and I'm due in next Tuesday, and I'm still terrified! @Cozzieozzy thanks for your helpful suggestions! @mrssunshinexxx good luck with yours, I hope it all goes well x

Get some instillagel from the chemist, it’ll numb the area. You can also use haemorrhoid cream in between applications. Sitz bath is a lifesaver. I got very little warning about needing to go to the loo so try and stay close to home for the first few days

@mrssunshinexxx yes, internal, external, plus skin tags!

I should also add that I had it done under general anaesthetic, but the surgeon injected local into the area at the start of my surgery to calm the nerves down before they could get all jingly from being cut! X

Agree with needing to be close to a loo...!

@Leumurshavethumbs no need to be terrified, you've got this 🙌

@Leumurshavethumbs oh wow good luck can definitely appreciate how nervous you will feel please please come back and tell me about it . I hope it goes smoothl

@mrssunshinexxx had the op yesterday, home last night (a 3 hour drive, yikes!). Its very painful today, but I'm staying on top of it with codeine. They removed 2 internal haemorrhoids and left one, because they said it would have been too dramatic a surgery to remove all 3. Next thing to be terrified about is having a poo....! 😬

For those who have had the surgery, at what point did you think you needed it?

I have had piles since baby number 1 about 5 years ago. They are annoyingly itchy and if I’m going for a run I always need to use cream. Is that bad enough for surgery?

@Kfjsjdbd for me it was when mine thrombosed twice, which was excruciatingly painful, every bowel movement caused pain and bleeding, and having to say no to going to a music festival because standing for long periods and alcohol would definitely cause a massive painful flare-up. My quality of life was poor, and it needed to be fixed!

I have just had another thrombosed pile and am now left with two large grapes dangling from arse. It kind of ‘leaks’ fluid. You have convinced me to push for surgery to get them fixed. Thank you. I hope you all
continue to heal well!

Eek I'm glad it's done @Leumurshavethumbs not to scare you but I kept reading not to take codeine as it can make you constipated ?! So will you have to have the other one done at another time .. if they have left you are you going to feel 'sorted' ?

@mrssunshinexxx I know the constipation risk, but I've had to prioritise pain management for now. I'm taking a stool softener and drinking millions, so I'm just going to hope and pray. They said the third one might go away by itself once it sees its friends have gone (pretty sure that's a lie!) But if not, they'll band it in the future, which won't be such a big procedure 🤞

@Leumurshavethumbs that sounds good fluids can really help just in general can't it ! Please keep me posted mine is 3 months away and I'm so scared. I know it's silly but the nurse at the pre op was like so you'll most likely be face down in the table I just find it weird to be so vulnerable and obviously out of it too!

@mrssunshinexxx it's not silly! I was in tears speaking to the anaesthetists, I was so frightened at being totally not in control, and being in such a vulnerable position. I did already know I was a control freak, but this confirmed it! They were so kind, and so understanding, and really put me at ease. I was so frightened of everything, but it was all so smooth and simple really. You'll be fine, I promise! X

Thank you @Leumurshavethumbs

@Leumurshavethumbs how's it going I'm starting to really stress about next month! I keep reading horror stories and thinking mine don't cause me ANY issues 98% of the time shouldnt I just leave them ?!

Why have they referred you for surgery if that’s the case? Not being snarky - I’ve had it done myself and it’s fairly painful so for 2% of the time seems weird!

@Qwerkie because during both pregnancies they turned thrombosed and were actual agony for months and months and I'm planning atleast one more. I kicked off a lot whilst pregnant and said I wanted them sorting but now I'm nervous and not sure it's the right thing

@mrssunshinexxx , sorry you’ve had thrombosed woes during pregnancy to deal with - it’s the worst. Maybe go and have a chat with your GP about the surgery? It’s GPs who see the people recovering from haemorrhoidectomys. Might help to make your mind up one way or the other. I think haemorrhoid surgery is something which you should only go into if you’re sure. Also I’ve heard pregnancy can cause a recurrence even in people who’ve had the surgery (would check this with a doctor though - I am not a doctor!).

@mrssunshinexxx I am almost at week 7, and today is the first day I have used the toilet like a normal person - no soaking in a sitz bath after. I was so unprepared for how painful and long the recovery would be. Until about 3 weeks ago, I wished I'd not had the op. I thought it would have been better just dealing with the flare ups.

However, now I think differently. I hadn't realised how bad things had got. For example, I didn't realise everything was falling out every single time I went for wee - realised this weeing a week or so after the op, doing the 'scoop things back inside' clench, and noticing there wasn't anything to scoop! Today I emptied the bathroom cabinet of approximately 1 billion tubes/suppositories/sprays...Boots' entire stock of piles treatments. I now feel like this is going to be life changing.

Your surgeon won't perform a haemorrhoidectomy if you don't need it. There are other options for treatment under anaesthetic.

Do be prepared for a difficult recovery, but weigh up a few weeks of pain versus a life not worrying about flare ups.

I had one several years ago. I had them removed because I didn’t like the way one hanged loose and when they bled, I would freak out thinking I have bowel cancer again.

My advice, only do it if you absolutely need it. I remember the recovery was long and very very painful - I regularly had warm baths to cool the pain. But one of my haemorrhoids was a large internal one and getting it removed has damaged my sphincter muscle and left me incontinent at the age of 27. The surgery completely ruined my life and in hindsight, my reasons for getting it done were minor. So please don’t view it as light surgery - it’s a tough one.