To ask if anyone has had surgery for piles?

[FeralAlleyCat]

I feel very embarrassed and haven’t told anyone other than my partner that I’m having it done.

If you’ve had it, what was recovery like? How long did you take off work?

They've said that you need an emima (not a clue how that’s spelt) beforehand? Is that as embarrassing and as awkward as it sounds?

I’ve told work I’m having an operation but not told them what it’s for. I’m hoping I can ask for a sick note that just says something general like recovering from surgery.

I haven't had surgery but feel your pain. I don't get embarrassed by mentioning piles now instead of saying hemaroids. It's a normal condition and bloody painful. They don't need to mention the condition in your sick note I don't think.

Oops: hemorrhoids (spelling)

The enema will be no more embarrassing than the fact they're operating on your asshole.

Nah work in nhs. When staff apparently are in nhs they will try everything to avoid surgery.

I often see Gastro state we won’t you above bmi 35 for banding surgery so left to suffer.

Had annual fissure and piles since 18 🥲 blood and brown leakage from no 2 since beautiful 2000. Couple of times strong cream but few and fair between.

I've had 2 bum operations. The first was banding, which worked but only for a few months. The second was an operation under general anaesthetic. I can't remember the correct term but they put an implement up the bum and it seals off and cauterises the piles. It wasn't at all embarrassing, they see bums all the time and other people were in for much worse things like horrible abscesses on their vulva/perineum, so piles seemed quite minor! I was able to go home the same day. As for the enema, you just lie on your side while the nurse squirts it up your bum and it works really quickly, so make sure you know where the toilets are! The worst part was the antibiotics I had to take afterwards, they made me feel sick, but apparently not all surgeons think they're necessary.
Good luck, you'll be fine and the relief from pain and bleeding is wonderful!

Not piles, but I had to have BOTOX for an anal fissure, done under general anaesthetic. I worked in the hospital and knew the anaesthetist, which made it more embarrassing. However, I know how important patient confidentiality is to my hospital, and I was in SO much pain, that I just didn't care. I have since had a colonoscopy which was worse, because although I was sedated I wasn't under general anaesthetic so I was aware of what was happening.

Quite frankly, I find a smear much more embarrassing - and since having been diagnosed with breast cancer I am now used to flashing my boobs (or boob, now) to all and sundry, so I'm kind of all over the embarrassment thing.

I’ve had it. I was bed bound for about a month, and in a lot of pain, but some people apparently recover much faster. And I am, nonetheless, so pleased that I had it done. I was about 34 (it was after I had my second child) and the pain I had been in before was life-affecting (couldn’t walk for much longer than an hour, etc.) I felt SO much better once I’d recovered I ran the London marathon.

They squirt water up your bum and then make you run to the toilet? Oh my gosh… for some reason I thought it meant where they somehow suck it out in a tube 😂 my op is tomorrow and I’m going to have fluid food today I think.

I am so embarrassed. I haven’t even told work what I’m having an operation for!

I’m sorry to hear how much you’ve all suffered. I’ve had this for 18 years but have been too ashamed to visit my doctor.
I’m not sure what the inside is like so I have no idea how the op will be. But outside it is a skin tag the surgeon said. But it bleeds so I am not sure what he means.

He said it won’t be stitched due to the area and will be left as an open wound. Which sounds horrendous to me.

Me. I don't even remember an enema but my op was under general anaesthetic.
The recovery period after was horrendous - I wasnt working at the time but I'd say look at taking 2 weeks off work. However, despite that, it was 100% the right decision. Had insane itching beforehand that no amount of creams and suppositories would touch.

Yep - it's the internal open wounds that are the problem. If you just have skin tags rather than haemorrhoids outside you might not be too bad.

Dh, twice, it’s common, no need to be embarrassed. I drove him in and waited, local anaesthetic both times, alas they do return but gives him a couple of years usually

I had the surgery can’t remember the proper name but I had the external piles I’d had for years removed. I didn’t have an enema, maybe once I was out but definitely not awake. Recovery wasn’t amazing , you don’t realise how much you use those muscles. They give me tramadol for pain management as it doesn’t cause constipation. A few days of doing as little as possible then taking it easy for a few days, I had a toddler so pain was manageable but there was a lot of tv time those first few days. Definitely up the fibre intake, having a poo is terrifying.

The surgeon said they normally recommend 10 days off sick so I was going to ask if they’d do me a 2 week sick note to cover all bases. Then I can go back to work earlier if I feel up to it.

I have an office job so it’s the sitting down for long periods that I’ll need to be able to do. I refuse to take a donut to sit on because I don’t want people to know what I’ve had done.

They have offered it either by being put to sleep or having a epidural with or without sedation because I have a jaw issue.

Im 100% opting to be knocked out. Not a chance I want to be awake for that lol.

Just to add that unlike PP, mine haven't returned. I suspect because they were largely caused by pregnancy and childbirth. Had the OP in 2007.

That’s good to hear. I got them when I had my first child and then with my second birth it made it worse. I’ve just put up with it ever since.

He said it’s a skin tag yet when I go to the toilet it bleeds quite a bit. So who knows what’s going on.

I think I had 2 weeks off work. My recovery wasn't painful really, I was lucky. The enema isn't that bad, don't worry about that and not everyone has to have one.

Lucky you. Seriously!

How can you have bowel movements with open wounds ?

Painfully!

I've had 2. First one worked for about 3 years, then problem was back to square 1. Recovery was extremely painful, I wasn't anywhere near normal until at least 6 weeks.

Second time was even worse. I never recovered and the pain remained horrendous. I ended up with a stoma because I had no quality of life, in constant pain.

Had it twice, first time was horrendous and was back in A&E within 5 days due to no bowel movement, had to have an enima, extremely embarrassing and painful, vowed never again.

Unfortunately around 10 years later they came back and had to have the op done again. I was terrified as I remember how awful the first one was. 2nd op was fine, made sure I drank loads, ate small meals no pain going to the toilet.

1st Op had 3 weeks off work
2nd Op (female surgeon who I felt may have been better than the first male surgeon), only 1 week off work.

@StarieNight it is pretty horrific! Can only describe it like giving birth.

Today is the day and I’m so anxious about it. I’m on the afternoon schedule so admission is around lunchtime.
Luckily not hungry yet as I didn’t get up early enough to have any breakfast. I suspect I’ll regret that later!

I spent 4 hours in hospital. Had the enema, was in a gown on the ward all ready to go… and then they cancelled my surgery 😭