Recovering from a haemorrhoidectomy . . . warning: TMI alert . . .

[Puffykins]

Has anybody ever had a heamorrhoidectomy, and if so, please can you tell me how long recovery took? I'm on day 12 now, and am still in considerable pain - I can't walk anywhere except the bathroom for the endless baths I take, can barely sit up unless I'm on my special donut cushion and even then only last up to 45 minutes. I have two young children, and I just feel that this is so unfair on them. And I'm getting kind of depressed about my lack of progress. I need someone to give me hope. Please?!
(P.S. If anyone is considering having one: strongly consider it. I've never experienced anything more painful than the first 4 days post op, EVER. I would gladly have given birth every day rather than going through the pain I was subject to.)

@CareBear50 - I don't have any discharge. My trump's can be a bit 'wet', but other than that I don't have a continuous discharge. Have you finished your antibiotics for the infection yet? Might be worth getting checked out again to make sure there's no lingering infection.

Hi all, god I hate to say this but even though the infection is still there, I really am ok, the itching has subsided a bit, my bm's are a tad scratchy but handleable. I even walked down the pub yesterday to see my dad for half hour. I really hope that I don't start going backwards as a few of you have. I honestly think that if I hadn't of contracted the infection I would have been better sooner. @Mumjo101315 I was on my own for the 4 days after the op as kids were at school and college, hubby was on twelve hr shifts and to be honest when he was home he was as useful as a chocolate teapot. My 12 year old daughter did the housework for me, but hey who cares if it doesn't get done for a few weeks. I was only really ill because I got infected. From reading all the threads I see that everyone suffers at different levels, it all depends on your own pain threshold. It's 2 weeks tomorrow that I had my op, and I am honestly glad now that I did, I will return to work on march 4th, I also sit at a desk, not too keen on that idea yet but I can also get up and move about as and when I want to.

I do really feel for you both Disney and dizzy you both have copped it real bad 😓Xx

@OMGimscared - so pleased to hear that you're doing well and the itching is subsiding. Are you still bleeding at all with BMs and how do you feel afterwards? Achy and swollen, or normal? I know I'm on the mend now and feel so much better than I did on Tuesday. That's when I went to the Drs and got antibiotics, but it feels like a lifetime ago. I think if I hadn't used all the fybogel band movicol to start with I'd have been much further along. Taking them was just producing far too much to pass, hence all the BMs. Since I cut them out on Tuesday, things have started to improve so much. I just hate this achy swollen feeling and didn't have it yesterday. It will pass though, it's just frustrating.

Are you sitting normally at all now? I'm still on my side. I think I'm just a bit scared to sit normally. I need to try to do some work this week though, so I'll just do a bit here and there and see how it goes.

Well hope everyone is doing ok? I’m back to work today, so standing for six hours! Still sore when go and still bleeding, but the dr assured me that will stop eventually. I guess I must still have quite a raw bit as it feel sore as the BM passes through but as they say it takes many weeks for the wounds to completely heal. And I must remember I had four of the big buggers removed. Had to get up earlier as to make sure I’ve been my normal three times and had a Sitz Bath so hopefully be fairly comfortable at work fingers crossed. Hope your all improving and enjoy your day.

@OMGimscared - quick question: which antihistamine did you take, and how long was it before you had a BM again. What was it like when it came? Easy to pass? Are you still taking the antihistamines? Sorry, that was a few questions 😂

@Dizzyali77 - good luck for today. Let us know how you get on x

@Disneylover1 I feel absolutely shattered and can’t wait to crawl into bed. But pain wise it’s been fine and no BM at work which is good. Going in tomorrow and should be off rest of week but that’s subject to change and they’ve given me a project ha ha to build a balloon arch 🤦‍♀️

@Dizzyali77 - so pleased that you managed to get through it, but can't believe they've given you a balloon arch to build! Good that you had no BMs at work either.
I've sat for the first time today and spent 1.5 hours answering emails and rescheduling some customer meetings that I had for this weekend. The sitting wasn't too bad, but I've still got itching, and it aggravates that. I've even taken a Loratadine today too as the itching has been waking me in the night :( Once the itching stops, I'll be sooooo happy!

@Disneylover1 yeah I know but I’m gonna get my daughters to help 😂. Ah the itching must be driving you mad, I know the hemmies used to itch something rotten. I’ve just collapsed on sofa under a blanket as feel cream crackered

@Dizzyali77 - never had itchy hemmies, so this is all new for me. I'm praying it subsides soon!
You've done really well today, and deserve the rest.
I've just done 120 lengths of my house, which is approx 2000m - trying to get some daily exercise.

Evening everyone......enjoying reading everyone's updates.....duzzyali well done you and luckily no BMs at work. Guys....how do you clean yourself if you have BM at work....this concerns me a lot

I headed to supermarket today and when I got to checkout I felt like crying. Was v achey and shattered. The lovely tescoes assistant offered to pack my bags and another lovely lady took bags in trolley to my car. People can be so thoughtful

Spent rest of day in bed and have taken painkillers tonight as butt feeling inside out again!

Disneylover1 good on you fior doing so many steps today.

Tmw I shall be taking it easy x

@CareBear50 - sorry that you haven't had a great day. However, I admire you even managing to get to Tesco and shop. I've only left our house once in the past 24 days which is when I went to the Drs last Tuesday. I am thinking about seeing if I can walk the dog tomorrow though. Spending half an hour walking back and forth in the house isn't too exciting! All depends how the morning goes really with BMs.

I work from home, so cleaning after BMs isn't a problem. Once I start to go out though, I'll take a small pack of baby wipes with me. I've been doing that for years anyway, so nothing new for me.

I hope you have a better day tomorrow x

Thanks disneylover.

My consultant told me not to use baby wipes as they can make your bum itch

I'm just concerned that area still do raw and sensitive it would hurt to use something other than water spray.... After a BM I either have a shower or sit with bum over bath and use handheld spray, which seems to work

X

@CareBear50 - I've been using baby wipes for years without any problem. I'm sure once you're fully healed you'll be fine to use them.
At the moment, I'm using cotton wool pads and water. Could you maybe fill a little Tupperware tub with water and pads and take that in with you? Just take a pad, squeeze off the excess water and wipe? When are you planning on going back to work? Can you wait until things are more healed and your BMs have settled in to more of a pattern?

@Disneylover1 I took Loratidine, it really caused me no problem, I only have 1 bm per day apart from yesterday when I had three in 20 minutes, yes a bit uncomfortable and scratchy but all ok, and no bleeding, I haven't had much blood at all I am wondering if that's because I had stitches? The last of which came away today. My only real issue now it the thrush that the antibiotics have given me, I can't take the oral tablet until my antibiotics course is over on Friday. I feel fine after a bm, just slightly pushed out, but I sit over the bath and stick the shower head up my bum literally then all is ok. Not taking antihistamine anymore, I am bearing with the Itching as it is not as bad as it was, if it gets too much I fold a wet sheet of loo roll n half and stick between my cheeks, and I need no pain relief. But I still have the problem of when I need to go god help anyone who is in the bathroom cause I need to go now! I went shopping yesterday, my daughter put the shopping in the car and then to the house, today I sorted out my wardrobe, I am pretty much back to normal bar the thrush and the need to go asap. I can sit Normally and I drove to shopping yesterday with no problem, I am still having salt baths probably more now for my dry skin and because they are nice. @Dizzyali77 well done for going back to work, I can't wait, my boredom levels have hit an all time low, so much so that I booked a cruise today 😱 . @CareBear50 I will be taking a pack of wet toilet paper to work with me, and just take my handbag to the loo to clean myself. People will just think I have my period if my bag goes with me. Although the though of pooing anywhere but home fills me with dread. Thinking of you all xx

To all I have found that the toddler toilet trading wipes from Aldi (69p) are really sensitive and cause no irritation x

@OMGimscared - wow, considering what a horrid start you had, you're doing so well. I'm so pleased for you. I took Loratadine today, but it hadn't really done much tbh 😞 I was hoping it would help me sleep better tonight, as the itching has been waking me. Hopefully it will start to ease soon.

I'm very envious of your 1 BM a day, but totally get what you mean about having to go NOW! Hopefully that will calm down as our bums become a little more desensitised as I guess they're hyper sensitive to everything right now. I'm still quite achy after BMs, but feel fine once that has settled down. Just can't wait to be back to normal and not even need to think about my bum any more.

I'd be delighted with one BM per day lol

Yes I'm dreading pooping in work....,at the moment I seem to be going twice in the morning and once in afternoon

Everybody seems to be doing pretty well at the moment, all things considered. That itch sounds like s bit if a nightmare though!

I'm thinking I'll maybe just maybe try to return to work next week but reduced hours... Shall have to see as it's a long drive to work in rush hour.....prob about sixty to ninety mins.

Thanks for bum cleaning tips guys! X

Yes, @OMGimscared seems to have achieved the holy grail of BMs - 1 a day! That would make getting back to normal life so much easier. I'm at 2 in the morning, and occasionally 1 in the evening.

@CareBear50 - that drive sounds horrendous. Is there any way that they'd let you start later and finish earlier so that you can avoid rush hour? The drive there would be bad enough, but I think the drive home would be even worse after a full days work.

I slept better last night, so I'm grateful for that. Maybe the Loratadine did help a bit. I'm going to try another one later and see how I go. Once the itch is over I'll feel so much better.

I've tasked myself with trying to go out and walk the dog today rather than walking lengths of my house. I'll let you know how I get on x

I'm not sure what was done to me internally, but when having BMs it's like I can feel the whole journey out starting from around my coccyx area. It's not just the exit that's a bit scratchy, but the whole length. It's really weird. Then I feel achy, sore and swollen internally for a good 3-4 hours afterwards. Once that subsides, I feel fine, but I really need that to be subsiding sooner, or for whatever's going on inside to become desensitised. I guess it's something that will reduce in time, but it does mean that I can't really start getting on with my day until everything subsides. Very frustrating as I want to get back to normal, but am writing off a huge chunk of the day at the moment😠

Well that’s work down for the week as still quiet at work so got an extended weekend 😂 . I agree this recovery is very frustrating indeed, the pain isn’t bothering me so much anymore just feels sore when BM is coming down but only on one side and the bleeding, yep still bleeding dripping into pan so I’m guessing there’s a part that’s not healing at all. But it stopped for three days last week I don’t get it. Very annoying indeed

@Dizzyali77 - well done for getting through 2 days of work. I bet you're pleased for the rest now though.
I just want the post BM ache/swelling to subside sooner and then I'll feel so much better and can get on with my day sooner. The bleeding must be very frustrating for you, especially with your anaemia. Hopefully it will calm down soon, bit it is strange that it stopped last week for a few days.

We've got 2 weddings to decorate this weekend, bit fortunately they're simple straight forward ones, so my husband can do them (he's a partner in our business, so it is his job). I've rescheduled meetings I had for this weekend, but have an afternoon one next Monday which I'm hopeful of making🤞
Just a bit of improvement every day would make me feel like I'm progressing and recovering properly. I finished my antibiotics today, so going to go back to the Dr on Thursday, just to have everything checked over.

@Disneylover1 ah it’s good that you’ve got hubby on hand to step in and set up for you. I finished my antibiotics yesterday also but my appointment with consultant isn’t until 21st March which will make me seven weeks post op. I don’t know wether it’s because I got for three BMs a day which means I’m slow healing🤷‍♀️. So until they actually take a peek up there I haven’t a clue what’s going on and I think that’s the most frustrating part. I know the one that was outside has healed up so it’s internal that’s being a nuisance.
As you say will just be glad to get back to normal and not have to keep thinking and worrying about it. I feel like my whole life revolves around my backside at the moment🤦‍♀️

@Dizzyali77 - yes, the not knowing and no change from day to day is frustrating.

I've just got back from the Dr as I finished my antibiotics today and just wanted to get things checked out. The good news is that she could see lots of granulation and things are healing well - finally! My consultant appointment is next Friday, so that will be another fun trip to London (just outside). We'll go down Thursday evening, stay over in the Premier Inn which is next door to the hospital band drive back on the Friday. Just to help split up the travelling. I'm hoping I'll be in a much better place by next Friday.

Life revolving around your bum and BMs is not fun at all!

I did get out and walk the dog today, so I'm really pleased about that. I'm setting myself daily small every day life goals to try to start feeling normal again 😊

@Disneylover1 Yay that’s brilliant news, did the dr have a look inside? And well down for getting yourself out for a walk.