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.)

HI @ NannyOggsCat - oh dear, that doesn't sound good. Sounds like classic infection signs, which is so common unfortunately. Recovery from this is definitely a roller coaster and can feel like your making 1 step forward and 2 steps back. Believe me, I know! Every time I think I'm making progress another set-back seems to occur, but I'm still trying to be positive about the fact that I'm so much better than I was and I can get on with living a pretty much normal life - I'm just not 100% and completely pain free yet, although it's certainly not the debilitating pain it once was.

It must be hard though when you've got a little one to look after and your husband is away a lot. I'm so grateful that my children are older and that my husband was able to take care of me and everything for those first 4-5 weeks. Hopefully the rest of your recovery will go smoothly and you'll be pleased that you had it done in 4 weeks or so. When it does go well, you feel great once you've recovered and I'm sure you'll get there.

Hi @disneylover1 feeling quite teary and sorry for myself today!
Didn't help that the consultant said that my hemmies were some of the biggest he'd ever seen.... Didn't know whether I should be proud or mortified! I can certainly feel a difference.. Its nice not having them anymore, but this recovery certainly takes its toll on your mental health!

I keep telling myself onward and upward but my body isn't getting the memo yet :(

Hey @NannyOggsCat - yes, I can understand why. I've had full on ugly cry breakdown sessions during my recovery as it's just such a horrible process to go through and feels hopeless at times. I remember laying in the bath in tears telling my husband that this was what my life was going to be like from now on as I just couldn't see any light. It does improve though, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. I'm not that weeping woman in the bath any more, but I certainly have down days still as I'm struggling to get over this final hurdle. Willing to try anything - hence smearing my arse with honey 😂
Where are you? We're a varied bunch. I'm in the UK, and there are people from Australia, USA and Canada on here too. It's amazing how the same experience can bond people worldwide.
Hang in there and know we're here for you x

@disneylover1 I'm from the UK too.. Near Leeds.

Currently in bed with the heat pad on my bum, doped up with all the painkillers and antibiotics and trying to ignore the random spasms of pain I keep getting (i wonder if it could be nerves starting to heal?... Whatever it is it makes me jump every time!)

Feeling bit out of sorts as I only had 1 bm today and Ive been having 5 a day so wondering what the heck is going on, or what's in store tomorrow! I dread going to the loo lol

Hope everyone is feeling OK! It's just like a bum sisterhood haha

Hi @NannyOggsCat - I'm Nottingham, so you're not too far from me!

Yes, I remember the pain spasms that make you jump. Wait until the itch starts! It's a sign of healing, but is an itch you can't actually scratch and can drive you to distraction!
You're not taking any painkillers with codeine in them are you? They can constipate, so be careful if you are.
BMs become such a worry as you dread them due to the pain, and also how whatever food you've eaten might affect them, then again if your pattern changes. I don't ever remember being so focussed on my food and BMs in my life. Or talking about them so openly!
I hope you have a good night and tomorrow is a better day for you x

@disneylover1 I'm allergic to codeine so I've got paracetamol, ibuprofen and morphine (taking the morphine only when I seriously cannot stand the pain anymore... Plus it knocks me out for a few hours, so i try to avoid it as much as i can!) I've also got metronidazole which the consultant said helps with pain as well as being an antibiotic.

At the moment I'm just eating a bit of all bran for breakfast, a jacket potato (without the skin!) for lunch and a bit of brown rice or pasta with a bit of chicken for dinner.. My appetite has totally disappeared...
After having a corn on the cob early last week and regretting it for days afterwards I've been reluctant to eat much since lol I never used to be that bothered about what I ate but now I look at everything and think "how much is that going to hurt coming out?" haha I will definitely be making sure my diet is better once everything is healed.. Going to treat my poor old bum with respect from now on

@NannyOggsCat - I had the metronidazole too, but it made me sick, so my GP gave me some anti-sickness tablets which constipated me! I had over 20 small BMs in a 24 hour period which was not a lot of fun at all!😮
One of the things I did do was speak to a dietician and learnt a lot about soluble and insoluble fibre, and low residue foods. Their recommendation was to avoid things like all bran, brown rice, brown bread, wholewheat pasta etc as they contain scratchy insoluble fibre, as does the peel from fruit and veg. You don't want scratchy things passing while you're trying to heal. Soluble fibre is your friend - fruit and veg without the skins or any pips/seeds. Couple them with white rice and pasta which are low residue so don't produce much waste = smaller/fewer BMs. If you eat white/refined stuff on its own then you'll run the risk of getting constipated, but if you're having the soluble fibre and drinking plenty of water you'll be okay. Porridge is good for breakfast as oats are a good form of soluble fibre. I also stayed away from anything tomato based whilst I was healing as I found that it caused my BMs to burn more. My appetite was rubbish to start with too and I lost a lot of weight (got down to just 7 stone!). As it started to improve I would also eat things like stewed apple (no peel) with custard, tinned rice pudding, completely smooth peanut butter on crackers. Gradually started introducing dairy, then as I felt better I started getting back to my normal diet. The only thing I avoid still is nuts and seeds as I've still got a few issues and I'm waiting for a referral back to the consultant. Hence giving the honey a go!
I've learnt a lot over the past 17 weeks, both from my own research and on here, so feel free to ask if there's anything you're wondering about x

@disneylover1 oh gosh! That's the complete opposite of what I was told to eat from the hospital! They said to eat brown bread, rice and wholewheat pasta! Haha

Okay I'm going to give the white rice/pasta and skinned veg/fruit a go from tomorrow, see how that goes... Anything to make life and recovery easier!

It's just a huge learning curve isn't it!

Now I fancy stewed apple and custard.. That sounds lovely right now haha

@NannyOggsCat - yes, that's what we all get told! Lots of fibre, everything brown, fruit, veg etc! Fibre is important, but when you learn about the different types and their properties, it's a real eye opener. I knew nothing about low residue foods either, so that was interesting. It was advice from a fully qualified NHS dietician too that I paid to see privately a couple of times, not just a nutritionist, so proper medical advice and understanding of how everything works and is processed. I still haven't reintroduce brown bread, rice or pasta, but have started having 50/50 bread occasionally. Too much brown/insoluble fibre makes stools bigger which is the last thing we want! Plus, it moves through the system faster than soluble fibre so can make you go more frequently. Soluble fibre acts as a lubricating gel that binds food together, but stays soft - and that's definitely what's needed!
Let me know how you get on and if you've got any questions about what food I found worked for me x

Hi everyone. Its been very busy over the past cvouole of days. So I went to my doctor @Disneylover1, she believes it could be the scar tissue that keeps opening up as she did an internal and it felt a bit tight. FML it hurt like a mo fo!! But she wants to b sure and refer me on. I told her I'd been to my surgeon at 6 weeks, she didnt do an internal and was unconcerned about my pain and bleeding, just said yes that can go on for another 6 weeks. My docs going to give me a referral to another surgeon. She just wants to have a think about who first. So thats that for the time being! Not exactly the news i wanted, so alas we will not be skipping down the road for another month or so. She did tell me not to be concerned about the bleeding. Its not something sinister. Hope you are feeling ok today? And you honey smeared butt is helping. Lol
@Kandy88 OMG you poor thing!!! I hope you are feeling better? I'd only just read exactly what a fistula is on Monday cause I kept seeing the word.
Hey @Bradle any chance you could get into another surgeon? That's bullshit you still haven't been for your post op checkup! And yes im completely traumatised from this op!!! I didnt receive much info before the op, in hindsight it's prob my fault, and I never received any proper info after my op either. Except the wrong info about fibre!!!

In some ways I have improved from before the op. But I didn't suffer from hemmies every day, more like once a week with bouts of severe pain in between and some bleeding every month or so. Now it's pain every day And seems to be more bleeding most days. I just feel sooo depressed. Would I do this again.... atm NO!!!!

Welcome all the newbies too. I hope you are all improving in your recovery!!

Good morning ladies!

Started the low residue diet today with some porridge.. Will how I get on with this!
I'm sure my butt is punishing me for doing this... Had an emergency urge to go to the loo this morning, felt like I was passing something the size of an elephant, loads of pain... but it ended up being the size of a penny! Feeling very sore, tired and fed up already today...

So we made up the sofa with lots of cushions, blankets and got snacks etc for my son and we're having a movie day on the sofa.... Felt like the best idea today as I just want to rest!

@auslady I hope you can get to see another surgeon soon! That sounds like a nightmare! :(

Hey @NannyOggsCat - don't forget to include the soluble fibre with the low residue foods as low residue on its own can constipate. The soluble fibre us very important.

I remember those sorts of BMs too - you almost feel disappointed at the pathetic amount that you've actually passed!

Hope you enjoy your time with your son and have a better day x

Hi @AusLady - glad you got to see the Dr and she's confirmed it's nothing sinister at least. Frustrating not to have some sort of help or treatment though. I can only imaging how the internal felt and am dreading the first one I have as I know things are super tight from trying to apply the recotgesic and honey - really hard to get my finger in too far, but I guess the consultant will just go for it Looks like we're in the same boat (again!) waiting for a new referral and just have to get on with it until then
Not sure if the honey is helping yet. I'm only using it at night now, and the rectogesic during the day, as I do like to sit on my heat pad and can't do that if my bum is smeared with honey! Still some discomfort with my BMs and some pain/ache afterwards too. I know there's something not right with the surgery site though as I can feel that's where the pain is. I think there's a spot that's not healed properly, or isn't fully healed yet, so it can still be very sore and tender, especially during and after BMs. I feel the same as you though - that currently I'm worse off than my pre-op state. We will 'heal, be healthy and happy' though - I have to believe that, because the alternative is just too depressing x

Hi @disneylover1, thanks for the reminder! Did some googling and have had some soluble fibre...
Feeling really odd today, still struggling to go to the toilet... I told my husband it feels like my bum has healed shut! I keep getting sudden urges to go to the loo but after all the pain and urges it's just a tiny bit.. I'm not straining, don't want any more hemmies! But it seems like there's a lot of resistance when I try iyswim? I wonder if it's swelling...

I've never been so obsessed with what my bum is doing!

Hi @NannyOggsCat - so, porridge is a good source of soluble fibre. I also eat a peeled pear for lunch every day too after a bowl of cauliflower soup. Then I was having a dinner of rice with chicken and adding peeled peppers, peeled courgette, edamame beans and beansprouts. I then moved on to cauliflower cheese and green beans with chicken breast and a bit of gravy. Mashed potato is soluble too, but it's essential with potato that you don't eat it reheated as it changes the structure from a soluble fibre to a resistant starch. Peeled and stewed apple, tinned peaches. Basically, any fruit (not bananas) and veg that's peeled, and the veges should be well cooked. You're trying to avoid the skins as much as you can, and also any pips and seeds, so avoid things like strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes etc. And drink plenty of water - I aim for 3 litres a day. Coffee doesn't count.
Are you taking any laxatives/stool softeners? The swelling definitely makes it feel hard to go, but as the swelling reduces, it will get easier.

Hi @NannyOggsCat. Thank you for your kind words. Because I told my Doc I didn't want the same surgeon she wanted to look into someone else before she gave me a referral.
So everything @Disneylover1 has told you is great info..... as you know we have all learnt from each other on here. Great support every time. I just wish I lived closer then a 24 hr non stop flight! Lol.
I hope your day has improved. I remember the days when I too felt like I needed a BM only for it to be tiny!!!! It does get better. Even as gross as it sounds, having a BM in the bath sometimes was less painful! But sometimes I just had no choice.

Hey there @Disneylover1, 😘😘😘😘 Thank you sooooo much for the support. It really helps to know I'm not alone. Makes it all less scary! I still don't understand why I still bleed and then today I had no blood at all in either BM!
I'm loving my heat pad every night I go to bed. Lol. Glad it's winter here.
Yeah so she gave me a good old internal and FML if I didn't know how kind she is I'd have thought she was enjoying it. Lol. I kept trying to relax but it wasn't easy!!!! I think she went uo to her second knuckle at least. 🤕 But it made me wonder about anal sex and if I liked that kind of thing would I be in this predicament now? Who's to say? Lol.
I reread that post I posted on here a while ago about that guys story 6 months on. He talks about tightness and swelling which doesn't completely go down until the 5 month mark. Gives me hope.
I have my big holiday coming up in 6 weeks which I spoke to my doctor about because of the bleeding. And I was relieved when she said it will all be fine. There won't be any toilets for two weeks of the trip. But when i go to the toilet i will be in the most natural position. Lol. I just hope i dont lose my balance!! 😁😁But my greatest fear is bloody crocodiles!!!!
How are you today? Has there been a little improvement? I hope so. Hmmm I wondered if the honey gave you instant relief like the lady in that story you posted.
One thing I've started to do is make smoothies every night for breakfast the next day. I have it after my porridge. I have been using pineapple, blueberries,
Oranges, strawberries and almonds which seems to be ok. And sometimes kale.

I hope everyone else are improving and the pain is subsiding a little... or a lot.

Hey @AusLady - thank you for your support too! It really does mean a lot. I sent you a PM, but not sure if you've received a notification or seen it.

I know exactly what you mean about the randomness of the bleeding too. My BMs don't seem to change that much in size or consistency, yet some are less uncomfortable to pass than others, pain differes from day to day from just a pin prick, to full on aching and then they'll be days of no sign of blood, and then suddenly it reappears! You start to get hopeful that things are improving and you're getting better, only for your bum to say, 'ha ha, tricked your sucker!' Then that feeling of depression and hopelessness returns :( Without support and knowing that I'm not on my own with a prolonged recovery, I think I'd be in a much worse mental state - you've been so important in keeping me sane xxx

Okay, so we've got 6 weeks to get you sorted before your camping trip, which takes us to 5 months and 1 week post op, so lets hope that you see the improvement the other guy did at 5 months. As much as I used to love camping when I was younger, after the hemmies hit, a toilet became a must have for me, and I can't imagine wild camping now. But, yes, you'll be in the best possible position for BMs! How does it work with digging the hole though - do you have holes pre-dug or do you have to frantically scramble off behind a bush and quickly dig one before the BM decides to come out? Mind those crocs too! I've got visions of the scene from Crocodile Dundeee where the lady is filling her water bottle from the river and the crocodile grabs it! Hope your hubby has a Mick Dundee style knife to fight them off lol

It's glamping all the way for me know and I'm even worried about that as it will only be 1 toilet between the 6 of us, and only canvas walls for privacy That's on 1st July for 4 nights, then I've got a 3 night city break with just my husband in August, before our big family 2 week trip to Florida at the end of October. Please God, let me be fully recovered by then!

LMAO at the anal sex thing! Even the thought of it makes my bum tighten in protest lol Not my thing, and never will be. I wonder how people who do partake, don't have more bottom problems I'd just like to get back to standard sex - it's been over 6 months now My poor husband, but he's been very understanding, althought the late night showers have become more frequent lol! I'm aiming for our August city break, if not beforehand.

I'm nervous to say out loud if I've improved or not. It seems like every time I've posted about improvement or the bleeding stopping, that the universe has seen it too and the next day I have a set-back! I'm better than I was a week ago though (please don't let that jinx me!). Logically, I know there's no such thing as being jinxed, but when you've had so many set-backs, your logic starts to go out of the window!

Oh, I read a really interesting report on a clinical trial which concluded that egg yolk is better than GTN (rectogesic) treatment for fissures! Maybe that's the next thing I try lol!
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5133025/
Again, I don't think I could sit on my heat pad after using egg yolk as it would cook lol

Hope you've had a good day today, and everyone else is doing well xxx

Hey @Disneylover1. I thought you had sent a PM but it wasn't very clear in the email. So I will go and read it now.
I'm the same as you, don't want to be too positive because it turns around and kicks you in the arse!!
Pmsl.... you'll be going through all the food groups on your but!! But, what ever works hey. I run a raw fish on my butt if I thought it would work.
I did get prescribed a suppository but I don't remember what it's called. I went to the chemist after work today and they don't have it. Tomorrow afternoon it will be available.... I'm going to try it because it supposed to give you pain relief and reduce any inflammation. That'll be a hoot!! Lol
Ok. I'm off to read my pm. 😘😘

Hi @disneylover1 and @auslady
I finally managed to do a proper bm today! Hurt like a *** but I finally feel empty for the first time in 2 weeks!

I was so happy I text my husband to tell him and he just replied with "well done?" haha I'm proud of myself anyway... Small victories I suppose!

I'm on laxatives, but just taking 1 or 2 a day to try and keep things moving ok... I don't want it going the other way it's such a juggling act isn't it!

Made a bowl of Cauliflower soup for lunch today, was a lot nicer than I expected!

I hope you ladies are doing well today x

That's awesome news @NannyOggsCat about your BM. It does make a difference when you feel like you've finally emptied your bowels!! I did laugh bout you hubbys response. They kinda don't really get it!! 😂😂 it is all a balancing act. But keep doing what works for you best.
I remember in the first 3-4 weeks after my op and I'd warn friends not to call me in the morning, but if they did and I hung up on them was because I had to go to the toilet NOW!!! Lol. Thank God that urgency has gotten back to pre op state.
I hope you're having a better day.
I've not had any bleeding for past two days but that could change again tomorrow!!! Lol. But I do have a bit of pain that lasts till lunch time or so. Nothing compared to yours atm though.

@auslady my husband is supportive but hasn't got a clue what's going on really..

Managed to go to the loo first thing this morning and I've only needed to go once... God its so nice not having to run back and forth to the toilet every few minutes! I'm exhausted though and just resting from the after pain so I'm on the sofa with my heat pad while the little plays with toys... All I want to do today is sleep!

It must be so frustrating to be still losing blood for so long! I was losing a lot daily from the hemmies (made me severely aneamic) but that's stopped now since the surgery (touch wood!)

I hope they can get you sorted soon! :(

Ok so the itch that was mentioned... Its arrived..
Oh
My
God

If you've ever had hells itch after a sunburn it's like that but up your bum.. This is awful!
Going to try the same technique for hells itch and see if that helps (running the shower as hot as I can stand and just using that on the area.. Hopefully that might help!)

Hey @Disneylover1, realised I didn't answer your questions about camping. So usually I'd just go find a spot dig a hole and that's it. Squatting never seemed to make a difference to my hemmies. But given the new circumstances, i might look at pre digging the night before. Lol. We wont be in the same spot every night. We are going to be driving the 'Gibb river road'. You'll have to Google it.
I've actually never been to croc country, but I do know I won't be filling anything up beside any water hole EVER!!! Lol. There will be signs though of where the crocs are.
So yeah, totally agree that jinxs don't exist but the coincidence is uncanny. Don't ask me if I've seen any snakes at my place though. Cause I won't answer! Lol. I don't like snakes, they give me the hebbie jebbies.
I hope you've been having pain free and blood free days.

@NannyOggsCat, wow. You sound like your recovery is going really well. That's great. Hope you've been able to catch up on some sleep too.
So I don't remember an itch if I got sunburnt? Lol. Just bloody hot skin that a cold shower would help with. And I've never heard of hells itch either. But having a salt bath also helps with the itch. My doc prescribed my proctosydle to help with my itch. But it was still unbearable sometimes.
I used to bleed too before the op but never got anemic thankfully.

Hope you have a great day.

Hi to @Kimmiekimbo, @Kandy88 and @TheQueef. I hope you are all recovering well with no setbacks?

@auslady
After my fistula surgery and drainage from the abscess, recovery has been really hard. I have a seton in place that has to be tightened next Friday. Every BM burns where that incision is as stool is still leaking through the “passage” that the fistula created. It is this slow burning that turns into a fire inside your skin:( I’ve asked the surgeon multiple times about this and he and his office still claim it’s part of the healing process as the wound has to heal from the inside out but idk how much longer I can bear this. I’ve become so depressed from being basically house ridden and having little interaction with the outside world (very unorthodox for me). Anyone else ever had a fistula / seton placement ???