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.)

Hey @AniseedBall. I'm not sure, but I think the internal hemorrhoid surgery is less painful to recover? I hope so. I didn't have mucosal prolapse so I can't comment sorry. I had a colonoscopy too so I was on a low fibre diet for 3 days before, then i had to fast the day before, and then drink that terrible stuff that makes you go to the loo with great urgency!!!! I was also in hospital overnight as a precaution. But I think.thats just the protocol is Australia.
I just used our bath and would sit in that for as long as I could. Lol. With salt and extra virgin coconut oil. Also, I know it sounds gross, but sometimes it's less painful to have a BM in the bath, then clean it up and start again. I know as it happened to me twice. Lol. Do you have someone to help you?
Soups and any mashed vegetable is best for first week or longer. Depends on your recovery. Remember what goes in must come out. You should also start taking vitamin c now to help with wound healing. Research other vitamins and minerals that also help with recovery. Expect the worst and hope for the best.
Yeah 7 months is a long time but it was the internal scar tissue that kept bleeding and was painful. Very frustrating! But when i think back to my life before the surgery it was terrible. So at this stage I am glad that I had the surgery. I just couldn't see it 4 months ago. Lol ❤

@AusLady thank you. The tips are very useful, the sort of stuff the doctors don't tell you!

I really hope the internal haemorrhoid procedure is less painful. Apparently the muscosal prolapse is dealt with at the same time. I'm hoping it doesn't add to the pain!

I'll just use the bath - I can't see the in toilet ones being comfortable. What type of salt did you use, just normal stuff?

I have my husband to help for a couple of weeks at the least. It's difficult to know how much help I'm going to need and the Consultant was vague about timings. I have two school aged DCs so need to make sure I have cover for them.

And I'm definitely expecting the worse so hopefully I'll be proved wrong!

Hi @AniseedBall. I just used normal cooking salt. The cheapest I could get. Lol. You'll definitely need your husband in the first 2 weeks. How old are your children? Can the make their own breakfast etc?
It's good to get up and walk around as soon as you can after the op. You just don't want to be lifting anything or standing in the one spot for too long. I was ok by the second week, I could at least get in and out of the bath by myself. I ended up having 5 weeks off work, and my surgeon told me id only need 2. But everyone is different.
I can't comment on the musacosal part though. I think @Disneylover1 had that op as well. If you read back maybe she said something about it?
Good luck with it all and make sure you let me know how you are after the operation.

Hi @AusLady I'll get the stocks of salt in! I had my pre op appointment today and I'm now terrified.

Thanks for the info on recovery timescales. This is the bit that worries me the most and medical professionals always seem to underestimate times. I think I might need to get some additional help in. My children are 9 and 5 so could probably get some breakfast - it'd be a lot to put on the 9 year old though, my main concern is being able to get them ready for school.

Apparently the mucosal bit will be sorted along with the haemorrhoids, with no additional procedure needed. I'm not sure if it'll affect the recovery though. I'll re read the thread to find @Disneylover1 posts about it.

I'll let you know how I get on - I'll probably have a million questions.

Hi @AniseedBall. I know what you mean about the surgeons not giving a proper time frame. But I do.think everyone's surgery and recovery are different. I didn't read any forums on heammhroidectomy until after I'd had it done so I only had the standard clinical info.

If I were you, make sure you've got help for the first week, possibly 2 weeks. My kids are a lot older so I didn't have to worry about that. I just know in the first week I really need help just for myself, second week I could manage, very slowly though. Lol. But I wasn't having to look after kids.

Hi
I’m new to this and was googling this awful operation and come across this. It’s so bitter sweet to find women in the same predicament. I had this done 9 days ago and it truly is the worst thing I’ve ever had done. I had Haemorroidectomy at the 3.7 and 11 o’clock position (if that’s right) and it does say in my letter about prolapse but not sure what has exactly been done and won’t know 100% until I see the surgeon in 6 weeks time. I feel ok first thing in the morning until I need a BM and then it’s like being dragged to hell and back!! I keep getting the urge to go (a few times) it’s a really weird sensation, feels like I’m trying to expel every last bit. I just can’t see no light, feel like this pain is never going to go away. I have 6 boys, (twins) which is why my haemorrhoids were so bad. I had one big one that was a purple colour (May of been the prolapse) it was a mess and extremely painful. I’ve had piles for years but they did become annoying (bleeding, weeping bit going back up) so this surgery was necessary. Just hope things go back to normal, the pain makes me feel dizzy and weak, once I’ve had that BM I’m just on my back for hours. I’m also due my lovely period tomorrow and absolutely dreading it!

Hi @Vikki6 I'm so sorry to read this. I'm having it done this week so can't offer any advice only sympathy! I believe it's awful

I had the feeling you describe of having to keep going to the toilet when I had mine banded. The Consultant said it was the body trying to expel the banded haemorrhoids. It improved reasonably quickly so I hope the same happens for you.

Are you able to do anything at the moment? I'm trying to work out how long I'll need help with my children (primary school age). Was your op a day case? Mine will be and I can't believe I'll be ok to go home the same day!

I hope things improve for you soon.

Hi
Yes mine was a day case. This is so weird because as I wrote this last night whilst feeling so awful, (really did think it would never end) I’m now day 10 and I’ve got up this morning, chose not to drink stool softener, had BM first thing and had no pain and have had no pain all day! I think the softener sometimes makes you retain a bit which is what makes me want to expel whatever’s left. I feel like a new woman. I’ve been using cotton wool soaked in witch hazel to regularly clean my bottom, the bleeding has even stopped. I’m not going to say too much as I have read it can all change in a heartbeat! I would definitely say 2 weeks at least off work, I’ve had help my my boys for the past week and boy did I need it. Mine haemorrhoids were inside and out, I thought I had a big blood clot in one because it was purple, and it was so painful when out. It never went fully back in which is why I needed them cut out.
Good luck with the operation, I do hope it goes all ok, keep me updated.

@Vikki6 that's great news! I hope it continues like this for you. I read somewhere else that someone had a turning point at day 10. That's really interesting what you said about the stool softeners, I'll bare that in mind. I'm guessing too much will be as bad as not enough for causing pain.

I have helped organised for two weeks and I'll see how I go after that I think. I'll get some witch hazel in thanks and keep my fingers crossed it goes ok!

@AniseedBall I wish you a speedy recovery! X

@Vikki6 thank you!

I hope you are fully recovered soon.

@Vikki6 how are you getting on now?

@AniseedBall I’m ok! It’s still a bit achy after BM, but apart from that I’m on the mend. Even went shopping yesterday! 2 weeks today. Have you had yours done?

@Vikki6 that's so good to hear! Mine's today 😬

Oh good luck xxx you’ll be fine. I bought a portable sitz bath off of Ebay (£9.00) I’ve been putting a bit of TCP in with warm water and I sit on that after BM, it’s a must buy! Really saves having to run a bath all the time and it’s soo soothing. Let me know how you get on

@Vikki6 I'm getting on ok so far, it all went to plan. I haven't had a BM yet so pretty sure that'll change when I do! It can even be quite uncomfortable having a wee 😬

Thanks for the recommendation of the sitz bath. I looked at the before the op and wondered how comfortable they'd be, I'll look again now. I can see how running the bath all the time can get tiresome.

Hi everyone, I've been following this post since I had this horrendous op on mon and have read every single post (in between periods of the INTENSE AGONY ). I can't tell you all how much of a help you have all been to me without even knowing it so let me start by saying thank u x

Ok so on Monday I had 3 large external hems removed and my god I thought I was prepared for the pain after being a long term sufferer with periods of acute thrombosis thrown in for good measure... WELL. nothing has prepared me for this - 2 weeks recovery my arse. (Scuse the pun) 5 days in and I am climbing the walls still, when will I feel relief?

So far been a crazy agonising and rollercoaster week.. don't know what I'm writing on here for but just felt I wanted to connect to all you lovely people and let you know how invaluable you have all been for me without even knowing.

Anyway thanks for listening and hello 👋🏼

Wishing you all a speedy recovery xxx

@Vikki6 I hope your doing well 💗

I just wanted to connect as we are similar recovery times but I think your a bit further ahead than me.

I'm on day 5 and today have seemed to have pain largely under control (taking paracetamol and ibuprofen religiously) except for BM's they are awful , they are currently very loose and watery and omg the burn. I am literally screaming in pain every time I go, have to jump in warm bath and lay there until the pain subsides (sometimes 1 hour , sometimes 3-4) it's awful. I've stopped taking the laxido and lactulose but now I'm terrified I'm gonna get constipated. I cannot understand how I'm gonna be fully recovered and back at work in just over a week. It seems from this post that this is quite normal but just wondering if you had this prob (the awful burn) and has it stopped for u yet, if so when?

Also hi @AniseedBall hope your getting on ok? X

Hi @lollydarling I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I'm so worried about experiencing the same. How many days after your op did you have your first one (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm only 2 days and haven't had one yet. I'm taking Movicol but scared to take to much as they said diarrhoea will be as bad as constipation but worried I might not be having enough. It's exhausting, I just want to give up eating for a few weeks until I've healed!

@AniseedBall bless you, I can totally relate to not wanting to eat until healed - while I'm at it wish they'd just invent a GA that lasts 2 weeks to save us from this horror!

First BM was day 3 and I was so so scared because I had been throwing up for 2 days - couldn't keep anything down! (Movicol, painkillers..) honestly don't put yourself under pressure or strain it will come when it's ready. My first one wasn't as soft as I would have liked it to be and it was pretty eye watering but it was quick and I jumped in the bath and waited for the pain to subside straight after.. the best advice right now I can give you is try and prepare a hot bath beforehand to jump into and clean yourself with after.. it's very soothing for the pain. I've even read elsewhere to take the first few BM's in the bath.. also be careful with the movicol, I learnt the hard way and ended up with explosive Diarrhea which just wrote me off with the pain I actually thought It was the end for me it was excruciating. I've personally come off all laxatives now and will add them in if needed, just trying to eat soft foods rich in soluble fibre. Today have had a runny tummy still but slightly less than before. Will see what tomorrow brings hopefully I've managed to bulk them up a bit. If not will try fybogel or Metamucil as I've heard that's good. God knows tho this is all so new to me!

Sorry I'm rambling on - How are you feeling do you feel in pain/like you need to go/ all of the above?

Sending love x

Thanks @lollydarling that's good advice. It's so tempting to take more Movicol but I know that's probably not the answer!! I felt like I needed to go this morning, sat on the loo for less than a minute and started bleeding and was sore afterwards. Goodness knows what it'll be like when I actually go!!

You sound like you've really suffered with vomiting as well. I hope things improve from here for you. It's such a shame they can't give more specific advice about the stool softeners, it seems they cause a lot of the issues people have post op. I've spent a year trying to balance fibre and softeners to manage my symptoms to avoid having the op and it's such a fine line, almost impossible. I'm amazed anyone actually heals from this at all! Good luck for tomorrow.

@AniseedBall oh don't that feeling is the worst just sitting thinking it's gonna come out and it doesn't 😖 remember you will have been pumped full of anistetic during the op so your insides won't be feeling normal it may just be a phantom poo.. I promise you when your body is ready it will pretty much just fall out of u with minimal effort and no straining, just hold tight and wait for your body to do the work for you. Don't get me wrong you'll know it's happening - I've somehow been able to run bath apply numbing gel all while jiggling round bracing myself for it.

Totally get what u mean about the balancing act - is constipation something which you suffer with generally?

The reason I ask is because I can't understand the logic behind the hospitals just handing out the same advice to every single person having this op?!??!? Assuming everyone must be constipated.. baffles me tbh but there ya go. This thread has been a lifesaver to me in some really dark moments over the past few days I've read every post 🤣 it's given me so much hope but also taught me so much about bowel habits and different types of laxatives etc.

Feel free to message me if you need anything, even if I can't answer your question I'm more than happy to try and support :)

Hope you have a restful night x

@lollydarling it's so good to have someone to talk to about this, thank you. Your description of running a bath and applying the gel has made me laugh. I haven't been given any gel, maybe because mine were internal, but I'll definitely get the bath running. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

I don't generally suffer with constipation and eat high fibre diet, I agree, they give everyone the same laxatives without checking what people's diets, normal bowel habits are like. I tried to get specific dietary advice to help my recovery but all I got was the standard high fibre, lots of water 😬

I read this thread before my op and have been reading again today, it's so helpful to hear what's normal and try and get some tips to speed up recovery. Let's hope we get there quickly!

@AniseedBall Haha no worries, glad the thought of my bathroom jig can provide some light relief to our shitty situations 🤪

Oh were yours internal ones? I'm not sure whether the pain will be as severe then as my understanding is there are less nerve endings up there.. (not sure tho I'm not an expert) what did the doc/surgeon tell u about pain expectations Fingers crossed there is some truth in my tale and I havent just made that up in my delirious state 🤞🏼

Currently sitting here listening to my tummy grumble and necking back the pain meds before I'm back on the loo and back in agony for hours 😰 I hate this part I'm in a constant state of anxiety over when my next BM is coming.. and in between I'm googling everything hemmeroidectomy related as though I'm going to come across some kind of miracle cure for the pain 🥴

I need to get out more.... (if only!)