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.)

@Vikki6 so sorry to hear that, so frustrating after you were doing so well. Hopefully it's a one off and things will be back on track tomorrow. I was re reading this thread earlier and it happened to other people not that it probably helps to hear that! This recovery really is awful.

I've just somehow split something getting dry after having a bath. I don't know what, it feels external and my haemorrhoids were internal. All I did was bend slightly to open a drawer I've been opening all week 😬 I'm now wincing with the pain and back on the paracetamol as well as ibuprofen.

Oh no! Hope your ok? Just try and rest x

I still don't really know what happened but took the painkillers stayed in bed and everything back to as it was this morning. I've had the awful pressure feeling again but less bleeding. Now waiting for a turning point with the pain.

@Vikki6 how are you today? Ok after the bleeding last night I hope.

@lollydarling hope you are doing ok back at home.

Hey @AniseedBall .. crikey that sounds horrible 😭 how do u know something split did u bleed? Sounds so painful I'm so sorry the thought of tearing makes me wince x

I'm not doing too good tbh I felt like I was on the mend but the past two days the pain has gone back up to like an 8 after morning BM.. and it lasts pretty much all day. Doctors have been useless. I called them today as I'm meant to back in the office Monday and there's no way I'm ready. Horrible doc just suggested I ask my work to get me a standing desk... as if that's gonna solve all my problems. Anyway had to practically beg him and he's reluctantly signed me off for another week. He's also prescribed me fybogel to try and bulk up as I think the laxido is making me too loose so fingers crossed I see a difference
On that 🤞🏼

I thought I'd investigate myself l and I had a look down there in the mirror 🤢 Christ it looks awful but I think what's causing the pain is these two small rock hard lumps, they look like tiny little baby hemmies but I think they are what's causing it. Hopefully it's just scar tissue or something where I'm healing but not gonna lie I'm a tad worried. Will have to just hold tight and hope for the best over the next week.. I'm fed up now tho.. like you said @AniseedBall this is getting old it's like 1 step forward 10 steps back! Hope you are feeling a bit better after your scare

@Vikki6 hope your feeling better too! Have u tried fybogel or just movicol?

Roll on normality girls! X

@lollydarling I definitely spoke to soon! I had a BM today that actually made my eyes water! It was so painful!! I think I did something yesterday because it was getting better. Feel for you girls I really do! It’s a long old healing process x

@lollydarling that sounds awful and the doctor!!? WTF! Stand up desk?? That'd be as bad as sitting down day. I hope your pain has improved.

The lumps you have sound the same as mine and like you I'm sure that's where a lot of my pain is coming from. In his reply my Consultant said it's normal, it's the tissue between the incisions swelling and will go down in time 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 I'm trying not to look today as I'll be as obsessed as I was monitoring my haemorrhoids 😬

I don't know for certain it was a tear last night but certainly felt like it and a bit of skin left from the op was bright red / bleeding that hadn't been before. I've no idea what happened or why - trying not to overanalyse 😀

I hope it's onwards and upwards for us all - lump and pain free!

@Vikki6 I've just seen your update, sorry your pain is back today 😥

@lollydarling @Vikki6 how are you both getting on?

Day 10 here, I was hoping I'd reached a turning point, not too much pain with first BM but then had to go again and it was back to the awful pain 😬 I'm finally feeling a bit better in myself but so fed up with it all and I realise it's still early days.

Are you still taking any softeners? I'd cut back on the Movicol a bit but after this morning not sure if it's the right thing to do. I'm so tired of trying to decide what to eat / take for the best or whether BMs are just going to hurt whatever I do!!

Morning girls,

Sorry to hear about your regression vicki ☹️ what a pain in the arse (literally!) how are you doing now?

@AniseedBall oh no! It really is one step forward 10 steps back.. the doctor ended up prescribing me fybogel to take once a day along with the movicol once a day to try and balance me out. Well.. took one sachet and it's made me constipated! It's one extreme to the other.. so hard to find the right balance. But I'm just gonna stick with the movicol now I think. It's just so hard to know what to do for the best!

The doctors also prescribed me naproxen (I called them back the other day and asked to speak to a woman doctor who was really helpful and sympathetic) naproxen is a strong anti inflammatory painkiller and this seems to have improved the pain a lot and has reduced the hard lumps too I think - she told me to swap it for the ibuprofen so now I'm taking one of these and two paracetamol but I'm finding I'm able to space them out a lot longer. Might be useful for you guys to speak to your doc about getting a prescription for this? No idea why they didn't prescribe sooner!

Hope you are both doing okay and are able to have a nice relaxing Sunday 💗

P.s @AniseedBall ... I'm 2 weeks tomorrow and I can confirm that the pain does get better and more manageable. I'm now not having a mad rush to run a bath ready to jump in straight after BM.. I can now clean up with baby wipes and witch hazel which is a definate huge improvement to my 10 day mark! Fingers crossed it starts getting easier for you too.. not long till your two weeks now! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

@lollydarling glad the doctor was able to give you the some better painkillers. I've never heard of it before but will phone my doctor if I don't see an improvement in pain / lump size. I wonder why we aren't given it straight away?? Wonder if it's cost?

I'll stick to the Movicol too after what you said. My dear was if I asked the doctor they'd give me fybogel too but I tried it years ago when pregnant. I don't think it helped much but did give me terrible bloating and wind. I'm going to try with extra fruit / veg and carry on searching for the right balance.

Thank you for mentioning your improvement from 10 days to 2 weeks. It really helps and gives me hope! I was so fed up with it all yesterday. I'm glad you have got to that stage. Can I ask what you are doing with the witch hazel? I bought some pre op but haven't dared use it yet 😬

Hope you have a lovely Sunday!

@AniseedBall yes I'd never heard of them and I've read a lot of these threads! They are used to treat painful conditions like arthritis, I assume they are ibuprofen based as she told me not to take ibuprofen with them. Anyway they seem to be having an effect I had a good day pain wise yesterday. Today not so good but I'm putting it down to this mornings constipation.. have a chat with your doc and see what they come up with..

With the witch hazel I've got the liquid and put it on a cotton pad and clean it down there. Also helps with the itch which is just starting.. it doesn't sting or anything which is good it just feels nice and cold 😊

I really hope you follow suit and find some relief at 2 weeks, like I say I'm still up and down but soooooooo much better than I was. I'm hoping another week off and I'll be more or less back to normal! 🤞🏼 don't wanna tempt fate tho and definitely stopped holding my breath for a miracale to take place!

@lollydarling the witch hazel sounds great - I will definitely start that tomorrow. I was so scared it would sting I haven't dared use it!

Hopefully I'll see an improvement in the next few days. Just to be able to sit more comfortably would be amazing!!

For anyone just stumbling across this page whilst Googling (like me) I would like to add some advice regarding Hemmoroidectomy recovery. I had mine on the 25th September so I'm not even 2 weeks post op yet. For me, the first 3-4 days were the worst. First poo was truly awful. That came 3 days post op and I honestly thought I'd pass out. My body must have just shut down in shock because I dont remember getting to to my bed from the bathroom. I wanted to vomit, I was shivering but sweating, it was horrific. I'm not sure what I'd had done as my surgeon didnt bother to come and speak to me afterwards to let me know exactly what he had done or what aftercare I should follow. I googled pretty much everything.
Anyway back to it, it took about 4 hours for my bum to settle down after that first poo. I had pain around the hole as I'd also had skin tags taken off but unstitched, as well as the internal pain - I also had this horrible dull, achy dragging pain around my buttocks. A hot water bottle eased this though. I was given antibiotics, Paracetamol, Lactulose and Cocodamol. I finished the antibiotics, had 2 shots of Lactulose a day after the op and didnt use the Cocodamol as it can constipate you, which is the absolute last thing you need to happen! I found the Nurofen capsules worked best for pain relief. And lots of water! Also, when going for the dreaded poo, dont sit down!! I found standing up and doing a very very slight squat over the toilet and doing breathing exercises as it was coming out worked soooooo much better. Obviously gravity and all that makes the poo come out easier without you feeling the urge to push. I read about sitting down and elevating your feet on a stool but I tried and it doesnt work, it almost feels like your bum hole stretches further which exacerbates the pain. It may work for some but not me. I think I'm recovering pretty well compared to the other accounts I've read and I put it down to using loooaadds of organic coconut oil. It was so soothing and is excellent at healing the skin. What I would do is soak a cotton wool disc in cold water, squeeze out the excess water and dab on some coconut oil, fold it over and pop the oiled side in between your bum so it covers the hole - wear some comfy cotton knickers to keep it in place as much as possible and change throughout the day. I'm currently at the itching stage so I'm hoping it's a sign of healing. It still hurts to poo and I still stand up but it does get easier every day. My diet was pretty much non existent in the first few days but when I did start eating I'd have Shreddies for breakfast (to help with fibre) wholemeal pasta for lunch and soup for tea and plenty of water so keep things soft. I've had a look over the last few days and I have what looks like mini hemmoroids by my perineum. I really hope not as I'm not going through all this and then finding that I need to do it again.
If anyones considering getting it done, ask plenty of questions, see if there are alternatives. If you do get it done, be prepared to take lots of time off work, make sure you have plenty of help around the house as the first few days at the least will leaving feeling wiped out! Good luck anyone getting it done xx

Hi I am a male and just 22 who's suffering from this awful piles.... Mine aren't that comfortable and I ain't bleeding currently yet there's some prolapse and discomfort for a while after my poo... I consulted two docs, where one suggested rubber band ligation and the other states that a haemorrhoidectomy is necessary... Is it essential to carry out this op now or can I put it off for some time... I've just begun my career and I don't know whether I can take off for like 6-8 weeks as people from previous posts said... I need help... Please

*Uncomfortable in my previous post🙈

Hi @Ktlb85 and @IAMC1997 welcome to this lovely little group that no body really wants to be a part of 😭

Like you @Ktlb85 I had my op 23rd sept so only a couple days ahead of you. I can totally relate to everything you've said about that first week or so - bloody horrific, and the aftershock and pain from BM's, awful. Thanks for the tip about the coconut oil I've been using witch hazel but will buy some later to try! Hope you are doing well and like me are over the worst of it now. I've also got the same as you they look like mini hemmies but I'm hoping it's just swelling and that will all settle down over the next few weeks! Really hoping it's all been worth it and we will come out the other end with normal bottoms 🥂

@IAMC1997 my advice would be to really do your research and make sure you have exhausted all other options before committing to this op. It is extremely painful and it was a last resort for me. I suffered for years with many cases of thrombosed hemmeroids (absolute debilitating agony) and this op is that pain x 100. I'm just hoping this will be be curative as my condition was pretty chronic. The first week post op I've never experienced anything like it I was so poorly. 2 weeks post op and still not back at work - I do expect I'll be back next week tho so that's 3 weeks total. If you do decide to go for it then Be sure that they are bad enough to go through the excruciating pain to be able to eventually improve your quality of life after you've recovered. But remember that everyone is different, has different pain thresholds and also severity of the hemms will probably affect recovery times etc. Have you been referred to a consultant and are yours external or internal?

I hope I have helped in some way, please feel free to ask any questions! I've found this threat to be a godsend throughout my recovery but I wish I'd found it post op 😫

Also although that first week was a fucking shit show of pain (I massively regretted having it done and cussed out the doctors and surgeon every time I had a BM..) now I'm 2 weeks in I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and (hopefully) a pain free bottom forever!

You'd be very unlucky to have to take 6-8 weeks off i think.. based on my personal experience I would say 2-4 weeks max, it's probably the first 10 days which are the worst and then the pain becomes more manageable each day..

Best wishes to you @IAMC1997

I am horrified that I got this at a very young age as I come across a common age of 40+ people for whom this has occurred...

And @lollydarling thanks for all the comments.... I am sorry as I don't know whether I have mentioned you as I am totally new to this group...

As far as the symptoms that I have so far... My first poo as soon as I wake up doesn't trouble me... But idk why but some of my poo gets kind of stuck and I have to close my awful piles... It doesn't pain then... But the BM after the first cup of water or milk or a coffee... It hurts... And also it becomes difficult for me to close up as the prolapsed haemorrhoids give me a hard time...

And I don't get clear with Google... If someone can give a proper insight about 3rd and 4th stage haemorrhoids... I'd be a bit relieved

@lollydarling my haemorrhoids are internal

Hi @IAMC1997 I had grade 4 external ones, one which repeatedly became thrombosed.. have you tried proctosydl ointment or suppositories? Literally it can happen to anyone regardless of age.. I've suffered since my teenage years and am now 30. Childbirth exacerbated them massively so it's been severe for around 2 years. Before that they were mild with only a few flare ups. Perhaps speak to your doctor about preventative measures before going straight in for surgery as in my opinion surgery should be used as a final final resort. Could banding be an option? I've heard this is successful for internal ones. This procedure didn't work for me as mine were large and external but I still tried this first. I'm sure you'll come to the best decision for you with the help of your doc just don't make any hasty decisions, although surgery has got a high success rate it doesn't come without complete lifestyle changes and also is obviously very painful

@lollydarling They are keen that banding doesn't work... Also, I've been googling and they have suggested laser as a good option... Do you know anything about it?

@IAMC1997 sorry I don't know much about that it wasn't an option for me, @AniseedBall @Vikki6 girls do you guys know anything about laser?

Also how are you both doing xx

Hi girls! I don’t know about laser, it was never mentioned to me. I’m 4 weeks in on Thursday and I’m practically pain free. It can still bring tears to my eyes when doing BM, but apart from that all is good. I had stage 3, and they just cut mine out (thank god) would of hated to have the bands and for all of them to come back. I’m now glad I had it done, as painful as it was, as the pain from my haemorrhoid when swollen was intense. If your haemorrhoids are painful and are causing agg pretty much daily then I’d just go for it and have them removed. I personally couldn’t deal with the constant pain and weeping which is why I took drastic action!!