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 @Dogwalker1 hope you are doing well today and your new diet / Movicol plan is working.
My BM were as you described at the start of my recovery but now the one thing I can't get is a smooth movement, it's mainly small pieces, all raggedy. I go once, a little tiny bit (it's as though it can't get out) and go again once or twice (or 3 times 😭) generally bigger pieces but none of it feels 'normal'.

Sorry to hear about your lump. I really thought mine was a new haemorrhoid and was devastated at the thought that it was all for nothing but it is gradually reducing. 🤞🏻 yours starts to soon.

My new plan hasn't worked so far 🙁 I've been four times today and have been in quite a lot of pain as I was trying not to take the ibuprofen too. I've taken it now but the pain is subsiding very slowly and I haven't had this for ages. I'm wondering now if it's not all to do with diet / softeners and just my bowel being over sensitive, so I'm feeling the urge to go when there's only a little bit there that wouldn't normally come out. I did have this after banding once but it settled quite quickly and the stools had the same weird appearance. The urge to go is so strong I'm worried I'll have an accident if I hold off 😬 I don't know what to do for the best now but I'm scared of doing damage carrying on like this, it feels like my bum is turning inside out 😭 I've emailed the Consultant again this morning, I hope he has some answers!!

In the meantime I'm going to try and eat as I normally would with a bit more Movicol than before the op and see what happens 🤞🏻

Hi AniseedBall
Poor you - four times 😰. If I go twice in a morning the pain is really bad. This morning I’ve just been once but, like you, still feel an urge to go. I am being a wimp and trying to ignore it as the second one always hurts three times as much. However, I daren’t leave the house with this sensation so I’m stuck here not doing much apart from weighing up the pros and cons of going to the loo. Unlike you I passed a decent amount and I’m thinking of reducing the Movicol as this feels a bit like when you have an upset tummy and therefore you are going more.

I hope the consultant gets back to you today with some guidance. I keep thinking about paying to see my surgeon privately. She has both NHS clinics and private clinics but I’d still probably have to wait two weeks for an appointment so thinking (optimistically!) everything would have settled down by then.

I am down to one dose of ibuprofen a day which is progress I guess. I was taking pretty much the maximum dose of ibuprofen, paracetamol and dihydrocodeine in the first six days. Tramadol makes me very sick otherwise I would have taken that too.
Now I’m off the antibiotics I’m nervously looking out for any signs of infection. Another thing to obsess about...

@Dogwalker1 not many points in your life where you are weighing up the pros and cons of going to the toilet 😁 I know exactly what you mean though! I've resisted the urge to go again, no way I can face a 5th time. I had a bath and have been distracting myself and so far so good 🤞🏻 I'm cutting down the Movicol, the full sachet hasn't been helpful!

Do you have a follow up appointment with your Consultant booked? I've been given one for 6 weeks post op. If this problem continues I may see if I can go sooner. You might be able to get seen quite quickly privately. It could be worth enquiring if you are concerned and they might squeeze you in if you say you are post op and are worried. I've not had a reply yet, hopefully I'll hear soon.

Hi @AniseedBall I’m glad you haven’t had to go again 😊 I’ve resisted too but haven’t felt that comfortable today so not sure how clever that idea was!
I’ve just been online looking at booking an appointment with my consultant. I could get an appointment in a week but I’m going to ring to see how it works as she will probably have to have my NHS notes for the appointment.
I’ve made an follow up appointment with a GP for four weeks time. I was one of the ones on this thread discharged without anything in place. What is the usual time for a follow up appointment with a consultant? I would rather see my consultant as my GP isn’t going to be an expert on the aftermath of bowel surgery. I want to get the timings right as the first appointment will be £250 so I rather not go more than once. Haha I’ve just realised what I’ve written just then 😂
Are you just taking the one sachet of Movicol a day? And you are going to cut back to less than that? I started off by taking two a day but that was way too much. I might start gradually reducing my one a day starting this evening.
X

@AniseedBall. Just realised you said six weeks after your op. I might book that in with my consultant but see her earlier if I’m worried about lack of progress.

@Dogwalker1 I haven't been again either but not sure how wise it is. I haven't felt the most comfortable but I remember this from the banding and it really is the most awful feeling. My reasoning is if I really needed to go the sensation wouldn't go away so I hope I've made the right decision. When I had this feeling before the Consultant said it was the bowel being over sensitive and the best thing to do was ignore the urge once you feel you've been as much as normal as your bowel can get used to getting rid of even the tiniest bit. Hopefully I'll hear back from the Consultant who did my op and I'll get some advice.

Pre op is was having a rounded tsp of Movicol twice a day (about 6-7g) and with my diet that was perfect for soft BM. Post op I had about 10g twice a day then was gradually cutting down to about 8/9g split over the day. Then I started having the problems so upped it gradually having a whole sachet yesterday but it was too much. I've tried 10g today - more than usual but hopefully not too much! I've got no idea how much difference each gram actually makes but I don't think I need double what I'd normally have.

Yes my appointment is 6 weeks post op. When I was worried about the lump he said I could go sooner but 6 weeks was a better time frame to see how things were healing.

@AniseedBall that’s really helpful and it makes a lot of sense. I’ve just been again (very small amount ) and because there was some time from my last BM it didn’t hurt much at all 😀. That’s a first as, even though I’ve needed less ‘recovery time’ after a BM in the last couple of days, it has always been painful straight after.
It’s probably too late to be of benefit to you but I have started using copious amounts of pure Aloe Vera gel on the wet toilet wipes to clean after a bowel movement and at least once more during the day. It’s incredibly soothing and makes ‘afterwards’ much easier. I’ve read that some people use it for haemorrhoids and reducing swelling anyway. I’ve also used Witch Doctor witch hazel gel but I think that this is even better. I’m also applying a haemorrhoid cream containing hydrocortisone to try and help with the swelling and healing.

It’s interesting that I was told to take two sachets a day - no wonder I was going to the loo all the time. I’m under 8 and a half stones so that does seem like a lot!
Hopefully your consultant will get back to you tomorrow. The fact that he thought seeing you after six weeks was best suggests that that is when everything can be expected to have settled down completely. I’m definitely going to ring tomorrow and make an appointment with mine for around the six week period.

@Dogwalker1 that's great news. Sounds like you've really turned a corner. Hopefully it's upwards from here!

I've not been again and am feeling ok at the moment but dreading what might be to come in the morning.

Thanks for mentioning the aloe vera. I'll definitely try it. I've been putting witch hazel on occasionally but something really cooling is exactly what I need. Is there a particular brand you're using?

I was told two sachets per day too but learnt the hard way after my last op that it would be far too much! Apart from that the advice I got was I might need to adjust the dose so I didn't get diarrhoea. Not exactly helpful!!

@AniseedBall
This is the one I got after I’d read online that some people were recommending it for use on bums after Hemorrhoid removal. It probably doesn’t say that on the pack 😊
www.superdrug.com/Skin/Body-Care/Body-Gels/Aloe-Pura-Aloe-Vera-Skin-Gel-200ml/p/732278

@Dogwalker1 I hope you are doing well today. Thanks for the link. I ordered some last night, I'm looking forward to my delivery! They should mention haemorrhoids on the packaging, they'd be able to charge double. I'd pay over the odds for anything that might help 😀

I had a reply from my Consultant this morning. He says it's nothing to worry about as transit time and pelvic floor function are both upset by the surgery and will settle in time. He also said at this stage only really straining will cause damage so I don't need to worry about going if it was actually just my bowel being over sensitive which is a relief. Sadly he didn't have any diet / laxative advice just that it's trial and error!!

Today has been an improvement BM wise, more pain than the last few days but I've only been twice so I'm happy with that and feel like I might be on a better track with diet etc

@AniseedBall I’m glad you’ve had a good day and that the consultant got back to you. What he said makes complete sense but I wish they would give this kind of information pre op - perhaps they don’t realise how worrying all these different stages are. From this thread I know that lots of my many post op symptoms are because of trauma and swelling to that area but I have spent a lot of time worrying in case something more serious was wrong.
Today - especially this afternoon - has been a better day for me. I did go twice this morning but the second time wasn’t as painful as it normally is.

I have bought sooo much stuff from the chemist this week. I think I’ve applied every cream, ointment and gel that you can possibly apply to bums to my bum. Plus one that you’re not supposed to (my EMLA pre tattoo cream) 😊 That out of all of them was the most efficient at stopping any exterior pain.
Touch wood it sounds like the worst is definitely ‘behind’ 😀 us now. I know that it will be a while before everything is back to normal but I’m just thankful that those first 10 days are over and done with.
PS some people are allergic to Aloe Vera especially if you are allergic to onions or garlic. I came across some medical research where they tested its efficiency after haemorrhoid removal ops and the group using aloe Vera did much better than the control group. I hope it works for you when it arrives.

First time doing a post so hope it's on correct page. I'm 4 weeks post OP now and like many people can also say it's been the worst experience ever, but time goes in so fast which is a good thing in this situation. I was off work for 2 weeks and had to go back on 3rd week, although was allowed home early most these days. I still am sore goin to toilet and still have a yellow discharge coming from my wounds and also poo staining, so still use pads about 6 at least a day, not cause there filled with stuff, jus cause you feel dirty. I find when I poo I will continue to leak watery brown poo for ul to 1hr after. I still cant manage to walk more than 15mins without needing a seat which is really frustrating cause I just want to be back to normal. I suffered with piles for 10yrs since giving birth to my oldest and as the years went on it ruined more holidays than enough. I found the sitz bath did not work for me as I was just to uncomfortable to sit on it. If you have a bath please try to fill it up b4 u go to toilet as waiting for it to fill up after you have went is torture, I ended up having it filled and stopping up with hot water when I needed worked, I also had to get a shower after every bath to make sure I was clean. I found blasting the shower head at my rear end helped clean me as you could see it showering away bits off poo.. discusting I know but you have to do whatever helps. My first poo was awful, within an hour I litterly had 3 baths and about 8 showers as I kept going to toilet then tensing up and having to do it again.. I also had to pass a sponge type packaging out with first bowel movement which was daunting. I could write so much more on this.. any questions please ask as I would have loved someone to ask in first 2weeks post OP especially. Good luck everyone !!

Hi @Dogwalker1 I hope you are doing ok today.

I completely agree about doctors giving us all this information pre op. That's exactly what I thought when I read the reply. I don't think they've got any idea the stress they cause by not letting us know about symptoms that can be expected but are completely normal, in advance. It would be so easy for them to do as well 😬

Thanks for mentioning the possible allergy to aloe vera, I can't eat those things so probably best not use it! Thankfully I'd only put a bit on closely followed by a bath before I saw your post.

I'm just not making any progress at the moment. 4 weeks tomorrow and I don't feel any better than I did at 2 weeks. The swelling has been really sore again by the afternoon the last couple of days (feeling just like a prolapsed haemorrhoid even though it's smaller 😭), I had a bit of bleeding again this morning and I'm still having two tiny BMs each morning before I go properly. At least I have been properly the last couple of days though, I need to cling onto the small positives!!

@LouiseMac123 thank you for your post. It's great to hear your experience, you are at the same stage as I am. I'm sorry you are still suffering at 4 weeks but it's a relief to know that it's not unusual at this stage.

I'm sorry you have the discharge and leakage. I have that too. I hadn't mentioned it as no one else on here had and I didn't want to be tmi (not sure that really applies here!!). Also I didn't want to scare anyone who was considering the operation. With that and the other ongoing issues I can't see any benefit to having had the operation at the moment. I could a week or so ago so feel like I've gone backwards. Have you asked anyone about the discharge/ leakage? I'm interested to know when it might improve!

Hi @AniseedBall it must be so frustrating and miserable feeling that no progress has been made in the last two weeks. Maybe you’re feeling more discomfort because of you having a BM three times in a short time. I strained the tiniest bit this morning during a BM to try to avoid going more than once and paid the price by feeling that engorged, achy type of discomfort for a couple of hours afterwards.

That heavy almost dragging down sensation reminds me a bit of the pain I had after my vaginal repair and as you’ve had one of those quite recently I wondered if you are getting deferred pain to that area. My was a posterior op so the distance between the two ops sites in my case is pretty close. I’m mentioning this because a couple of years after my repair I had a reoccurrence of the pain - it felt as if I’d gone back to how I had been a few weeks after the op. My GP examined me and said nothing had physically been damaged but when she heard that I’d done some very heavy lifting she said that I was getting deferred pain in that area. Just thinking that as your pelvic floor has been traumatised by this haemorrhoid op you might be getting more pain because of your previous op.

Re the little BMs followed by the bigger one have you thought about changing the time when you take the Movicol to see if you can just go the once? Taking it earlier the evening before?
It’s weird - I have more discomfort in the morning after BM rather than later in the day but I’m not doing a huge amount during the day. Although, if I am feeling a lot of discomfort, walking around seems to ease it.
I can’t remember how many you had removed this time and how many you had banded. I had one ( which had prolapsed) internal haemorrhoidectomy and two internal ones which were banded. I’m presuming that my banded ones have dropped off 🤢which is why I’m in less pain than a few days ago.

Hello @LouiseMac123 Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sorry that you are still having problems four weeks post op. What/how many did you have done?! Re the discharge/leaking is this a recent symptom or have you had this since the op? I wouldn’t wish this op on anyone but now we’ve had it it’s hard and stressful worrying when we are going to be back to normal, hopefully with results that make it all worthwhile!

Yes somedays I am worse than others and feel fine then feel back to week 2. I had noticed no1 else had mentioned the discharge and leakage either but I wish someone had have mentioned it to me lol. I was with my surgeon last week and he said it is normal and will get better. He did say my wound was very clean which is good. (I have so many showers a day and have actually got dry skin now on my back and shoulders but I have been using coconut oil which has really helped)I'm up again with him in another 4 weeks so will update then also. I didnt read too many reviews b4 my OP which I'm glad as there are some real horror stories I have read, although I've been in alot of pain I was so lucky that I didnt bleed much at all so was lucky that way. I still havent looked in the mirror but can feel when showering a few scars so just need to always be careful now and try never to get constipated. It's good to talk to people that ate going through it as I've spoke to family and friends and they do sympathise but just dont fully understand how I'm feeling.

To be honest I'm not sure how many I did have done, I must find out. I had 4 internal hameroids banded in July and a colonoscopy with a few polyps removed. I then got my hameroidectomy in Sept which I know he said he was able to stitch a few internal ones and he also said I def wasnt lying about the external ones as when he got me prepped on the operating table they all came out I can feel about 3 scars. I will ask him when I'm next up. The discharge was straight away, at the start I thought it was just infection but after 2 courses of antibiotics I realised it was also just a yellow/cream colour discharge. The leaking has been from my first BM, and even if I walk for 10 or 15 mins I feel wet and have to wipe. I'm surprised I havent blocked my toilet the amount of wet wipes I've been through! Also, my poor husband has been a God send , thank goodness I've had him to help me out esp in first 2 weeks

@Dogwalker1 I think you could right about the other surgery having an effect. Prior to this if I did something unusual still felt like there was swelling / bulging there. I had front and back walls and my perineum fixed so it was a big op. During the first week after this op I was getting spasms from one of the wounds that were sending a shooting pain into my vagina 😬

I hope you are feeling better after your experience this morning. If it wasn't for the BMs!!! It sounds like you are doing better overall though.

I had two internal prolapsing ones removed. I have had banding previously (which didn't work) but none done this time.

I've been splitting the Movicol because it's as though the first couple of small BMs are hard and they are stoping the rest so I thought some in the morning would soften that and it's all come out in one go! If it carries in as it is I'll try taking it all after I've eaten in the evening. 3 BMs is not good at all and I'm sure that's what has held me back this week. I've also been doing a bit more (only a bit though), walking and sitting. It's been in the morning when I've had ibuprofen so I haven't noticed at the time but suffered later. It's difficult, I'm getting fed up and restless being stuck at home. Half term next week will be a challenge!

@LouiseMac123 It's reassuring to read that your surgeon said the discharge and leakage would improve with time, thank you. I'd read about the discharge online (a post op guidance sheet from a hospital in the US) so was trying not to worry about it. That said for 1-2 months is normal 😬 I'll definitely be asking about it at my follow up appointment in a couple of weeks if it's still a problem.

Hoping for good bottom days all round tomorrow!!

@LouiseMac123 It sounds as if you have had a huge amount done 😰. Having external ones removed is supposed to be a lot more painful than internal ones and you sound as if you had three of them plus some work done on the internal ones! No wonder you are having a longer recovery time.

Like you I’m getting through a huge number of toilet wipes. I’ve just discovered Anusol wipes - they are softer, wetter, contain witch hazel, camomile and aloe and they are much more soothing than the Andrex ones.
I’m glad too that I didn’t see thread pre op but am so glad it exists. My friends and family don’t want to hear any of the gory details. The family are quite amused when I’m typing and tell them that I’m discussing my bum with strangers.

@AniseedBall your v repair was major 😱 you poor thing!! I too had shooting pains in my vagina after the haemmorrhoidectomy but I could tell that the whole area was traumatised.

Re the Movicol it does seem to make more sense splitting it into two doses as you are already doing but maybe take the doses later in the day. Could you ‘hang on’ a bit in the morning to see if you were more desperate you could go just the once? I’m saying this but my first BM is pretty urgent and I couldn’t delay going by much 😐
Going just the once is the holy grail!! For me having just two BMs close together takes a couple of hours to recover from.

Wishing you both good bum days tomorrow! X

Hi @Dogwalker1 how are you doing today?

I've only been once so far - yay!! The only thing I did differently yesterday was having the morning Movicol a bit later (by accident) but as you suggested I wonder if that's made the difference. I've done the same today so🤞🏻I have been left with a slighty gripey stomach so I'm hoping I won't need to go again. I think I'm having a bit too much Movicol, I had to get up earlier than normal to go 😬 so I'm going to cut it back slightly.

Thank you for your support and advice. It makes all the difference having someone to discuss it with.

I noticed you all mostly saying about movicol.. I have been given fybogel orange sachets to take instead.. my dr has said it will do no harm for me to take them ongoing as it just adds fibre to my diet.. I also got lactose to take for first 2 weeks so now I just take it every other few days. Maybe you could switch to the fybogel to see if that helps? Although saying that i still do go a few times a day and some days 6.. and each time there is alot lol even though I haven't over ate? Before the OP I never went that much lol, so not sure what's happening 😂

Hi @ AniseedBall that’s great news! I’ve just been once today (so far) but I’m getting griping pains too so think I might have to go later. I completely forgot to take my Movicol this morning and have just taken it now. Hopefully it won’t make a huge difference to what happens tomorrow morning 😐.
Today is the first day that I’ve not taken any painkillers (so far!). There’s a bit of discomfort still, but not enough to need to take anything. I’m still using numbing gel/cream when I have a BM but the recovery time afterwards is a lot less than this time last week. I’m also still doing my downward collapsed dog yoga pose afterwards and this seems to help too.

@LouiseMac123 I completely identify with the whole what goes in compared to what comes out situation. What the heck? In the first few days I really wasn’t eating much as I felt a bit yuck and had lost my appetite I just couldn’t understand how I could possibly go that much. I guess that the laxatives just allow everything to be bulked out with water and if you are taking fybogel too then that will swell up just like wallpaper paste granules when it mixes with water. Six times a day sounds tough 😨 are you in much pain?

@LouiseMac123 I had fybogel when I was pregnant and found it gave me a lot of wind so I've stuck to Movicol but I do think sometimes it just makes you go rather than actually softening.
How are you finding going so much? 6 times 😬

@Dogwalker1 great progress that you haven't had to take any painkillers today! I'm still taking ibuprofen in the morning and even had some last night. One wound is more external than the other and can get more painful as the day goes on.
I ended up going again at lunchtime. Even though it was only a bit there wasn't any holding it in 😭 My stomach is griping again now so I'm sitting with a hot water bottle hoping it's just bloating. I've had a bit less discharge and leakage so that's today's positive!

I hope the delayed Movicol doesn't make any difference tomorrow. I did ask once about taking it once vs twice a day and the doctor said it didn't make any difference but I'm too scared to try it!!

After the 4th time going the 5th and 6th is jus like the 4th, so it does get to a point were it cant get any worse lol. Luckily I go in the mornings b4 work and then when I'm home again. Apart from drive my son to football in the evenings thankfully I've only ever went in my own house as I dont think I could handle doing it anywhere else. I'm busting to go to shops or socialise again but at least I've saved money by staying in.

@LouiseMac123 goodness that sounds awful! I'm impressed you are managing to go to work.
How are you finding driving? I haven't attempted it yet but I'm desperate to get out. My bank balance is also looking healthy after not really going anywhere for four weeks. An unexpected upside to this!!

I've ordered some coconut oil that I've seen recommended on here for healing. I'm not sure whether it'll help as mine were internal but am willing to try anything at this stage

I work in an office so on my seat all day and apart from 2 days, I've been on half days. As soon as I get home though I am straight to bed or lie on sofa. Looking back I wish I had have jus took more off work, but all my sick leave and holidays was used up so would have went into unpaid leave and esp this time of year I jus had to push myself to go back. Do you work or due to go back soon? I was able to drive after about 2.5wks but was only ever short journeys and only to drop son at football or my husband to Tesco while I jus sat in car.