Rafaelo Procedure haemorrhoids

[Tanni370000]

I had the Rafaelo procedure on Monday to remove 3 haemorrhoids. From the reviews online I read this shouldn’t be too painful but I am in agony with it. Every bowl movement is torture, even when taking two laxatives. Has anyone experienced this? When did you feel better again? TIA!

Hi everyone I wish I had good news but now nearly 4 months after the Rafaelo procedure I am still having daily burning in my rectum and the nerve pain it has kicked off on my left side is excruciating. I really don’t know how to keep going I have had enough pain to last a lifetime. I am moving house in 3 weeks and can barely function. In desperation I am going for a nerve block in 2 weeks at great expense and in itself off the scale painful but it will be worth it if it stops the pain. I wish I had never had the Rafaelo it should definitely be investigated by whatever medical body is in charge and I understand now why BUPA will not cover it I just wish alarm bells had sounded but it is made out to be so simple which is totally untrue. If anyone has recovered after 4 months please tell me and give me hope.

Hi Bonny! 3 months post op and I had my final check up with the surgeon yesterday, he said it’s all healed and looks good! This confuses me as I still get bleeding and pain with BM however I would say the last 2 weeks have had a big improvement. I take psyllium husk every day as this is like a natural laxative and think that helps! Really hope you start feeling better soon x

Hi thanks for your update I hope you continue to make progress it helps to hear other people are not recovering as quickly as we were led to believe! I take Fybojel Merbeverine am and pm before food and prune juice with Movicol once or twice a day but might change to psyllium to see if it is better as today despite taking the usual meds I am constipated which makes me worry about going for a BM.

Hi Bonny how is your recovery now? Mine is still bad lot of pain with every BM bleeding, GP confirmed both fissures and hemmeroids :( surgery made me worse never used to be in pain every day like this. Hope you’re doing better??

Hi Tammi 37000 I’m sorry you are suffering it really is so debilitating. I have just emailed the Consultant to tell him I am still in pain 6 months down the line. I had a nerve block and had 3 days pain free but then it came back and I have the excruciating nerve pain all down my left side when my anus is sore. It started at 7.00am after a BM and I have had to lie down most of the day.
I am so upset as I had two years ill health and was on the road to recovery until I had the procedure.
I really feel this procedure needs more awareness as we were all led to believe you practically skip out of surgery and return to normal very quickly which is obviously not the case.
On my worst days I feel even a colostomy would be preferable but I know that’s a bit extreme! I don’t think it is too much for us to ask to be pain free and live a normal life. Depending on what the Consultant says I may well approach the Patient Liaison Officer at The Spire where I had the operation or the GMC but would just be grateful if the Consultant can stop the pain.
I do hope we both improve soon and will keep you posted.

@Bonny1234 Which hospital did you have it done at? I've had treatment at the spire in Leeds and had ongoing trouble ever since.

Hi yes The Spire at Leeds how interesting I wonder how many other people are like us? When did you have it done and have you had follow ups or any advice with the Consultant? I would really like to talk to you how could I do this? I am hoping to hear from the Consultant on Monday and will mention I am in contact with at least one other sufferer. I know now why BUPA do not cover this procedure and wish I had heard the alarm bells but like everyone else we were sold it as a miracle quick fix which it clearly is not.
I am going to see what the Consultant has to say but I feel very strongly this procedure needs some publicity through the right channels for misrepresentation. Let me know what you think and if you would like to speak in the phone. I have to say it does help to know I am not the only one suffering!..

@Bonny1234 That is interesting. Just to be clear, I didn't have the same procedure as you, it was treatment for a different illness. I was just wondering about the reputation of the spire at Leeds. Good luck with your consultant, I hope you feel better soon.

Oh I see sorry I can’t help but I have always found the nurses and doctors very good apart from this recent procedure.

Hi Tanni370000 how are you doing now? As you can see from my post I am still suffering. It is really getting me down and I am just hoping the Consultant can help when I speak to him next week.

Hi Bonnie good to hear from you! Wish you were doing better though, it’s frustrating isn’t it. I used to only have the odd bad week of pain before the Rafaelo procedure and now I suffer every day with both fissures and hemmoroids. The procedure definitely left me worse off, thinking of also complaining to the hospital as there needs to be more awareness and honest reviews out there. I’m back to using steroid creams but not long term solution not sure what to do next for pain management!

Hi Tanni I’m so sorry you are suffering and know how it drags you down I long to be the happy outgoing person I was prior to this procedure. I will get back in touch when I have spoken to the Consultant and we can get our heads together. I’m sure there will be many more people suffering like us it’s just a matter of getting in touch with them but as we both agree there needs to be much more awareness of this procedure. Maybe we should contact Dr Zoe on This Morning?! Speak soon.

@Bonny1234 sorry to hear you are still having issues. There’s a Facebook group called ‘Hemorrhoid/Fissure Support Group’ and a couple of people on there were unhappy after the Rafaelo procedure and felt the recovery period was misrepresented. It may be worth taking a look if you want to get in touch with others.

Thank you I will definitely check that out! It’s always nice to hear you’re not suffering alone

Bonny1234 Thanks MsMelidy I will have a look and maybe we can get together and get our experience out there. I am seeing the surgeon who did my op on Monday so I will get back to you after that.

I made an official complaint to the hospital today, I don’t think they should be doing this procedure I’m yet to find one person who it worked for. Not only that but all the people I’ve spoken to are actually worse off afterwards, crazy how it’s kept hush and all these fake reviews online.

Good for you I am waiting until I see the Consultant on Monday but I will certainly tell him that there are numerous people suffering and that it is about to get a lot of publicity. I will let you know after I have seen him.
I am wondering what the best course of action is to draw attention to this procedure and will ask BUPA who told me they don’t cover it as it is not proven to work I just wish I had thought twice when they said that.
Do you mind me asking which hospital you had the procedure at? I initially contacted a company called Experia or something like that the man was adamant it was a quick fix and said people were riding a bike after a week etc I didn’t like the sound of him so went to The Spire at Leeds assuming I would be able to trust the surgeon - little did I know 6 months down the line I would still be in pain., and not just from the operation but excruciating daily nerve pain which started about two weeks after and is ruining my life as I have to lie down for hours to gets any relief .
I will get back to you after Monday.

@Tanni370000 Where did you have your procedure done? What did the hospital say about your complaint? It definitely should be made clear to people the risks that come with this treatment. I've read about other people who really regret it.

I had the procedure at Harpenden. Just an automated response at the moment but they are going to look into it and then get in touch. Will keep you guys posted!

Ok will be in touch next week

@Bonny1234 how did you get on with your consultant today?

Hi he said everything is healed no fissure etc which is a relief. He says my rectal muscles are a bit weak probably due to constant chronic constipation last year when I was on morphine and loads of other drugs for months for abdominal pain. This means a small amount of faeces leaks out causing the skin to become sore. I am using a spray to clean myself and will see what happens. It doesn’t explain the nerve pain but if I can stop the soreness in my bottom I’m hoping that will subside.

I did contact Rafaelo who were sympathetic but said there is a 95% success rate but it might be worth you contacting them to let them know you are suffering.
I still think it is all to do with the procedure because I was ok up till then but just have to hope things improve.
I do hope you are feeling better soon I will keep in touch.

@Bonny1234 I have a friend who had this procedure done at the spire in leeds and has been left with pain and faecal incontinence whilst being told that the treatment was a success. Your consultants surname wouldn't happen to begin with M would it? Because she's been told that no one else suffers these side effects and it's her body not the treatment and she's felt really fobbed off. So if so, this is interesting to find out.

Lovely Dayz OMG that is so interesting and yes M is the consultant. He told me as my rectal muscle is a bit weak some poo leaks out and that is what makes me sore but I have never had this problem before the operation.
Mr M is referring me to a physio to help strengthen the muscle and put me on waiting list for NHS procedure that sends impulses to your rectum supposedly to strengthen them & if the initial procedure works you then have an implant.
I won’t be having any more procedures without consultation with my GP & someone who has had it done as I fear it could make things worse.
if your friend would like to speak to me please put her in touch it would be interesting to approach the Spire together along with anybody else we could find who is suffering.

Lovely Dayz when did your friend have her operation?