Haemorrhoidectomy hell

[IncredibleSulk]

I’m day 3 and I honestly can’t go on. This pain is absolutely horrific. Please please tell me your happy endings or any tips to see me through another night.

@1Sky I had lots of issues so it was less of a choice to go through with the op.

@IncredibleSulk there are some diclofenac suppositories in the medicine box but I’m still too scared! Well done on going out - I’ve only made it to nearby shops so far.

I had thrombosed piles and have never been in such excruciating pain in my life. GP knifed them under local - to no avail. I was a weeping heap.

I have no idea how you are coping with a wee babe at the same time - respect!!

I really hope the suppositories will do the trick. One piece of advice - keep the traffic friendly! i.e. don't let yourself get constipated. Good luck!

Im reading this and wincing with each sentence. I have internal haemorrhoids which have flared us various times. But recently it was horrendous. It got ulcerated and I spent about a week where I could hardly get out of bed. I managed on high levels of painkillers.

i was recommended surgery. The surgeon was very clear with me though that it is absolutely agonising. He said I’d need to be prepared for that and I would need lots of support (I have children etc). It’s gone from being agonising when going to the toilet; lots of blood, almost fainting from pain to now being painful for a few hours after. I’m trying everything I can to give my body a chance to heal naturally. and fear that surgery will become my only option in the future. It sounds horrendous. I really feel for you all in recovery.

Dp was discharged with cocodamol, a topical pain killer (gel) and laxatives for 3 days. He went to work on day 4 (had procedure on a Thursday) with just ibroprofen, didn't complain at all except asked me to pick up a couple of packs of ibroprofen on my way home because he didn't fancy the supermarket as he was a bit tired. Went camping (an event) on day 9, alcohol cures all perhaps

I'm guessing it depends on position and perhaps there's different procedures, he went private (work insurance).

There does seem to be a massive range of recovery experiences from what I’ve read. Some people up and running on day 4 and others still having issues months down the line.

Sending you all get well vibes

I am shortly due to be booked in for what I think is this surgery I had no idea it was this much of a recovery. I had about 2 mins with the consultant and he said nothing about it being this bad. Super glad I found this post so I can ask many questions next time I see him .

Hope you turn a corner soon

I don’t understand why some surgeons undersell the recovery when it just massively adds to the post-op stress (and also surely results in far more pissed off patients). The surgeon who did mine stressed a lot beforehand that it’s a very painful procedure.

@Ljc1985 definitely go though lots of questions with the consultant. I found a really good general list of pre-surgery questions somewhere which I can’t now locate, but from memory

1. what are the potential complications
2. are there any alternatives to to surgery?
3. what is likely to happen if I don’t have the surgery?
4. how many do these operations do you carry out a year?

And if it’s NHS, I would check if the consultant is going to do the surgery, or if it will be a more junior doctor under supervision.

The pain is on a whole new level. You need to be prepared for that. I did it privately and the surgeon who I had known for a very long time simply said “hmm you’ll be uncomfortable after” and I thought meh, I can deal with discomfort. It was hell.

As I posted further up, my surgery left me with permanent faecal incontinence too. I know all surgery has risks and you (well, I) naturally dismiss them as I see it all as formalities. But I truly regret getting the op. It destroyed my life.

I happened to mention the mess my bum was in at my postnatal check with the GP. Since pregnancy the piles has settled down but I was left with some significant skin tags externally so it was more of a cosmetic/hygiene issue. The GP simply said she would refer me to see if anything could be done.

Received a referral to a private consultant via the NHS within a week or two. Told him my history: sufferer with constipation/piles during two pregnancies, not really any issues when not pregnant maybe an occasional flare up easily soothed with anusol etc. He had a look and said yes it was quite bad, did an examination and could feel haemorrhoids internally. Said that the skin tags would not be covered on the NHS but as I had piles internally that he could feel I would qualify. And that was that. Said he had a 4-6 week waiting list, did I want to postpone (I had my baby with me). Talked about recovery, I said I’d read horror stories, he advised that obviously it’s uncomfortable but he sends patients home with paracetamol and antibiotics. So I thought about it and thought is there ever going to be a good time until they’re at nursery/school? Decided now would be best whilst they aren’t on the move etc.

From the second I came round round in recovery I have not been out of pain. I was trying to climb out of the trolley the pain in my bum was so bad and unexpected really. I had 2x IV morphine in recovery which didn’t really help. Transferred back to day unit and gone a few hours later with paracetamol, ibuprofen, metronidazole and a few syringes of instillagel (a supposed numbing gel which does absolutely nothing).

The first night wasn’t too bad actually, manageable pain. I have had a hot water bottle attached to my bum since discharge. The next day was bad but generally just about manageable. I think I only broke into tears once. But the night time was horrific, I was screaming in agony like I had been possessed. An amazing friend came to help me and she brought me some painkillers that she has.

The next few days were again bad with a couple of hour long episodes where I just could not bear it any more. PR diclofenac has been my saviour but the consultant wouldn’t prescribe it I guess due to it being inserted to a wound area. Hot water bottle is amazing to help just take the edge off the pain and my gas bill is going to be in the thousands this month due to the amount of hot baths I’ve had.

Today I have no help with childcare and OH is out until 8pm. I have one diclofenac left so I am saving this for a desperate time. I’m in the bath now to try and get myself the best start to the day possible. I do have a prescription for oral diclofenac which I will collect this morning and i hope that helps.

I think the internal pain is generally so much better now, what I really suffer with is the external stitches. So if you only had internal piles removed and no skin tags removed or external trauma I could see how recovery would be less traumatic.

I have an appointment with the consultant in the new year and I will definitely be feeding back on my experience and how I feel it was downplayed. I do have to say I had a sneak peek with the mirror yesterday and I do have a brand spanking new bum so at least it won’t have been for nothing. And I will never ever let myself risk piles again.

Also, I’ll hopefully lose a few pounds as I really have to think about whether it’s worth eating now!

I hope those of us suffering on this thread have a better week.

How has your day been @IncredibleSulk ? I was thinking of you and your emergency diclofenac. Hope your OH is back home soon to take over.

I also feel the internal stuff is a lot better. It’s the external which is still painful. The surgeon couldn’t remove everything as some had to be left to prevent stenosis. I definitely do not have a perfect bum! Just hoping the swelling goes down and the healing keeps going. Feel again today that not much has progressed.

I’ve managed to hold off the emergency diclofenac, have got by with oral diclofenac and paracetamol. I actually had a brief period in time where I thought to myself today ‘I’m not actually in any pain’ which is the first time that has happened since the procedure a week ago (and it was short lived!). So a much better day, I’ve even decorated the tree. But I think the reason for that is because I’ve not had to go to the toilet. I’m torn between feeling relieved that I’ve not had to go through that pain or feeling worried that I’m going to be bunged up and it’s going to be even more painful. We shall see what tomorrow brings!

For the first time since the op I am in bed without a hot water bottle attached to my bum! I have no doubt that it will be back in use tomorrow when I’ve had to go through the trauma of the toilet!

I think perfect bums are overrated, at least our flawed bums have a bit of character 🙂really hope you start to see the other side of this horrible journey soon.

So sorry you are suffering still.

This has given me so much food for thought.

I had literally 2 mins with the dr who referred me and he didn't say anything about a painful recovery. I also had the complication that every surgery I have ever had the wounds have become infected . I infect easily apparently.

I'm waiting a date for surgery and will request a consult to discuss although I'm just about to switch the process from NHS to private so may try and talk to the surgeon.

Mine had come around because I have bowel disease that has caused the skin tags and haemorrhoids so I have just had another colonoscopy to check no more issues further up before they treat. Currently they annoy me and cause irritation and bleeding but the surgery recovery sounds enough for me to not want to go ahead right now . I have a toddler who is very active

I really hope you all continue to improve

Sorry me again! I should have added I'm allergic to most pain relief which also makes me think I should hold off as I can only have ibroprofen or paracetamol .

I just can't tell you how pleased I am to have found this!

@Ljc1985 lots for you to think about and chat to your consultant then. I’m going to be honest, I have only managed to get through it with stronger drugs that I had on hand. Still a week on I couldn’t imagine just having paracetamol and ibuprofen and that’s now that the pain is a lot better than it was.

Glad you are feeling better

@Ljc1985 they can inject the piles while you have your colonoscopy if that's an option? They did that for me last time and it was great. Doesn't last forever but gives some short term relief.

I’m two weeks on if any one wanted a bit of an update.

I’d say the first 5-7 days were horrendous, makes me feel sick when I think of the pain I was in.
From around day 6/7 to 10 things were slightly better, a bit more like what I imagined it to be. Painful, but manageable with drugs/hot water bottle/bath. Obviously going to the toilet is/was incredibly painful.
Two weeks on and I haven’t needed pain killers now for a couple of days. The stitches can still be very sore and have occasional sharp pain in that area. No sign of them dissolving. Going to the toilet is still not pleasant but is more bearable now. I think it was day 12 where I thought to myself oh wow I’m actually not currently in any pain or soreness (lasted about half an hour). I still have a bath or two every day for comfort.

So hopefully the worst is over. It’s hard to believe how bad it was when you’re not experiencing it anymore! Hope everyone else is ok.

Glad the storm is passing over a bit for you. It's grim isn't it. Hopefully you will be able to sit and eat your Christmas dinner without pain. Fingers crossed!

How are things now @IncredibleSulk ?

@PointersPlease a million times better thank you. No pain now unless going to the toilet which is expected and it’s no longer excruciating. It’s hard to believe how bad the pain was now that I’m not experiencing it any more.

@IncredibleSulk thats good to hear. I have a relative waiting for a date for this op and beginning to wonder if they'd cope with the aftermath

I’d prepare for at least two weeks of being absolutely good for nothing!

Sorry to drag this back up but finally looks like I'm soon for surgery but I'm so unsure

Those of you that suffered after are you pleased you did it?

Also I've never had a chance to talk to anyone about it but I was told it's Botox and banding. Is that similar to what anyone else had as I'm not sure I'm going to get much chance to ask questions before I decide.

I am 4 weeks post op and had surgical removal of 3 grade 4 prolapsed, thrombosed haemorrhoids. The surgeon said I was the worst case he had ever seen.
I was extremely lucky to have had my emergency happen abroad in a country with excellent health care and covered by my travel insurance.

They did a bowel prep and colon washout prior to surgery.

Things I would advise if you are in UK /NHS:
Do a bowel clear out programme over a couple of weeks prior to surgery; use movicol regularly and keep taking it for at least 4 weeks after surgery.
Take regular pain killers but NOT opiates. I was given 7 days of ABx and anti-inflammatories plus omeprazole to protect my stomach. I was also given a daily sachet of guar gum granules in a glass of water to keep my bowels working. Daily lactulose and milk of magnesia.
The first week I was advised to have a soft diet - soup, yogurt, fruit.
Loads of fluids - plenty of water and herbal teas, a drink every hour. It is important to keep your bladder working as there is a lot of swelling post op.
The aim was to keep stools very, very soft so there was no straining or pressure in the rectum.
The first week was the worst and I took all the meds I was offered. I was on bed rest and slept most of the time.
I continued the pain killers and soft diet through week 2 as well as the guar gum granules, fluids and stool softener.
Week three I started having salad and pasta.
Week 4 I am gradually reducing the amount of lactulose, but I think I will be on a small dose permanently now. No more pain killers and continuing salad, fruit, plenty of fluids.
I have much better control of my bowels and only going once or twice a day.
sutures are dissolvable but surgeon took a few external ones out because they were sore.
I anticipate that I will be almost fully recovered by about the 6 week mark.
If you have to have surgery, it is a painful and debilitating procedure. I had no choice because I had acute onset and prolapse.
I hope my tips and suggestions will be helpful to someone.

Just remembered I had regular gabapentin too.