Hi, Everyone!
I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd touch base. I had my external hemorrhoidectomy almost 8 months ago & I still have good days & bad. Alot of that seems to relate to my bowel movements, as with us all who are post surgery. I am still on 1-2 stool softeners a day to avoid constipation, but I still have it every once in a while. I drink as much water as I can choke down daily, but prolly don't get quite enough every day. Most of my bm's are pretty easy, but even those leave me feeling sore for anywhere from an hour to a full day. I don't understand! I thought this surgery was supposed to fix this. I do have 2 internal hemmi's the surgeon left alone because he said he couldn't remove those PLUS the 3 external's that he did remove. I think those 2 internals are the cause of most of my problems but dont know what to do. My hubby wants me to see a different doctor, maybe a specialist, to see what can be done, if anything. I still have some external swelling (looks kinda bumpy) and I took a picture about a month ago and another today to compare and contrast. Can anyone look at the 2 pics (remember they're about a month apart) and tell me what it looks like to you or if any of you looked or felt like this so far post surgery? Thanks for any responses!!
hi there it looks good too me ok. i had my surgrya year ago and i,m doing great. i,m running more and doing more things than before. and as of today i,m doing super.but just keep drinking your water alot too keep your body moving ok and youll be good . but your bottom is is good to me ok
Thanks for your reply, Thomas! I hope you are right. If you think it looks alright in the 2 pics, since you’ve been through the surgery, too, I’ll take your word for it. Im happy you’re doing so well, & praying I’ll be where you are very very soon! Best wishes…
Hi Janet, good to hear from you again. I thought I’ll share with you my experience which may be helpful.
I had very similar situation to your first pic for some time (I am nearly 4 months after surgery). I felt it’s not right as it felt like inflamation and I have been experiencing all kind of pain and burning sensations. As I did surgery in another country, I have no access to my colorectal surgeon but eventually I contacted her via message and sent her pics when inflamation seemed to be the worst and it looked like I got a new hem. What my doctor told me literally blew my mind.
Here what I’ve been doing for last 3 months:
- Taking fiber supplement daily;
- Trying various supplements to make stool more loose (eg sea buckthorn oil);
- Eating very light, soft food;
- Inserting suppositories and applying creams topically on the outside;
- washing my bum with soap daily.
My doctor’s response: - Stop taking fiber supplement. Instead eat veggies, fruits, food rich in fiber generally (eg oatmeal) and drink min 2 litres of water daily. Often fiber supplements make you bloated and interract with your gut microbioma not in a best way - start training your gut to work on its own unless you have serious gastrointestinal condition that requires supplementing;
- BIG no to sea buckthorn oil or any oil taken orally if you’ve been on fairly strict diet for some time. Various omegas in oils are great for healthy people. However, it’s too much for compromised/recovering organism and may seriously affect pancreas resulting in loose stools which are hard to control;
- Stop eating like a bird, eat normally. Eat a lot of carbs as we need a very bulky but soft stool - until bulky soft stool is achieved, there will be no complete recovery;
- Long use of suppositories and creams work counterproductive creating irritation/inflamation;
- Stop using soap altogether - simple lukewarm water is enough.
Yes, I thought doctor is mental and was very skeptical. In a nutshell, her message was that loose stool is much worse than constipation as it triggers inflamation and doing less is sometimes better vs doing more.
So she told me to apply simple virgin oil on a gauze pad for couple days and start taking probiotic. To stop loose stool, she advised to take one dose of imodium (after having loose stools for some times, apparently it’s not that easy to stop them). So I’ve been doing everything she said and actually feel better. Go figure what’s best.
I am not saying that what my doctor said is correct or will help everyone - think every body is unique and type of hem situation/surgery matters a lot. But I would recommend to see your initial doctor if possible at all as they know the situation before surgery and its their work at the end of the day.
I hope you will completely recover very soon and it’ll all be a distant memory. You’ve been hanging on for such a long time, I salute your patience X
Hi Janet I feel the same as you but I had my internal ones done two big ones . l still feel as like have piles and it’s been five months.I did come off stool softeners and drink loads of water and have a good diet full of fruit and vegetables. I still get constipated from time to time crazy really as don’t really have a clue in what to do . Still don’t regret having it done but did think it would all be good after six months but probably still early days . I’m going to doctor’s soon Friday just to get it checked out so fingers crossed they are not back . hope you get sort we did the hardest thing getting it done so fingers crossed it’s just time that’s needed x
Oh, Olga!!
Thank you sooo much for your lengthy and fully informed response! I was, too, surprised by your doctors recommendations, but if you are following them and they are helping you, I think I will try them, also!! Besides my hubby, who has been incredibly patient throughout this whole terrible ordeal, YOU are the first person to point out to me how long Ive been holding on and to salute my patience!! You have no idea how much your words mean to me!! Thank you for your extraordinary kindness toward me, and for actually taking the time to read my post and respond!! Ive been thinking about seeing another doctor for a 2nd opinion since my surgeon seems to have no answers for me, but after reading your post, I may make an appt with my initial surgeon and give him another chance to examine me and tell me his recommendations. I will get back to you as soon as I find out something…good, bad, or other. I cant thank you enough. Ive had a really bad the last few days, pain-wise (you saw the photo) and sitting is still painful (ridiculous after almost 8 months, but true). I hope you continue to improve! The biggest thing Ive learned about this recovery is it can be a long, slow, and full of setbacks situation. I try to be brave and put on my smiley face daily, but mostly its fake, as I hurt most days. I pray both of our situations resolve very very soon!! Thank you, again, Olga!
Hi, Julie!!
Thank you, so much for your response, & for looking at my pics (I know they’re not pleasant). I relate to your situation so much! Im so sorry after 6 months you are still suffering (especially with on/off constipation…same as me). I, also, thought Id be further along in my recovery at this point but have to face the fact that Im not and it is what it is. Extrreme patience needed!! I still have to have a big cry from time to time, as the stress from dealing with the setbacks and pain still affect my life. I feel like my whole life revolves around my bowels and whether or not Ive drank enough water each day, or got enough dietary fiber in my body, etc etc. So my fingers are also crossed that its just more time thats needed for this nightmare to be over. Im thinking I should go back and see my surgeon, too, and see what he thinks about whats going on down there. (Im kinda tired at this point of having some guys face and fingers in my buttocks, but hey, what else can we do, right?!) Im praying for full and lasting recovery for you, Julie, and for myself, as well. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post!! It means alot to know Im not alone in this!! Good luck to you! If Im finally able to find out whats going on with me and get some kind of solution, I’ll be sure and let you know!! Take care of yourself!!
keep me up too date ok.the surgeon who did me was travis holt from o s f awsome awsome awsome he was great , i was walking the next day but i was walking longger everyday , and i used ice alot down there andwith in 3 weeks i was healing fast . i,m happy for him he did a super job on me . if your close too bloomington illinois look him up
Janet, maybe don’t do all my doctor’s recommendations until you get a professional opinion. But one thing you can definitely try is probiotic. I am taking Culturelle for a few days now and believe it really does work. In any way probiotic can’t hurt.
Your hubby is a saint. I ask mine to check and take photos of my bum - what they will do for love 
I will also keep you updated on my progress and will share with you before and after pics. Take care X
Hi, Thomas! I will be sure and keep you up to date as soon as I know something more about my situation. I, too, use ice from time to time. It seems to help simply by numbing me back there but thats about all. Im very happy that you had such a wonderful surgeon and recovery experience. I had hoped my experience would be similar to yours, unfortunately its not been. Oh, btw, Im in Alabama…no where near illinois. So keep on doing what your doing thats working so well for you!! Thank you for checking up on me. Hopefully I’ll have some news soon, and that it will be encouraging!! Fingers crossed!!
Thank you janet I’m not with thing take a long time but just have to take one day at a time . Please let me know how you get on . Hopefully we will both be back to normal very soon x
You’re not alone!
Do you have sitting problems such as pain or pressure?
I’m >10 months post operation, (hemorroidectomy), still can’t sit because of pain.. I’m feeling constant pressure and pain in rectum, tailbone and the pelvic muscles. I had no such painful condition before this stupid surgery.