Hey All,
I am on week five after the excruciatingly painful hemorrhoidectomy, and I was hoping I would be clear of any additional issues.... however, I've noticed extra skin where the stitches were... I'm wondering if any of you have experienced this before and if so, how long did it take forit to shrink and go away? Or did you have yours surgically removed?
Skin tags post op can unfortunately be quite common from the many other recovery stories I’ve read on here. They can sometimes continue to shrink but more than likely at 5 weeks out you might be looking at your end result unfortunately. They can be surgically removed which I’ve read is slightly less painful than a full hemroidectomy but as I’m sure you know any time you start cutting / stitching down there, it’s going to hurt. I’d recommend following up with your surgeon as they’ll be able to give you the best advice on those.
I’m recovering myself from a hemroidectomy right now as well. Currently at day 12 post op. Mine has been extremely painful as well. Do you remember when you stopped having pain during/ after bowel movements? I still have a lot of aching / burning for several hours after going and I’m still leaking a fair amount, which id hoped would be getting better by this point
Hi Pita,
Thank you for the response. I was still feeling pain and burning around the 12 day mark as well. I was experiencing burning for about 21 days, as well as the sensation of initial pain upon release at the beginning of every new bm. However I found with each passing day the pain subsided, down to a dull ache. I still have a little ache when I have a bm, which they say is normal and can last a few months.
Your best bet would be to jump in the bath immediately upon completion of your bm (if you aren't already), and use non scented, all natural baby wipes to pat and clean the area prior to jumping in the bath (if you aren't already using them). In addition, once you are done with the bath (which you should be adding Epsom Salts, if you aren't already) or just before you have the bath, take a couple of ibuprofen, and once you are out of the bath, pat dry and lay down for a bit, with some ice on the area.
Aside from that, there isn't much else you can really do.
But when I was laying down, I had a mat pad on the sheets to absorb the drainage and once I was up and about, I was using a gauze pad, again to absorb any amount of drainage. Both the pads and the gauze (non adhesive) I found were extremely helpful and definitely saved me from doing a ton of laundry.
As for the drainage, depending on how severe your surgery was, you could be looking at 4-6 weeks before the drainage fully stops. It's a tough area to heal, especially since we move around a lot, have bm's and flatulate, all causing a lot of friction etc... so the area certainly does take longer to heal.
However, there are some who stop leaking within 2-3 weeks and continue on with their daily lives from that moment onward. I think it all depends on how severe the surgery was, how many were removed and of course how well the individual is taking care of the area.
I do hope you are drinking plenty of water, eating a higher fiber diet, avoiding red meats, or anything else that may be tough to digest... and avoid coffee/tea and carbonated drinks, as well as alcohol. You want to avoid foods that create harder stools, so keep taking a stool softener every day as well... this will definitely help.
I know the doctors say you can return to your usual diet after a few days.... but my suggestion is eat light, eat a lot of soluble foods and try to get off the heavy pain medication and on to a lighter, less constipating medication, like ibuprofen (if you haven't already).
What I mentioned should help with the pain, unfortunately as for the drainage... that is one of the unlucky side effects, which all you can do is be patient and either use gauze pads between the cheeks to absorb until it eventually stops.
Sadly as I've discovered there are no magical potions or definitive answers, as everyone is different... and has had a different grade and amount of hemorrhoids removed.
May I ask what grade and how many you had removed, and whether they were internal or external? Did you only have hemorrhoids removed or did you have fissures as well?
Z
Sorry meant to say, either use gauze pads or ladies Always pads... but I'm sure gauze pads are less expensive... oh and change the pad once or twice a day.... as you will want to keep the area as dry and clean as possible.
Hope what I have written helps.... oh and avoid fried foods as well... it will definitely make a difference.
Z
Hey Zeke, things improving a bit?
I've actually got something similar now going on. You're a little ahead of me, I'm only 16 days post op now, but I've got something poking out of me now that feels just like a little prolapsed hemorrhoid. It bleeds a bit sometimes during BM's and it hurts to sit on. I'm pretty positive it's not a hemorrhoid and just swelling from the surgery still but wondered if that was similar to what you experienced. I'm terrified it's another hemorrhoid after all that!
Hi Pita,
I'm more than positive they or it is not a new hemorrhoid. More than likely it was they call, skin bridge (extra skin)... it will shrink in time, but do follow up with your surgeon... I am now going on 6 weeks... and mine have shrunk a little bit.... I've been told these could take two to three months before they have shrunken to a manageable size.
Worst case scenario, there is a quick procedure where they can be excised. I personally will be undergoing this surgery on October 25th... which the healing period could take 5-10 days.
Essentially it's a local procedure that takes place in the surgeons office... a simple freezing and then the excision takes place.
I've been told I need to wait until October, mainly because if it's performed too soon after surgery... they could come back.... and of course... my surgeon also mentioned it's best to wait.... until all the swelling has completely healed from the hemorrhoidectomy before performing additional procedures.
However, with any luck, in both our cases, by the second or third month... these will have shrunken down to nothing more than a bump or completely smoothed itself out completely.
I found it took about three weeks before I could sit comfortably... it will hurt to sit on for a period of time.... but that is because of the internal swelling as well.
Sadly there is no magic fix.... but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.... it will take time.... but you'll have to be patient and good to yourself and your body... hopefully at this point you have changed your eating and drinking habits.... no processed foods, more greens.... 6-8 glasses of water a day.... mainly one glass at night before bed and one just as you wake up.
What are your current dietaty habits like now?
When you say bleeding... is it spotting on the toilet paper? And are you using toilet paper or baby wipes?
Do you have any mucous discharge?
Are you still on painkillers?
Z
Hey Z,
Thanks for the reply. I've been doing a ton of research on this tonight and came across a great thread on this same site titled "How long does the swelling last after hemorrhoidectomy?" It's given me some more info on our swelling. One guy on there coined the phrase "the swelling phase" and after a ton of digging around the internet, it seems like an extremely common thing to start happening around 2 wks post op and can last as long as 2 months. The swelling they describe is just like mine (little red thing poking out down there that is tender/ sore and makes it hard to sit) and feels just like a new prolapsed hemorrhoid. The good news though is that it sounds like this is normal and that it will (slowly) go away over the next up to month and a half.
Diet wise I have kept things very simple with lots of whole wheat, fruit servings, yogurts and as many veggies as I can tolerate without them giving me gas, which still feels weird to pass (makes me sort of go numb/ tingle). No cheese. I've got IBS-D, so I'm unfortunately pretty sensitive to a lot of the stuff I should be eating. That's all going to change post op though as I'll become very vigilant about fiber intake, fruits, veggies, etc. I'm drinking a ton of water and gatorade to stay hydrated. No carbonated drinks at all currently.
The bleeding I really only noticed after a few bouts of diarrhea I had. I think it sort of opened up the swelling thing at the end there by what it felt like. There would be a few drops in the toilet and then a bit on the TP/ wet wipe (I'm using both but now mostly just jumping into a shower right after to clean off instead) as I'd gently dab to clean up. Overall, not very much at all though.
I've been off painkillers since pretty much exactly 2 weeks post op. Just taking IB proffin and Tylenol throughout the day now.
The mucus I did have a ton of. I actually saw my surgeon on monday (4 days ago) because I'd been having low grade fevers that where worrying me. She took a peek in there (just sort of spread things and looked, no internal exam thank god) and felt I had a bit too much to mucus/ puss down there and might have an infection. She put me on an antibiotic for a week. I think it upset my stomach a bit for the first couple days but after just 24 hours on the antibiotic the mucus is just a fraction of what it was and it doesn't smell terrible like it did before. Also no more low grade fevers, so it seems pretty clear I had an infection post-op.
I see my surgeon again on the 18th (11 days) so I'll be sure to remember to follow up with you and let you know what she says. She didn't comment about the swelling when she looked last but it didn't really enter "the swelling phase" until Wed for me, 2 days after I saw her. For this next appointment, that will definitely be what I'm focused on most. I'm sure she'll look at it and be able to tell me whats up.
Huge bummer to hear you're going back in October. Really hope that is much less painful for you. Here's one thought though: What you're describing sounds an awful lot like a simple skin tag removal. Skin tags are pretty common after this op with all the swelling, scarring and cutting going on unfortunately. Most people don't really describe them as being tender/ sore though, just sort of as "there". If yours is still sore/ tender that could actually be a good sign it's still just swelling and that you've got some improvement still to come. After all, I'm seeing lots of people describing still having this up to 2 months out and it looks like you're just over 1 month now. I'm hoping for your sake that over the next 2-3 weeks that swelling will go down quite a bit and become painless. In which case, you might not even need the 2nd procedure. As aways though, always go with the surgeons advice!!
Let me know how you're feeling in a few weeks, I'm rooting for you!
I just realized I totally forgot to respond this. I had 3 very large grade 3 internal hemorrhoids (they'd prolapse and could be pushed back in). They where thrombosing and causing a ton of pain/ blood, so that's why I did the surgery after having them for almost a decade. I actually did a huuuuuuuuuuge post-op diary on here that I'm still continuing if you're curious about my specific situation and recovery. Find that by clicking my username and you'll see it.
Thanks for posting your experience as well. Every time a new sort of pain/ symptom pops up it's always so scary, so this forum has been a lifesaver because in my experience this recovery is just a new kind of hell almost every day! Now it's starting to feel more like an endurance race though...
Hi Pita,
This type of procedure and recovery deserves a medal at the end of it. After all this has been by far the most incredible 'race' I've ever been through. I have done marathon races, obstacle course races, such as Tough Mudder etc, but this, this takes the cake. To which I will be so thrilled to have finally reached a point where I can happily say, 'I'm a hemorrhoid survivor'.
Not only is it an embarrassing subject for most, but a condition not many could understand. Including the medical field, from what I'm discovering.
So yes a medal and a t-shirt woukd be great, thank you 🙂. I mean I've been through a few ordeals in my life, acid reflux, broken bones and a minor stroke... but this, this is the mother of all mothers.
As mentioned, I am approaching week 6, post op, on Tuesday September 11th, and it certainly sounds like our condition and recovery experiences are very similar.
I had suffered from these for 6 years. When I first experienced heavy bleeding I rushed myself to the hospital, which I was told, 'They will go away on their own'. Of course not being well educated on the subject at the time, I believed them. However shortly after I saw a 'so called' specialist, where all he wanted to do was do a colonoscopy. Yet when I asked about the bleeding and the hemorrhoids themselves, he reiterated, 'They will go away on their own'. So of course, once again, I believed him... after all, they are supposed to be the specialists.
Having said that, I suffered for several more years, bleeding, prolapsing etc, until about a year ago when I saw another specialist, who performed banding ligation on me about four or five times... which did not work completely, as they only continued to come back, and with a mighty force might I add.
So having gone through that, I finally found a specialist, only two months ago, who actually listened and knew my only option was surgery (I really wish I had met with this specialist years ago).
When I met with him, he realized I had three large, protruding, grade three and grade four hemorrhoids, which were never going to heal on their own.
So nearly 6 weeks ago, I finally had the surgery. I researched the heck out of it, watching videos, reading blogs and discussing it with others. However the one thing I learned was each and every one of us will experience something different. From recovery experience to the end result.
Week one was by far the most excruciating pain I'd ever experienced in my life. I had burning, the sensation of knives and razor blades along with random sphincter muscle spasms, which by the way nearly made me cry. Not to mention, when the packing finally came out (all at once mind you) on day 7,it literally scared the living daylights out of me. It was relieving, but holy smokes, what an awful experience.
Of course at that point, I was finally beginning to have small bf's, that felt like I was giving birth to a brick, on fire, covered in razor blades. To which, once again, I literally cried, it was so unbelievably painful... and continued to be that way until just after week 3. To which my only living saviour was a bath, until the burning sensation subsided.
Although I had stopped taking my pain medications, I continued to take stool softener and eat lightly, while chewing my food to a mere pulp before swallowing.
I believe it was mid week 2 when I discovered the additional skin sticking out, which had dissolvable stitches, and I was eventually told once the stitches dissolved, that portion would also reduce in size.
As of week 2 I did have my follow up appointment with the surgeon, at which time he had mentioned, they will subside, but may never fully go away. I believe that is around the time I started to research what it was and what could be done about it (them).
I discovered dome did experience something quite similar, and in some cases they had reduced naturally within two to three months. Whereas others did undergo the removal of them, while others simply lived with it, as they did not want to go back for any additional procedures.
At that point, I discussed it with my surgeon, he did say he would remove them (skin bridge, extra skin, skin tag as they are often referred to), however he also suggested I wait a few months, to allow them to subside naturally, and as mentioned, if he was to do it too soon, there is the possibility of them returning. So I'll patiently wait.
I have noticed during the past few weeks, there was a little bleeding from one of them, and did experience the odd drip from time to time, between weeks 3 and 4, but subsided just after week 5. Oh and having said that I've also noticed a reduction in size, so I am happy about that... I just hope they are either gone come October 25th, or at the very least, so small, the procedure and recovery time is much less. As I've learned the recovery time may last from 5-10 days, night one being the worst. However, nothing and nowhere near the painful recovery after the hemorrhoidectomy. Which I'll take it do long as I get back to having a normal butt again... and with any luck a model butt 🙂
Coming back to sitting, it was very uncomfortable until just after week 3 by week 4, sitting had turned into a dull ache or a pinch. Nothing the odd Ibuprofen couldn't handle.
I just returned to work just this past week on Tuesday September 4th, and I'm not gonna lie, the pain from sitting was more than just a pinch, but I did take some Ibuprofen a few times, which helped a lot. However my job consists of sitting, standing, walking and occasionally lifting. So I may have pushed it a little, but as they say, 'The show must go on'. I also felt extremely exhausted at the end of each day... however I imagine that is to be expected after returning to work, while still recovering.
I have to say, I am quite grateful for blogs and sites like this. Just knowing I'm not alone, and learning of others experience and how long it took them to recover, along with people to discuss/chat/blog about this has been a godsend. As most people, who have not been through it, find the subject taboo and or don't know how to respond. It's not like a broken ankle or something, where most can relate... this truly is a different animal to discuss.
Oh, I nearly forgot... regarding the discharge.... I too had that, where I was using gauze pads to absorb, until about week 3 or 4, then it began to lesson with each passing day. I still experience a little discharge, but as I am also finding out, it too shall completely pass once the rectum and anus has healed, and all the swelling has reduced once and for all. As I am approaching week 6 it has nearly subsided.... so I imagine by the end of week 6 into week 7 it should stop by then.
I've read some stories where people do experience it into week 8-12, but I'm also wondering how well some of these people are taking care of themselves, either through diet or lifestyle. I think too many people rush back into things too quickly, and most believe they can go back to eating what they did before... which I suppose is fine, if you want to risk going through it all again.
As for me, I've held off on lifting weights again, held off on jogging again and have really switched my dietary habits as well. Which by changing my diet as most certainly helped with my acid reflux, to a point where I'm no longer experiencing the symptoms and pains anymore.
Anyway, I'm going slow during my recovery period.... and I'll wait until either December or January, before I even think about jogging or lifting weights again. However, I do walk a lot so that does help with blood flow etc.
Sorry for the lengthy reply, but I do hope you found it informative and I too am rooting for you and your recovery.
At this point we're both out of the darkest woods... and finally seeing some light.
So, what are you eating these days? I'm sure with IBS that must be difficult. Have you tried fasting or juicing? Just to allow the system to recharge?
Z
PS - Sorry for the typos.... I guess I should have proof read before sending that novel 🙂
I began considering other alternative hemorrhoids treatment, as i conducted my own personal research out of desperation for something , perhaps anything that would alleviate my hemorrhoid symptoms. At this stage i had given up on getting the most effective hemorrhoids treatment available.
I just wanna share, this site really helps me a lot:
Moderator comment: I have removed the link(s) directing to site(s) unsuitable for inclusion in the forums. If users want this information please use the Private Message service to request the details.
Hey Z!
How's it hanging? lol.
My swelling is getting a bit better but is still a pain in the *** Still decently swollen down there at week 5. I remember you where a bit ahead of me on the recovery. How are things going now?
Hey there Pita,
How are you? Any improvement? Sadly, I'm still scheduled for additional surgery to clean up my hoop... not looking forward to it, but looking forward to it at the same time. I just want to get back to normal.
Hope you are doing well
Z
Hey Z,
That sucks about the next surgery. Hopefully that goes well and is less painful for you.
I'm doing better but at the same time still not 100%. I have some pretty nasty pain with pooping and it feels like I really have to "squeeze things out" for lack of a better term. I think this surgery has left me a bit more narrow down there unfortunately. I'm at 6 weeks now and still have some of that visible swelling, so I'm hoping that it just needs to continue to go down still and that I don't actually have stenosis. What I'm experiencing now feels/ sounds a lot like an anal fissure and I'm really hoping that's not the case and that it's just a wound that is slower to heal up from the surgery. I don't know if I could handle another surgery, which they might have to do if it's a fissure or stenosis.
I see my surgeon for another follow up in a little over a week now, so we'll see what she says. I saw her a couple weeks ago and she did a rectal exam (ouch) and didn't think I had stenosis at that point, which is encouraging.
I'm finally able to sit (mostly) comfortably again and I'm back to almost all my old activities. Just need to do a whole routine in the morning around my BM's with the sitz baths, etc still, which sucks. Getting clean is still tricky too with all the swelling still being pretty tender.
Did you ever have any issues with feeling more narrow down there post op?
Hi, I know this is an old post so not sure if anyone ever checks back but I am curious to know if people here who complained about the extra skin around the anus have improved. If you could give me an update it would be greatly appreciated.
I don’t believe I have skin tag but it does feel like a small pile. I’m currently on Day 17 and originally it was quite swollen however it has gone down about half in size. It still is a little bothersome because I can feel it and it rubs against my sides. I imagine that it will still take weeks to go down because I am still slightly swollen down there.
I don’t care about the aesthetics around my anus but I do care about its comfort and unfortunately this hanging skin has been a nuisance. So I’m curious to know how long did it take for your extra skin stop swelling and finally get relier? Thanks!