First of all, let me say that I am immensely grateful to everyone who has shared their experience and tips on this forum. I have no doubt that my recovery would be entirely different have I not found this site. Yes, the horror stories were anxiety inducing but in the same time the tips shared and lessons learned were invaluable in my recovery so far. I hope by sharing my experience I can repay the favour and help someone else.
The procedure: Colonoscopy + Hemorrhoidectomy (2x large grade IV hems excised) + pudendal nerve block
I am 10 days post op today. While my recovery is still very much a ‘work in progress’ it has so far been much better than I have anticipated.
Surgery Day
I went in at 3pm. I naively thought when I wake up I would be quite numb and not feel a thing. This wasn’t the case and I felt pain immediately after waking up. I told the nurse who gave me some painkiller through IV and Endone tablet. The pain was gone in an instant but the dose was too much as it left me extremely nauseous and light headed. At one point I didn’t think I would be able to leave the hospital and needed to stay overnight. Nurse gave me anti nausea through IV and I managed to eat some yoghurt and finally made it home about 8pm. Ate some soaked oats with banana and slept. Took 1x Panadeine Forte at 11pm as instructed by the nurse and slept through the night.
Day 1
Woke up 5:30am. I wasnt in too much pain maybe 2/10. Was able to get up, walk around (including many stairs) and cook porridge for breakfast. Took antibiotic and anti-inflammatory as prescribed. As I wasnt in much pain i decided to hold off with the painkiller despite the advice that’s best to take it regularly to stay ahead of the pain. I eventually took 1x Panadeine Forte around 2pm when the pain started increasing. Overall though the intensity on Day 1 didn’t reach more 5/10 and the 1 tablet was enough to bring it back down. I rested most of the day and slept through the night.
Day 2
Woke up @ 6am and again not much pain 2/10 so took only the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. At 10.30am after coffee I almost immediately felt the urge. The dreaded first BM! It was small and loose and surprisingly painless while coming out. Only once finished that’s when the pain increased dramatically. Took 1x Panadeine Forte and straight into the hot bath. At its most intense I would say 8/10 but subsided gradually within 20-30 minutes. Again that 1 painkiller was enough to bring it down to absolutely tolerable level for the rest of the day.
Day 3,4,5
Pretty much identical days. Breakfast at 6am and immediately followed by BM which on these days were the most painful during/after with 8/10 intensity gradually subsiding after a long bath soak and 1x Panadeine Forte. The intense pain was relatively short lived and within 1.5-2 hrs back down to 2/10 and remaining low for the rest of the day. So far these were the hardest days but aside of the BMs totally manageable, walking around, up and down stairs, light chores absolutely no issue.
Day 6
Much the same with BM after breakfast. This day the pain was reduced (5/10) and only took about 30 min to subside. I still took 1x Panadeine Forte.
Day 7,8,9,10
BM again after breakfast with pain about 4(3)/10. As this was quite tolerable I didn’t take any painkillers and just soaked in the hot bath tub. It worked quite well and within 45-60 min the pain subsided. Since Day 7 I have not had to take any strong painkillers. Although still taking the anti-inflammatory tablet once a day.
So this is my progress to date and although not quite back to normal and the healing is still in initial stages (surgeon indicated 6-8 weeks) in terms of pain it has been absolutely manageable. Recovery is very different for everyone but if I have to give my 3 top tips..
SURGEON
If you have the option of selecting your surgeon (understand this might not be possible everywhere) do choose a specialist Colorectal surgeon. They deal with the intricate anatomy of the anal canal on a daily basis and their incisions are likely to be more precise than a General surgeon. Yes, it is a minor surgery and not life threatening but as we all ‘have to go’ on a regular basis.. millimeters can make a difference to a quality of life.
BMs
I guess this has been mentioned here a lot and I definitely agree that quality (soft) as well as quantity (the number of times one goes) plays a huge part in the recovery. Constipation is the biggest setback but going too many times might also cause repeated pain episodes and strains on the wound preventing from healing. I take 1x sachet of Movicol and in the first couple of days ate only soups and soft foods (porridge, boiled veggies).
ROUTINE
This has been quite hard for me as I don’t really enjoy doing/eating the same things but will admit it has paid off. In the first week, I diligently woke up, ate, took my medicine in the same time every day. I guess my body got into the routine which meant I also did my BMs every morning at the same time. I have always struggled with regularity (hence the hem issue) and this was first time in my life that I not only did my business daily but on the clock. Absolute godsend as it meant my wound had 24 hrs of uninterrupted healing and the BM pain was getting better each day.
I hope that my story helps others to prepare for the op and hopefully ease some worries and anxiety of the recovery journey. I would be more than happy to give my two cents worth if there is any other information anyone needs. Wishing you all a great recovery.
