Is this Normal? Haemorrhoid Pain and Nasty Doctor

Digestive health
1

Last week I had a consultation with my bowel surgeon. I have endometriosis and have suffered from pain in the behind for 3 years. He did an MRI on my pelvis, which wasn't where the pain was and told me fibroids were causing bad period pain- this wasn't where the pain was! He'd already done a rigid colonscopy exam in his consultation room and said it looked fine. Ideally I'd have liked an MRI of the bowel as I do think the endo has spread to that area. All the symptoms add up.

After telling him that the pain was still there, he told me he'll look for hemarhoids. I hate anal exams but went ahead. As he was poking about I heard and felt lots of snaps and him asking the nurse for more. The pain was pretty bad but bearable.

I was also bleeding a lot. He wiped all this off and left the room, said, "see you in 3 months" before I'd even got dressed. I left in a hurry, embarrassed and aware I was wearing a white dress, with a lot of bloood trailing down my legs.

The nurse found me in the car park and told me she needed to chat, that I'd just had hemrhoid banding done on multiple hemarhoids and I can expect to feel discomfort etc. I just walked away, I had tears streaming down my face and felt awful.

Driving back to work was difficult as the pain began to increase. I wasn't expecting to have to take anytime off. I'm my own boss so can't call in sick.

It continued for 48 hours, I was sick, the pain meant I couldn't sleep. I even took tramadol but they did nothing. I've had 3 children without any pain relief and this is the worst type of pain yet.

It subsided for a day but cam back yesterday with a vengence, even in my cervix, womb and lady bits. It's difficult to do anything and makes me feel so sick and dizzy.

I've already made up my mind to complain about the doctor. He didn't warn me, he didn't ask me and he didn't even try to make it more comfortable. I had 5 fitted. People are usually under anaesthetic for that amount.

Please help and let me know if this is normal and if I'm right to complain or am I just over sensitive due to the embarrassing nature?

2

Dear Martina,

I'm so sorry for your horrible experience.  I've had banding done twice and I must tell you that you must find a new doctor--your physician sounds like a sadist to me, and in no way similar to the treatment I have received by my gastroenterologist or rectal surgeon.  I don't know which country you're in, but in the US a consent form is required for any surgical procedure (including banding).  My doctors have always been caring and have explained all possible outcomes before any procedure, and before I gave my consent.

Your physician needs to be reported to the appropriate medical oversight group (as you say you will do)--and more importantly, you need to find a good gastroenterologist (if you're located in the NYC in the US, I can give you some recommendations).  Also, you might want to consider a legal action against the doctor.

If you know another physician you like (not necessarily rectal related), you might want to contact him/her for additional help with the pain.  There are recommendations on this site for dealing with the pain of these procedures, but you need to be under the care of a good and caring physician.

Bob

 

3

Thanks Bob. I'm in the UK but this really helps as I thought I was being too sensitive due to the nature of the complaint. The pain is absolutely incredible today. If I'd been warned I could have arranged time off work, as it is, I'm working but obviously distracted! It would be interesting to hear if other UK patients have had this treatment too. I'm not quite sure what steps to take next. M

4

Martina,

A  very close friend of mine has a close friend of his own who lives in London.  This Londoner had successful complicated rectal surgery about two years ago--I'll see if I can get you his contact information.

Bob

5

Thanks Bob I really appreciate it. I have to be careful before I complain, as I'm a journalist, so complaints from me tend to go viral. I don't want to risk some doctors job if it's normal to treat people like that here.

6

Hello, 

I am shocked to hear what has happened to you.  I remember seeing a doctor for piles a few years ago, he was prepared to band them that same day and was very casual about it all; it was just before Christmas and I remember thinking I couldn't cope with a painful recovery at such a busy time of year so I said no.  Thank God I did, because when I finally decided to have treatment it was an operation to have them removed (under G.A.).  I ABSOLUTELY think the Doctor was wrong to go ahead and perform banding without your consent and you must speak to a solicitor and the hospital's legal representative. In the U.K. you can ask PALS for assistance.

As for your other trouble, the endometriosis, I think I have that too, and am awaiting an appointment with a specialist to investigate further.  I experience terrible trouble once a month for around a week with going to the toilet, it feels like my insides are glued together and sometimes the pain is so intense.  I find codeine helps with the pain but it's constipating so actually just makes things worse. I live with the pain and try to manage it with Naproxen and paracetamol. I am sorry you are too suffering this pain but at least I know someone else on here who can understand what it's like

I think you need to find another Doctor to talk to immediately about all this. There are nice ones out there but they are hard to find these days.

Good luck and take care.

Amanda

 

7

Martina,

I've sent you a private message.

Bob