My experience 5 weeks after Haemorrhoidectomy 

Digestive health
41

Hi Glen, it has just been 8 days since my operation (op was June 25; conventional hemmorhoidectomy)and I can say that I am lucky since I think I'm doing better at recovering than most! A day after the op, I was released even though I have not pooped since I have farted plenty. Fair warning, morbid details below

It was painful to pee or fart on the first and second day. The worst pain is for the first and second BM. My doctor didn't tell me anything. In fact, he said I could eat anything I wanted. Since I did eat everything I wanted, even though I drank 8 glasses of water at least after the op, I was still constipated. Well, constipation is normal for me since I just usually poop twice or thrice a week but I got worried when after 4 days, I still haven't pooped. After I went to the doctor, he told me to take dulcolax tablet every night and eat fiber.

On morning of 5th day, couldn't poop still. I feel the urge to go but whenever I try to go, the pain is excruciating, I cant take it. So I was bloated, miserable, and I know the poop is near the rim of my anus so its stretching it. I feel a spasm every hour and it hurts. From day 2 to 4, I can walk normally but on the 5th day, because of the pain in my rear, I walked funny, bowlegged. Too late by then but I decided to eat oats -- I ate half cup of oats in the morning and another half cup at night. I decided lunch is my 'normal' food. I drink 1-2 glass of water in the morning which makes me pee almost hourly. Whenever I pee, I drink water again so I probably drink at least 18 glasses of water a day. Night of 5th day, I took dulcolax together with my prescribed antibiotics and pain killer.

On 6th day, around 6am, I felt the urge to go. In the toilet, I was miserable. I couldn't poop but my stomach is rumbling. I think that since I was constipated, there's a lump of hard stool blocking my rear. Cursing and nearly passing out, I decided I had to get this going. I know they said not to strain, but there's no other way for me. I was crying on the toilet, straining. My rear was on fire and I can't poop. Every time I feel the hard poop breach my anus, I unconsciously stop pushing because it hurts so much! It was a psychological as well as physical battle for me. I'm not sure where I found the strength but I was able to finally push it out! I felt nearly passing out. After a very large hard lump, I poop a small hard one and then softer thin stools. I was really really tired. So after cleaning my self, I struggled to stand. It's a good thing my toilet was small coz I have the sink and walls to steady/hoist my self (I live alone). Then I took a hot shower. I must have spent more than an hour in the toilet with my long shower combined. Even after pooping and hot shower, I'm in constant pain. My rear would spasm 3-4 times an hour and it hurts I couldn't sleep, I was just in bed until 11am. Pain meds cant seem to keep it at bay. Also, since I strained, I was afraid I had an anal fissure. On 12noon after lunch, I had to poop again which hurt a lot even if my stool was the soft thin stools. I pooped 3rd time after dinner, but this time it was smooth -- my stool was too loose but at least less pain.

I don't wanna be constipated anymore so I continued to drink a lot of water, eat at least half cup of oats a day, drank my dulcolax nightly, ate veggies and controlled my rice intake to half cup. I also limit myself to 2 pain med -- will try to eliminate this as soon as I can.

To ease the discomfort I also bought a travel neck pillow I can sit on. My BM now do not hurt as much because of my new regimen and I intend to keep it that way. My doctor just prescribed using dulcolax for 3 days but I'm so afraid to be constipated now I'm thinking of continuing it for some more days. I'll try if the oats, water and veggies can suffice as stool softeners buy if I can't poop tomorrow, I'll probably go back to dulcolax.

I also have the skin tag by the way. I don't want it so I'm hoping it'll go away soon. Not only does it hurt, it makes cleaning my rear difficult. Whenever I clean my rear and I accidentally poke it even if gently, it hurts a lot. Contrary to my first assumption, I now think I don't have anal fissure which is good.

I don't have the squatty potty but I did find a few tricks to help with BM. While sitting, I tip toe and drape my arms overy lower abdomen to put a little pressure and lean forward. I also breathe through the mouth so it's easier to relax. I don't strain now, I just wait for my poop to fall.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It was nice to hear and it has motivated me. It really is a lifestyle change. I don't wanna undergo another operation and hopefully if I keep this up, I won't ever have to go through the ordeal again. I hope my skin tag will go away on its own even if it takes months, I just don't want another incision or wound.

I keep telling my friends to avoid hemmorhoidectomy by living, eating and drinking right because of a very painful and long post-op recovery.

I have a follow up check up with my doctor on July 16th so hoping to hear affirmation of good news from my doctor.

From your story and others who have responded to your post, I think that I am recovering fast compared to others and I feel all the more motivated and positive.

My prayers to all of us, hope we all get better soon!

42

Hi Glen,

Thanks so much for your detailed recovery, it definitely gives hope. I'm 4 weeks post hemeroidectomy. I never imagined recovery to be as slow as it is but it's happening which is the main thing. My main question is, did you suffer leakage after a BM that continued for a few hours after and if so, for how long post op did this happen? My consultant tells me not to worry it will stop but I am becoming very down about it. Any input of anyone's experience would be so so helpful....thank you

43

My Dr told me leakage is normal. I just had my surgery on the 12th 😭. You can use sanitary napkins or stuff with gauze

44

Did you Dr mention how long the leakage would last for. My Dr told me to come back in 3 months 🙈 Which is not what I wanted to hear when I am desperate to know when it will stop

45

Firstly - thank you to everyone who has posted on here, I'm having some issues and it's been comforting just to know I'm not alone This page is a stress reliever,

I seem to be 1 of the small percentage of people who had complications. I was not given instructions to use laxatives, empty my bowels etc the day before -only not to eat after midnight. After the out-patient op I was released, I had what I thought was a UTI and had to get meds for that. A night of extreme pain and vomiting put me back in the ER the next day. I was in the hospital for 9 days. I had to empty my bowels - the pain was excruciating. I tell you this so if you are pre-op you make sure you you have the info to empty your body before. This is the most important info I wasn't given. (I had 3 internal Haemorroids and 2 external 'removed' and an old anal fissure 'tidied up/cleaned out&#39 . I don''t want to scare anyone but the pain of emtying my bowels after the op was 10/10 , I truly didn't know if I would make it. I lost so much blood over two days when using the toilet - I ended up having 3 blood transfusions. Again - make sure you are empty before your op.

I am now 3 weeks post op. I thought things were going smoothly but now Constipation is an issue - which is why I am on here - looking for comfort from others -I'm taking Golytely. Also taking stool softners, Miralax has not worked, pain killers are a minimum now and some of my toilet isues could be mental from the trauma in the hospital. I need to relax.

I am a vegetarian. I drink a lot of water. Things are not retracted - which I wasn't expecting either and my Dr has said it could be 8 to 12 weeks.

Oh - I forgot to say - I have found it easier to use the restroom while usng a Stz bath. Not the greatest as it can be a bit messy and you do have to clean it after pooping into water but the warm water has taken away some discmfort. And at this time anything to ease the pain is so welcome. I also shower immediately after using the toilet every time. 

I truly hope that no-one has to ever go through the pain I did. Again I thank you all for being here and sharing experiences. It is very comforting. I hope that I have give a little info that can help others. 

46

No he didn't mention just that it would happen and to stuff my crack with gauze lol I use pads instead.

47

So I would like to pay it forward and share my experience with hem surgery. I am 9 days post op and finally feeling a little better. After surgery I was fine, no pain, just numb. I was prescribed oxycodone with Tylenol, stool softeners, and Metamucil. I did not have a BM for the first 24 hours, so I took Milk of Magnesia the second night before bed. I woke up at 5am with the BUBBLEGUTS!! That first BM was so excruciatingly painful. I screamed and cried feeling like I was sh*tting pins and needles. I never cried like that in my whole entire life. I was sweating, nauseous, and felt like I was going to pass out from the pain! I sat in a sitz bath crying and whining like a baby. I knew the rest of the week was going to be hell ;(

The rest of that day I was back and forth to the restroom about 7x with diarrhea. Each time as painful as the first. I had pain down my legs all the way down to my feet and twitching pain up my crack I had my son go with me each time for the first four days to hold on to him. He is such a trooper lol he would comfort me and talk me through each BM and get my sitz bath ready immediately after lol ❤️ (11 years old) anyways the oxycodone was amazing except for the side effect of a migraine? Strange? I was then prescribed tramadol (weak). Each day has been a little better until tonight. After my shower I checked butt out and saw I have an open wound about 2inches long. I also saw the stitches had came apart and exposed. I spoke with an on call surgeon and told me that was normal due to the anus stretching and to leave it alone. I'm freaking out now and am scared to have my next BM. They have not been so bad but after seeing that I'm traumatized!

I can't wait to be fully recovered. I was not regretting the surgery until I saw the opened wound. I almost passed out!

Getting up out of bed, a couch, a chair, the car, the toilet is so painful. I have to get up slowly with my butt sticking out lol embarrassing! If I walk for too long I feel like if my butthole is going to flip inside out ;( I only recommend this surgery if you really need it because the recovery is torture. Plus your family has to see you suffer. You'll need someone to be there with you to help you out with taking care of yourself, your family, and your home. If you're single like me, it's hard. Just my boy to help out, but he has been wonderful through this process

So I have been taking a sitz bath after every BM, I blow dry the area afterwards on the cool setting to avoid infection, I use pads for the bleeding and discharge (not so bad), I'll use the DIY diaper method to make an ice pack at least once a day for swelling, I wipe with cottonelle wet wipes, and pain meds around the clock! Hope this was helpful!

Anyone else with open wounds? Help!

48

Dear Glen,

this is my day 10 after op (IV grade, nip&tuck),  I have just woken up at 2am with uneasiness and after I passed a gass I had to go for real - this being the 7th time today! Fortunately, the pain ceased and all I have is a temporary burning which passes after a massage. For someone who suffered from constipation since childhood (I'm 30 now), I am far from being used to going once a week let alone 7 times a day. i drink a lot of water, eat watermelon, drink home made juice and think how to improve my diet every day. Your post gave me hope for I was somewhat discouraged today, the swelling looks just like piles and I was wondering if it is gonna stay there... One thing I did not see anyone mentioning is the massage of the inside. Doctor prescribed a gel to me to put on my finger tip and go in to do the massages. He stressed it as very importand but for me it is very painful and I do it with lot of cringing and pep talk. I am writing down my daily struggles and I will write about it in more detail here after I get better. Until then, thank you so much for sharing very useful notes, I really appreciate it! All the best! 

49

Firstly - your son sounds lovely - you are very lucky. I know no more than you - only that I use a Sitz bath many times through a day. The warm water is soothing. (I actually also use it as a toilet - standing up/cleaning and refilling as soon as I have gone - for me that helps). I get you on the pain - it is excruitating - my friends tell me to make sure I breath - they can hear me holding my breath and breathing releases some of the pain. I take a long warm shower after a BM. Do you have Lidocaine? a topical ointment that does seem to help with some numbing. 

50

Yes he is lovely thank you my dr will not prescribe me anything but pain meds I am able to have a BM without pain it's just the open wound that bothers me now. I still get scared to use the bathroom lol I am traumatized I guess! Thanks again

51

Hi, I am on day 18 today and it's been the most horrific pain I've experienced , the first 2 weeks was bed, toilet , shower , bath, bed!! I've been constipated , panted like I was giving birth to broken glass! I had 3 external piles and a skin tag , suffered for 20 years plus so enough was enough! One thing I really can't understand is before the op my bm was 2 to 3 times a day but now I'm eating less and going 4 to 6 times a day! I haven't been taking anything for nearly 2 weeks! I'm sick of going to the toilet it's getting where I darent go anywhere because when I gotta go , I gotta go , the swelling only minor now but at first when I wiped I nearly had heart failure as it felt like the piles were there with a vegance! I have to go back to work on Monday I'm in a office so hope I can sit ok! I know the operation is worth it in the long run as I couldn't ever imagine going through it when I'm older , I'm 50 now !! I still have leakage , not sure when that will stop, i didn't even know about that til I read it on here , the hospital wasn't very informative really , they did tell me 6 weeks complete recovery, can't wait to feel normal again

52

I have been having loads of salt baths and lavender oil helps to soothe in the bath as well

53

Hang in there Dorothy Dee

The swelling takes some time to go down, I was roughly 5 weeks and a few days before the swelling subsided. It's awful as you feel the hems are still there, it just takes time. Even though the swelling has gone I'm now 6 weeks and 5 days I still find the site very sore and raw where I had a skin tag removed, that area still leaks a clear-ish fluid. And up till now I still have a small amount of leakage about an hour after a BM for up to 2-3 hrs, totally gross and praying that will stop

54

Dear Lulu, thank you for your reply. For the couple of days I felt well, only burning after the BM but I used the tips from all you guys and soaked the wound in the warm water and it helped. I only once had blood in my stool but not too much. Today was little worse than yesterday, I felt bloated. By leakage, do you mean this yellowish thing that stays on the paper or cloth after tapping it dry, and for some time afterwards? What is it? No smell - yeah I sniffed, gross but could not help it. 

55

My doctor did not explain much either, I told him that I feel like it is a game, every day a new unexpected level is revealed. He laughed. He said I could call him any time but whatever happens is what has to happen, it is normal. Still, all of you guys here helped a lot, it is so much closer tohear the patients' perspective. I hope you all get well soon! 

Ps never wipe, always tap. 

56

Try using tucks to wipe or buy a handheld shower head to rinse off. I bought one and it worked great when I was really sore to touch. If your constipated try Metamucil once a day and stool softeners daily.

57

Hey DD

By leakage I mean yes I have the yellowish mucus type leakage, it's a very very small amount and I think it's coming from the site of the skin tag removal and that happens all day. I wear a 4x4 gauze on the site all day and change it numerous times and it's there. But in addition to that, after a BM, say 1hr after, I have very small stool leakage more like a poopy mucus that comes for up to 3hrs after the bowel movement. Like I forgot to wipe or clean properly (obvs not the case). This really concerns me as it makes me feel disgusting. I sincerely hope it goes away. It's hard to really tell but I do feel it's subsiding day by day however no 2 days are the same, sometimes I feel I'm taking 10 steps forward, others 15 steps back

58

Hey Lulu,

yes we are on the same page enitrely, even with the poopy mucus part. I am on day 17 but have unfortunately been on my period for three days, too. Just when I got little better there it came, earlier than expected (could be the stress). Today, I had normal stool but I feel itchy as if I had rush but I didn't. I feel like scratching it but I know I must not. Every day is different, and just like you I sometimes feel like going backwards.

59

It's nearly 2 weeks since I wrote the above post. Having a BM is still extremely painful. Can anyone tell me if the pain lessens once I come off stool softners and Miralax or do more formed stoools cause more pain? I know some of my issues are mental coming from having to have an Enema 3 days post op and then loosing so much blood but I'm scared to stop taking them and become constipated again, so I'm living with diarrhea but this is keeping me basically housebound. 

On seeing my doc this week she realized she had forgotten to give me hydrocortisone cree to take down the swelling. Starting to think I get better medicl advice right here then I'll ever get in a docs office. 

Hope everyone is getting past the pain - it does get easier every day - even though it's still panful I htink back to how it was 4 weeks ago and realize I'm in a better place. would I have this op again - never -if I could go back in time I would probably opt not to have it and deal with the issues I had.

60

Oh - wanted to add. I also suffered from Sciatica - it seems due to sitting in a diffrent position I dragged up an old sciatic nerve issue ...is this never ending? I lean back on the toilet - definately the easiest position for me but when I asked turns out that by changing from our normal position we can cause Sciaica. just something else to be aware of.