28th September 2003
HI All,
I was very glad to find this forum because I feel I am not alone in this ordeal. I had a hemorrhoidectomy on August 26th - 5 weeks ago. It was done by laser (no stitches). Of course due to the after-pain involved, I said I would never recommend this surgery to anyone...unless it was absolutely necessary. After reading some of the postings in this forum, I think I am lucky that I had it done by laser surgery. I did not have excessive bleeding or have to deal with stitches. Believe me, I did (and still do) have problems but nothing compared to what I have read here.
First, I had an allergic reaction to the pain medication 3 days after the operation and broke out in a itchy rash all over my body. For a couple of weeks I layed in bed (actually I don't remember if I layed, stood up, sat, or what...I couldn't do any of that), took pain pills, and smeared the cream on my anus as directed by my doctor. When I went to my doc 2 weeks after my surgery it was discovered that I had an allergic reaction to the cream he originally gave to me (Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream) and my anus area was extremely irritated. Defication was a nightmare tenfold and I screamed an hollered each time I went. The doc changed my cream to a lidocaine jel and 1 hour after application, I could tell the difference. 2 days later, all the raw irritation was gone.
The major complication I have had with this surgery is tightening of the muscles in the anus..and I mean very, very tightening. It usually happens after I deficate. The muscles tighten in my anus, then the muscles in my scrotum tighten, then the muscles in my buttocks and lower back tighten and then I get shooting pains down my leg. The only thing I could/can do was lie in bed, take a pain pill and try to drop off to sleep. This helped/s some but I generally had to wait until the muscles loosened up before I could become mobile again. 5 weeks later, I am still having this problem but not nearly as extreme. Until 2 weeks ago, these pains would virtualy paralyze me. As a note, these constricting anus muscle pains cause/s partial defication so there is a "load" sitting there in my rectum...and that hurts and adds to the pain.
Today, I woke up feeling "normal" (whatever that is..I forgot) but after defication about 10:30am this morning, I was back in bed with a constricted anus and all that pain. Here is is 2pm 3 1/2 hours later and I feel ok.
A couple of things I would like to recommend.
For wiping, I use cotton squares used for makeup removal. You can find these in the cosmetic section of a store. They are soft and if you wet them with warm water before wiping, it will be very soothing and almost pain free.
Personal wet wipes - these are great for clean-up and can be flushed.
I add a bath product called Batherapy to my sitz baths....it really helps relax the muscles and is non-irritable.
When my anus area was completely irritated, it burned and was very painful, I lay in bed on my back, with my legs propped up on pillows. I then directed a tower fan between my legs. This had a cooling effect and helped a lot...though not always.
Men - Panty liners for women are a must. I had to use 2 or 3...but they did the job.
Did I mention the pain??? In an earlier post, someone said the pain could not be described except in words that are not nice to say. Well...I said all those words and even made up a few of my own. I found out this is a good time to pray...it doesn't hurt. At least it took my mind off the pain.
Oh...forgot, urination! I couldn't urinate for 3 weeks unless I sat in a tub of warm water and urinated there. It was rare that I could do it on my own. After 3 weeks, it was a 50/50 combination of urinating in a tub of water and doing it by myself. 4 weeks out...and now 5, I can finally urinate on my own.
As I look back over the past 5 weeks, I can halfway laugh at some of the things I did to ease the pain, even though it wasn't funny then. Like lying in bed with my legs spread and a fan, or standing on my balcony nude with my butt cheeks spread to cool it off, or hollering explicit remarks...and many more things. However, This surgery is no laughing matter as I am sure you will all agree.
Thanks for this forum. I will be back. Good luck to all with your recuperations.
Ken
I was very glad to find this forum because I feel I am not alone in this ordeal. I had a hemorrhoidectomy on August 26th - 5 weeks ago. It was done by laser (no stitches). Of course due to the after-pain involved, I said I would never recommend this surgery to anyone...unless it was absolutely necessary. After reading some of the postings in this forum, I think I am lucky that I had it done by laser surgery. I did not have excessive bleeding or have to deal with stitches. Believe me, I did (and still do) have problems but nothing compared to what I have read here.
First, I had an allergic reaction to the pain medication 3 days after the operation and broke out in a itchy rash all over my body. For a couple of weeks I layed in bed (actually I don't remember if I layed, stood up, sat, or what...I couldn't do any of that), took pain pills, and smeared the cream on my anus as directed by my doctor. When I went to my doc 2 weeks after my surgery it was discovered that I had an allergic reaction to the cream he originally gave to me (Nystatin and Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream) and my anus area was extremely irritated. Defication was a nightmare tenfold and I screamed an hollered each time I went. The doc changed my cream to a lidocaine jel and 1 hour after application, I could tell the difference. 2 days later, all the raw irritation was gone.
The major complication I have had with this surgery is tightening of the muscles in the anus..and I mean very, very tightening. It usually happens after I deficate. The muscles tighten in my anus, then the muscles in my scrotum tighten, then the muscles in my buttocks and lower back tighten and then I get shooting pains down my leg. The only thing I could/can do was lie in bed, take a pain pill and try to drop off to sleep. This helped/s some but I generally had to wait until the muscles loosened up before I could become mobile again. 5 weeks later, I am still having this problem but not nearly as extreme. Until 2 weeks ago, these pains would virtualy paralyze me. As a note, these constricting anus muscle pains cause/s partial defication so there is a "load" sitting there in my rectum...and that hurts and adds to the pain.
Today, I woke up feeling "normal" (whatever that is..I forgot) but after defication about 10:30am this morning, I was back in bed with a constricted anus and all that pain. Here is is 2pm 3 1/2 hours later and I feel ok.
A couple of things I would like to recommend.
For wiping, I use cotton squares used for makeup removal. You can find these in the cosmetic section of a store. They are soft and if you wet them with warm water before wiping, it will be very soothing and almost pain free.
Personal wet wipes - these are great for clean-up and can be flushed.
I add a bath product called Batherapy to my sitz baths....it really helps relax the muscles and is non-irritable.
When my anus area was completely irritated, it burned and was very painful, I lay in bed on my back, with my legs propped up on pillows. I then directed a tower fan between my legs. This had a cooling effect and helped a lot...though not always.
Men - Panty liners for women are a must. I had to use 2 or 3...but they did the job.
Did I mention the pain??? In an earlier post, someone said the pain could not be described except in words that are not nice to say. Well...I said all those words and even made up a few of my own. I found out this is a good time to pray...it doesn't hurt. At least it took my mind off the pain.
Oh...forgot, urination! I couldn't urinate for 3 weeks unless I sat in a tub of warm water and urinated there. It was rare that I could do it on my own. After 3 weeks, it was a 50/50 combination of urinating in a tub of water and doing it by myself. 4 weeks out...and now 5, I can finally urinate on my own.
As I look back over the past 5 weeks, I can halfway laugh at some of the things I did to ease the pain, even though it wasn't funny then. Like lying in bed with my legs spread and a fan, or standing on my balcony nude with my butt cheeks spread to cool it off, or hollering explicit remarks...and many more things. However, This surgery is no laughing matter as I am sure you will all agree.
Thanks for this forum. I will be back. Good luck to all with your recuperations.
Ken