Having hemorrhoidectomy surgery is no laughing matter. The post-operative pain is the most horrific pain that I have ever experienced. This is coming from a person who has a high tolerance for pain and delivered two children via natural child birth many years ago. I don’t think that I fully understood what a hemorrhoidectomy was prior to meeting with the surgeon and did not appreciate the gravity of it after my meeting.

I had internal and external hemmorhoids. The external ones were painful and the internal ones constantly bled. I would bleed even when I just sat on the stool to urinate and the passing of air would mean the spraying of blood. So after my meeting with the surgeon I just thought I would finally get some relief from the pain and constant bleeding. I knew that they were in bad shape but hoped the surgery would make them better.

On my first meeting with the surgeon actually the PA, she explained what the procedure entailed and told me that patients usually hated them once they had their first bowel moment (BM) after surgery. She laughed and so did I thinking that the other patients were just weak minded. Well on 12/17/2008, I went into the surgical center to finally get relief. If I had known then what I know now, I’m not sure that I would have went through with it.

I was sent home the same day as surgery and given Lortab to be taken 2 tablets every 4 hours and an antibiotic to combat infection. In the take home literature, it was suggested that I take Milk Of Magnesium (MOM) to ease the passage of the first BM which I did. Upon rising the next morning from the delayed effects of the anesthesia I felt the overwhelming need to use the bathroom. I was a little afraid but not much because of having taken the MOM and because I have a high tolerance for pain..yeah right.

As I sat on the stool, I remembered the words that the PA spoke about patients hating them upon that first BM and smiled. The smile was soon replaced by sweating and a heavy lamaze type breathing all in the efforts to stay conscious. I have never experienced such pain and the BM was watery and not formed. I could image what it would have been like if the BM had been of bulk and formed. I’ve never fainted in my life but I truly think I came close. I could not have spoke two words in that moment even if I had wanted too. Pain like that cannot be described but one thing that helped me was taking a hot bath immediately after the BM.

During my 2-week absence from work, I took several baths per day to help with the pain especially after each BM. The drugs did not really help me for they took to long to work and when they did kick in several hours had passed with me still feeling pain. I was not prescribed any numbing jells for that area and thought that they would have been benefical after each BM. The pharmacist suggested Lanacane First Aid & Antiseptic Spray (blue/yellow) for help in preparing the area for BMs. This has helped greatly and I use it everytime I go to the bathroom. As a matter of fact, the can sits by the toilet just for my comfort.

It has been almost 4 weeks since my surgery and I am still having some pain and bleeding with BM. The doctor says that this is normal and will cease as the area heals. Currently, the area still has a lot of inflammation and swelling. I was told to take 2 Alleve every 4 hours to help with this problem. The surgeon says that patients differ on the healing time but that I should be healed in 2 months but he left it open by saying some patients still have problems beyond that time.

My advice to all that may be considering this surgery. First do your homework, find out all you can about the procedures and recovery time. Weigh the pro and cons for having this surgery. Review the comments from those who have had the surgery because some of the patients seemed to have done better with it than others. I think that all agree that it is no joke initially but may prove to be the best thing for them in the long run. I am holding on to that hope for now because as I see it; it cannot get any worst. The first day after the surgery was Heck but each day is getting better.