First and foremost, I had a successful hemorrhoidectomy on March 12, 2009 using a Ligasure scalpal to remove internal and external hemorrhoids and some skin tags. But before I get into the details of my positive experience, let me give you some background.

I am a healthy 35 year old male who suffered from hemorrhoids for the last 5 years. From July 2007 through January 2009 I tried all sorts of treatments with no success. Like others, I thought I was able to “control” them by watching my diet, trying to improve my bowel movements (BM), never straining to go and trying not to sit too long on the toilet. Problem was, I was missing out on a lot of good food and fun times because I basically stopped drinking because of the fear of loose bowels after a night of drinking.

For the last 3 years, I lived a boring life of bland foods and very little fun until I had a unbearable flare up late 2008 for no apparent reason that put me over the edge. I decided enough was enough and needed to see a surgeon and figure out what my options were.

I met with a colon and rectum surgeon in early February 2009 who examined me with a diagnose of third-degree internal and external hemorrhoids. They were painful and protruded. Every BM hurt like hell anywhere from 1 to 12 hours after the BM. I dreaded going to the bathroom because of it. Sitting down immediately on a firm chair use to help but towards the end, nothing seemed to ease pain and discomfort. I used to be able to push them back in but towards the end, they would pop out again to no avail. It was embarrassing, I was ruining my clothes and was in constant agony.

We talked about my options and his recommendation was a hemorrhoidectomy using a Ligasure scalpel, which cuts and seals the vessels at the same so there are no stitches. From what was explained to me, stitches are one of the main causes of most post-op pain that you read about on the internet. He recommended a colonoscopy to make sure there was no bowel disease. The effects from drinking Myralax and Diet Peach Snapple were excruciating. Note that I will NEVER……EVER drink Diet Peach Snapple again. I started drinking the cocktail at 6:00 p.m. and the effects lasted until 2:00 a.m. with another loose BM at 6:00 a.m. the morning of the colonoscopy. The constant diarrhea was like passing razors after the 3rd time. The findings were fine and my surgeon was able to get a better look to see how big the hemorrhoids were.

Surgery was inevitable. Like every other person going through this, I researched pre and post-op hemorrhoidectomy and read every single horror story on the internet. After a slight panic attack, I called my surgeon and cancelled the next day.

Side note: I proposed to my fiancee on January 31, 2009. An August 2009 wedding was planned along with a honeymoon in Greece. My fiancee reminded me of how I’ve been living for the last 3 years and asked why I would jeopardize a honeymoon in Greece with hemorrhoids. She was right. I called my doctor back and questioned him if a hemorrhoidectomy was the only way to be done with my hemorrhoids once and for all. Maybe he missed something. Maybe they weren’t as big as he thought. I asked him to exam me one last time to be 100% sure. He agreed and confirmed his original diagnosis.

I promised my fiancee I would stop reading the internet stories and re-scheduled the surgery for Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 6:00 a.m.

Day 1 - Thursday: I remember waking up in recovery slightly uncomfortable. The nurse asked how I was feeling. Some pain I said. Hello morphine, goodbye pain. Back to sleep.

Woke up later and felt groggy but no pain. Just some pressure. The nurse helped me out of the bed and into a chair. I was afraid to sit directly on my bottom and to my surprise, felt only some pressure but still no pain. Dr. said to drink water, take the pain pills, drink more water, take Motrin 800, drink even more water and take stool softeners and drink as much water as humanly possible after that. Eat soft foods and fiber for the next few days so having a BM would be easier.

Shortly after, my fiancee helped me dress and I was going home. My surgeon prescribed Darvacet every 6 hours and Motrin 800 every 12 hours. As soon as I got home, I took a Darvacet and an hour later, took the Motrin 800.

6 hours later, I was to remove the dressings. Got up slowly and went to the bathroom. Removed all the gauze and bandages and tried to remove the foam dressing sticking outside that broke apart. Doctor said I would pass the rest of it with my first BM.

I ate soft scrambled eggs, drank pink lemonade Metamucil, chicken broth and Fiber One toast. I drank water all day long the day of the surgery. I was still uncomfortable but was not in any pain. I feared my first BM.

Day 2 - Friday: I went to bed and slept pretty good. I’m sure the Darvacet had something to do with that. I woke up at 6:00 a.m. because I had to pee for the 100th time.

I rolled out of bed and still felt uncomfortable with some pressure but no pain yet. On a scale of 1 - 10 (10 being the worst), my pain was maybe a 2 at most.

I walked gingerly to the bathroom and felt the urge to have a BM. I asked my fianc� to stay close in case I passed out from the pain like all these other people stated.

I sat down, held my breath and had an soft, easy BM. It stung a little but that was it. There was some blood in the toilet and on the toilet paper but I expected that. That’s it. No pain, no screaming, nothing.

I took my pills as scheduled all day. 1 Darvacet every 6 hours, 1 Motrin 800 every 12 hours and 100 mg of Colace in the morning and evening along with what seemed like gallons of water, fiber and soft food.

By evening, I was still uncomfortable. Almost like a deep bruise but nothing more. Maybe a 2.5 on the pain scale. My concern was the morphine given had to wear off eventually and then I would be in trouble.

Day 3 - Saturday: The only day I had any concern. I slept OK. Woke up throughout the night to pee. I didn’t care. I was in a little more pain Saturday than Friday - a 4 on the pain scale. I was also very gassy all day. Probably from all the fiber I was taking.

No BM that day. However, I noticed I was passing blood every time I farted. Later in the morning, I thought I soiled myself, only to find out I passed a blood clot. It was thick, disgusting, smelled horrible and scared me a little. I called the doctor and they said it was normal as long as it wasn’t pouring out of me or bright red. By late afternoon it ended. Took my pills as scheduled and continued with the same diet of soft foods, lots of fiber and water water water!!! By Saturday night, my pain level was back to 2.

Day 4 - Sunday: Had a larger BM than Friday but again, only stung. I was a little more uncomfortable after it but still not in any pain. I took a Darvacet in the morning and no more pain pills for the rest of the day. I still took the Motrin 800 and colace.

I started to feel better and better each day. I only took one pain pill in the morning from Monday (day 5) until the following Sunday, March 22, 2009 (day 11). I returned to work on Monday, March 23, 12 days after surgery. I was a little uncomfortable but nothing I couldn’t handle. Maybe a 0.5 on the pain scale. I took a Motrin 800 each morning that week and was pain free by 10:00 a.m. I stopped all pills on Friday, March 27th.

My only issue with the entire surgery was the bleeding after. I oozed blood for almost 2 weeks. I put pads in my underwear so I wouldn’t stain my clothing. Blood never poured out but I found it to be a nusance.

The secret? I don’t know. My advice is drink as much water as you can. And when you think you’ve drank enough, drink some more. Eat plenty of fiber and take the stool softeners. I honestly believe the combination of the water, fiber and stool softeners countered the effects of the Darvacet. I was never constipated nor did I ever strain to have a BM. I had a BM every day and continue to do so presently. They are soft and easy and pass with no problem.

I also HIGHLY recommend the sitz baths. I sat in a hot tub anywhere from 4-7 times a day for the first 10 days. They were relaxing and felt good on my bottom. Especially after a BM. A hot bath always seemed to make me feel better.

Will everyone have the same results as me post-op? No. But I think it’s important to put my story out there. For every positive hemorrhoidectomy story, there were 10 horror stories.

I am so happy I had my hemorrhoidectomy. My life has changed so much in so many ways. I eat the foods I enjoy. I exercise more now because I feel great. I now wear beige and kaki pants and shorts and light colored underwear instead of everything black to hide the embarrassment of blood stained clothing. As odd as this may sound, I actually look forward to having a BM because they are quick, easy to pass and pain free. I also spend a fraction of the time in the bathroom than I used to. I’m more active and can’t wait to get married and enjoy 12 days in Greece.