Posts by Michael Diaz4

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Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice? in Health · Mar 21, 2011

Karen Thompson10 said:Michael Diaz4, you have no idea how much it means to me to know that my advice actually helped someone. Honestly, there have been plenty of times when people on this forum have stepped up and saved my skin, too. That’s exactly why I felt compelled to share my thoughts.
Once you’re back from surgery and have had some time to recover, please write up a detailed post about everything. I'd love to know the doctor's name and exactly what method they used. It would be such a massive help for anyone else dealing with similar issues to have that kind of information. For me, the hardest part was definitely just finding a decent doctor I could actually trust. 🤷

Regarding the pain... you're going to be just fine at the clinic. They’ll have you hooked up to an IV, pumping you full of heavy-duty antibiotics constantly, so you won't feel much of anything while you're there. The real "fun" starts once you get back home. But honestly, believe me, after everything you've been through, it won't be unbearable. And just remember: once this is over, those attacks are gone for good!

I'm wishing you so much luck, a really speedy recovery, and—fingers crossed—as little post-op pain as possible! 😉

I’m back, just like I promised. My surgery wrapped up this past Wednesday the 16th, and I’m heading in for my follow-up appointment today. Honestly, things got pretty intense and dangerous. The specialist who performed the procedure told me there were four ulcers on the internal hemorrhoids, along with a massive thrombosis. He said it was a literal miracle that the clot didn't break loose—if it had, things could have gone south very quickly.😱🙂 It was an emergency, and it was complicated. I was placed in the gynecological position for the procedure. They gave me a spinal block beforehand, and honestly, I wanted to be completely knocked out—I didn't want to sit there listening to the whole surgery unfold. That first night after the operation was rough. Sleep was non-existent. As the anesthesia started wearing off, the pain intensified, though even that felt like a reprieve compared to what I’d been enduring at home. They inserted a catheter while I was still under. It came out in the morning, along with the packing from the rectal area, which was incredibly painful. After a bit of rest and a nap, I had to wash up and get moving immediately to keep my circulation going. The second night was even harder. Urinating was difficult. I was on IV fluids, getting sedatives, antibiotics, and various infusions. I also had two injections in my abdomen—blood thinners to prevent clots and thrombosis, plus some shots for the pain. By midnight on that second night, I just hit a wall. Between the exhaustion and the pain, I finally surrendered to fate, took my meds, and drifted off. At 6:00 AM, the doctor made his rounds. The professor explained that they surgically cleared everything necessary. He mentioned using Doppler and perhaps some kind of laser cauterization on the vein deep inside. The goal was to protect the nerve zone that controls bowel movements. After that second night, they cleared me to go home. They told me to keep gauze between my buttocks because the wound keeps draining, and I need to change it frequently and keep the area clean. The first night back home was unpleasant, and the second was equally tough with very little sleep. It wasn't until the third night that I actually managed to sleep. Diet-wise, it’s strictly soft foods right now: soups, crackers with milk, and tea. Stools are supposed to be soft and a bit reddish due to the site where the internal hemorrhoids were removed. I’m currently taking antibiotics and medication for circulation. They warned me to avoid Tylenol because it can increase bleeding, though they said maybe one or two wouldn't hurt if absolutely necessary. I chose to skip them entirely. It’s a struggle; controlling my bowel movements is difficult, but I’m managing somehow. The facility I stayed at was a private clinic. In terms of accommodations, it was top-tier—it had plasma TVs, satellite, and even a DVD player, though I wasn't really in the mood for any of that. It had its own bathroom and kitchenette. It was so clean, and the hospital bed was so well-adjusted, you wouldn't even realize you were in a medical facility. I don't want to name the clinic here just in case I'm breaking any forum rules, but if the moderators allow it, I will. Or, if anyone is interested, feel free to send me a private message. I won't be online much, so I'll respond a bit later, but I'm happy to share all the details with anyone who needs them. This clinic is truly world-class. 🙏👍. My sister is available 24/7 to help out. And if heaven forbid any complications pop up, my professor actually lives right across the hall in the same building. This team is top-tier, truly first-rate. The recovery period is rough, though. Today the pain is a bit more manageable, but it’s definitely still there. Even when I try to brace myself, it isn't quite as intense as it was before, so I'm staying hopeful. I am a little nervous about the follow-up appointment; I'm really hoping they don't have to touch the wound since it's still tender and there's some bloody discharge. It's also going to be pretty awkward dealing with bowel movements while I'm getting back on my feet, so I just hope everything goes smoothly. I want to thank that wonderful lady on the forum again. They told me I showed up at the absolute last minute—apparently, I was almost having to go under the knife through my abdomen because this was one of the toughest cases they've seen. They even asked me how I had been living with this much pain all this time...