Posts by Thomas Doyle462

So, here I am, nearly two months out from my DG-HAL procedure, which I had done privately with Dr. Ivanović. Unfortunately, I don't have much good news to share. Aside from a few days dealing with some pretty hard stools, the recovery process itself wasn't too bad, but... about two weeks ago, things took a turn. I ended up with an external hemorrhoid, and if I’m being honest, it feels like this isn't over. Then, about a week ago, the burning during bowel movements started, and things have just been getting worse ever since. It’s looking like I might have developed a fissure that’s starting to get complicated. I’ve started using some Hadens cream, which provides a bit of relief—it worked for my dad when he went through something similar, so fingers crossed it does the trick for me too. All in all, the whole "permanent removal" promise hasn't really held up in my case, and if things keep sliding downhill like this, I’m definitely going to leave a scathing review of the DG-HAL method, especially since it's only been about six weeks since the surgery.
I think forums like this exist so people can see every side of the story, and unfortunately, my side falls right into that "4-6% recurrence rate" they love to mention in their marketing materials...
Alright, let's break it down; DG-HAL+RAR per Thomas Doyle462:
1. Painless—not exactly true. It hurts, though maybe not quite as much as the other options out there.
2. A 94-96% success rate in preventing recurrence—not accurate for me, considering I dealt with my first post-op hemorrhoid plus a fissure just a month after the procedure.
3. Quick return to work—this one is true; I was back at my job ten days after the operation.
4. No complications—aside from some minor spotting when I went to the bathroom for about three weeks, yeah, that’s true.
5. Would I do the surgery again given this experience and the circumstances? —Maybe. The bleeding stopped, and honestly, I didn't even believe the recurrence part at first. The only real issue is the fissure, which is something I probably could've ended up with regardless of how I handled it.
Later; just keep a cool head and stay well-informed so you can make the right call to fix your problems, but if you ask me, don't wait too long...

So, I told you guys I’d check in once I actually got back to work. Today was my first day back at the office—which means sitting in a chair for 8 hours straight—and honestly, things seem pretty fine so far. Looking back to day three after the surgery; once that first bowel movement happened, those hemorrhoids were basically gone... it hurt, sure, but nothing crazy. I stuck strictly to the colitis diet they gave me at the clinic, and the stool itself felt normal, though I definitely had this subconscious dread about even heading to the bathroom. Since then, I’ve been going several times a day without much trouble. There was a tiny bit of spotting, but it was negligible. My only real confusion was trying to tell if I actually needed to go or if it was just some lingering pressure from the procedure. As for recovery, I spent the first seven days basically glued to my bed or propped up on pillows, but as I started feeling better, I gradually eased into taking walks and finally sitting up again.
Up to this point (still waiting for the stitches to dissolve), I have nothing but praise for the doctor and the nursing staff; they took such good care of me and the doc walked me through every single detail...
My one gripe is with the clinic itself; they wouldn't give me a receipt for the services when I asked for one.
Medication-wise, I’ve been on antibiotics to ward off any infection, and I have to stay on Detralex for the next three months. If anyone wants more specifics, just let me know.
I’ll write more once I hit the five-week mark and head in for my follow-up appointment. Good luck to everyone! 👍

Bryan Martin52 said:Is it actually possible that hemorrhoids could be making me pee all the time?! Like, could they somehow be pressing against the prostate or something similar? After I go to the bathroom, I just feel this constant pressure down there, and then it’s just non-stop urination for a while...
And my urine cultures and swabs didn't show any sign of an infection at all...🤷

I went through something pretty much identical, and I ended up grilling my doctor about it right after my surgery using the DG HAL RAR method. For me, the main issue was those annoying 5 to 10 drops of urine right after a bowel movement that would inevitably end up in my underwear. My doctor told me it's totally plausible that the hemorrhoids were the culprits, basically swelling up after a BM and putting pressure on the prostate area. I hadn't had a bowel movement in the two days following the procedure, but luckily, the bladder issues hadn't kicked in yet...

So, here’s my take on the whole DG-HAL RAR situation. I’ve been dealing with hemorrhoids since I was fifteen, and for the most part, it was just a nuisance I lived with. Last year, things got a bit scary when I had some heavy bleeding, but taking Detralex seemed to get it under control. Fast forward to two weeks ago, and suddenly I’m back to heavy bleeding every single time I go to the bathroom—weirdly enough, zero pain, which is its own kind of creepy. Anyway, two days ago, I went through with the DG-HAL RAR procedure at a private clinic near downtown Washington, D.C. The cost was $2833. It was a full-on surgical setup, too—complete anesthesia, a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, a tech, and three nurses all working together, and everything went smoothly. They tied off the hemorrhoidal artery, cleared out two thrombosed vessels, and did the actual RAR reconstruction. That first night was rough, though; I was hooked up to an IV with Ketorolac just to cope. Yesterday was a marathon of Ibuprofen and more Ketorolac, and today I tried to go off the meds, but man... it felt like my head was hitting a brick wall... it’s just this constant burning, throbbing sensation. Plus, I haven't even had a bowel movement yet, which is the one thing I'm actually dreading😠 Sitting or standing is basically impossible right now because the pressure builds up so fast that I have to immediately lie back down. I’m typing this from a lying position, so please excuse any typos if they happen.
My dad dealt with this too, but he had the old-school surgery about ten years ago. He was in absolute agony for a solid month afterward, and then to make matters worse, they came crawling back almost immediately.
I’m only on day three, so I’ll check back in once I’m actually back on my feet and back at work. That’s really the only time I’ll be able to give a real verdict on whether the surgery was worth it.
take care...