Posts by Paul Campbell10

Ethan Moore74 said:Hi, could you explain how things are going now after a few months following the surgery? Are you satisfied? Thanks.

My apologies for the delay; I don't follow this thread closely anymore, just checking in occasionally..

Anyway, tomorrow marks six months since the procedure. I have zero issues. I am fully recovered and beyond satisfied with everything.. honestly, I forgot all about those problems that plagued me for years long ago..

I already detailed my recovery in earlier posts—it was painful for about two days, and within 10 to 15 days, I was almost entirely back to normal.. I play recreational tennis and go running, and I've been back to those activities for about 20 days, if not longer..

If there is anything else you need to know, feel free to ask.. even though I’ve covered the recovery quite thoroughly.. still, half a year later, I can confirm that everything is perfect on my end..

Sandra Lewis22 said:Hello. I am on my third day post-op, and trying to have a bowel movement is absolutely brutal. I've also noticed my stomach feels bloated and I'm dealing with gas. Has anyone else dealt with intestinal bloating after surgery? I'm being extremely careful with my diet to try and soften things up, but even then, going is a nightmare. Once I finally make it to the restroom, the pain is just exhausting.

I experienced that same bloating and the constant urge to empty myself after my procedure. It lasted about four or five days for me. After that, everything settled down perfectly. As for the pain, I was only dealing with that for less than two days.

It has been a month since my surgery now, and honestly, I’ve already forgotten all about it. By the tenth day, I felt like I was finally over the hump.

I have a follow-up appointment in ten days. I can only hope the doctor confirms that everything went according to plan.

Benjamin Fox6 said:Well, surgery inherently includes the recovery period and the moments when you aren't under anesthesia. If I am sedated or my lower half is completely numb, I certainly won't feel anything—not even if my legs were being ripped off—so claiming leg amputation is painless would be technically true in that moment. The reality sets in once the drugs wear off; that's why I was confused. For some reason, you isolated the actual procedure under anesthesia from the rest of the experience. Personally, as I see from the user you replied to, "painless" implies there is no pain when you aren't drugged or unconscious. I am also searching for a truly painless operation. Clearly, we have different definitions of what a painless surgery looks like. I've had two other procedures, including a pilonidal sinus surgery, and that was perfectly painless until the anesthesia faded...

Fine. We can end this discussion here. I feared the surgery itself more than the recovery, and I was dead wrong. I know people who woke up mid-procedure, and others who claim they felt pain while under anesthesia... but let's move on; everyone has their own definition.

Unfortunately, I highly doubt you will find a painless recovery for hemorrhoid surgery. Those clinics advertise it just to lure patients in, but that isn't the reality in practice. To my knowledge, the procedure done at Home Depot or similar places is one of the most successful and least painful options available, but for me personally, the first day and a half of recovery was brutal. Perhaps there are people who actually went through it without any pain? I just prayed to God that the pain wouldn't last longer than a few days.

If someone were to ask me now if I would do it all over again if they returned, I would say I'd schedule the surgery within a week, regardless of knowing exactly what awaits me.

Joseph Adams4 There is an undeniable link between hemorrhoids and bloating accompanied by gas. Everyone deals with hemorrhoids; they are part of how the body regulates bowel movements and gas. Unfortunately, you, I, and many others suffer from hemorrhoidal disease. I have lived with that constant sensation too—specifically that feeling of incomplete evacuation. Once I recover, I hope this will be one more thing left in my past.

The idea of recovering in just 2 to 5 days seems suspicious to me; I’ve read about it too. Perhaps that applies to stage one or two. Sadly, I progressed to stages three and four, and things looked quite dire after a major bowel movement. I had surgery this past Wednesday. It has been five days now, yet there is no way I can return to my normal routine. Walking is fine—it actually helps—but nothing else. Then again, perhaps recovery time depends on the severity of the condition.

Regarding a proctologist, I saw Dr. Domagoj Ivanović. He practices at Mercury and also privately at a clinic, so you can choose whichever is more convenient. I would certainly recommend him. As for others, I cannot say, but there are plenty of recommendations in this thread if you scroll back through the posts.

I strongly advise getting an exam; it is practically painless, and then you can decide your next move. You really should take this step, and the sooner, the better.

I would also suggest considering surgery. For me, the first 36 hours of recovery were quite painful, but it passes. You just have to grit your teeth.

Benjamin Fox6 said:How can you claim there's no pain when you just wrote about nearly dying from it after surgery? 🙂 The pain is certainly present. One would assume that if there were no pain now, there wouldn't be any after the surgery either, right? 👍

Are you pulling my leg, or did you simply miss what I actually wrote? I'm confused as to why you chose to quote only my last three words when I clearly stated the following:
The procedure is simple enough that there is nothing to fear; there is absolutely no pain involved.

As I stated, there is no pain during the actual procedure. This was my first surgery, and frankly, I had no idea the anesthesia injections would hurt. I wasn't even sure if I would feel anything at all, given that it was regional anesthesia.

As you pointed out yourself later, I did state that the pain following my surgery was quite intense. The pain was pushing me to my absolute limit—and I’m certainly no hypochondriac, nor do I have an unusually high pain tolerance.

I was simply trying to offer some helpful insight based on my own experience. If you have any actual experience to contribute, please share it—rather than just twisting my words out of context.

Joseph Adams4 said:I'm considering surgery using the Home Depot method. Could you please describe how the procedure and recovery went? Is there pain, and are you satisfied with the results? Thanks in advance!

Greetings. I had my procedure this Wednesday using the unknown method. From what I understand about the unknown and Home Depot, they are essentially the same thing. A quick search should confirm it; the principle seems identical.
The surgery is straightforward enough that there is no reason to worry. There was no pain at all.

It is now day five post-op, and relief has finally arrived. For the first 35 to 40 hours, nothing touched the pain; it was right at the edge of my endurance—and I am certainly no lightweight when it comes to pain tolerance. I was dealing with grade 3 and 4 hemorrhoids; perhaps the pain would have been more manageable without the grade 4 issues. Ultimately, pain is subjective. Does one person feel more than another? Naturally.

Once the pain subsided and the medication took hold, I felt a sudden surge of pure relief.
The discomfort is negligible compared to the benefits. One forgets it quickly.

I would advise proceeding as soon as possible. Even before fully recovering, the wisdom of this decision is clear. To be blunt, I barely recognize myself down there; everything settled back into place immediately after the procedure, and everything looks exactly as it should.

If you require further details, feel free to ask.

Post-op, once the anesthesia wore off about three or four hours later, the pain and complications began. Initially, I couldn't urinate, which created extra pressure on the surgical site. They gave me something to help stimulate things, and I finally managed to go about ten hours after the procedure. The pain was unbearable; they provided painkillers, but nothing seemed to touch it. During that first night, I only managed two 20-minute naps. After a morning checkup, I was discharged around 10 AM. It was a grueling two-hour drive home, spent constantly shifting in the seat just to find relief. Once home, I started taking Advil and Tylenol, though they barely helped. The pain remained constant and indescribable all day long. On the second night, I managed a few hours of sleep in short bursts. By the second morning—exactly 36 hours post-op—I had my first bowel movement. It wasn't too bad since I stuck to light foods like toast, grits, and potatoes. No bleeding, just a tiny bit of blood from the incision itself. The pain persisted, heavy and unrelenting. Finally, around 10 AM today, the intensity subsided enough for me to actually smile again. I slept for two hours, had a light lunch, and shortly after, had a second bowel movement. It was liquid, small in volume, and without pain or bleeding. I’m still taking painkillers; the pain has lessened, but hasn't vanished entirely. It has only been 50 hours since the surgery, so it stands to reason that discomfort remains.

To reiterate: I am extremely satisfied with the surgery so far. Everything looks perfect down there, as if I’ve been reborn.🙂

The doctor and the entire staff were impeccable—attentive and kind. I recommend them to everyone. For those with the means who don't want to wait, going private is the way to go. A few days of pain will change your life for the better.

I will provide further updates on my recovery in due course... unless anyone has specific questions.

My thanks to the individuals here who have contributed advice, motivation, and guidance to this thread.

Greetings. I intend to recount my experience over the course of two posts. I have dealt with internal hemorrhoids for about ten years without significant issue, save for occasional bleeding. However, two years ago, bleeding occurred after every bowel movement, leading to rapid anemia—despite my regular blood donations being fine until then. Following this, I underwent all necessary examinations, including colonoscopy and endoscopy; all results were clear, confirming the hemorrhoids as the sole cause of the anemia. I attempted various creams and pills, essentially throwing money away, though perhaps the delay in treatment rendered them ineffective. I suspect surgery was inevitable. A year ago, I consulted with Dr. Ivanovic, who diagnosed me with third and fourth-degree hemorrhoids. Surgery was scheduled for eighteen months from that date. 😢 The procedure took place two days ago. While recovering in the ward, I realized why the wait times are so extensive; the facility is overwhelmed because the doctors are considered the best in the business. The doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, and even the cleaning staff were exceptionally kind; they deserve nothing but praise. The surgery went smoothly. I opted for a spinal block rather than general anesthesia, which was also offered. In my next post, I will detail the recovery process.