Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?
in Health ·
ruggedtinker43 said:Hi everyone, I just had my THD procedure done and wanted to share my experience...
It all started over eight years ago, which is actually why I first signed up for this forum. My very first post was back in late 2011, but it wasn’t until about two years ago that I finally took action by seeing a proctologist. You can find my previous posts regarding this in this thread...
Basically, the last year or two were the worst. I was dealing with Grade II and III hemorrhoids. Every month or two, I would experience heavy bleeding during bowel movements, which would last for a week or two. Lately, it happened after every single movement, accompanied by prolapse. Sometimes it took five minutes to resolve, sometimes hours, and occasionally it wouldn't settle back in all day. It was pure misery—the discomfort, the pressure, the constant irritation, and the pain...
At the end of last year, I finally decided to go through with surgery and chose the THD method. My appointment was scheduled for mid-January...
The procedure itself and the recovery went fairly smoothly, which is pretty standard for this kind of thing...
The surgery lasted about 40 minutes. They gave me a pain injection immediately afterward. I stayed at the clinic for observation for a bit. About two hours later, once the medication started wearing off, I received another injection and was discharged. After that, I just managed things with standard over-the-counter pain relievers...
The first two days after the operation were the hardest. I dealt with terrible constipation. Nothing would move, no matter how much I strained. I know straining isn't recommended when you have hemorrhoids, but there was simply no other way. The urge is intense, yet nothing happens. I might only pass something tiny and barely noticeable. I mostly stuck to soups, purees, puddings, and occasionally something slightly firmer, while drinking paraffin oil... It wasn't until the third day that I had a somewhat normal bowel movement, though it was quite painful. I was sweating profusely and leaving the restroom completely soaked. This continued for about a week, which is exactly what they told me at the clinic—that the pain would subside after seven days. Each day, the discomfort felt a little lighter. For the next month, if I knew I had eaten something particularly dry, I’d take a spoonful or two of paraffin oil before bed just to avoid issues the next morning...
Everything has been normal since then. No sign of hemorrhoids, no bleeding, no prolapse—nothing. I make sure to keep my bathroom trips as quick as possible; I sit, finish, and get right up. I also make it a point to shower immediately every morning...
I went in for a follow-up about 40 days after the procedure. Once I explained how I was feeling, the doctor knew immediately that everything was fine. They confirmed everything looked good after the exam...
I read here that for some people, the issue returns after a few years. I am certainly going to do my best to prevent that. I'll try to regulate my diet as much as possible, stay active, avoid sitting on the toilet for too long, avoid cold surfaces, and follow all the usual advice...
Ultimately, I feel like a new person. Results obviously vary from person to person, but I certainly recommend it if anyone is on the fence. It was worth every penny to me...
My experience was very similar... I had Grade 4 internal hemorrhoids and mucosal prolapse. I had my THD 22 days ago. Even though they said it would be painless, it was incredibly painful for me... due to the constant pressure and the urge to go, I felt like I couldn't leave the restroom, yet I couldn't fully empty my bowels even when straining. My stomach felt extremely swollen and huge. It wasn't until after the third day that I finally went, and since then, I've had small movements constantly. When I lie down or sit, nothing happens, but as soon as I stand up, I feel the pressure and have to rush to the restroom for very little output. It's like I'm going 10 times a day out of nowhere. Even now, 22 days later, I still have that pressure and it's difficult to walk... I don't know if this is normal. My follow-up is in five days, and I can't wait to see if everything is okay. Because there is absolutely nothing about their "painless method" or "returning to daily activities the next day"... even the part about the tissue falling off on its own after 10 days... I feel like I still have them because of the tightness and sharp pains, and I think everything is still swollen because it's such a struggle to use the restroom... and I'm still stuck eating soft, liquid foods. That's just my experience...