Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

It feels like things are finally moving, but I’m basically living in the bathroom right now—running there every thirty minutes or so just to deal with tiny little bits at a time.🙄 Now my skin is actually starting to sting from all the irritation. I haven't used a suppository yet :P, though I have downed two cups of herbal tea.
Honestly, it never crossed my mind that getting my digestion back on track after surgery would be such a massive struggle.😢

Elizabeth Price85 said:It feels like things are just slowly shifting along, but I’m ending up in the bathroom every thirty to sixty minutes, just passing tiny bits at a time.🙄 Now the irritation is actually starting to hurt. I haven't used my Preparation H yet :P Papak :, and I've already had two cups of herbal tea.
I honestly never imagined that getting my digestion back on track after surgery would be such an uphill battle.😢

I really can't wrap my head around why it's hitting you this hard, though I truly hope your doctor gave you some clarity after you reached out to them. If I had known, I definitely would have warned you because I went through the exact same struggle, but by my third day, everything finally started moving smoothly again.
I'm crossing my fingers for you and hoping things get back to normal really soon!

Has anyone here actually tried that hemorrhoid pad they’ve been advertising lately? Apparently, some innovator named Edward over in San Francisco came up with it, and I was just wondering if anyone here has put it to the test yet?

fadedstag1 said:Does anyone here know anything about those hemorrhoid pads being advertised? Some "innovator" named Edward over in San Francisco supposedly came up with them, so I was wondering if anyone has actually tried using them?

That's total bullshit, man. Just go straight to the Mayo Clinic website—or better yet, look at what the experts at top-tier American hospitals recommend for dealing with hemorrhoids and how to actually treat them. There are pads used internally, sure, but doctors handle that; you shouldn't be doing it yourself. My concern is that you could end up with bleeding after just a couple of days. That’s not the right way to handle this. Honestly, this guy claiming to have "invented" some special pads sounds like a complete fraud. According to the Mayo Clinic, warm baths can really help. Go see a doctor as soon as possible. Don't go shoving things up there on your own...

Elizabeth Price85 said:It feels like things are finally moving. I’m ending up in the bathroom every thirty to sixty minutes, just a little bit at a time each visit.🙄 Now my skin is actually starting to hurt from the irritation. I haven't used a suppository yet :P 😦 I've already had two cups of herbal tea.
I honestly didn't realize getting my bowel movements back on track after surgery would be such a struggle.😢

You probably have to hold it back too much. Once you feel that urge, just run to the bathroom and let it happen naturally. Don't strain and don't sit there on the toilet for half an hour. That's just going to make the irritation worse. You need to stick to light foods—soups first, then maybe something a bit thicker the next day, then soft foods, and slowly work your way back to a regular diet. But taking Linex is non-negotiable. Avoid those "cleansing" teas, too. You really can't afford to deal with diarrhea right now. Your stool needs to stay soft...

Hey there!

I just realized this subforum is for women's health issues—but hey, I’m a guy, so here goes nothing.

I had surgery for external hemorrhoids four days ago at a hospital in Washington, D.C.—specifically last Friday—and I finally got home yesterday. I'm not even sure which method they used, but it was done under full general anesthesia, and the surgeon was Dr. Chala.
Basically, for guys, things get complicated because urination becomes really difficult and painful due to inflammation, prostate swelling, and the lingering effects of the anesthesia.
Yesterday—that was three days post-op—I had my first bowel movement... and man, I have never experienced pain like that in my life. It felt like being stung by actual wasps. Like, literally!
Today, things are still rough, but the pain isn't quite as intense.

The doctors told me this is normal—that everything feels swollen as if the hemorrhoids weren't even removed yet. They said seeing a little blood in the stool is fine too. After the fact, I'm supposed to wash up with water and clean the area with a potassium permanganate solution.

My question is: should I be cleaning the wound with that solution only after a bowel movement, or multiple times a day? (Usually, wounds are cleaned and dressed just once a day.)

I'm worried—could the solution actually irritate the area even more?

And how long does the recovery actually take?

Best of luck to everyone!

lonepilot23 said:Hey there!

I just realized this subforum is actually for women's health issues, but, well, I'm a guy.

I had surgery for external hemorrhoids four days ago at a hospital in Washington, D.C.—specifically last Friday—and I finally got home yesterday. I'm not entirely sure which specific method they used, but it was done under full anesthesia, and the surgeon was Professor Dr. Chala.
The main issue for men is that urinating becomes difficult and painful because of the irritation and prostate swelling, plus the lingering effects of the anesthesia.
Yesterday—that was three days post-op—I had my first bowel movement. Honestly, I have never experienced pain or burning like that in my entire life. It felt like being stung by wasps. Literally.
Today, I had another stool. It’s still rough, but the pain is significantly less.

They told me this is normal and that everything feels swollen, regardless of whether the hemorrhoids were removed or not. A little blood in the stool is also expected. After that, I'm supposed to wash with water and clean the area with a potassium permanganate solution.

My question is: should I be cleaning the wound with the solution only after having a bowel movement, or multiple times a day? (Usually, wounds are cleaned and dressed once a day.)

I'm worried that if I overdo it, the solution might cause more irritation.

How long does the recovery usually take?

Best wishes to everyone!

You really ought to wash the area several times a day. It helps with the healing process. I don't know about the potassium permanganate specifically—some people gave me similar advice—but my doctor told me to just rinse the wound constantly. Multiple times a day. In the beginning, I was doing it every two or three hours. Let's face it, the area isn't exactly clean, so you need to keep it washed. If you have gas while the wound is healing, a tiny bit of discharge might happen, but it's trace amounts, almost unnoticeable. That's why you need to rinse the affected area frequently. At least, that's what my doctor advised. You can use soap too; baby soap is probably best since it won't dry out your skin or cause irritation.
Did you have a catheter? If you had one, that makes it much harder to pee easily...

Michael Diaz4 said:You really need to wash the wounds multiple times a day—it’s huge for the healing process. I don't know about using potassium permanganate, and honestly, some people gave me similar advice, but my doctor told me to just keep rinsing the wound constantly. Like, several times a day. In the beginning, I was doing it every 2 or 3 hours. Let's face it, the anal area isn't exactly clean, so you have to keep it washed. If you're gassy while the wound is healing, you might get a tiny bit of discharge too—nothing crazy, just traces—but that's why you need to rinse the area more often. That's what my doctor said. You can use soap, though baby soap is probably best since it won't dry out your skin or cause irritation.
Were you on a catheter? Because if you had one, urinating isn't nearly as easy...

I wasn't on a catheter, so things are already looking up a bit.

I'm going to take your advice and wash and clean the wound more frequently. Right now, I'm wearing a pad all the time because the wound leaks—kind of like mucus and stuff, with a slightly unpleasant smell.

How long does this last? And how long did it take for you to get back to feeling normal? Oh, and is it better to stay moving and avoid sitting directly on my butt as much as possible? Sitting down is still the absolute worst part for me!

Thanks in advance for the reply, take care👍!

Michael Diaz4 said:You probably shouldn't have been holding it back. Look, once you feel that urge, just run to the bathroom and let nature take its course. Don't go straining or sitting there for thirty minutes. That’s just going to irritate things further. You need to stick to light stuff—broths first, then maybe some thicker soups the next day, then soft foods until you're back to a regular diet. But Linex is a non-negotiable. And stay away from those "detox" teas. You can't afford to have diarrhea right now either. Your stool needs to be mushy...

So, it hit me again around 6:30 PM, and I finally had a big movement. This time, it was actually mushy at last.😉
Hopefully, I got most of it out because I definitely feel lighter. I don't have the urge anymore, it just hurts from the irritation now.

Dr. Ivanovic called me a bit ago just to check in and see if I needed to head into the hospital for an enema if I hadn't gone yet. We're planning to touch base tomorrow night to see if today was the end of it or if I still need help. Pretty thoughtful of him.🙂

lonepilot23 said:I didn't have to deal with a catheter, so that’s a small win at least.

I’ll take your advice and stay on top of cleaning and monitoring the wound more often. Honestly, I've been wearing a pad constantly because there's some drainage—kind of like mucus, with a slightly unpleasant scent.

How long does this phase last? How long did it take before you felt like yourself again? Also, is it better to stay moving and avoid sitting directly on my butt? Sitting right on the spot is still the most painful part for me!

Thanks in advance for the help, best regards👍!

The wound is draining. It sounds like they had to do some work on the inside too. Your bowels will clear out, which is totally normal. I can't say for sure how long it'll take for you specifically. Just don't sit down. Don't even think about sitting until those stitches fall out on their own. You shouldn't need a pad, either. Just grab some 2x3 inch or 4x4 inch gauze pads and tuck them between the "cheeks." 😁 It's also better if you don't let the treated area rub against itself. Make sure to wash the area several times a day...

Elizabeth Price85 said:So, around 6:30 PM, it finally hit me again, and I had quite a bit of diarrhea. My stool was finally soft/mushy too.😉
Hopefully, I cleared most of it out; I feel lighter now. It’s not pushing anymore, just feels irritated and sore.

Dr. Williams actually called me a little while ago just to check in and see how I was doing. He suggested I head into the hospital for an enema if I hadn't had a bowel movement yet. We agreed to talk tomorrow evening to decide if we need to do that or if today was the end of it. Really kind of him.🙂

Well, like I told you before. Stick to soups—thin ones at first, then maybe something a bit thicker the next day. Tea and crackers. Cream of wheat is great for you. So is grits. Then, slowly transition back to regular food while taking some Nexium. Eat things like spinach, Swiss chard, or broccoli. Broccoli is good. Try simmering a beef shank; make a soup using that meat broth and some broccoli and pasta. Don't jump straight back into milk; wait about ten days for that. Milk and cheese cause bloating, and if you get gas, it puts intense pressure on those large intestine wounds. Avoid cabbage, kale, and beans. They bloat you. Peas aren't good either—just stay away from anything that causes gas for a while. Anything else that isn't binding and isn't grilled (no BBQ for now!) should be fine, as long as you take the Nexium. After that, take a three-day break from the Nexium, then you can start it up again. It stays in the gut and doesn't have side effects. And that’s pretty much it... I forgot to mention you can have fruit compotes. Fig jam or cooked dried figs are great. Apple sauce is okay too. Stick to apples, skip the pears...😉
You can have bread, but go with whole wheat and maybe soak a bit in your soup...

Michael Diaz4 said:Look, like I told you—stick to soups. Start light, then maybe move to slightly thicker soups the next day. Tea and crackers are fine. Honestly, cream of wheat is a lifesaver right now—really is. Same goes for cottage cheese. Once you're feeling steady, you can slowly transition back to regular food, but make sure you take some Nexium with it. Stick to greens like spinach, Swiss chard, or broccoli. Broccoli is actually great for you. My advice? Boil up a veal shank—use that broth to make a soup with some broccoli and pasta. Whatever you do, don't jump straight into milk. Wait at least ten days. Milk and cheese cause bloating, and if you get gas, that pressure on your large intestine wounds is going to hurt like hell. Avoid cabbage, kale, and beans—they’ll just bloat you. Even peas are a bad idea. Basically, if it causes gas, stay away from it for a while. Anything else that isn't "binding" or grilled (keep the BBQ far away from you!) is fair game—just take your Nexium. After a few days, you can take a break from the Nexium, then start it up again if needed. It only works on the gut, so there aren't any side effects. Oh! I forgot to mention—compotes are okay. Fig jam or even cooked dried figs are really good. Apple jam works too. Eat apples, but skip the pears...😉
Look, you can have your bread—but for heaven's sake, make sure it's whole grain—and maybe put a little more effort into that soup...

Hey again, everyone! Just checking in with the crew!

Day 3—and finally, no more blood. It’s still incredibly painful, obviously, but definitely a bit better than before. I actually figured out something useful: those high-quality cotton wipes—you know, the ones women usually use? They are lightyears better for hemorrhoids than the standard cheap stuff where everything just sticks to you. Seriously, why doesn't anyone talk about this?

Of course—I popped a Motrin 100mg right before bed and finally slept like a baby! For the first time in forever!

Hey everyone!

I underwent surgery at General Electric in Pittsburgh this past Friday, April 8th.

Day 8 post-op, and honestly? I feel great.🙂
Yesterday and today I’ve had to hit the bathroom a few more times than usual. I actually talked to my doctor about sipping on some herbal tea every night—my gut is clearly still playing catch-up—so I’m being strict about what I eat and staying super hydrated.

The pain is totally gone, and I’m even heading back to work this Tuesday. All things considered, the whole thing was surprisingly low-key; not nearly as invasive or painful as I expected.
Thanks for all the help and the quick answers here. Dealing with the Hemex situation turned out way easier than I thought it would. Now I just hope these issues stay gone for good.🙂

mistystag48

I had surgery at General Electric in Pittsburgh last Friday, April 8th.

Could you share a few more details? Like, who was your surgeon, how long were you stuck there, what was the damage in terms of cost, how are you feeling now, and what kind of severity level were we talking about?

So, I went in for my checkup with Dr. Candace today. The verdict? Stage IV hemorrhoids. Total bummer.
She told me she’ll probably be in surgery for about two hours. Sounds like it might be a similar situation to yours, Michael Diaz4?

fadedstag1 said:I went in for an exam with Dr. Candace today. Diagnosis: Stage IV hemorrhoids.
He told me he’ll need about two hours to fix it. Probably similar to what you dealt with, Michael Diaz4?

🙄 What can I even say...😢 Get ready for a rough ride. But look on the bright side—it fixes everything once it's done. It’s been five weeks since my own surgery, and I still can't sit down comfortably. You'll likely spend two nights in the hospital. Where are you coming from? If you aren't from Boston, that drive home is going to be brutal. You can't sit, and you have to stay incredibly clean. You made a good choice, though. The guy is a professor and highly respected in his field. When is your procedure scheduled?

I'm currently out in Asheville. I’ll probably make a call next week once I get a better feel for things at the office. This whole situation has me feeling a little thrown off balance, honestly.

"mistystag48"

It's weird when they say they were in Pittsburgh, since that's way closer to me. Now I'm genuinely stuck. If General Electric is operating over there and the costs are significantly lower, what am I even supposed to do?

fadedstag1 said:I'm from Asheville. I'll probably head there next week, once I check in with my company. Honestly, it throws me off a bit that he mentioned being in Pittsburgh when that's actually much closer to me. I'm feeling a little lost on what to do. If General Electric is operating in Pittsburgh and it's significantly cheaper, what then?

Don't take the risk. The place where you were treated is run by a regular tenured professor from the University of Sarajevo. He’s also the Head of Abdominal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Regardless of everything else, it's better to stay with him than go to Pittsburgh, which is just a small town compared to this. It isn't even that far for you. When you're driving back home later, just lean back and relax—you'll be fine. And the service? Fantastic. You'll see if you go. The nurses are available 24/7, and the professor himself comes by for rounds twice a day, along with the clinic director. The suites are incredible. Leather furniture, a kitchenette, private bath, actual art on the walls (not the sketchy kind), a Plasma TV, digital satellite... though you won't be thinking about any of that during your first night. I was just enjoying those perks myself a few hours ago while getting ready to head home. Just plan on being there for at least six weeks. It'll fix you up for good. I went there on the recommendation of a satisfied former patient, and I haven't regretted it once. Good luck, whatever you decide...🙂

So, here’s the situation... I was dealing with third-degree internal hemorrhoids that were bleeding quite a bit. Honestly, I was pretty skeptical at first—I mean, being in Pittsburgh and all, you wonder what the deal is—but there it was. I started looking into the different types of surgery available, seeing that in the US, places like Arithera and Mercury are the main ones doing this kind of thing; specifically at Arithera $2667, I checked in to ask about the costs since I was in Pittsburgh, and they told me it would be around $250 or so. That kind of thing just fuels my skepticism, but I didn't really have much of a choice... my iron levels were plummeting, my blood work looked terrible, and the bleeding during bowel movements just wouldn't stop, so I figured, fine. In mid-March, I gave them a call to see when they could fit me in, and I suggested one of the Fridays in April; they said they’d call me back once they cleared it with the surgeon. They ended up calling me for April 8th at noon, everything very polite and professional... I asked if there was any special preparation needed, and my girlfriend mentioned I just needed to do a cleanse the day before. I arrived at the clinic (you can find the name online easily if you want to look it up, I don't want to advertise them), located right at the base of the building, a rather unimpressive entrance, though not hard to find, situated right across from the train station. Once I got inside, the impression wasn't actually that bad, moderately well-kept, not like some of those high-end private clinics in our country where everything is nothing but marble and steel, but tidy enough. My girlfriend was apologizing at the reception desk because the doctor had an emergency—his name was Ed, I can't recall his last name—something about an appendix bursting, so they told us we’d have to wait about 45 minutes... I thought that was actually perfect, giving me a chance to rest after the drive since I arrived exactly on time (barely, I was driving slowly because there was so much police presence everywhere), so my girlfriend and I went for a walk through Pittsburgh. It's a really lovely city, I actually quite liked it, beautiful parks, a Catholic seminary, and some great kebabs right across the street... though I didn't realize that until later.