Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

mistystag48

Hey, could you do me a huge favor and share some details? How long did the surgery actually take? Was it just local anesthesia or did they put you under completely? Also, did you have to stay overnight, and how was the recovery process—like, when did things finally get moving again? Oh, and if you don't mind sharing which clinic you used—I promise I’m not trying to run an ad here! I just want to know so someone can look them up if needed. Thanks!

mistystag48 said:I looked into the specific types of surgery available first, and it turns out that over here in the States, only Arithera and Mercury handle them.

Just a quick little correction 🙂, because in America, you actually have Mercury, Arithera, and Butterfly performing those procedures.

Aaaa, so you want to know, why didn't you just say so right from the start... where was I...
Aha, so there’s this doctor, a fairly stout younger guy, born around '67 I think, and we headed into a side room to have a real talk. I forgot to mention that a colonoscopy report is mandatory, and on top of that, I had a mountain of bloodwork and other results to deal with. He went through everything quite thoroughly—the nurse had already screened them and gave him a verbal rundown while he was scanning the papers—and then he asked if I knew anything about the surgery itself. I told him I was actually pretty well-informed regarding the procedure and the equipment involved, but what I really cared about was the postoperative phase, the recovery, and all that... At that, he tells me there’s practically no recovery period at all; he mentioned one patient who drove himself all the way out to Maui right after the procedure, and that you can basically eat whatever you want... It does help take the edge off the anxiety, though it sounds almost too good to be true... I stripped down to my waist and we moved into the next room, which, honestly, looked more like a storage closet than a medical facility. They laid me down on one of those maternity beds, hoisted my legs up, and we got down to business. He asked about anesthesia, suggesting that if the pain wasn't too intense, he’d rather skip the local anesthetic via injections—which involves four separate shots directly into the backside—and just apply some lidocaine to the device to numb the tissue; since I am deathly terrified of needles, I agreed to that plan. Honestly, I don't know what any of you have been through, but that was easily the most uncomfortable experience of my life... he inserted the plastic tube and began rotating it, and the whole time the machine was beeping incessantly, sounding just like a police radio, and whenever he hit a blood vessel, there would be this heavy pulsing sound, and then he went in with the needle and thread and stitched it up about three times (or so it seemed, I wasn't exactly focused in that moment). They kept talking to me the entire time, telling me to relax—as if that were even possible—because if you tense your muscles, it only makes it worse. It hurt quite a bit, and there was this constant, unpleasant sensation of fullness and a dull ache while he was stitching... Fortunately, after maybe three or four rotations, it was over, and he did one last check with his finger, and that was it. It’s such a relief when the pain finally starts to subside...

Look, there’s a massive difference between stage 3 and a neglected stage 4. It’s night and day. > is going to have to deal with this just like I am, and for an operation like this, you need a legitimate hospital and a proper surgical suite. That squeaking sound you're hearing? It's probably just the Doppler equipment, but honestly, if we're talking about complicated surgeries, I wouldn't dream of heading to > for that. A specialist is a specialist for a reason. If you're just doing a basic General Electric procedure where everything is caught in the early stages and there's no recovery period to worry about, fine. But for a complex stage 4 where they have to make traditional incisions and clean out the ulcers? That’s serious business. I won't even be able to sit down for at least two sessions after that...

Michael Diaz4 said:Well, there’s a massive gulf between stage three and a neglected stage four... it’s not even a contest. fadedstag1 is going to have to deal with the same reality I am, and for an operation like that, you need a legitimate clinic and a proper surgical suite. That squeaking sound people mention is probably just the Doppler, but if we're talking about high-stakes, complicated procedures, I wouldn't dream of heading over to Pittsburgh for that... A professor is a professor for a reason. If you're just doing some routine General Electric stuff while everything is still caught in the early stages without any postoperative recovery needed, sure, maybe. But for a messy stage four where they actually have to cut and perform a traditional cleaning of the wounds, that’s getting serious. I won't even be able to sit down for at least two sessions after this...

Yeah, I think he'd agree with that, and credit where credit is due, but my situation was clean—no extra complications hanging over my head. It didn't strike me that they'd be equipped to handle sudden, unexpected complications that can pop up during any surgery, even one as mundane as this. Though, I suspect they wouldn't just take on every single patient blindly; they'd likely recommend something else or perhaps they have access to different facilities or specialists that I'm simply unaware of, since I didn't bother asking...

Just checking in to give you all an update. I just got back from my checkup, and it turns out I'm dealing with some internal hemorrhoids...🙂 Honestly, I'm just relieved it wasn't something more serious. Sending my best to everyone!

HELP!

I woke up this morning in a literal pool of blood.😲 My underwear, my pajamas, the sheets—everything was soaked. I didn't feel any pain, and since I’m on my period right now, I just assumed it was that. But there was this massive clot on the pad.

Then, a little while ago, I had to rush to the bathroom and realized I'm bleeding rectally too.😲 It's bright red. I tried calling my doctor, but of course, nobody is picking up (it's Easter, for crying out loud!).

Has anyone else dealt with this after having surgery at General Electric? I had my procedure about 10 days ago.
Please, someone tell me I'm going to be okay. This isn't supposed to be life-threatening, right?

Elizabeth Price85 said:HELP!

I woke up this morning in a pool of blood.😲 My underwear, my pajamas, the sheets—everything. Nothing actually hurt, and since I'm on my period right now, I just assumed it was menstrual blood. But there was this massive clot on the pad.

Then a moment ago, I rushed to the bathroom and realized I'm bleeding rectally.😲 It's bright red. I tried calling my doctor, but no answer (of course, it's Easter!).

Has anyone else dealt with this after a General Electric + RAR procedure? I had surgery 10 days ago.
Please, someone talk me down. This isn't supposed to be something serious, right?

Get to the hospital immediately. Run, don't walk. There shouldn't be any bleeding, especially if it looks like a Butterfly... a vein must have burst.

Elizabeth Price85 said:HELP!

I woke up this morning in a pool of blood.😲 My underwear, pajamas, everything—sheets included. It didn't hurt, and since I'm on my period right now, I just assumed it was menstrual blood. But there was this massive clot on the pad.

Then a few minutes ago, I rushed to the bathroom and realized I'm bleeding rectally too.😲 Fresh blood. I tried calling my doctor, but they aren't picking up (of course, it's Easter!).

Has anyone dealt with anything like this after a General Electric + RAR procedure? I had surgery 10 days ago.
Please, someone talk me down. This isn't supposed to be something serious, right?

Go to the ER. Don't mess around with this.

What happened to Jeremy Kern seems like a classic mistake caused by sitting down too soon. I really hope everything turns out okay.🙄 Poor thing went through so much, and now there’s the worry about having to go back in for more wound care...😢 A bit of advice for anyone recovering from hemorrhoid surgery: avoid sitting down after the procedure. You have to listen to your doctors. I had my surgery 5.5 weeks ago and I'm still not allowed to sit. After my second follow-up, my specialist told me no sitting for six weeks, so I'm just waiting on my next check-up in seven days. When you sit, it's the lowest part of the body—the pressure is just too high, and it's not recommended. Jeremy, I truly hope things settle down; I feel so bad seeing those complications happen...😢 Hang in there...👍

I finally got off the phone with my doctor, and honestly, he managed to calm me down quite a bit. He said there’s no need to panic. Apparently, bleeding can still happen up to three weeks after surgery. I asked him if it was normal for it to be this much, though. He explained that the stitches are likely just breaking down or being absorbed by my body, and since I’ve been dealing with some harder stools lately, they probably just nicked a little piece of mucous membrane. He thinks it should just stop on its own.

The thing is, nothing actually hurts, and I’m not really "bleeding" in the traditional sense—it only happens when I’m on the toilet straining. I feel a little more relaxed now, so I’m going to hold off on heading to the ER for the moment.

Elizabeth Price85 said:I spoke with my doctor, and he really helped calm me down. He said there’s no need to panic. Apparently, bleeding is possible for up to three weeks after surgery. I asked him, "But is it supposed to be this much?" He explained that the stitches might be breaking down or absorbing, and if you're dealing with harder or more frequent bowel movements, they might have pulled at a bit of the mucosa, which causes the bleeding. He thinks it should just stop on its own.

There’s no pain, and I’m not actually bleeding constantly (it clearly only happens when I sit on the toilet and strain). I feel a bit more relaxed now, so I won't head to the ER just yet.

Hmm, that sounds plausible. No need to freak out. My discharge papers mentioned that minor bleeding during the recovery period is possible, but they told me to call the clinic immediately if there's heavy bleeding or a large amount of bright red blood. When I was dealing with firmer stools—basically when the stitches were coming out—I noticed some tiny traces of blood myself, but it was barely noticeable. I interpreted it the same way: the stitches were dissolving, and that caused, again, almost imperceptible traces of blood. Most people wouldn't even see it. I want to emphasize again: don't sit down. Take some gauze—one of those 5x8 cm or 10x10 cm pads—and tuck it between your cheeks (pardon the phrasing, but that’s what they told me at the hospital). I’m still using Lidoproct both inside and out, and I massage the inside twice a day with Morphine gel. And thank God, no problems... Just keep an eye on things. And keep the wound clean with a shower frequently. A clean wound heals better. Good luck...🙂

I've had them for years. Ignored them because they didn't really hurt, just bled a couple of times. Tried a whole course of Paxil, total waste of money. No difference at all.
Last week they flared up. My eyes were practically popping out from the pain. Now I’m taking Daflon and rubbing on some Hemex essential oils for a few days. Feeling better and they've shrunk down. I'd recommend the Hemex—plus, the whole apartment smells great. :-)

Elizabeth Price85 said:I just got off the phone with my doctor, and he really helped calm my nerves. He told me there’s no need to panic. Apparently, bleeding can happen up to three weeks after surgery. I asked him, "But is it supposed to be this much?" He explained that the stitches might be breaking down or absorbing, and if I'm having harder or more frequent bowel movements, they might have pulled at a bit of the mucosa, which causes the bleeding. He thinks it should stop on its own.

Nothing is hurting, and I'm not actually bleeding constantly—it only happens when I'm on the toilet straining a bit. I feel a little better now, so I'm not heading to the ER just yet.

And...? Are you feeling any better?

Elizabeth Price85 said:HELP!

I woke up this morning in a literal pool of blood.😲 My underwear, my pajamas, even the bedsheets—it was everywhere. I didn't feel any pain at first, and since I'm actually on my period right now, I just assumed it was menstrual blood, especially after seeing a massive clot on the pad.

Then, a few moments ago, it felt like a sudden rush hit me while I was sitting down, and I realized I'm bleeding rectally too.😲 It's bright, fresh blood. I tried calling my doctor, but I can't get through (of course, because it's Easter!).

Has anyone else dealt with anything like this after a DG HAL+RAR procedure? I had my surgery just ten days ago.
Please, someone please talk me down—this isn't supposed to be something scary, right?

😲 I honestly can't believe you're going through all of this, especially being only ten days out from surgery. My heart really goes out to you, and I truly hope you're okay right now. Sadly, I don't have any actual medical advice to offer, I can only send you some much-needed support...
I'm not entirely sure if it matters or not, but Michael Diaz4 mentioned something about sitting positions before, though my doctor never brought it up, so I wasn't worried about it. I wonder if that could be the cause.

Oh man, I am wishing you such a fast recovery... 😢

Elizabeth Price85 said:HELP!

I woke up this morning in a literal pool of blood...😲 My underwear, my pajamas, the sheets—everything was soaked. I wasn't in any pain, and since I'm on my period right now, I just assumed it was menstrual blood at first, especially since there was this massive clot on the pad.

But then, just a little while ago, it hit me while I was on the toilet... I realized I'm bleeding rectally too.😲 It’s bright red, fresh blood. I tried calling my doctor, but they aren't picking up (of course they aren't, it's Easter!).

Has anyone else dealt with something like this after a DG HAL+RAR procedure? I had my surgery just ten days ago.
Please, someone just tell me it's going to be okay, because I really need to believe this isn't something catastrophic...

I started bleeding during bowel movements too... it's been about 17 days since my surgery and it's actually quite a lot, almost as bad as it was before the operation, so I'll be calling my doctor tomorrow. About five or six days after the surgery, the stitches were coming out and there was some bleeding and spotting, but it wasn't a heavy flow like this. I'm hoping like crazy that it isn't anything serious either... Unfortunately, I've been sitting down a ton since the surgery because of my job, and nobody ever warned me that I wasn't supposed to be doing that...

Look, people aren't allowed to sit down for a while. How long that lasts really depends on the specific surgery and how intense it was. For me, it’s been an incredibly long road—I can't sit for at least 7 days, which actually puts me at over six weeks since my procedure. I'm sure for some folks it might be a shorter window, but you definitely shouldn't be sitting right after surgery. Jeremy Kern had what I remember being a minor thrombosis, which basically means a lot of those internal veins took a hit. Once they stitch everything up, you just can't sit for at least 20 days—that's just my best guess, anyway, and it could easily be longer. Wishing everyone the best of luck...

Can someone please walk me through what I should actually be eating—and more importantly, what I absolutely shouldn't touch—after hemorrhoid surgery? Everyone keeps preaching "bland food," but honestly, what does that even mean in practice? Is it just a diet, or am I looking at something more intense? Like, can I still have different kinds of meat, sauces, pasta...? Has anyone here actually dealt with this nightmare? What did your daily meals look like, and how long did you have to stick to it? I’m staring at my kitchen feeling totally lost because I have no clue what to cook or what's strictly off-limits. I would be incredibly grateful for any help 👍

boldcobra60 said:Can someone please tell me what I should actually eat—and more importantly, what I absolutely shouldn't touch—after hemorrhoid surgery? Everyone keeps mentioning "light food," but that’s so vague. What does that even mean? Is it just about a specific diet, or is there more to it? Can I still have different kinds of meat, sauces, pasta...? Has anyone here gone through this? I'd love to know what your daily meals looked like and how long you had to stick to it. I'm honestly lost on what to cook and what to avoid. I would be so incredibly grateful for any help. 👍

Just scroll back a few pages. You'll find exactly what was recommended to me and what I ended up eating...😉

boldcobra60 said:Can someone please tell me what the best foods are—and more importantly, what to absolutely avoid—after hemorrhoid surgery? Everyone keeps preaching "light meals," but that’s so vague. What does that actually mean in practice? Is it just about a specific diet, or is there more to it? Can I still have different kinds of meat, sauces, or even pasta? Has anyone here actually gone through this? I'd love to know what your daily meals looked like and how long you had to stick to a strict regimen. I'm honestly at a loss regarding what to cook and what is strictly off-limits. I would be so incredibly grateful for any help. 👍

Here is the content from post no. 1719.
Like I told you before, just take it one step at a time. Start with soups—thin ones at first, then maybe something a bit heartier the next day. Tea and crackers are safe bets too. Honestly, semolina is great for this, and cottage cheese works well. Once you're feeling a bit more stable, you can slowly transition back to regular meals, but make sure you’re taking some Benefiber. Stick to things like spinach, Swiss chard, or broccoli. Broccoli is actually really good for you right now. Here's a tip: simmer a beef shank and use that broth to make a nice soup with some broccoli and pasta. Avoid dairy for now; wait at least ten days before you touch milk or cheese. They cause bloating, and if you get gas, that pressure against your large intestine wounds is going to be incredibly painful. Also, stay far away from cabbage, kale, or beans. They bloat you too. Even peas are off the table for a while—basically, if it causes gas, don't eat it. Anything else that isn't heavy, isn't fried, and isn't grilled (definitely no BBQ for now!) should be fine, as long as you take your Benefiber. You can take the Benefiber, give your system a three-day break, and then start the cycle again. It only works on your gut, so there aren't any side effects. Oh, I almost forgot to mention—fruit compote is okay. Fig jam or even cooked dried figs are excellent choices. Apple jam is fine too. Stick to apples; skip the pears for now.
You could do that, but maybe go with some whole wheat bread instead? Put a little more effort into the soup, too...