My Journey to Hemorrhoid-Free Bliss: A Surgery Story

How I ended up needing surgery?

I'll start from the beginning. Until I was around 27, I didn't have any issues, but I was living a pretty unhealthy lifestyle:

- I was eating way too much sugar and carbs

- I was ignoring veggies

- I wasn't moving much and avoided the gym

- I was sitting for 6 hours a day at work

As a result, I developed hemorrhoids. What if I had been living a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, and going to Pilates and the pool? Maybe I would have gotten them later, because after giving birth, they're pretty common.

How did it show up?

Blood and pain during a trip to the bathroom. That was really scary and worrying. I went to see a surgeon through my insurance, and they just diagnosed a fissure.

They prescribed:

- a probiotic supplement

- a levomekol ointment

It helped temporarily, but after giving birth, I started getting nodes that weren't there before. Then there was a temporary lull, and I'd get occasional flare-ups once a year. After giving birth, I started getting noticeable nodes that weren't there before. I adjusted my diet, started eating more veggies, and went to the gym, but things only got worse, and I was now sitting for 9 hours a day at my new job. The last six months were unbearable - constant pain and bleeding. Suppositories and pills helped temporarily, but a new flare-up would come within a week. I couldn't take it anymore, so I went to see a proctologist.

It turned out:

- there was no fissure

- I had chronic hemorrhoids, stage 2 (internal and external)

They prescribed the same suppositories and pills, as well as a diet. They also recommended a hal-rar operation as the most effective option with quick recovery.

What's it all about?

During the procedure, the arteries that supply blood to the nodes are tied off, and the mucous membrane is pulled back. The whole thing is done under ultrasound guidance.

I opted for a scheduled procedure. They gave me a list of tests and procedures I needed to undergo. That included:

- Complete Blood Count (CBC), Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)

my coagulation test results- Coagulation tests

- HIV, syphilis, hepatitis

- General biochemistry

- Sodium, potassium, chloride

- ECG with interpretation and recording

- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

- Gynecologist's note

- Therapist's note

- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)

My review of the FIT test under anesthesia

My review of the prep medication for the colonoscopy

I also needed hospital socks.

Why did I choose private medicine?

I wanted the comfort and convenience of not having to run around in queues and being able to do all the tests at my own pace, outside of work hours. Plus, I wasn't sure if I'd get a quota, because my stage wasn't the most severe. And even if I did, when would it be? There's no urgency, after all. I could've waited a year. But I didn't want to suffer for that long.

How did the preparation go?

The FIT test and the procedure couldn't be scheduled for the same time, so I did the first one first, and then the second one. If I had a pleasant experience with the colonoscopy, the next part was a mini-adventure. The only thing that cheered me up was that the preparation wasn't as harsh as I thought it'd be. I didn't need to follow a strict anti-shake diet.

It was pretty straightforward to prep for the procedure - I just had to insert four microenemas called MicroLax: two in the evening and two in the morning.

I found it tough to hold off on eating until 13:00, since that's when my surgery was scheduled.

they put in a catheter The Surgery

First, I was taken to my room, where I was given disposable underwear and told to put on compression stockings (you can buy them beforehand or get them at the clinic). Then, the anesthesiologist came in and did a pre-op assessment, after which I was invited to the operating room. I lay down on the gurney, got anesthetized, and before I knew it, I was out cold.

Waking Up and the First Day After Surgery

I was hoping to wake up feeling as refreshed as I do after a colonoscopy, but that wasn't the case. It was absolute agony in that one spot - the pain was searing, sharp, and piercing. I was writhing and whimpering like a wounded animal. I even needed an opioid analgesic to numb the pain, but it didn't really do much. I barely made it to a chair, and then I was taken to my room. For the next eight hours, the pain was relentless, no matter what position I was in. Nothing seemed to help - I was twisting and moaning, on the verge of tears. I was even sweating, and my temperature was 37.5. I was mentally cursing myself, thinking, 'What have I done to my poor bum? I've gone and gotten myself into this expensive and excruciating ordeal.' It wasn't until around 9 PM that I started to feel somewhat better. The pain was still there, but I was able to move around, go to the bathroom, and eat a little. I really needed to go, but I couldn't until around 10 PM. After each trip to the bathroom, I had to reapply the dressing with ointment.

My royal suite for twoFirst night after surgery

I was warned by the doctor that my gut would be sending mixed signals - sometimes easing up, sometimes getting worse. The intestine was being pulled back into place, so it was bound to protest and get used to the new position. I was told to be patient for a couple of days. To be honest, the pain wasn't as bad as it was after my C-section 8 years ago. In that case, the painkillers worked like a charm. But here, it was like they didn't even touch the pain..

I didn't get much sleep that night - just light dozes of 20 minutes with constant wake-ups, and that went on till 5 am. By then, I was at my wit's end and took one ibuprofen tablet that I always carry with me. As expected, it didn't do the trick.

Fed a mushy, pureed diet, just like I was supposed toFirst day after surgery

The pain was back with a vengeance the next morning, so they gave me some ketonal. The pain eased up a bit, and I was able to move around the ward, chat with my neighbor, and have a light snack for lunch. The doctor came to check on me, and I was expecting a real ordeal, but it was a breeze. She gave me a discharge note with some instructions:

- A high-fiber diet

- No fatty, fried, fast food, spicy, or oily stuff

- Amoxiclav and metronidazole for 7 days

- Detralex for an extended period, following the schedule

- Suppositories of Relfe-Pro from the 4th day onwards

- Forlax (I didn't need it, thankfully)

And I got a 10-day sick leave.

I was at home, and my temperature was still at a normal 37.5 degrees. I was feeling weak and helpless, and the pain was still bothering me. I took two ibuprofen tablets and started taking antibiotics. It was a big success that I managed to sleep for five hours straight without waking up!

My constant companionTwo days after the operation

My review of the broad-spectrum antibiotic metronidazole

And then the diarrhea started. It was predictable, given my history of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and how antibiotics can exacerbate it. After 10 trips to the bathroom in three hours, I finally took loperamide and got some relief. I even managed to take a walk. The pain had subsided to a manageable level – I took two ibuprofen tablets. But the metronidazole was making me feel weak, dizzy, and I had no appetite at all. My tongue felt like the Sahara desert, and I just wanted to keep it moist with water. I had to adjust my diet and revisit the 'fodmap' diet, which is recommended for people with IBS and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). This diet excludes trigger foods like gluten, dairy, certain vegetables, and fruits like apples, pears, and peaches, as well as broccoli, cauliflower, and beans. I stuck to a simple diet of scrambled eggs on lactose-free milk, corn pancakes, rice or quinoa with meat for lunch, and bananas as a snack.

<\/a> This was just a small part of the medication I was on during my recovery period.<\/div><\/div>Third day after surgery<\/strong><\/p>I couldn't sleep until 2 am - that's just one of the side effects of metronidazole. The pain had mostly subsided, and I only took one pill, so I didn't need any painkillers after that. My tongue was still sore, and I felt weak, but I didn't have a fever or an appetite. I stuck to my diet, but I couldn't walk for long because I felt weak and dizzy. I finally fell asleep, but I slept through the night without waking up. I only took loperamide once.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/a> My discharge summary<\/div><\/div>Fourth day and first week after surgery<\/strong><\/p>I was still experiencing diarrhea. I started taking smecta, and for two days, I managed to go without loperamide, but then everything started up again. The pain was completely gone, and I no longer needed the pills. The antibiotics had the same side effects - weakness, dizziness, dry mouth, and insomnia. I was able to go out with friends to a grill bar, but I avoided the 'forbidden' foods - grilled chicken breast, Greek salad, and cranberry juice.<\/p>

Second week after surgery<\/strong><\/p>I'm thrilled to report that the antibiotics are finally out of my system! Most of the side effects have disappeared, except for the occasional diarrhea. I've been downing glasses of smecta and taking loperamide like there's no tomorrow. I've also started taking enterolactis to help restore my gut flora, but to be honest, smecta and loperamide are the only ones that seem to be doing the trick. Ten days post-op, I had a follow-up appointment with my proctologist, and she gave me the thumbs up: "Everything's looking great, you're healing nicely, and you can go back to work," she said.

"All good, lovely marquise, there's hardly any swelling, and the healing process is going smoothly, you can start working again"

Now, if only I could get rid of this diarrhea...

Thanks to Dr. Kharytonov's blog, I stumbled upon psyllium, which I started taking on day 13. And let me tell you, it was a game-changer! I was able to function normally, hit the gym, and even get back to my favorite desk job.

My review of psyllium

рекомендации после операцииThe horror stories I've read about in other reviews didn't happen to me:

I didn't need a catheter to help with urination (I managed to go on my own, albeit with some effort)I didn't experience excruciating pain for weeks (just the first two days were tough)I didn't need to use a warm bath to help with, ahem, "business" (thanks to my trusty diarrhea)So, what determines how well you recover?

It's all about the stage of the process (the longer it takes, the more painful recovery will be)The quality of the surgery itselfYour individual body chemistryHow well you follow the post-op instructionsThree weeks post-op and I'm back to normal:

Life is good!

I workI go to the gymBut now that I'm off the office chair, the soft tissues in my lower half are starting to complain. I borrowed an orthopedic cushion from my husband, and it made a big difference. Occasionally, I have to take loperamide, but I know it's not going to fix everything in a week. I've expanded my diet - I'm eating white bread and pasta to firm things up. I also eat a lot of rice in the form of porridge, meatballs, and as a side dish - it's got the same effect.

The verdict

I'm living a new life without hemorrhoids, and now it's time to get my gut back in order. I no longer have pain and bleeding, and I'm no longer afraid to go to the bathroom. The surgery was expensive, and the recovery was painful for the first few days - and it can be even worse for some people. Antibiotics can have unpleasant side effects. But I think it was worth it. I'd recommend it to anyone who's been suffering from chronic hemorrhoids and has had it up to here with suppositories and pills.

Don't delay, or the disease will progress and recovery will be harder.Get moving somehow - whether it's walking, working out, skiing, swimming, or whatever.Eat more veggies and drink more fluids.Don't try to self-medicate and get a professional's help instead.I'll try to update this review in six months.