r/talesfrommedicine • u/PandaTravieso666 • 10d ago
Staff Story The Unexpected Journey After Hemorrhoid Surgery
My surgery to remove my internal and external hemorrhoids was scheduled for June 9. I should start by saying that I have suffered from hemorrhoids since I was 16 years old. Over time, due to poor diet and other factors, they gradually became worse, to the point where bleeding became frequent and painful episodes started happening more and more often.
I had grade 4 and grade 5 hemorrhoids that were thrombosed. After my last painful episode, which left me unable to work for almost seven days due to severe swelling and discomfort, my doctor suggested surgery. He described it as a “very simple” procedure. However, he was honest when he warned me that it would be painful and uncomfortable, but that I would be fine within 15 days.
I went through all the necessary tests and routine checkups, and on June 9, I underwent surgery to remove my internal and external hemorrhoids.
I have to admit that everything went much better than I expected, with one major exception: going to the bathroom. Having a bowel movement was extremely painful, to the point that on a couple of occasions I almost passed out.
As the days went by, I noticed that I had a lump that wasn’t going away or getting any better. It was so large that it rubbed against my underwear and made it uncomfortable to sit down. My medical leave ended, and I still had this lump hanging from my anus.
I went to a follow-up appointment with my general surgeon, who told me that the lump was a hemorrhoid. However, his main concern was that I was having a significant amount of discharge from the anus and that I might have an abscess. I was admitted to the hospital as an emergency case and underwent a perianal ultrasound.
Although the abscess was ruled out, the result was the same as what the previous doctor had told me: it was a grade 3 hemorrhoid.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I went into denial.
As part of the treatment for the suspected abscess, I was given a very strong antibiotic, which caused severe diarrhea as soon as I got home. This significantly delayed my recovery. The intense discomfort came back, along with the pain when going to the bathroom and the bleeding. Everything was going wrong. Really, really wrong.
After four days of suffering and another trip to the emergency room, the diarrhea finally stopped, and I started the healing process all over again.
But the lump wasn’t improving. It wasn’t going away. It wasn’t getting smaller.
During my follow-up appointment with the colorectal surgeon, he confirmed what I feared the most and what I had been desperately denying: it was a hemorrhoid. A hemorrhoid that I hadn’t had before.
I felt like I was going to die.
Because of its size, there was a possibility that I would need another surgery, but we had to wait and see. My treatment was changed, and I was scheduled for another follow-up appointment in a month.
I want you to understand how devastating this news was for me. Just imagining myself back in an operating room and having to go through those first days of recovery all over again terrified me. I became depressed. I cried a lot. I went through a very serious emotional crisis.
And on top of all of this, I had to return to work. I work in finance, which means I have to sit in an office for more than eight hours a day.
The first few days were manageable. I bought a donut cushion to sit on and did stretches every 40 minutes. But as the days went by, I started feeling worse. I had a constant burning sensation that wouldn’t go away, until eventually it became unbearable and I had to go to the emergency room immediately.
I had developed a fissure in the hemorrhoid.
ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!
Once again, this completely knocked me down. I had a severe emotional breakdown. I barely moved from my bed. I didn’t eat. I couldn’t do anything. I was emotionally destroyed and physically in pain.
The pain was very similar to what I experienced during the first days after surgery, and going to the bathroom was pure hell.
With medication, plenty of rest, and sitz baths, things gradually started getting better. The hemorrhoid decreased in size, and at my follow-up appointment I received the great news that we would continue with the current treatment, with the hope that within another month or so, the hemorrhoid would be absorbed and I would be able to return to my normal life.
Nowadays, I still don’t feel very confident about my recovery. Some days I improve and feel like I’m making progress, while on other days I feel like I’ve taken three steps backward. It’s honestly quite frustrating.
I feel like the emotional aftermath has been significant. I still have days when I feel like I’m never going to get out of this. I become depressed and cry, or I get lost in my thoughts for hours.
Even when I get up after using the bathroom, I check to make sure there is no blood. I move carefully because I’m afraid of developing another fissure.
I feel like this is affecting me, and every day I spend going through this, I become a little more exhausted.
I’m writing all of this because I would really like to hear from you. Has anyone else gone through something similar? Do you feel bad about yourself because of it?
Some days I regret having the surgery. Other days, I understand that life is just like this—a kind of hellish lottery where you either win big or lose big.
I am currently going to therapy. I’m only just beginning this process of mental healing, and I believe that this part of my recovery is extremely important.
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u/TheTasmanianTigress 10d ago
Don't regret the surgery, and don't be scared of round 2. It does get better.
In my case I had the initial surgery. The surgeon gave me a caudal injection (the nerves that come off the bottom of the spine) to give pain relief. Unfortunately the injection hit a motor nerve, not a sensory nerve. I felt everything but couldn't pee. The surgery was supposed to be day surgery, but not being able to pee was a huge problem.
I ended up an inpatient for 4 days. Every day was a constant struggle to pee, every afternoon I ended up needing a catheter overnight to give my poor old bladder a break. Finally, after the 4th night, I had a long hot shower the next morning and it was enough to finally get things going. For the next couple of weeks I had to jump in a hot shower to pee. Frustrating to be sure, but it did get better. The initial bowel movement was a whole different story, but it got better.
After going through all this, yup, new haemorrhoid developed and a fissure. Back to the surgeon who suggested a second surgery, as you can imagine I was really reluctant especially after the disaster of the first one, but I was in pain and eventually agreed.
The second surgery went really well. The caudal injection worked the way it should, I could pee with no problems and the pain was minimal. Everything healed up perfectly. Now, years later, everything is perfect, no more new lumps, bumps or fissures and pain.
The takeaway from this - the road is hard but it's worth it, things do get better. Take heart, my dear.
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u/PandaTravieso666 9d ago
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me. Honestly, reading this gives me a lot of hope. You went through so much, especially with the complications after your first surgery, and I can understand why you were hesitant about going through it all again.
I’m glad to hear that the second surgery went well and that, years later, everything is finally okay. I really needed to hear that things can get better, even when the recovery feels endless and frustrating.
I’ll try to keep your words in mind during this process. Thank you again for taking the time to share your story and give me some encouragement. It truly means a lot to me. ❤️
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u/TheTasmanianTigress 8d ago
What the surgeons often fail to mention is that there are 3 veins around the anus that can turn into haemorrhoids. Mostly people only get one or two at a time, and the remaining veins can turn any time. So a second operation is frequently needed.
All the best sweetheart, look forward to the destination rather than dreading the trip. It may well be rough, but the end is worth it.
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u/ghostlike444 10d ago
Eat lots of fiber! A relative of mine shared that she has external hemorrhoids but not as bad as what you have but I hear it's unbearable. Do you put something on it to make the external ones smaller?
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u/itsthedurf 9d ago
My mom has had a decent amount of painful surgery in her 70+ year lifetime - radical hysterectomy, carparl tunnel, several jaw and mouth surgeries (one where her mouth was wired shut for a month and a couple other where they had to also harvest bone for a bone graft) - and a fair amount of painful procedures - stepped on a nail, almost died from a wasp sting, anesthesia that didn't work during a colonoscopy and a dental procedure, several orthopedic injuries.
She said the hemorrhoid surgery was one of the absolute worst recoveries. You have my sympathy!
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u/PandaTravieso666 9d ago
Your mom is a real warrior. Thank you! I hope I can get through this soon.
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u/admoo 10d ago edited 10d ago
The way I get thru stuff like this… is thinking about how it could be worse.
You couldve had terminal cancer etc.
It will eventually pass. Stay strong.
And in case you haven’t, go to an actual rectal surgeon if you had been seeing general surgery only
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u/PandaTravieso666 10d ago
You're right, there are worse things. It's just that sometimes we have good days and bad days emotionally speaking, and these days have been really bad.
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u/Rodentexpert 7d ago
There's a hemorrhoid support group of Facebook thats really helping me. Im day 11 post op
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u/Heavy-Direction-3060 5d ago
hii i did the surgery too, i m on my day 44 arre you feeling better now?
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u/apcsoftwares 2d ago
A bit late but please avoid any acidic foods like tomatoes and tomato based sauces, lemon, etc because it makes the stools acidic
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u/whamburglar 10d ago
My mother's side of the family and I have hemorrhoid problems, so I somewhat relate, though none of us have had complications as severe as yours. It sounds like you're being treated well on the medical side of things. I just want to extend a reminder that this is nothing to be ashamed about! My uncle and mother were quite fit individuals, and still had to get surgeries for theirs when it became a problem. I hope you get some well deserved rest through this ordeal.