Pun intended folks, but I was scared sh**less until I found this site four days ago, and I have been sneaking around it ever since. I want to thank each and every one of you who has posted their stories as it has brought great relief to my body and soul. So I thought I would share mine in hopes that it might do the same for others!
Last wednesday I had one very large ulcerated 'roid removed (scalpeled and sutured) from the edge of my rectum that sat right on my sphincter muscle (an innie AND an outie, depending on it's mood!) and two internal banded.
My doc sedated me heavily instead of general anethesia, and gave me lots of local anethesia when I was sedated. I do not remember any of it.
The procedure only took about 30 minutes. I got there at 7am and was on my way home by 10:30am. I did not have to wait to pee, and peed right away when I got home even though my entire nether-regions stayed numb until 10pm....which was a blessing.
The first 3 days were a blur as I went thru FORTY-FIVE oxycodone and 30 valium tablets to keep the pain at bay---took 3 oxy every three hours and 2-3 valium every six hours for the glorious anal spasms. BUT this kept the pain at about a level 2, which was totally bearable. The only thing that truly sucked was everytime I got up to go pee I had to carry a big ziplock baggie with me, because the meds made me sooo nauseous I threw up almost every time. But I am sensitive to that stuff, so that is not a hugely common thing, methinks. Also, sometimes it would take me about 20 minutes to pee because I could only dispense a teaspoon every minute or so. That's another effect of the oxy.
I ate graham crackers, applesauce, LOTS of fig newtons, ginger ale, bananas and canned peaches and pears. Citrucel twice a day and stool softeners 2-3 times a day (dulcolax---not the laxative).
I took a Senakot laxative on Friday night and woke up saturday morning feeling like I was pretty full and needed to poo. I did not want to push, but could really feel there was something in there that was not moving, so I called my doc and she told me that enemas are okay if you are genuinely full and it won't come out. I slipped my pinky in and could feel I was genuinely full.
BUT she also said to start with the "Mineral Oil Fleet" enema as it is more lubricating than the saline. Nothing happened, so I followed it with a Fleet Saline enema and two minutes later the floodgates of hell opened.
My doc said that it would feel like "passing the sun" but each poop that followed would get easier....she was right. It did really hurt, but it is getting easier to deal with.
I don't have a shower attachment, so I keep four large plastic cups of warm water next to me while I am on the toilet and pour it on as I push on my perinium when I go. Not an easy feat, sort of like juggling, but neccessary and worth it.
I even tried singing at the top of my lungs yesterday morning as I pooed to see if it would help relieve some of the pain, but alas, it did not. It did make me laugh, however, as soon as I hopped into my heavenly bathtub with warm water and epsom salts.
Gotta love the sitz bath!! Soooooooo soothing!
There is usually very, very little blood---generally it is in the stool itself, NOT dripping into the toilet as it did before the surgery. I would have to wear pantyliners, my ulcerated hem bled so much.
SO!! I am off to the grocery store (first jaunt out of the house) to buy some nupercainal for the incessant burning that plagues me when I least expect it. Probably seepage or bm residue.
I am now only taking advil (600mg every 5 hours), my citrucel once a day and a softener or two. I go potty about 3-5 times a day, which is what I did before the surgery anyway. Although I don't seem to recall the BM's feeling like pinecones dipped in sulfuric acid......oh the days of yor.
But I know that it will get better---it already has in just a couple of days. I know there will be good ones and bad ones.....such is life.
My advice....Keep your sense of humor. Pain does NOT last forever. If your roids were ulcerated or infected you will have a hell of alot more energy when they are gone and your body is not constantly fighting it.
I am tired of staying in bed all day, but thankfully there are a million wonderful novels to read. Wish me luck at the store! I am a little scared to head out.
Have a wonderful evening and be brave!!!
Linear Mode
