My Recent PPH Surgery Experience - Bowel Disorders Message Board

psyadam · 09-08-2008, 08:43 AM

I had the PPH surgery on 27 August 2008. I went in with the expectation of some discomfort and that I'd be back at work in a week or so. I'm 50 with type 3 hems with prolapse. Had the conventional surgery 25 years ago. Surgeon was a colo-rectal specialist with an assistant surgeon as well "to avoid complications."

Surgery was uneventful, home three hours after it completed, some discomfort, taking torodol and percocet for pain. First 72 hours felt pretty good, as expected. After 72 hours, no more torodol (high risks after 72 hours), replaced with motrin. At that point, feeling of pressure, discomfort, horrible bowel movements began.

Surgeon responsive to phone calls, stated that I had "large hems and this kind of discomfort wasn't unusual." Of course, pre-surgery, surgeons push the ease of surgery, post, speak of pain as normal. Seventh, eighth day were pretty horrible, ten/twelve bms/day, not sure why, so most of time between toilet and bathtub to soak and recover from the pain of bms.

Obviously couldn't get back to work that week. Saw surgeon on day 10 for exam, she probed with a finger, too swollen for more. Told me I was pretty swollen, it would be painful, try to reduce the percocet (originally taking two every 4 hours, now 2 every six hours, less than two doesn't seem to take edge off the pain).

Now day 12, still lot of pressure, swelling. Feels like small hem poking out of anus, but could be swelling, not sure. Blood with each bm, some spotting. Latest symptom is this "oozing" of clear fluid, sometimes makes "wet spot" in underwear, almost like a "sweating", but it's always damp. Call into surgeon to see if it's a problem or normal, wasn't informed of this symptom.

I've read these boards, tried different stool softeners (colace, miralax), don't have hard stools, just painful.

So, am i the exception to the pph rule? I have more pain than I had been led to believe and my "down time" is longer than I thought. Is it worth it? Guess I'll know in a few weeks, when the pain subsides/goes away. But, my own conclusion at this point, is that surgery is surgery, painful, takes time to recover. I'm not one of the PPH miracles, one day of discomfort and advil and then back to life. It's worse than I thought, and hopefully I'll look back and be grateful. Happy to answer anybody's questions and love any feedback from anyone else who might have suggestions for me. It really sucks, this recovery process and I have a pretty high tolerance for pain (and pain meds, unfortunately).

Adam

psyadam · 09-29-2008, 01:54 PM

It's been four and a half weeks since the PPH surgery. Not needing the Depends anymore, no leakage or blood. Bowel movements are fine. My sleep cycle is still disturbed, get up at 4:30am, but not because of pressure or pain or bm need (just did that for so many weeks, maybe body still remembers it). I still have the discomfort of hemorrhoid pain, still swollen. There is still flesh outside of the anus, which is uncomfortable, retains some fecal material, rubs when I walk. My surgeon is "hopeful" that it will recede as the swelling continues to improve. She wouldn't answer question on whether this will need to be addressed surgically. I used to have prolapse, but it would stay "inside" except for bms. This is outside, too swollen to push inside. To me, this is worse than prior to the surgery. I'm back to work, uncomfortable to sit for more than an hour at a time. Only treatment for this according to doctor is use of ice packs to reduce swelling and keep feet elevated as much as possible. She says I can begin to exercise upper body, and abdominals (unless painful). Can't really do cardio, as the protruding flesh makes it uncomfortable. I'm feeling pessimistic, that the surgery hasn't really helped anything, but still hopeful that in a few more weeks some miracle will happen and all will be well. Not sure if I would have been better off with the conventional surgery, don't think it would have been significantly more painful or disruptive than this one has been.

sweetiepie2008 · 10-31-2008, 07:33 PM

My husband had the PPH surgery Oct 24th. I'm feeling pretty worried at this point. the Pain during BM is so bad. He says out of everything he's experienced it is the worse. They said he has a thrombosis and that it would heal up in a couple of weeks. The pain meds aren't helping. They never told us of this pain and I wish that I would have found this message board before he had this done. Believe me I wold have begged hm not to do it. If anyone is thinking of having this surgery think again. The pain is so horrible. He is not eating just so that he won't have a bowl movement. He goes fromt he toilet to soaking in a tub and the doctor pretty much sent us home to deal with it on our own.

mizzbee · 11-02-2008, 08:04 PM

After my PPH operation, I experienced a great urgency to defecate on waking and at other times. I had the operation 4½ years ago and that same urgency still plagues me. These days I can make it to the toilet in time but I cannot hold it in for any lengthy period. My operation was only successful for 6 months. I will not personally recommend this form of surgery to anyone.

sweetiepie2008 · 11-08-2008, 07:22 AM

Just wondering how you are doing since surgery. Its been 2 weeks for my husband and he is still in much pain and staying in the bathroom a lot. His nurse is very rude to me on the phone and says he should not be in this much pain after 2 weeks and his doctor refuses any more pain pills. I asked her what should we do and she said go to your nearest emergency room. I was dumbfounded.