Because of the seriousness of your problem, you’ve decided to get a hemorrhoidectomy. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after can better help you prepare and can help you feel less nervous.
Solving a bleeding hemorrhoid problem is often taken care of by simple preventative measures at home, but sometimes those are not enough. When you and your doctor sit down and decide surgery is the best option, make sure you choose a date when you can have someone with you. Your doctor may use either a local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Whatever the case may be, you will not be allowed to leave until it wears off. You may either stay overnight at the hospital or go home after showing you are able to urinate (inability to do so is a complication and must be monitored). Afterward, someone should drive you home and you can begin care and healing.
Naturally you can expect to experience some pain from the surgery. Your doctor will likely prescribe pain medication in order to help you feel more comfortable. You can also ask which over-the-counter medicines you can take in order to help with bowel movements later on. Some numbing medicines are available if you are worried about pain during bowel movements, but your doctor may also have prescribed a laxative or suggested various stool softeners in order to make movements more fluid in order to help avoid pain as well as keep the area from reopening.
You can also expect some bleeding afterward. If you notice a lot of blood, call the hospital immediately as this can be a sign of a serious complication. However, a little bit of blood is perfectly normal, especially after your first bowel movement. You may also be prescribed an antibiotic in order to prevent any infection in the area.
Return to home treatment options such as sitz baths (sitting in warm water) and ice packs. These options will help reduce inflammation and pain, which can help the area to heal faster. If you find the muscles in the area are having spasms, these treatments can also help reduce those.
Do not change any dressings for 24 hours. It can seem uncomfortable to have all the gauze and padding on, but it is there to help soak any discharge and keep the area safe from infection. After that time, dressings can be changed and the wound can be cleaned. This may be done at the hospital if you opted to stay. If not, talk to your doctor about how to properly remove and care for the area.
Complications are rare, and as long as you are gentle and care for the area correctly, it should heal up and you’ll be back on your feet in no time – and this time you’ll be free of bleeding hemorrhoids.