What Should I Expect From Hemorrhoid Surgery Recovery?
There are several types of hemorrhoid surgery, and what type is performed is often a decision made between doctor and patient. Such decisions may involve consideration of type of hemorrhoid/s present, and whether care is urgently needed. Surgery preference may also include recovery time expectations, making it useful to know what people can expect during hemorrhoid surgery recovery. This will vary depending on the procedure performed.
A number of hemorrhoid removal techniques exist that are not technically surgery. These include using laser, radiofrequency or chemical injections to destroy hemorrhoids. These procedures may be done in a doctor’s office, and usually people go right home after them. Usually these treatments have minimal effect and recovery time is short. Talking with a physician about any expected side effects still makes sense.
A mid-way procedure between destroying tissue and surgery is rubber band ligation. This might occur in a doctor’s office or a local outpatient surgery center. Hemorrhoid surgery recovery from banding is associated with causing some discomfort, and local anesthetic is typically used to reduce this slightly.
If patients continue to feel uncomfortable they might use ice packs at home for a few days or take an over the counter pain reliever as prescribed. It’s also important to eat a diet that is fiber rich, since less discomfort may be felt if stools are soft. Doctors usually have guidelines they give patients.
True hemorrhoid surgery comes in two forms. One type is called hemorrhoidectomy, and the other is known as hemorrhoidopexy. In hemorrhoidectomy a doctor uses a scalpel, or possibly a laser scalpel to remove hemorrhoid tissue. This normally takes place at a hospital, and hemorrhoid surgery recovery begins with at least an overnight stay. In the following days, focus shifts to making sure diet will help keep bowels soft, and that adequate pain relief is offered.
Pain treatment during hemorrhoid surgery recovery is a slippery slope because most opiate pain medications create constipation. Suggested methods to relieve pain lean toward over the counter medications, sitz baths and icing, which all can actually be quite effective. Total hemorrhoid surgery recovery time is between one and two weeks, and most people leave the hospital within two to three days after the surgery.
Hemorrhoidopexy uses staples to push hemorrhoids back into the surrounding tissue. In many circumstances, this surgery is outpatient and done under twilight sleep and local anesthesia. An analysis of pain experiences afterwards suggests that while people are in hemorrhoid surgery recovery from stapling, they will need more pain management than they would for banding. Total recovery tends to take at least a week, and, again, attention to pain relief strategies and diet or fiber supplements to keep stool soft are important.
With either of the two major surgery forms, it is possible antibiotics will be required to prevent infection during hemorrhoid surgery recovery. People may also be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids because this is useful in softening stool. Doctors may or may not recommend taking laxatives for a few days after surgery, too.
Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen
