Bloody hell

[vaneramos]

It appears I am going to be off my feet for at least another few days. The reason is painful and easily considered TMI. I managed to get a doctor's appointment yesterday and he prescribed medication combined with home remedies to hopefully resolve it. If that doesn't work, he suggested going to emergency for what sounds like a minor surgical solution, however some online research today indicated recovery time would be two or three weeks. So I'll persist with the alternatives as long as they seem to be helping.

Fortunately Danny was here for the weekend and has stayed on, working remotely. It would be a nasty time without his help.

Don't read any further unless you really care.

I have a thrombosed hemorrhoid. The photo on that fact sheet is a lot cuter than the one I have. It's messy. It clots, it breaks, it bleeds and then clots again. The doctor's remedy:

1. Take a hot sitz bath (my pharmacist recommended using a saturated solution of epsom salts).
2. Dry off and apply an over-the-counter ointment.
3. Stand an your head for as long as is comfortable by backing up against a wall.
4. Apply an ice pack directly to the hemorrhoid.

Pleasant, eh? I do the procedure whenever it bleeds, or at least twice a day.

He prescribed Percocet and a laxative. Sunday night the pain was awful so yesterday I doped up, but that caused constipation despite the laxative, so today I've avoided Percocet. The problem still looks ugly but these remedies have relieved the pressure, so the pain is minimal. I'll probably need another pill at bedtime.

Remember that line from Margaret Cho? "And if gay men had a period? What do you mean, 'if'?"

Tampons are indispensible.

Comments

[niyabinghi.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, you have my sympathies!
I had one of those in my 9th month of pregnancy and when I went to the dr. he performed a hemorrhoidectomy -- on my lunch hour, and sent me back to work! With no pain meds! Needless to say there was a very embarrassing time an hour later where a co-worker had to help me down to her car, lay me on her back seat and drive me home. No warnings from the doc, nothing.

Well, I'm sure you really wanted to hear THAT -- but yes, these are awful and I hope you're able to heal up soon!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Actually it is comforting to hear (from the many stories people have shared) I'm not alone!

When I had to have abdominal surgery a few years ago, a couple women told me I had a rare opportunity to experience the pain of childbirth, because it is equivalent. I guess I'm privileged. ;-)

That was a lot worse than this.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Women vary. My postpartum pains have always been more intense than my relatively easy labors. (Then again, I prefer dull pain to sharp.)

[threestarblue.livejournal.com]

ow ow ow. i hope you feel MUCH better soon!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, yes, the pain didn't last long, and the rest of it is progressing steadily.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Oh, Van...you have my deepest sympathies. I didn't get a medical diagnosis for my post-delivery hemorrhoids with baby #2, but I'd swear it looked a lot like that (dunno about the clotting thing). Ice was fantastic. And vaseline to lube the anus. And rinsing copiously with water after every BM.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm in good company with all the pregnant and post-delivery women!

When the bleeding was bad I tried to take a sitz bath (along with standing on my head and an ice pack) immediately after every BM. Now that isn't necessary, however I happen to have a shower douche, which comes in very handy!

[trinker.livejournal.com]

I'm amused by just how blunt we've all been here. It's usually the big taboo subject out there.

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

Oh god, you poor thing. I hope you feel better soon.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Much better, thank you!

[missprune.livejournal.com]

you have my full empathy because after producing two babies with 95% heads, I too have suffered like this! Not just laxative but would not a stool softener be a good idea for now?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oh my! that must have been an experience. Both my daughters had to be born by C-section. Marian's was an emergency but Brenna's was planned. My wife was just too tiny.

A stool softener might still be a good idea for the future. Can it be obtained over the counter, or do I need a prescription?

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Wishing you healing and freedom from pain.

Goddess bless Danny (I apologize, I know you're an atheist, I really don't mean any disrespect) for staying with you to help out while you're recovering.

*hugs*

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Shimmer, I am never offended by other people's kind, earnest, respectful expressions. We each have our own ways of expressing care and concern, and I appreciate my friends who do. It was a great blessing and comfort to have Danny here for a few days, and I'm much better now.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ow, Bruce, I'm sorry to hear that, especially that it has gone on for a long time.

A while back I was surprised to read you were considering celibacy. Surprised, but not shocked. It resonated somewhat with my own inner musings about becoming passively monogamous, if that makes any sense. I can see how a condition like this would discourage you from doing what you enjoy. It would certainly discourage me. I suppose you have other reasons, but these two things came together in my head.

Years ago I could not imagine a satisfying living without being a bottom. That is not the case anymore. We move on.

The worst pain of my life was recovering from abdominal surgery, however this would have driven me around the bend if it had gone on for more than a couple days. I'm sorry to here it's an ongoing problem for you.

[ghostsandrobots.livejournal.com]

The one in the picture does look kind of cute. Probably wouldn't be a fun date though.

Hope your non-surgical interventions continue to work and you get better soon!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Much progress, much better, thank you!

[liadra.livejournal.com]

After the birth of my daughter the hospital gave us those thick pads (menstral pads) that they'd soaked in water and then froze. They were a godsend for the sore butt. Nobody tells you how sore your butt is gonna get when you have a babe. Hemorrhoids galore. Hope yours heals quickly!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ouch, it's interesting to hear how many mother's can relate to this! Anyway, yes, the pain was very short-lived and it is healing steadily, if not quickly.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

Oh ghod that's awful.

And yeah really there is nothing much more than what you're doing, at least not in my experience. (When I weighed a lot more this was occasionally an issue.)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hope this will not become an ongoing problem. Some diet adjustment is called for. I've received a lot of interesting advice this week!

[vaysha.livejournal.com]

oh Van, that sounds so painful. I hope you get some relief without surgery.

Sending love and healing to you and your tender tush

V.
:)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, my tush and I are doing much better!

[inishglora.livejournal.com]

Ow :( Sorry to hear about this...

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, it's much improved!

[artricia.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear you're in such pain, Van.

FWIW, I've been on percocet for a while, and I find that stool softeners are the best approach (also the only most highly recommended by my medical professionals). That plus a little senna laxative helps. Docusate sodium is the generic name. It's very mild but effective.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Do you need a prescription for that? A couple people have recommended stool softeners, and it seems like a good idea in case I run into more problems.

The pain was short-lived and the hemorrhoid is healing progressively. I'm still mildly constipated. It isn't causing a problem, but I'm nervous about it.

[artricia.livejournal.com]

No prescription needed in the States, and I can't imagine one would be needed in Canada. It's so mild that I was on them practically the whole time I was pregnant -- they're automatically added to a few brands of prenatal vitamins even. They're effective, but not explosively so.

Brand name is Colace or Peri-Colace, but of course generic is just as good and much cheaper. They're good to have on hand. If I were in your shoes, I'd take them until the episode is over or until things started trending too far towards diarrhea.

FWIW, Preparation H makes a flushable wipe that's helpful, too -- and generic are available.

Now I feel old.