Post-opt Preparation
Anorectal Minor Surgical Procedure Post-op Instructions
As you know, you have just undergone minor surgery on a very sensitive part of the body,
which might be a scale from a small skin tag removal to a hemorrhoidectomy associated
with different scales of pain from mild discomfort to severe.
Please keep in mind that the treatment you are receiving is a therapeutic process, which
means you will go through a healing journey with us. Each person recovers at a different
pace. Here are instructions that will guide you through the healing process.
THINGS TO EXPECT On The Same Day After The Minor Surgery
Five DOs
- Check if there is active bleeding at the cotton dressing around your anus upon arriving home.
- Take the oral herbal medication and pain medication as instructed on the label. Tylenol is approved.
- Driving is OK, but not longer than 40 minutes.
- Sit and lie in your most comfortable position
- Drink and eat liquids or light food.
Five DON’Ts
- DO NOT remove the dressing that was placed on the wound until tomorrow morning.
- DO NOT take a shower or bath.
- DO NOT exercise or walk for long periods.
- DO NOT have a bowel movement or strain.
- DO NOT take any aspirin-containing products for at least two weeks.
Bleeding
We want you to check the outside of the gauze every two hours
until you head to bed to ensure there is no active bleeding. DO
NOT remove the dressing; just check from the back. If there is
bleeding – the cotton is soaked with fresh blood more than 1/3
of the dry gauze, you can gently remove the gauze and apply the
clean cotton ball in the bag around the surgical area. Press on the
dry gauze onto the area for 5-10 minutes. If you have excessive
bleeding, greater than 1 pad per hour, call the clinic emergency
number, also ready to call the 9-1-1 emergency room.
Tenesmus
You might experience tenesmus – a feeling that you have to have
a bowel movement without any stool actually being present in
your rectum. This is normal. We want you to try to hold back the
bowel movement as much as possible. You will be able to figure
out when it is actually time to have a bowel movement.
Bowel movement - DON’T STRAIN!
If you have to have a bowel movement, please follow instructions:
1. Gently remove the dressing.
2. Very gently push out the stool.
3. Do a sitz bath afterwards.
4. Apply new cotton gauze
dressing.
Pain & discomfort
The local numbing agent given in the procedure will last
approximately 2-4 hours. Afterwards, you will feel different scales of
pain and discomfort. This is normal. You will manage the pain with
your OCT medication, and take it as instructed by your physician
Urination
If you have difficulty urinating due to the pain from the
procedure, put a warm compress or a towel soaked in warm water
on the lower belly /abdomen and massage clockwise to relax the
muscles. If you cannot urinate for a long time and feel strong lower
abdominal pain, please contact the clinic or call the emergency
number 9-1-1. DO NOT wait until your bladder feels uncomfortably
full. DO NOT overhydrate yourself trying to urinate, drink only your
usual amount of liquids
Gas cramps and/or muscle spasms
You may experience gas cramps and/or muscle spasms today;
this is normal.
Sleep
You may have a toss-and-turn night. We advise you to take
pain medication before going to bed.
THINGS TO EXPECT The Next Day After You Wake Up Until Visiting The Clinic
- Gently remove the cotton gauze dressing
- Eat breakfast and take a shower.
- You might have a bowel movement - no straining!
- Do a sitz bath for 3-5 minutes whether or not you have a bowel movement.
- Visit the clinic for a dressing change.
- If you have stopped taking your blood thinners, talk to your primary care physician about when to restart taking those medications again
Removing the cotton gauze dressing
Your motion should be as gentle as possible. Removing the
medical tape from your skin could be unpleasant. It is the only
time we use medical tape for placing the dressing stable on your
procedure day. You can ask someone else to help remove it.
ain & bleeding
EXPECT different scales of pain and EXPECT some bleeding
with your bowel movements.
Dressing change
Your first dressing change would be difficult. Communicate well
with the health care provider with your experience, and get your
questions answered. You will have medication dressing inside and
around the area; keep it for at least 6 hours, and it is ok to keep it
overnight until the next day’s bowel movement. You will have pink
color cotton dressing; seeing them in the toilet bowl is normal.
Donut ring pillow/seat
You may sit on a soft pillow for comfort, a donut pillar seat does
NOT help and it is NOT recommended
Bowel movement
You can have bowel movements from today. Your bowel
movements may be uncomfortable or painful, but this will improve
daily by following instructions and having a good dressing
change in the clinic. Do not strain with bowel movement;
avoid constipation or diarrhea. Manage to have one bowel
movement per day and stool level of a “sausage/banana”
shape. Inform the clinic if you haven’t had a good, relieving
bowel movement two days after the main procedure. Do not use medicated pads such as Tucks or Baby Wipes. It is better
to move your bowels regularly than to become constipated.
Postponing BM will harden your stool.
Constipation is bad, but remember, diarrhea and thin stools are
as bad as hard stools and sometimes worse.
Do not apply skin cleansers, gel, antibacterial soaps, alcohol, iodine,
or hydrogen peroxide to the rectal area. They can delay healing.
Other Details During The Post-Treatment Recovery
Minor surgical suture
From day 5-15, you will see a black colored suture during your
bowel movement or sitz bath; this is normal.
Bleeding
EXPECT some bleeding with your bowel movements; some
bloody discharge is normal for up to two weeks to three months.
Always update the healthcare provider each day on your dressing
change. How much blood, and where the blood was spotted, etc
Swelling
Swelling is a normal side effect and individual to the patient. It will
decrease over time with post-treatment care.
Pain
EXPECT different scales of pain during the bowel movement.
Burning
You might have a burning feeling or a “knife-like” pain a few days
into the recovery period. The key is keeping the area clean, dry,
and chemical-free (soaps, gel, etc.). Always give the clinician
feedback about applying the topical medicine
Burning
You might have a burning feeling or a “knife-like” pain a few days
into the recovery period. The key is keeping the area clean, dry,
and chemical-free (soaps, gel, etc.). Always give the clinician
feedback about applying the topical medicine
Discharge and odor from the wound
During the hemorrhoid root treatment stage, you will experience
slimy discharge and odor from the wound.
Itchiness
During the post-treatment recovery, you are likely to experience
itchiness which is a characteristic of a recovery period. This is a
common symptom. Update the clinic for the itching symptom and
observe any unusual discharge and redness around the surgical
part. You can take a cooler water sitz bath to reduce the itchiness.
Your doctor may also instruct you on a topical medication
depending on the location and severity of the problem. It usually
happens 3-4 weeks after your main procedure
Overgrowth
Our compounded natural ointment has a strong function of
stimulating tissue growth. If we see any symptom of overgrowth
tissue, we will change the medication strategy.
Kegel exercises
You can perform kegel exercises as tolerated while doing sitz
baths and on the way to the healing process. This involves
contracting the anorectal muscles and holding for 3-5 seconds,
relaxing for 10 seconds, and repeating 5 times, Do this sequence
1 to 3 times throughout the day.
• Cigarette/Tobacco & recreational drugs use also slow the
recovery and increase the risk of infection and leads to
complications.
• Dressing changes (Applying BZS ointments/) appropriately
without any misses as your healthcare provider requires.
