I joined today and couldn't wait to talk about my experience. I've had every complication, and I regret this surgery. But turns out I'm in a rare percentage group. Most people fair well with it. I was facing short term disability without it, so I felt forced to have it, to keep my job. Tips include:
Don't take your condition lightly. If you suffer hemorrhoids, get your stool as soft and regular as possible. I use generic over the counter peri colace daily, check with your doctor first! Fiber supplements are very helpful but rather gassy. Keep suppositories handy for constipation, and keep milk of magnesia in your fridge. When a tough to pass stool comes along, don't push it out. Use suppository to soften it before passing it! (This was a fatal error on my part.) Use milk of magnesia to soften it. Don't pass it! It's better to stay inside you till it's softer.
Make exercise a habit. Walk, walk, walk! This does marvelous wonders to create regularity.
Don't push! Let your muscles do the work. If they don't, use your milk of magnesia.
Did you know: Some people should never use pepto bismal and like products? I'm one of them!
If you're facing the surgery, be as loose and soft as possible before hand. Get specific WRITTEN instructions after surgery. I ended up with pain med failure because I wasn't taking it properly. You don't want to be in that state after this surgery. It is very painful! If at all possible, have someone home with you the first day, maybe more. Get knowledge of the complications before hand. It's much easier I think to handle, having been warned, than to be surprised with it.
Hope this helps, Doug! (by the way, I so appreciate you!)

I had a hemorrhoidectomy in January for 1 hemorrhoid that was 75% external, 25%internal. It wasn't that big but it was bothersome and in the way. My surgery was a disaster. I now have bulging scar tissue 3 times the size of my original hemorrhoid both inside and outside, and an anal fissure as a result of constipation from the vicodin post-surgery. I totally regret having the surgery. Aside from 2 months of painful recovery, the outcome is worse than my original problem. I wouldn't recommend surgery unless it's a total last resort.

I have had a hemorroidectomy, it had to be done, I was losing way too much blood. I put my trust in the NHS, in England, I saw a consultant Mr Scott, working at St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey - Surrey. I shouldnt' have trusted them, I still have roids, on top of that I have skin tags, and anal fizures, my perineum has also been cut and is lumpy. I got a hospital aquired infection and was discharged without the doctor checking on me, nobody cleaned their hands before or after visiting my bed, I was left in a dirty bloody bed for 2 days. I totally regret letting Mr Scotts team, the bastard from Ashford Hospital who carried out a sigmoidoscopy did the operation, I think his name is Gobi... he didnt even introduce himself. My advice is ask questions, look through the internet, go to the hospital armed with information. Ask how long recovery time is (then add another 10 days) make sure you take your pain meds but with poo softners, over here we have powder called Movicol. it works better than lactulose and doesnt cause cramps. Have loads of sitz baths, with salt. make sure an infection hasnt set in.

I am still having pain and this is now 4 weeks on Tuesday. I am still having to visit gp and am still taking anti-biotics. Please make sure you get to the doctor before your roids prolapse, prevention is better than cure, its not always lack of fiber that causes roids, it can be genetic, its not always constipation that causes them either, it can be IBS, IBD diaorhea (spl) can all cause it. Too much fiber can do it too. make sure your poo is soft every time you go

Having surgery ended my problem, I suffered with hemorroids for 20 years. Each year getting another. Inside my rectum and outside. I suffer from IBS with constipation and this problem made going to the bathroom extremely difficult. My surgen did a good job on me because I had no complications. However I didn't like what he did to me. I also was suffering from depression at the time and told him I only want the one removed on the inside of my rectum. He agreed. Then when it came time of the surgery he cut them all out. This really was a bad thing to do all at one time because I had hemorrids in different places surounding my rectum. I read in articles that in cases like these you should have one section of the rectum worked on and then come back for another surgery. He didn't give me that choice and I freaked after I got home. He also didn't tell me what he did to me. When I tried to ask the nurse questions she wouldn't reply. So I know they did something they wasn't suppose to do. I thank God things worked out in the best in the end. My problem was that my entire rectum kept spasming and wouldn't allow any fecal matter out. I was scared so I wouldn't eat anything but liquids for 2 weeks. It took in all about 6 months for my behind to feel like normal. It has been 5 years since my surgery and I haven't had another hemorrhoid show up. I would recomend having this done with the right docotor, one that has compassion for his patients. But how do you know?

I think that it would be OK. I check some of the articles to my e-mail because I want to be notified also!

I had this sugery three weeks ago and did really well, Don't get me wrong I had pain, nausea, vomiting, it's a slow recovery and the part of the body u do not want to do sugery on.The first bowel movement was hard but the ones after that were worse on me because I stay so constipated, keep your bowels loose as possible and do what the Dr. tells u especaially no lifting! I lost some weight to, no wonder pain, vomiting and give up eating because to constipated, he did not remove all the ones on the outside either Why is what I want to ask him, I don't know if I want to do this again. Everyone is different though, Good Luck!

Also, I vomited because the pain pills were so strong and I could not eat enough to absorb them, made me really sick, I had to get different ones not as strong, but I had to still try and eat something, or they would make me sick to.

Maybe a viable alternative for you if you have prolapsed hemorrhoids before surgery would be the HemAway seat http://www.hemaway.com.

You just place the seat on your toilet when your hemorrhoid is protruding, sit on it, and the hemorrhoid will retract into the body for instant relief form pain and discomfort.

Check out this video to see how it works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZLnWsqfFm4

It gives you quick relief in a few minutes without any side effects. Good luck!