You should ask your doctor about these choices.
How do I prepare for this procedure?
Plan for your care and recovery after the
operation. Allow for time to rest and try to find people to help you with your
day-to-day duties.
Follow instructions provided by your doctor. Eat a
light meal, such as soup or salad, the night before the procedure. Do not eat or
drink anything after midnight and the morning before the procedure. Do not even
drink coffee, tea, or water.
What happens during the procedure?
You are given either spinal or general anesthesia.
The spinal anesthetic will make you feel temporarily numb from the chest down so
that you have no pain during the procedure. The general anesthetic relaxes your
muscles, makes you feel as if you are in a deep sleep, and prevents you from
feeling pain.
The doctor will put an anoscope (tubelike
instrument for examining the lower rectum and anal canal) into your anus and
expose the affected hemorrhoids. The doctor will cut the inflamed parts of the
hemorrhoids and remove them.
The doctor may also try to trim the lining of the
rectum by removing some extra tissue. He or she will check for any bleeding. The
doctor may sew the wounds closed or leave them open to heal.
What happens after the procedure?
You may go home that day or may stay in the
hospital 1 to 3 days, depending how fast you recover. You will need to take sitz
baths, use stool softeners, and apply ointments to the area. Avoid all heavy
lifting for 2 to 3 weeks. You may return to work in a few days or weeks,
depending on the type of work. You may have trouble passing urine and
controlling gas and bowel movements for a few days after this operation.
Ask your doctor what other steps you should take
and when you should come back for a checkup.
What are the benefits of this procedure?
You will be relieved of the itching, painful, and
bleeding hemorrhoids.
What are the risks associated with this
procedure?
| There are some risks when you have
general anesthesia. Discuss these risks with your doctor.
|
| Spinal anesthesia may not numb the
area quite enough, and you may feel some minor discomfort. Also, in rare
cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the drug used in this type of
anesthesia. Spinal anesthesia is considered safer than general anesthesia.
|
| You may have trouble urinating.
|
| The wound may scar and leave a
smaller opening in the rectum, making it difficult to pass stools.
|
| The remaining hemorrhoids may
become inflamed.
|
| The hemorrhoids could recur.
|
| There is a risk of infection or
bleeding.
|