fbpx
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • Rss
OB/GYN 972-256-3700 | Pediatrics 972-786-0330 | My Health Record Login
MacArthur Medical Center
  • Medical Staff
  • Medical Services
    • OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
    • UROGYNECOLOGY
    • PEDIATRICS
    • SAVE A LIFE
  • Patient Resources
    • Virtual Waiting Room
    • Telemedicine
    • Preparing For Surgery
    • My Health Record Request
    • Motherhood 101
    • Insurance
    • New Patients
    • Payment
    • Medicaid FAQ
    • Reverse Due Date Calculator
    • Baby Registry
  • About
    • Patient Reviews
    • Locations
    • Careers
  • Media
    • Coming Soon 2022!
    • MacArthur Minute (Blog)
    • We Are MMC
    • Masks 4 Moms
    • In the News
    • MacArthur Pop-In
    • MMC Covid Policies
    • FREE COVID-19 Vaccine Event
  • Make An Appointment
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Pregnancy Hemorrhoids Are a Massive Pain in the Butt

February 28, 2020/in MacArthur Minute/by (MacArthur Mom) Kate P.

A patient’s journey from hemorrhoids to healing.

No-one talks about hemorrhoids, yet many people suffer their misery.

Have you ever walked into a public restroom needing to go number two? You, hope, and pray that you are alone.

You run into a stall, immediately sit down, and try to go as fast as possible before someone else makes their appearance. Unfortunately, someone enters in the middle of everything. You spend the next 120 seconds squeezing your butt as tightly as possible. As soon as they walk out, you finish your business and walk out of the restroom in sweet relief that no one knew what you were doing. This is what the world has come to!

Newsflash: EVERYONE POOPS!

It is 2020. The age of sharing. We open up about so many topics that used to be “off-limits” — depression, anxiety, food disorders, baby blues, and sexuality. Let’s add pregnancy hemorrhoids to the list.

What is a hemorrhoid?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your rectum and anus. Sometimes the walls of these blood vessels stretch so thin that the veins bulge and get irritated. Irritated, dilated veins in the anus are a considerable problem when you poop. The common issue of constipation and the increased pressure in the lower abdomen during pregnancy contributes to hemorrhoids. Pregnant women are set up to develop hemorrhoids.

I suddenly learned what “thrombosed” meant

I developed hemorrhoids after my second pregnancy. One of my hemorrhoids became thrombosed. This is a fancy word for really really swollen and really really painful. I went to a surgeon to get it drained. The recovery from that small procedure was so excruciating that I swore I would never go through it again.

 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Never say never

A few years later, the memory of pain faded. My husband and I decided we wanted more kids. My incredibly insightful obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) mentioned the risk of getting another thrombosed hemorrhoid. The thought gave me instant anxiety.

I knew I should talk to my colorectal surgeon. She mentioned the option of hemorrhoidectomy, a surgery to remove hemorrhoids. She cautioned the surgery and recovery were extremely painful. My Obgyn’s words haunted me. I wanted more children and did not want to risk another excruciating experience while pregnant.

I opted for the surgery

On the day of surgery, I was not nervous at all. I prepared precisely the way I was instructed. Anesthesia went well. I woke up feeling fine, and I left the surgery center soon after. My surgery was first thing in the morning, and the first afternoon was a breeze. I started narcotics to get ahead of the pain as well as stool softeners and laxatives to prepare my bowels. I stuck to a primarily “soup and crackers” diet. I’ve always been a regular in the bathroom. I was optimistic my recovery process would be more comfortable than expected.

And then I had to poop…

My body ached. The pressure built up on my raw wounds. Anxiety kicked in. I was terrified to sit on the toilet. Finally, I decided to try, and the worst thing possible was happening. I was constipated. Was I too nervous? Something didn’t feel normal.

All I could think was that my butt had been sewn shut. Maybe my body wasn’t letting me poop. I know that sounds crazy. Those two days of trying to have a soft, regular bowel movement will probably scar me for life.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

 

Photo by Isaac Davis on Unsplash

I did ridiculous things to have a bowel movement. I repeated a bible verse.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”(Phil, 4:13)

I asked friends to pray for my bowel movements and even tried pooping while soaking in the bathtub and even used a mirror and flashlight to see if anything was actually coming out. These are the desperate things I resorted to when unable to perform one of the most basic human functions.

After these hours of hell, Heaven’s gates opened, and the laxatives worked. Success! I sat on the toilet for the first time since the surgery. It wasn’t excruciating. Immediately, I texted my husband to tell him the news!

“I pooped, and it was okay!”

I never imagined I would send someone a text about #bowelmovements. I’m currently on day six of recovery, and I’m feeling a lot better. I still have residual discomfort down there. I’m taking Advil, eating a bland diet, and keeping regular with laxatives and stool softeners. But I can walk into the bathroom with confidence that I’m not going to die. I am hoping to return to my usual activities soon.

Hemorrhoid surgery was worth it

Despite the pain of recovery, I am glad I had the surgery. Many women suffer from hemorrhoids. They feel they have exhausted all options. The most common fears I hear from these women is, “I just have to live with it.” Others may be too embarrassed to talk about anal pain, constipation, or bleeding with bowel movements.

We need to be open and honest with our doctors to get the help we need. There is nothing we can say that they have not heard before.

This surgery may or may not be right for everyone. It was worth seeking alternatives and being well informed to make my decision. If you asked me two days ago if the surgery was worth it, I would have started crying

If you ask me today, I confidently and definitively say YES.

I mean, who doesn’t want a normal anus?

Thank you to Candour for publishing this article on Medium.

This article was contributed by MacArthur Medical Center’s amazing

patient and Macarthur Mom Kate P.

Main blog Photo by: Sydney Sims on Unsplash

Do you have a story to tell to help others? Share your thoughts as a guest author for MacArthur Minute. Email us your draft to MAcarthurmedicalcenter123@gmail.com

Tags: health, hemorrhoids, pregnancy, women
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://macarthurmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/blog12.jpg 577 864 (MacArthur Mom) Kate P. https://macarthurmc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/macrthurmc-1-300x138.png (MacArthur Mom) Kate P.2020-02-28 23:54:172020-09-25 16:56:47Pregnancy Hemorrhoids Are a Massive Pain in the Butt
You might also like
FREEZER FRIENDLY RECIPES FOR POSTPARTUM
A Baby With Protective Antibodies Was Born to a Mom Who Got a Covid-19 Vaccine
FDA Approves Covid-19 Pfizer Vaccine for Kids Age 12–15
Dallas Health Officials Prepare as Texas Opens Covid-19 Vaccination to All Adults
When You Shouldn’t Share Your Birth Story With a Pregnant Woman
Artificial Intelligence Company Helps IVF Patients Get Pregnant
The Placenta Protects Babies From Covid-19; Here’s How
New Study Shows Covid-19 Vaccines in Pregnancy Are Safe for Mom and Baby

Recent Posts

  • You Can Have a Baby and Save Someone’s Life – Find Out How December 16, 2021
  • Teen Dating Violence Is a Problem, but Texas Governor Vetos Bill to Stop It October 17, 2021
  • New Money From CDC Can Reduce the High Rate of Birth Defects in Texas October 10, 2021
  • North Texas Obgyns Need to Know About Monoclonal Antibodies for Covid-19 September 19, 2021
  • Tennessee Fires Top Doctor Over Vaccine Policy and She Is Not Holding Back September 10, 2021
  • Covid-19 and its Impact on the Back-to-School Season…a True Nail-Biter September 2, 2021
  • How Do You Do a Test at Home for COVID-19 and Is BinaxNow Worth the Money? August 29, 2021
  • FDA Approval of New Drug for Alzheimer’s Offers Hope August 29, 2021
  • Dallas UT Southwestern Paints an Ugly Picture for Covid Projections August 22, 2021
  • Irresponsible Headlines on Massachusetts Outbreak Mislead the Public and Cause Harm August 19, 2021

Facebook

Archive

  • December 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • June 2015
  • April 2015
  • February 2015
  • October 2014
  • June 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • February 2011
  • November 2010
  • September 2010
  • July 2010
  • April 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009

Get in Touch

  • 972-256-3700
  • info@macarthurmc.com
  • 3501 N. MacArthur Blvd, Ste 500
    Irving, TX 75062
  • You Can Have a Baby and Save Someone’s Life – Find Out HowDecember 16, 2021 - 11:26 pm
  • Teen Dating Violence Is a Problem, but Texas Governor Vetos Bill to Stop ItOctober 17, 2021 - 4:36 pm
  • New Money From CDC Can Reduce the High Rate of Birth Defects in TexasOctober 10, 2021 - 9:53 pm
  • North Texas Obgyns Need to Know About Monoclonal Antibodies for Covid-19September 19, 2021 - 5:27 pm

Patient Portal

© Copyright - Macarthur Medical Center
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • Rss
The Impact of E-Cigarette Use on Our ChildrenHow to Find Out If You Can Get Pregnant?
Scroll to top