Though surgery is a highly effective way to treat hemorrhoids in Los Angeles, care should be taken after a procedure like hemorrhoidectomy to prevent the problem from coming back. About 5 percent of those who have hemorrhoid surgery experience recurrence, finding themselves once again grappling with this uncomfortable and frustrating problem.
Hemorrhoid surgery can provide a long-term resolution to hemorrhoids, but only if you make the lifestyle adjustments necessary to reduce your risk of recurrence. To keep yourself free of hemorrhoids, you’ll need to take a few precautions after surgery and embrace long-term changes that will help you put hemorrhoids behind you for good.
Post-Surgery Tips
Minimally invasive techniques make it possible to perform hemorrhoid surgery in an outpatient setting, but it will still take about two weeks to fully recover from your operation. During this time, a number of tips can help you stay free of pain and recurrence:
- Stay hydrated. This is crucial to your digestive functioning and health after surgery. Aim to drink at least eight to 10 glasses of water each and every day.
- Eat fiber. A high-fiber diet can be a valuable asset to your digestive system. Your colorectal surgeon may recommend that you take fiber tablets to soften stool while your body recovers from surgery.
- Avoiding strenuous activities. Heavy lifting and other intense activities will need to be avoided for some time after surgery. Your colorectal surgeon will give you specific instructions regarding the activity your body can handle.
- Avoid potential digestive irritants. Coffee, alcohol and dairy products may need to be avoided after your operation.
Long-Term Tips
The tips above can continue to be useful long after you’ve recovered from hemorrhoid surgery, particularly when it comes to hydration and fiber intake. However, you can make other changes in your lifestyle that will help you prevent hemorrhoids for years to come:
- Get more active. The benefits of this are twofold. Many of us spend long hours sitting due to sedentary desk jobs, but this puts extra pressure on the rectal veins—spending more time on your feet can help relieve this pressure. Because excess weight also exerts pressure on your rectal veins, maintaining a healthy weight can be a big help in avoiding hemorrhoids, and few things will help you do this like regular exercise.
- Don’t strain on the toilet. Straining hard against a bowel movement can lead to hemorrhoid recurrence. Avoid spending long periods of time on the toilet and ask your colorectal specialist about continuing to take fiber supplements or eating a high-fiber diet indefinitely.
Getting hemorrhoids once is unpleasant, but the problem can be far more frustrating when it continues to come back. Speak with your colorectal surgeon about additional methods that can assist you in preventing hemorrhoids from growing back after surgery.
