Thrombosed Hemorrhoids - Home Care
What Is a Thrombosed Hemorrhoid?
A hemorrhoid is a mass of swollen anal tissue. A thrombosed hemorrhoid is a painful external hemorrhoid that contains a blood clot.
What Is the Treatment?
In the clinic, the doctor numbs the area with a local pain medicine. Then, the clot and some of the surrounding tissue is removed.
Home Care
- Your incision may be left open or closed with stitches. The stitches will dissolve. If you do not have stitches, expect rectal drainage for 1– 2 weeks. This will decrease over time. The color will change from red to red-yellow in the days after your surgery. Use gauze pads to tuck between buttocks or a sanitary napkin in your underwear until the drainage stops. Because the anal area is not sterile, sterile pads are not needed.
- Keep the anal area clean to aid healing. After each bowel movement, gently wipe or spray with a “squirt-bottle” or a hand held shower.
- Take a sitz bath at least three times a day for 3-4 days. Sit in your bath tub with at least 3-5 inches of warm water for at least 10-20 minutes. Or, you may use a sitz bath unit that fits over your toilet. Sitz baths aid healing and decrease pain and rectal spasms.
- Do not use rectal creams, ointments, or suppositories unless instructed by the doctor. You can expect 90% healing by the end of one week, and 100% healing by the end of two weeks.
Activity
Do nothing more strenuous than walking for 2 days after your surgery. Ask your doctor when you may return to work. Sitting or standing for long periods or strenuous activity can delay healing.
Ask your doctor when you may return to sexual activity. Discuss specifics.
Diet
Avoid constipation by increasing the fiber in your diet and drinking more liquids (6–8 glassesor morea day). You may use a bulk fiber laxative like Metamucil®. Follow package instructions. When you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, go. The longer the stool is in your bowel the more difficult it will be to pass.
Pain
Before the feeling comes back to the area, you may want to take your pain pills. Use Extra Strength Tylenol® to help control pain. Follow the package directions.
Your doctor may order narcotic pain pills if the pain is not controlled by Extra Strength Tylenol®.
After the first 3 days, Tylenol® should relieve any pain that you may have.
Do not take aspirin, since it can increase bleeding.
When to Call the Doctor
- Large amounts of bright red blood from the rectal area that will not stop with firm pressure to the area for 10 minutes.
- Temperature greater than 100.4ºF for two readings four hours apart.
- Foul-smelling drainage
- Excess swelling in the rectal area
- Problems passing urine
Phone Numbers
Digestive Health Center: (608) 890-5000.
After hours, weekends or holidays this number will be answered by the paging operator. Ask for the doctor on call or ask for Dr. Harms, Heise, Kennedy, or Foley. Leave your name and phone number with area code. The doctor will call you back.
If you live out of the area, call (855) 342-9900.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 04/24/2013
Copyright © 09/23/2010 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#4476
Print Health Fact For You