Surgeons unwilling to fix hemerroids due to location in j-poucher

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this group and want to know if ANYONE ELSE has had hemerroids that surgeons refuse to fix due to their location.

I have had my pouch for almost 7 years now and have dealt with hemerroids for 5 of them. I've tried everything I can, but nothing helps.

I still have 8-12 bowel movements a day, and having to manually push it back up is very frustrating!!! It is often hard to completely empty my pouch because of the hemerroid, so for the last two years I've had to use water in an enema bottle to help with that. Sometimes it's almost impossible to even insert that!

I just had a scope done two weeks ago. My pouch is good, but my hemerroid is apparently in a place that has a lot of nerves so am told I could be left with constant pain if I have surgery. My surgeon has asked others at a conference if there is anything that could be done. I'm told that I could compromise my pouch function and become incontinent if the anal sphincter was damaged during surgery. (They can transplant a human face, but can't fix this!)

I can't handle the thought that this could be for the rest of my life. My life revolves around the toilet.

Has ANYONE had the same issue and were you able to have it SUCCESSFULLY fixed?

Laurie

10/24/184:10 PM

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CTBarristerMember

Laurie-

Those concerns that were expressed to you are very legitimate. I had the same consultation regarding surgical removal of a skin tag very near the anal sphincter. If a hemorrhoid or skin tag is near the anal spincter, surgery could further weaken the muscles and render you incontinent. It is all based on the proximity to the sphincter because if it’s further weakened the risk of incontinence is significant. I was told to leave it alone especially since it’s not causing me any pain. For your issue I would certainly look at exhausting all nonsurgical treatments. If surgery becomes necessary use a surgeon experienced at these surgeries and preferably one with experience with J Pouch patients.

10/24/184:18 PM

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Laurie KeepingMember

Thanks for your quick reply CTBarrister.

I don't know what else I can try!

My surgeon said that I should search online for a surgeon at a private clinic. That's why I think MAYBE someone could help me.

I just wondered if anyone else was dealing with the same problem.

10/24/184:36 PM

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Scott FMember

There are other treatments that might be safer than surgery. Have you consulted a gastroenterologist? I don’t know if sclerotherapy would be a good choice, but it’s worth asking.

10/24/189:58 PM

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Laurie KeepingMember

Scott,

Thanks for your suggestion. I did discuss that with my doctor after the scope. He doesn't do that procedure. He asked various other doctors at the conference ( one happened to be the Proctologist that created my pouch) what could be done and they all agreed there's too much risk because of where it's located.

I have researched Sclerotherapy and what I keep reading is that it's not done on stage 3 hemerroids only on stage 1 & 2 because they are NOT in the nerve sensitive area.

It's not sounding too promising. I will keep searching though.

Thanks again for your reply.

Laurie

10/25/1812:04 AM

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