Living with hemorrhoids is not always easy — and many people end up living with them for far too long simply because they fear having hemorrhoid surgery. This is a surgical procedure with a somewhat drawn-out recovery period, during which most patients do deal with some significant pain and discomfort. But don't let that deter you! If you're proactive, there are some ways to make hemorrhoid surgery easier on yourself so that you can better endure recovery and emerge on the other side, finally free from hemorrhoid pain.

Ask About Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy

There are a few different types of surgery that can be performed to address hemorrhoids. Generally, your surgeon will recommend the procedure best suited to your needs. If they do not say anything about a stapled hemorrhoidectomy, bring it up, and ask whether it might be an option for you. This procedure doesn't always work for the most serious or prolapsed hemorrhoids, but it can work for many patients, so it's worth considering. Since it involves moving the hemorrhoids further up into the rectum where there are fewer nerve endings, it tends to lead to less pain during recovery than other options. If your doctor agrees a stapled hemorrhoidectomy will work for you, definitely go for this procedure over other options, such as a hemorrhoidal artery ligation or traditional hemorrhoidectomy.

Eat a Soft Diet Beforehand

Your surgeon will advise you to stick to a soft diet after surgery in order to make stool easier to pass. However, you can take this one step further and make sure you eat a soft diet well before surgery, too. Eat lots of foods that are high in fiber, and really focus on increasing your water intake, too. What you eat in the days leading up to surgery will affect your stool after surgery, and you want your stool as soft as possible.

Make Sure You Don't Need to Be Active After Surgery

You should be able to get up and move around, completing various life tasks within a day or two of surgery. But if you can avoid even this level of activity for at least a week, that's even better. The less you move for the first few days, the less pain you'll experience. Take plenty of time off from work, have a friend come stay with you, and just lie on the couch. Keeping your blood pressure down will give your anal tissues more time to heal before you put them under strain.

Hemorrhoid surgery is not always easy to go through, but once the recovery period is over, you'll be on track towards lasting comfort.

Talk to your doctor for more information about a hemorrhoidectomy procedure.