The Band Ligation Procedure

If you read my post from a few weeks ago, you already know that I have three hemorrhoids inside my butt. Yep. Three. What can I say? I’m an overachiever. (Update 5/13/21: I’ve had A LOT more since first writing this blog entry. On 5/11/21, I had internal hemmy #7 banded, and have #8 & #9 to be handled in a few months. I’ve also had 2 external hemmies cut off)..

Why am I writing about hemorrhoids on my Endometriosis blog? Well, that’s because any one of you (yes, even you), can get them. Especially if you’re having to fight constipation, diarrhea, or both. And what do a lot of us with Endo have? Pooper-problems: yep. Constipation and diarrhea.

Today was the big day to remove the first of the three: the band ligation. Was I nervous? Of course. I didn’t truly know what to expect other than a tiny rubber band would be going around my lumpy li’l hemorrhoid. I already verified with my surgeon’s office that the band didn’t have any latex (I have an allergy), so that was a relief. Google didn’t help answer my “is it gonna hurt afterward” inquiries. I envisioned myself squirming for days, sitting on a donut pillow, walking like I had just ridden in a rodeo.

Am I? Nope!

(Update 7/6/21: hemorrhoid #9 band ligation was so painful that I had to take a day off of work. The poopchute pain was about an 8 out of 10, that radiated to the perineum, and I even feel it in my vaginal canal. Driving home was hard…to say the least. Popped a tramadol when I got he and dropped the pain down to about a 2.)

SO I wanted to share my experience, in case any of you were ever diagnosed with internal hemorrhoids and needed to undergo band ligation. But, realize that every person is different…and this is my experience.

Once in the exam room, the nurse took my blood pressure and laughed at my lame jokes. Then, I was asked to strip from the waist down and to drape the paper blanket over my lap. He left and gave me the privacy to shed my pants and skivvies, I took a precursory look at the small tray of tools and blob of lube, and hopped onto the exam table.

I was literally in and out of that office in 20 minutes: start to finish. The actual procedure took less than five minutes!

Dr. Matthew Schulztel arrived with big smiles and a warm handshake and it was time!

I was worried there’d be some type of numbing injection. Nope. Nothing but the calm, soothing voice of my colo-rectal surgeon warning me of sensations I may experience as tools went in and out.

Did it feel good? Nope. Was it painful? Nope. But it was uncomfortable…mostly just awkward. The doc lubed me up real well first, then a big metal tube went into my butt (I presumed to hold it wide open). Once my body acclimated to the intrusion, it wasn’t too uncomfortable. Then he inserted the little metal rod device that had the rubber band on it. I could feel it as the tool bumped around inside my poopchute, and could feel an odd sensation as the hollow-tube that housed the band surrounded my hemorrhoid. “You’re gonna feel a pinch,” he warned. And yep, just a slight pinch as the band was placed at the base of my ‘rrhoid. A few deep breaths, the tools were removed, and all was back to normal.

As I laid there on my side, knees together up to my chest, all I could think of while he was inside was how oddly similar this felt to a pap smear; just in a different hole. It really wasn’t as awful as my brain thought it was going to be!

I go in on August 28th for my second hemorrhoid to be similarly attacked.

He did warn that I may feel like I have to poop because of the weird band around my ‘rrhoid; at least until it fell off in one to four days, he even thought it may just fall off today! As I got dressed, I marveled on how I couldn’t feel anything. I even sat down on the chair (gingerly, at first) to put my boots on. I didn’t feel a darn thing!

But as I walked toward my car in the parking lot, I felt exactly what he was talking about. And the car ride back to work. And even now as I type this up for you. An unmistakable urge to just go void my bowels. I’m glad he gave me the head’s up. Have I tried to poo yet? Nah. I’m just gonna nurse this li’l feeling for a while.

Curious about the tools used? Let’s see what Dr. Google shows us. There are lots and lots of brands of tools, and I’m clueless what he used, but here’s a general idea:

hemorrhoid bands for ligation — The band: these teeny, tiny black bands are what get the job done! Once secured around the base of the hemorrhoid, the blood supply is cut off and the little ‘rrhoid dries up and falls off. Alibaba, lucid O bands

Anoscope — The butthole opener tube: I’ve learned it’s called the anoscope or proctoscope. It’s hollow once you pull that handle-portion out. It totally keeps things open and unencumbered for the physician to do his business. Courtesy of Henry Schein Medical, Item No. 4268469

band ligator cone — The band-spreader thingy: the rubber band goes on the tiny tip of this little metal cone, then gets slid up and loaded onto the next tool. And the cone goes away now; it’s job is done. Photo courtesy of Medline, Item No. MDS6840410

The band delivery device: the band goes around the hollow round tip (the cone doesn’t remain attached once the band is around the round tip). That hollow tubed-tip slides inside the anoscope, into the poopchute, over the ‘rrhoid and, once in position, the plunger gets pressed and the rubber band slides into place around the base of the hemorrhoid. Medline, Item No. SKA801910

And, of course, luuuuuuuuuuuuube!

If you’re going to have your own internal hemorrhoid ligation, I hope this eased some fears for ya and answered some questions. I’m all set to go in and do this again in another month!

Bye bye hemorrhoids!!!

(Updated 7/6/21)

~ Again, I am a layman. I do not hold any college degrees, nor mastery of knowledge. Please take what I say with a grain of salt. If curious, do your own research. Validate my writings. Or challenge them. And ALWAYS feel free to consult with your physician. Always. Yours ~ Lisa