Dear reader, when 2025 is still young and virgin, I have thought to write about how God healed me of hemorrhoids. In mid-March 2024, hemorrhoids or piles, piled pernicious pressure on my nether regions. Pain visited my frail frame. When I was admitted at Balozi Hospital in Nairobi, to face the knife of the surgeon, I felt fearful, for I had never heard about haemorrhoidectomy. Then, it was the first time I was getting admitted in a hospital since childhood.
When grizzled granny learnt about my sickness, she was shell-shocked, but assured me that I would become better. For she remembered, throughout my lifetime, when I was blossoming in the chest of the village, I only fell ill when I was a young boy in early 90s, in Gem, Siaya County. I am mentioning mother of mother in this sob story because she is the one who brought me up because mom rested when I was 7.
About hemorrhoids, God touched my body made of mud and left me whole. In case you know not, hemorrhoids are pillow-like clusters of veins that are just beneath mucous membranes lining the lowest part of rectum and anus. Medical experts explain, hemorrhoids occur when veins in the lower part of the rectum and anus swell and become distended, just like varicose veins in legs.
They can bleed and cause discomfort. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), hemorrhoids affect about 50 pee cent of people world-wide at some point in life. The prevalence increases with age, with an estimated 50 per cent of adults above 50 years suffering from hemorrhoids. Moreover, hemorrhoids are classified as internal or external, depending on their location relative to the dentate line in the anal canal. Internal hemorrhoids are graded from 1-4 based on size and protrusion.
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For instance, grade 1 hemorrhoids are small, non-protruding, and may bleed. Grade 2 hemorrhoids prolapse during bowel movements, but return on their own. Grade 3 hemorrhoids prolapse, hence requesting for reposition. However, grade 4 hemorrhoids are permanently prolapsed. External hemorrhoids form in an area rich in nerve endings, making them become more painful.
Drinking water
Other factors increasing occurrence of hemorrhoids are diarrhea, pregnancy, straining during bowel movements, obesity, weight-lifting, chronic constipation and low-fibre diet. In my case, it was chronic constipation, low-fibre diet, and perhaps dehydration. Medical experts explained, to reduce risk of hemorrhoids, a peripatetic speaker should drink a lot of water. Take less duration in the toilet.
Reduce hours of sitting and standing. You know, us, writers and orators do a lot of that. On diagnosis and medication, for internal hemorrhoids, the doctor does anoscopy or colonoscopy to rule out cancer and colorectal polyps. On removal, there are minimally invasive procedures such as rubber-band ligation, laser or infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy and cryosurgery. Pertaining protruding hemorrhoids, there is haemorrhoidopexy, treating prolapsed internal hemorrhoids by stapling them back into normal positions. Then, there is haemorrhoidectomy, surgery of removing internal or external hemorrhoids that are extensive or severe. The procedure is effective. It cures 95per cent of cases. Albeit, it has a few complications like what I went through in mid-March 2024.
I think, the time I was seeking medication, I had grade 4 of hemorrhoids. For on a Thursday night, I went to relieve myself in the toilet, but experienced difficulties. No fecal matter came out. When I went back to bed, there was discomfort on the nether regions. Such a thing had happened on two sporadic nights in the past, but disappeared. Maybe, I did wrong to assume.
Pain
For this time round, I waited with bated breath for them to disappear, but nothing happened. Instead, I went through excruciating pain. Until mid-night came. Until dawn came. Until morning came. On Friday morning, as usual, I had to take pride in peak performance. I was in pain, but rose up to the occasion as a man made of some sterner stuff. I had two speaking engagements. The first one, I was to address parents in the Form 2 academic clinic at State House Girls’ High School close to seat of power.
The second one, which we slated late afternoon, I was to address Form 4 candidates at Nairobi School on Waiyaki Way. I showed up in the two occasions. But when I went back to my civilised cave at twilight, I called John Blair, a friend and a certified nurse. I explained to him what I was experiencing, he directed me to go to the nearby chemist, and buy some medicine. I went back to the house, applied the white ointment. That night, I still experienced pangs of pain. I turned and tossed in bed, writhed in pain, while alone like a leper.
On Saturday morning, I woke up earlier, did something else Blair advised me do. Embark on sitz bath, where I sat on saline lukewarm water to welter down there. That Saturday, I was to travel to Moi Girls’ High School-Kibwezi in Makueni County: to facilitate a leadership training for the Student Council. But on Friday night, I had requested Mwalimu Michael Masinde to put his act together and attend to the important assignment.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, at the crack of sunrise, I tottered from my house at Suna Estate to the Junction Mall on Ngong Road. I bought Saturday Nation and Saturday Standard to pore over some stories written by fellow scribes.
Unfortunately, that fateful day, I only managed to read Prof Austin Bukenya’s article in the arts, literature and culture column. Too true, I lacked the usual intellectual energy and enthusiasm to read shedloads of stories as I always do in my regular reading ritual. I also tried to sip tea, or eat something, but I had no scintilla of appetite. I dithered back to the house to nurse my groans and grunts.
While holed up in the house alone, a brilliant thought danced in my mortal mind like a tenuous cloud scudding high in the sky. I initiated a WhatsApp chat with Fr Peter Musau of the Catholic Diocese of Maralal, who is also the Director of Irene School and Good Shepherd Minor Seminary in Maralal, Samburu County. I did so because I remembered, a week earlier, the clever cleric apprised me, he had an issue with his appendix. By the grace of God, he received hope and help at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.
Therefore, when I contacted him about my miseries, he referred me to one Dr Achola who was by then at Mater Hospital in Nairobi. I called the doctor and booked an appointment at twilight. So, at 4pm, I called an Uber taxi, and we made a beeline for The Mater Hospital. I met Dr Achola, he examined me. He explained to me on possible medical routes to take to arrest the situation.
Surgeon’s knife
I opted for haemorrhoidectomy. I agreed to face the surgeon’s knife on Sunday in a different medical facility, Balozi Hospital in the jungle of concrete, Nairobi. Meanwhile, before I left The Mater Hospital, Dr Achola gave me some potent medicine, which when I imbibed as per the prescription, ‘deadened’ pangs of pain. At least, on Saturday night, I enjoyed deep sleep.
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On Sunday, I was to facilitate another leadership training of the Student Council of Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls’ High School in Nyeri. Again, I implored Mwalimu Michael Masinde to warm up for the superb job.
Indeed, he obliged in post-haste. In fact, he went ahead and looped-in Mungai and Muinde. On my case, we had agreed with one Dr Wafula, the surgeon at Balozi Hospital that I be there in the morning. So, on Sunday, at 7am, I was there, ready for the surgeon’s knife. I went through the procedure successfully. I stayed in the awful ward, then got discharged on Tuesday. I remember fondly Masinde, Mungai, Muinde, Kuan, Kanja and Kipkurui: Visited me, while I was looking infirm on hospital bed, to assess my progress. I also received robust support from friends and family members. More so, Principals, whom I thank profusely. I received their spiritual, financial and moral support.
Two complications
When I went back to the house, Muinde decided to stay with me for a short while as I was recuperating. The wife of Masinde, one Wanza, cooked for us, daily. Of which I remain grateful. As I hinted earlier, I experienced two complications after surgery. The first one, the inability to pee on Sunday night after surgery. It really scared me. Later, God did a miracle.
I also realised, surgery down there, makes you think twice before you sneeze or laugh loud. The second complication was, after discharged, I was not able to pass stools from Sunday to Thursday. It was a harrowing experience I would not wish to go through, again. Finally, I thank God for the healing. Then, because God is both in cathedrals and laboratories, I trust in Him for wealth of health. Doctors treat, but God heals. So, I take heed of doctor’s piece of advice: to eat right. Savour good food rich in fibre. Devour fresh fruits. Drink gallons of water. As grace abound.
Travelogue: Chronicles of a peripatetic speaker.
By Victor Ochieng’
vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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