well done HJ. I think DH was in a fair amount of pain for him to actually show me (he needed morphine for it so they were really bad), but only just uncomfortable after the procedure. He was knocked out though.
I don't think there is much other than the creams. Make sure you're getting plenty of fibre and water so that you aren't straining at all.
DH's was done under our PHI so I'm not sure of the real cost.