Quick answer: After hemorrhoid surgery, sitting puts direct pressure on a very sensitive area. Doctors often suggest a donut (ring) seat cushion to take that pressure away. The best way to choose one is to test it on the same kind of chair you use at home, and to decide whether you need seat support only, or seat and lower-back support together. In this story, a Singapore couple did exactly that, and chose our 2-in-1 Lumbar Support & Donut Seat Cushion Set.
A hungry Saturday, and a knock at the door
It was a Saturday, just after 1pm. I had spent the whole morning at my desk, and I was hungry. I was about to switch off the lights, lock up and head out for a late lunch.
That was when a couple, both around 60, tall and fit, stopped in front of our showroom at 261 Waterloo Street.
They were not here for themselves. They were here for their son.
Their son is 27. For the last six months he has been living with hemorrhoids, and after a long family discussion, they had finally decided together: he should go for surgery. A friend who had gone through the same operation gave them one piece of advice: before the surgery, get him a proper cushion for recovery.
So they did their homework. They searched online, compared a few shops, read our website, and decided the right thing to do was to come in person, see it, touch it, and sit on it.
How could I say no? Lunch could wait.
"Wait, let me try it first"
The mother showed me a photo on her phone. It was our 45 cm Grey Donut Seat Cushion. "This one," she said.
On my display chair, a plain wooden dining chair like the ones in many Singapore homes, I had our 2-in-1 set: a donut seat cushion together with a lumbar support. I took the set off so she could try the 45 cm donut cushion on its own first, exactly as she had planned.
She sat down. Two seconds later, she smiled: "Oh, this is nice. It feels so good."
Then I put the lumbar support back on the chair and asked her to sit again.
Here is why. None of us sit perfectly upright all day. We lean back, we slouch, we shift. When the lumbar cushion fills the natural curve of your lower back, and the donut cushion spreads your body weight away from the tailbone and the sensitive area below it, you get support in two places at the same time. The pressure points are relieved, and your back and tailbone no longer carry all the strain.
She nodded, then turned to her husband: "You try."
He sat down and said nothing for a long while. He was really feeling it, the way someone does when they know they are buying something for their child. Finally, quietly: "Wow. This is good."
She put her phone away. "Not the one in my photo," she said. "I want this set."
A gaming chair at home: seat, lumbar, or both?
Then came a very practical question, one I hear often from parents of young adults.
Her son uses a gaming chair at home, similar to my own office chair. My chair has a very large built-in lumbar support, so I only use the seat cushion part. Most gaming chairs have a smaller back curve, so her son can use both pieces together, seat and lumbar.
And if his chair does not fit the lumbar piece? The set comes apart. The donut seat cushion can go to her son for his recovery, and the lumbar support can go to her own wooden dining chair at home. She loved that idea: one purchase, two people supported.
This is exactly why we designed the two pieces to be detachable. Real homes have different chairs.
"Two big pieces inside this small pack?"
When I brought out a brand-new set, she looked at the vacuum pack and laughed. "Is it true? Two big pieces are inside this?"
Yes. This is our signature product, and I know how it is packed. After opening, the high-density memory foam needs about 2 hours to rebound to its full shape.
She asked if she could open it right away. Of course. Her husband carefully unzipped the cover and checked the zips and the stitching himself. While I prepared their order, she had already scanned and paid.
She did not ask for a discount. I explained anyway that as a small specialist shop, we keep our prices honest instead of running constant sales, because that is how we can stay here for our customers in the long run. She simply said: "I understand."
Every set also comes with our 30-day 1-to-1 exchange at the showroom, if anything is not right.
"This is comfortable. I want one for my office."
Then came the surprise of the afternoon.
While I was creating her customer profile, her husband, who had been quiet most of the visit, suddenly said: "This is really comfortable. I want one more, for myself at the office."
So we put together our Healthcare Bundle: two sets together, with an extra washable sports-mesh seat cover as a gift. We designed this bundle for National Day, especially for caregivers looking after ageing parents, because when you care for someone every day, you need a spare cover to wash and change. It is a limited bundle, with only a few sets left. The extra cover is not sold separately in our online store. It is made from the same high-quality sports material and zips as our cushions, which is why we include it as a gift rather than sell it on its own.
She was so happy.
Why testing before buying matters, especially for seniors
Before they left, we talked about pillows. She told me that in the past she had bought several pillows online, and some of them made her neck pain worse, not better. That is why she appreciates a shop where you can test first. She even travelled to a factory showroom in Malaysia recently, just to test her current pillow before buying. It is a big 70 cm pillow and she is happy with it.
So I told her honestly: if you are happy with your pillow, there is no need to buy another one. She tried ours anyway, just for fun, and smiled.
Then she said something I will not forget:
"I trust you. You can do it."
She told me she is 60 this year, officially entering the "senior" category. (I told her she still looks young.) She showed me photos of her son and daughter. And as they left, she wished me a good weekend.
A note from the founder
Running a small specialist health shop in Singapore is not easy. Rent is high, costs are high, and on some days I wonder how long a solo business like mine can keep going.
Then a Saturday like this happens. A mother and father come in for their son, they test with care, they trust me, and they leave happy. That is what keeps me going.
To this family: thank you for your trust. We wish your son a smooth surgery and a comfortable recovery. And to everyone reading: as long as you trust us, JC Health will keep going all the way with you.
Preparing for hemorrhoid surgery? A simple checklist
- Buy before the operation date, so the cushion is ready when you come home.
- Test on the right chair. Dining chair, office chair, gaming chair and car seat all feel different.
- Decide on seat only, or seat plus lumbar. If you will sit for long hours to work or study, lower-back support helps.
- Check the foam. It should be firm enough that you do not sink through to the chair.
- Choose a removable, washable cover for hygiene during recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Is a donut cushion good after hemorrhoid surgery?
Yes. A donut or ring cushion is often suggested by doctors after hemorrhoid surgery, because the opening in the middle reduces direct pressure on the operated area when you sit.
Should I buy the cushion before or after surgery?
Before. Having it ready means you can sit more comfortably from the first day you come home, without rushing to buy one while you are in pain.
Can I use the same cushion on a gaming chair or office chair?
Usually yes. Our 2-in-1 set works on most gaming and office chairs. If your chair has a large built-in lumbar support, you can use the seat cushion only.
How long does a vacuum-packed memory foam cushion take to expand?
About 2 hours after opening, for our 2-in-1 set.
Where can I try a post-surgery cushion in Singapore?
At our JC Health showroom, 261 Waterloo Street, #02-02 Waterloo Centre, about 300 m from Bras Basah MRT (CC2) and Bencoolen MRT (DT21), near the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple (四马路观音庙). You can test the cushions on real chairs before deciding.
Explore the cushions featured in this story
JC Health 2-in-1 Lumbar Support & Donut Seat Cushion Set
An integrated, detachable lumbar and seat cushion system for structured lower-back and sitting support at home, in the office, on a gaming chair or while driving. The two cushions can be used together or separately.
View the 2-in-1 Lumbar Support & Donut Seat Cushion Set →
JC Health Donut Seat Cushion, Grey 45 cm
A larger high-density memory foam cushion with a central relief channel, breathable removable cover and anti-slip base.
View the Grey 45 cm Donut Seat Cushion →
Donut Memory Foam Seat Cushion, Blue 40 cm
A compact donut cushion for focused tailbone-area support, easy to bring to the office, car or on trips.
View the Blue 40 cm Donut Seat Cushion →
Healthcare Bundle for caregivers (limited): two 2-in-1 sets plus an extra washable sports-mesh seat cover as a gift. Ask us in the showroom or on WhatsApp 8812 2622.
Related donut cushion guides and customer stories
- Why Online Pictures Aren't Enough for Surgery Recovery
- Heading to Surgery? Why Buying a Donut Cushion Before Your Operation Matters
- Understanding Tailbone Pain: Causes, Solutions and Choosing the Right Cushion
- Read all donut cushion articles →
Watch the seat cushion video playlist
See our seat cushions in use, tested by real customers in our showroom: JC Health seat cushion video playlist on YouTube →
📍 JC Health, 261 Waterloo Street, #02-02 Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261 (near Bugis)
🕒 Mon-Fri 10am-7pm | Sat 10am-5pm | Sun by appointment
💬 WhatsApp 8812 2622 | ☎️ 6485 9179 | Free next-day delivery across Singapore