OK, I'm going for it... Talk to me about piles, please

[SallyStarbuck]

Dug out an old name here so will throw embarrassment into the wind...

99% certain I have piles, which is obvious very exciting. I don't really want to bother the GP for something which is treatable over the counter, but I wouldn't mind some advice on how to properly deal with it. Or them.

They're not painful, just itchy, more in the evenings and at night, and I've not really noticed any blood. So a pretty mild case, I imagine. I think they are inside, but I can't work out as they are outside as well - the outside is itchy, but that could be from damage where I've occasionally (sorry, tmi I know) given in to the temptation to scratch, which I think I might do in my sleep as well

I bought some of the suppositories and they worked, but I used them for a few days, things got better so I stopped (that might be the problem) and then the itching came back again. Nothing I can find in the instructions or online tells me how long to actually use the suppositories for.

Any advice from fellow sufferers? Should I just use suppositories and cream for a fortnight, perhaps, and really hit it over the head?

[Suzietwo]

i use antihistimine at night to stop myself itching
that way they have the chance to recover

i have had disgusting plum like external ones and mildly annoying internal ones. the amazing and good news is that they do go away. i would never have believed that at some points over the last few years

[FartyTette]

Fellow sufferer here (waves to Sally and Suzie). I recommend applying a little bio oil after wiping. This has really helped with the night time itching for me.

[SallyStarbuck]

I think I have bio-oil and antihistamine cream somewhere, so will dig them out.

How long do you have to treat them for?

Oh, the joys of getting old...

[Cocolepew]

I use Anusol(?) I find it takes away the itch and it, and Preparation H, are supposed to shrink thrm.
If you are brave you can push them back up, it doesnt hurt.

[florentina1]

Sudocreme is your friend here. Anusol suppository then
spread the sudocreme liberally around the outside. The itching is soothed, a barrier is formed to allow healing. I think that sometimes people scratch in their sleep without being fully awake.

[SallyStarbuck]

I've got Germaloid ones at the moment, I think.

OK - suppository, some sort of barrier cream to help with the itching. And then keep going for weeks?

[SallyStarbuck]

And I definitely do that, florentina It's annoying DP now, I think!

[stealtheatingtunnocks]

sure it's not worms?

If not, make sure you're not constipated, get a wee stool to put your feet on when you poo (so your knees are higher than your hips), don't strain, get some laxative if you need it and drink lots.

But, if there's no blood or pain and your only symptom is a night-time itch...

[SallyStarbuck]

Definitely sure it's not worms, as DD had them recently so we know what to look for, but also I can feel something there.

[sadie9]

There might be something there, and you have worms too. Sorry for suggestion, but why is it only itchy at night. Simple test get up in the night when its itchy wipe bum and take a really good look at the tissue.
Specially if someone in the house recently had worms.
You shouldn't have to keep going for weeks with suppositories if its piles. They usually swell up, get painful and itchy, then go away again. Then come back some time later maybe if you were like standing around all day at a wedding or something.
No harm dosing yourself with the worms stuff in the first instance. GP can prescribe really powerful Piles stuff can scherproct or something, with steroids in it.

[florentina1]

No you don't have to do it for weeks. The reason it goes on is because the scratching makes it spread.

To begin with use the sudocreme once a day liberally in the evening and sparingly in the morning and after a bowel movement. The suppositories usually work after one application. After that I find Anusol ointment much more effective than the cream.

Use unscented shower gel and I also use Nivea in shower moisturiser around the area. After the shower pat dry with tissue rather than drying on a towel.