Piles - a massive weepy moan!!

[greentshirt]

Im 37 weeks tomorrow and have had piles for probably about the last 4 weeks or so. Bought some cream and although it obv didnt make them go away it sorted out the pain. Yesterday I got a BEAST of a one, it hurts so much I can hardly sit down, its nearly bringing me to tears, every time I moved in the night it was like murder, its practically making me immobile. Cream no longer touching it, have tried ice too and one of those cold things you put in the fridge. Rang drs for appt today and they have just called and said all they can prescribe is the same as I can get over the counter anyway!! I didnt think this was the case and said so, so he said to ring the day unit and if they had any other suggestions he would be happy to prescribe but they said the same!

That sent me over the edge and now I am sitting here having a good old cry about them, they are only going to get worse arent they? I think the main underlying problem for me is that im worried about how they might affect me in labour and what they might be like afterwards, I feel like theres no end point with them!

Has anyone got any ideas or potential solutions or just want to join me in a moan about them. Im usually so rational, no one was more surprised than me when I started crying after I put the phone down, I feel like im having a pile related meltdown!!

[Pregnantagain7]

Hi I had THE worst piles with my third pregnancy the pain was unbearable so my god you have my sympathies! I saw the doctor three times he prescribed me three different creams which had little or no effect. The last time I went he said right you have to trust me on this one don't think I've gone mad when you pick the prescription.I picked it up and it was vagasil I was a bit confused but it was the best bloody stuff ever! It contains lidocaine which is a numbing cream and the relief was amazing. I wouldn't say it totally got rid of them but the pain relief was so good.

You can buy it over the counter without a prescription it's not expensive less than £5 but for me it was brilliant def worth a try :)

[greentshirt]

Going to go to the chemist now and buy whatever has the highest % of lidocaine!

[WillSingForCake]

Oh poor you, they're hideous things! I used to think piles were a funny jokey kind of ailment, then when I got them I realised how bloody awful & debilitating they are. With my first pregnancy I had them pretty much constantly from around 20 weeks onwards. Am now 37 wks pregnant with DC2 (must be due around the same time as you!) and just the other day I was commenting to my DH how wonderful it was that I hadn't had piles at all this pregnancy, then the bloody very next day I got them! They're not horrendous though, but still pretty unpleasant.

If it's any consolation, the first time round they got better very quickly after I'd had the baby, so hopefully you'll find the same. It's important you don't get constipated though (which makes piles worse), which is often an issue after birth anyway, so keep drinking lots of water. Good luck, hope the chemist had some decent cream!

[Trooperslane]

They are fucking horrendous.

Mine were worse than my episiotomy.

Anusol suppositories too and lashings piles, sorry of cream.

[greentshirt]

Thanks for the sympathy, I used to think they were some kind of jokey ailment too but im the last one laughing now!

The pharmacist in Boots was next to useless, I asked which one was 'best' and he said he wouldnt recommend anything and I should speak to my doctor and come back. Luckily I have my shit together now so I just said ok and went and chose one myself!

Got germoloid triple action ointment and vagisil just in case! Theres a germoloid with a steroid included but it says not to use in pregnancy. I had a quick google of why and it seems topical steroids might be linked to low birth weight. At 37 weeks and knowing im on for a big baby im not too worried about that so I might give that a try if these dont work. Just the label saying 'dont use in pregnancy' immedietely makes me think it must be better than the others!! Just like my beloved nurofen over paracetamol. Cant wait to be allowed those again!

[greentshirt]

Hope im not speaking too soon here but thanks SO much for the vagisil tip, seems to be working!!!!!

[PastaandCheese]

I really suffered after having my first baby. In tears etc just like you. I sympathise.

Creams will help with the pain but you need to manage them through your diet. I tried everything before I hit on prune juice. It really helped me keep constipation at bay and give them time to heal.

I had a small glass everyday from 30 weeks in my second pregnancy and I'm now 2 weeks post natal with no repeat of the piles.

It tastes disgusting but I treat it as a chance to reuse the shot downing skills acquired in Ibiza many, many years ago!

[Boogles91]

I have internal ones, but have had them for. Years. But pg has made them flare up lol i just cope the. Best i can when there off as ive had worser pain than them so i just remind myself of that lol x

[greentshirt]

Im not constipated at all unfortunately, no problems at all there, I think its weight from the baby more than anything. Prune juice might send me into a whole load of other problems!

I will definitely up the fruit and veg though, as bad as it is now, I really am worried about what will happen to them during labour, I imagine i'll have more to worry about after the baby is born to be too preoccupied with the piles!

[whereisshe]

This is bringing back awful memories of the piles I had after pushing DD out. I sat on a donut cushion for about 2 weeks. The best thing I found was condoms filled with water and frozen, then wrapped in a piece of paper towel and used as an ice pack - not inside obviously but on the "affected area" - makes everything numb, it's wonderful! And regular baths.

[Cariad007]

Maybe ask your doc to prescribe Lactulose? Even though you're not constipated it'll soften things up and make it less painful when you go to the toilet.

[greentshirt]

They dont give me any pain at all when I go Cariad, thats one mercy!

Whereisshe - imagine what i'd look like buying condoms at 37weeks pregnant, bet i'd get a comment about locking the stable door after the horse has bolted hahaha


Would bathing in salt water help?

[DitaVonCreamTeas]

I feel your pain, piles are truly fucking horrible. I'm not constipated but at 41w the pressure of my babies fully engaged head is, in the midwife's words, "distorting" my body. God. Damn. Ouch.

The only thing that's currently giving me any relief is a sitting on a doughnut pillow - sweet, sweet relief.

[Monkeybrain10]

I went to pregnancy yoga and the teacher told us to go on all fours kneeling. Back straight then squeeze your sphincter...rather than your buttocks! She said doing this a few times a day would help with and help prevent piles so worth a try i guess! Good luck.

[Cariad007]

Ask the doc for a prescription for Xyloproct too - much better than any OTC cream.

[Thatsnotmyfigure]

I sympathise how horrible. I had them bad in 1st pregnancy but just to let you know did not feel them in labour and no pain after birth either! In fact that first poo everyone goes on about was a breeze compared with the piles pain in pregnancy

[greentshirt]

Oh thanks cariad, I'll definitely ask for that, the dr today said he was happy to learn something if anusol wasn't the only thing he could give me!

Good news re the first poo too, god the indignity of it all, my sister just sent me a text saying 'see you tomorrow grape bum!'

[greentshirt]

Where can I get a doughnut pillow? Or should I just go for the old favourite of a rubber ring?!

[slems]

you definitely need a doughnut pillow for after, amazon is best. And I highly recommend a sitz bath (unsure of spelling) I got given one when I had a kid in the US and the are a bloody lifesaver, you basically sit on the loo but really on a bucket of lukewarm water with stuff in if you want, very weird but brilliant for piles, especially after birth. I wish I had known about vagisil, I'm not kidding piles have put me off having a third.
Oh, also I found they always got way worse 1-2 days after standing up a lot. Can you just lie down for the rest of preg ha ha?

[greentshirt]

My friend has just recommended a sitz bath too! (Which autocorrect changed to ritz, oh how I wish!)

I'll get onto it re the pillow, might look out and about tomorrow then if I don't have any joy order one through prime.

Thank you so much for all the help (and sympathy) I felt so bad about it earlier but more hopeful and numb now!!

[Longdistance]

This brings back memories from the birth of dd1.

Get some ice cubes and bag them up. Apply them to your piles, they'll shrink quite nicely, and it should be more comfortable.

I also had one if those rings to sit on. I was given Diclofenac to take, but I don't think they'll prescribe that to you if you're pg.

[Longdistance]

I got the donut thing from the local pharmacy. Boots may do them.