Haemorrhoids help

Can I please ask? Does it sting? I've got internal ones or maybe it's a fissure, I don't know. But it stings and it's sometimes painful as if stabbing. Sometimes bright red blood. Occasionally itchy. I can't see or feel anything, using suppositories help but mostly making sure I walk a lot and don't lift heavy things or sit in the office all day. Does this sound like internal one or tear/fissure? Appeared after pregnancy

Now this is interesting because I suffer a lot with them (and with heartburn) yet when I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes I suddenly stopped having bother with both the piles and the heartburn. The biggest change the GD had on my diet was cutting out white bread.

*colorectal surgeon, not surgery

I've shared this story on here before - I had haemorrhoid surgery at 34 weeks pregnant with twins, the weight of whom basically caused my arse to fall out. Thrombosed piles that were absolute agony, couldn't be put back in 😫 The colorectal surgery told me the op was the only option and that I would hate him for the pain. He was so right. The worst pain I've ever experienced and there's no getting away from it because you have to poo. Crying and whimpering in the hot bath afterwards with my giant belly. Scared to go to the loo at all. Laxatives for months.

BUT the op did work and I was much better after probably 1-2 months (especially after birth which was a WALK IN THE PARK by comparison and took the pressure away). Fully back to normal after 6 months with no issues since. So for me it was worth it, but also I think there was pretty much no other option with the piles I had.

One thing to be aware is that there are various operations, including banding, other than a full haemorrhoidectomy which causes the pain we're all describing. So I would see a surgeon and understand exactly what would be involved for you.

Also I had the surgery privately abroad, no idea if NHS cover it.

I developed them during pregnancy and they are always ready to flare up. What makes them flare up is constipation- even minor constipation, the slightest straining to poo.

I keep them under control with lots of fibre and lots of water. I can't miss a day pooing or they flare up. Once one got 'thrombosed' and the pain was awful. The Dr prescribed a product on that occasion called Sheriproct and I keep it in the house now. Have only ever used it twice but I wouldn't want to be without it just incase- it was amazingly effective.

I find that as long as I am managing them well, they are no problem but I know they are there. 😁

I had/have them from childbirth. They're unsightly, but I can't say I'm bothered because I don't really look down there. They've "gone", but flare up if I have loose stools. I got some epsom salts and had a bath with them once a day for a while after I gave birth (I was also lucky enough to have a 3rd degree tear) and the relief from the salt baths was amazing. I don't want any surgery, I've been messed with enough post giving birth and they don't cause me problems day to day so I'm happy to live with them. I also had 1 episode of bowel incontinence after I gave birth, which I found very traumatising and would not risk anything that may cause that again.

Yes, it is known for having a painful recovery process. I have a high pain threshold and it was intense.

If you google, there’ll websites that explain that it is painful!

I had the op about seven years ago. My haemorrhoids were bleeding quite heavily and sometimes I had to sit on the loo applying pressure for quite long periods until it stopped. Once or twice I had bleeding on my clothes and was anxious about that, I gave up wearing light coloured trousers.

Agree with PP about the post op pain, I nearly fainted after the first poo.

However it healed and I was back to normal after about six weeks. Best thing I ever did.

I'm so sorry for the PP who has been left with incontinence as that is about the worst possible outcome.

But for myself I have a perfect little bum hole and not a single problem since. It was definitely worth it for me. I guess anyone contemplating surgery needs to weigh up pro's and con's, all surgery carries risks. Though now I think of it I don't recall being advised of risks pre-op - I must have signed a consent form at some point but I don't remember the process at all.

I can completely relate! Not the festival (you were brave to go so soon!) but the crying and the poo pain. The pain was beyond anything I could have ever imagined, and I’ve had two children!

On top of that, I was left bloody incontinent by the surgery! My worst memory is sitting on the floor of the shower trying to get some relief from the pain, and then suddenly seeing poo floating around me (I promise I’m not the poo troll!). So not only was in pain and cursing myself for getting the surgery every single day, I then had a what the actual fuck to deal with as well!

Honestly, unless haemorrhoids affects anyone’s quality of life, I would strongly recommend that you do not get the surgery and just live with them!

I've come back to this thread after having just used Germaloids cream. Could they not have designed a better nozzle! Why is it not completely round at the end?

I made the now incomprehensible mistake post 2nd op of going to Into the Woods festival the day after. I thought it might be like the first op which was literally just 'uncomfortable' and the discharge nurse that I told my plans to did say 'well good luck with that' I vividly remember the first post op poo deciding to make an appearance at 3am and having to shuffle to the campsite toilets about 500m away. Trying not to cry and then spending a good hour afterwards trying not to make noise in the tent whilst the post poo knife stabbing up the bum feeling made its presence known. I have not been to a festival since. I have flash backs even now, 5 years later! 🤣

I can't use the creams.

My doctor recommended I use coconut oil. It works, ime, better than the official over the counter remedies.

I don't think they really go away, but I don't notice mine unless I get a flare up. The last time I got a bad flare I was recommended Ginko Biloba suppléments which cleared it up very quickly.

They don't really go away. Cream helps in my view although I don't use it regularly, just when they're really bad. The most important things I've found for limiting the impact is how I sit on the toilet, minimising the time (I mean I never was one for "hanging around" on it, but the quicker the better) and avoiding "straining" (sorry TMI).

Well I will add my 2c worth.

I think the key is diet. To eat stuff that basically doesn't wreck your bum when you go to the toilet.

Bread I find very bad for it. Eat loads of bread it bungs you up and basically wrecks your backside when you push it out.

You need to eat stuff that keeps you regular and makes it easy to go to the toilet all the time. And if you can't find that stuff you need to keep trying until you do. For me it is muesli. I eat a bowl of that for breakfast every day and I am fine.

I am pretty sure if I didn't and just ate white bread all the time the state of my backside would be horrendous.

If it is of any consolation, this is something I have lived with for a very long time and I have completely got use to it.

I know right! It is the most painful thing ever! I remember crying in pain in a warm bath so many times, and dreading having to use the loo!

The consultant said it would be “uncomfortable” and grimaced as he said that. Wish he was more clear!

For cleanliness in the absence of a bidet, buy a small round plastic washing up bowl to fit within the inner rim of your toilet bowl with the seat up.

After a poo, fill bowl with warm water and sit over it to wash.

Warm water might bring an element of relief esp with some Epsom Salts added to the water.

I've had the op to remove...twice...because they come back. The op the first time wasn't too bad. Pulling me into a false sense of security for the second time which was for sure the worst pain ever and I'd rather be in labour for 2 weeks than go through that again. The pain post op is staggering every time you have to go for a poo for about a month. It would leave me shaking in pain and I needed painkillers pre poo and a bath post for each time I went. I don't know how bad piles would have to be for me to try that again but I'm thinking it would have to be the size of my head!! Especially as I now find that I wipe after a poo until the paper is clean and then have to wipe again after an hour as it seems a little more leaks out. Really not worth it!

I use the Germaloids cream and suppositories.

I have had them since I gave birth to my first child over 30 years ago. I just have to put up with them. When they get bad I use suppositories - instant relief. My husband also has them and had them ‘banded’. The procedure carried a risk and they soon popped out again anyway.
The thing I hate most about them is that I am not always clean on my bum so I give it an extra wipe when I have a wee. Nothing much, just a smear but I would prefer to be completely clean. If I am going somewhere special I put in a suppository as this does keep me clean.