Ughh piles

Or get Def Leppard to do it.

Both my hairdresser and my window cleaner/handyman are happy to talk to me about their piles. My hairdresser had botox treatment on hers at one point. It's good that everyone can talk about them now, rather than suffering in silence and being embarrassed.

That's interesting. I had my surgery (haemorrhoidectomy and removal of an anal skin tag) in 1984. I was on a high protein/low carb diet in 1978, and loosely continued it afterwards, so kept my carbs relatively low. Maybe it was my diet that caused all my problems.

I suffer with them . They aren't painful as such, and don't bleed much, but can be uncomfortable and extremely itchy.
Mine aren't post birth or anything.
I don't find pile cream / suppositories help really.

were yours internal or external haemorrhoids? I read that this procedure is only suitable for internal ones and only up to grade 3. This seems like a useful summary: https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/hemorrhoids-expanded-version

I had mine banded once, and it was ok, a sort of dull ache for a couple of days which was helped by paracetamol and ibuprofen. I’d recommend that treatment.

Low carb/keto diets are notorious for causing constipation and consequently piles.

The banding isn't the same as surgery, the consultant literally snapped a couple of elastic bands (I think) around them, and they shrivel and drop off. Honestly, I felt nothing then or after. All the problems stopped that day. I would really recommend you look into that, no more cream, bleeding, irritation - just normal!

I have no shame so I am happy to talk about it, and lots of people have said to me that they suffer too but have never told anyone. There are probably so many people suffering in silence. I think most pregnant women seem to suffer at some point.

My BMI is 24 but I'm trying to get it down to about 20 to see if that helps.

I had surgery as I was bleeding a lot and was anemic even with taking prescription iron. The first trip to the toilet wasn’t exactly fun but I can’t say it was that bad. I recovered quickly and I really didn’t find it painful. If I get them again I’d have surgery if possible. Life is too short to be dealing with being uncomfortable or in pain all the time.
Im in a friendship group where we would discuss something like this. It’s so common. I wouldn’t bring it up at a dinner party but I might of mentioned if we were chatting about something relevant.

I had them during and after every pregnancy. Varicose veins run in my family (both sides) so there’s no way to avoid them. I had them banded once but they recurred in subsequent pregnancies.

What helps me is:

• lean BMI - carrying extra weight puts more pressure on veins in the area, my piles only flared up when I was pregnant (= heavier than usual)
• making sure that I eat at least 30g of fibre a day, usually more
• going gluten-free
• regular exercise, it won’t magically make varicose veins go away but it improves circulation
• supplements with diosmin and calcium dobesilate (the latter is an over-the-counter medication)

There are some things you can do to help OP.

If the piles are protruding from inside, I would recommend coating them in whatever cream product you are using and gently pushing them back in. Once they are protruding it's very difficult to get them to reduce because the blood flow is restricted.

You can get prescription creams which are a little more effective. The suppositories are also good.

Don't sit on the toilet for more than about 5 minutes, and make sure your poo is really soft. Miralax is good for that if you have hard stools, and you can take it as often as you need to. If there is ever a hint of constipation I go straight for that along with diet change.

Ibuprofin helps, you can talk to your doctor about exceeding the dose on the bottle. Hot baths, heating pads, are also good.

Hope you find relief.

I've had mine banded 4 times on the NHS over the last 4 years. My biggest issue is they bleed badly and I've spent much of that period anaemic. The last time I had them done was a mix of banding and injections about 2 months ago. It was painless, and they have been brilliant since then until last week. I've had a dodgy stomach, multiple toilet visits, and they are back bleeding again today.
The consultants I've spoken to have, in general, been brilliant, although there was one I really wouldn't want to go back to who gaslit me over the amount of pain I was experiencing.
We've talked about surgery as an option, but I've been advised that it's one of the worst surgeries for pain and recovery, and so have tried to avoid it.

Yeah I find running helps with the pain, I also assumed it helps with the circulation. Yoga also helps. Nothing helps the pain like a long salt bath, though. Wish I lived near the sea! My water bill has been enormous this year as I’ve had hideous piles since December.

I’ve had occasional bouts of piles, usually just a couple of small ones but very painful. They seem to be brought on by warmer weather. I’ve found that taking anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen and using cream/suppositories with steroids helps as does increasing exercise such as going for a run - not sure why, the only thing I can think of is that maybe it helps with the circulation 🤷‍♀️

In my early twenties, I was in terrible pain from piles. Each time I opened my bowels it hurt and I had to sit on a chair afterwards and rock backwards and forwards until the pain subsided. When I was 24, I had a haemorrhoidectomy and removal of an anal skin tag. The surgeon told me that the aftereffects of the surgery would be nothing compared to the pain I must have been experiencing for at least the previous 18 months (he had had to remove much more than he had anticipated). He was right. The worst part I suppose was needing to open my bowels the following morning and having to gently remove yards and yards of gauze packing before I could do so. But absolutely no pain when I went! It was heaven!

I had mine banded, it didn't work for long. I then had a fairly new procedure (sorry can't remember the name) where they cauterise the veins with an electronic instrument- that's how it was explained to me!
It wasn't all that painful, I was given strong painkillers and didn't need them after a couple of days. That was 7 years ago and they haven't come back.

The consultant said I had some very impressive piles and they bled so much I was anaemic.
I would recommend getting them treated if you can.

I’ve been looking for these but can’t find them anywhere. I take horse chestnut pills. I also made an ointment from witch hazel, beeswax, lesser celandine and calendula flowers. I found the steroid cream made my skin really inflamed and itchy, and the vaginal area (my piles are that end) and having to itch all the time was making everything so much worse.
I’m sticking to herbal remedies until I have the surgery.

I had piles for years and suffered very badly from chronic constipation. They flared up very badly at times, the pain would be immense and it hurt to walk or sit. Even just lying down was uncomfortable due to the throbbing pain. I eventually had surgery, and looking at some of these stories, I don't think I was aware of the possibility of the surgery going wrong! Luckily mine didn't. It was painful in the aftermath for quite some time, to the point that I wondered if it was worth it! Thankfully that eventually subsided. Looking back, if I was in the position I was in originally, I would get the surgery again. Living a lifetime with the pain of piles and the resulting chronic constipation was not something I would wish on anyone.

I used to get them but the the odd occasion I still do I use an old school,
home made witch hazel based soak,
sooo soothing. But this is when they aren’t too bad just protruding a bit and a little itchy. Massively helps

thank you for starting this thread, everything said has made me feel so much less alone which obviously doesn’t ease the pain or discomfort but certainly helps knowing it’s not just me

I found taking "diosmin and hespardin" supplement very helpful with piles flare up. as all the creams, ointments even suppositories didnt work on me

• Diosmin and Hesperidin:
• These flavonoids, commonly found in citrus fruits and often combined in supplements, are known to improve circulation, strengthen veins, and reduce inflammation, all of which can be helpful in managing both varicose veins and piles.

I’ve suffered with this for a long time too and have found lying down on my side for a few minutes after going to the toilet really helps with them retracting. It’s less help during a really bad flare up though unfortunately.