My persistent piles...

[floccolibrolets]

TMI alert. Sorry not sorry.

I developed an ENORMOUS long dangly pile during pregnancy that turned into a bit of a monster after labour. I've been carefully and religiously doing ALL the self management stuff and using anusol.

For the first 4-5 weeks post-delivery it gradually shrunk back to very large raisin (extremely small grape?) size and was pain free. Then something happened - I dunno what, possibly a big poo? - and since then every poo has been painful and bum is achy and very uncomfortable to sit on. I'm continuing with self management and the Anusol with steroids.

I'm now 8.5 weeks and have my "6 week" check up with GP tomorrow. Obvs I'll tell them what's going on, but if they brush me off, what should I be asking for? This is not sustainable for me! What's the next step? Has anyone experienced similar and actually had things resolved?

Yeah I had terrible piles.

They just go gradually but you're best to focus on loads of fluid and fruit n veg to minimise strain. Also no lounging on the throne, although you're unlikely to have time I know!

Thank you for replying @DumbFlagScum - so you still had significant pain at 8 weeks pp and they did eventually resolve themselves? That's so encouraging. Do you remember how long it took?

I was given Anusol but it turned out that I was allergic to one of the ingredients and had to get the prescription only Anugesic, which pretty much cleared them overnight. I get periodic recurrances, but a couple of days of cream stops them in their tracks.

Maybe ask about changing cream, in case this is your problem?

I can't remember but I was a mess, had 11lb baby, back to back 36 hour labour, my piles were huge. One of them was so big I managed to bruise it.

I remember my 6 week check clearly and still had them

So I used haemerroid cream and also suppositories which really helped. But basically I lived on soup and fruit because I was so scared of a rock hard poo!

Hmm ok.
The NHS website talks about things like injections and bands to shrink or cut off the blood supply to them. I was feeling a bit anxious that I'd have to go down that route but it sounds like there's still hope for them to resolve without anything so invasive?

Has anyone had any of those types of treatment? What's the benchmark for how bad or persistent things have to be before they are indicated?

I've had them from about 6 months pregnant; am 8 months PP now. My GP won't take them seriously at all despite the blood loss I'm having from them which has given me anaemia! It's all pretty shit; it seems to be a given to medical professionals that it's "one of those things" about pregnancy and birth.

Hello, I had exactly the same few months ago. My gp prescribed scheriproct gel and suppositories and they are amazing. I have had a couple of lapses as now I'm more susceptible to piles and after two or three days of using the gel I'm back to normal. Anusol did nothing for me.

Oh thank you. I'll ask about anugesic and sheriproct.