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Original poster

Can anything be urgently done about a pile?

244 replies

GoldenCagedBird · 14/01/2023 14:48

I’ve felt a lump around my anus earlier in the week, and woke up with severe pain today. It was coming from the area so I felt it and it was now grape sized. DH looked, it’s a pile. Blue in colour and external- so can’t be pushed back in.

DH went out and got me Anusol and the pharmacist advised me to take paracetamol and ibuprofen for the pain. Granted, I’ve only had two doses of each and only applied Anusol at 9ish this morning- but the pain is steadily getting worse.

The pain is a solid 8/10. I have an 7 month old and can only feed her laying down as it’s severely uncomfortable to sit up with her. I can’t walk without crying, let alone be on the floor playing with her.

I have heard about piles before, never had one- and just didn’t realise it can be this severe.

Is there a private option to get it drained if this level of pain continues? I can’t believe such a tiny thing is stopping me from doing day to day tasks :(

OP posts:
Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 14/01/2023 14:48

Try ice!

ProudThrilledHappy · 14/01/2023 14:53

IME germoloids is much better than anusol for pain relief for piles. Also try an ice pack

Spirini · 14/01/2023 14:54

Came on to say ice as pp said. Sending you my sympathies, horrible things!!

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General health
3luckystars · 14/01/2023 14:55

That needs to be cut away by a doctor, it’s thrombosed. I’m so sorry!!! Ouch.

Spirini · 14/01/2023 14:56

I've should shrink them

Spirini · 14/01/2023 14:56
  • ice should shrink it
Original poster
GoldenCagedBird · 14/01/2023 14:58

3luckystars · 14/01/2023 14:55

That needs to be cut away by a doctor, it’s thrombosed. I’m so sorry!!! Ouch.

So if I phoned my GP they would hopefully refer or suggest something?

OP posts:
HeartshapedFox · 14/01/2023 14:58

Definitely send DH back out for germaloids, it is much better than anusol, with different ingredients. It should improve over the next few days hopefully, and eventually just shrivel back. I’ve been there op, they are excruciating!!
In future if you feel anything similar at all then do not hesitate to get the cream on and prevent it if you can.

puppydisaster · 14/01/2023 15:06

You can buy preparation H suppositories and they work much better than the cream in my experience.

Original poster
GoldenCagedBird · 14/01/2023 15:08

HeartshapedFox · 14/01/2023 14:58

Definitely send DH back out for germaloids, it is much better than anusol, with different ingredients. It should improve over the next few days hopefully, and eventually just shrivel back. I’ve been there op, they are excruciating!!
In future if you feel anything similar at all then do not hesitate to get the cream on and prevent it if you can.

I’ve Amazon primed some germaloids as baby is poorly and I don’t want her to go out again today :(

OP posts:
autumndays2 · 14/01/2023 15:12

I know it sounds crazy but I tried vicks vapour rub out of desperation after searching remedies and it really relieves external piles for me. Have a search on Google though at reviews as some people swear by it however it can be painful for others. If you were to use just use a tiny amount to begin with though.

Mindymomo · 14/01/2023 15:33

It will shrink or pop, if you can lay on your side with cushion between legs and ice the area. Anusol never worked well for me, but germoloid cream and suppositories helped, as did a bath with epsom salts. GP can give stronger cream and will want you to try this approach.

Original poster
GoldenCagedBird · 14/01/2023 15:42

Mindymomo · 14/01/2023 15:33

It will shrink or pop, if you can lay on your side with cushion between legs and ice the area. Anusol never worked well for me, but germoloid cream and suppositories helped, as did a bath with epsom salts. GP can give stronger cream and will want you to try this approach.

I can’t look after my baby and do this though for days :( my baby only naps for 2 x 40-60 minutes slots a day so I can’t rest and ice.

Thankfully it’s the weekend so dh is about but I can’t be like this on Monday.

As I’ve said I’m happy to go private - can it be lanced, removed?

OP posts:
YukoandHiro · 14/01/2023 15:43

Ask GP for a steroid cream called Scheriproct. In the meantime anti inflammatory painkillers and Anusol from the chemist

YukoandHiro · 14/01/2023 15:44

PS in my (sadly extensive) experience there tends only to be one day of horrific pain then it settles. Nobody has ever cut mine off, just prescribed cream which does work. They're still there though and annoying

Cornelious · 14/01/2023 16:15

Suppositories, hot bath, bit of cotton wool and try and gently push it back in.

Original poster
GoldenCagedBird · 14/01/2023 16:57

Cornelious · 14/01/2023 16:15

Suppositories, hot bath, bit of cotton wool and try and gently push it back in.

I can’t push it back in :( it’s completely external and now the size of a small plum. It’s got bigger throughout the day.

OP posts:
AntiHop · 14/01/2023 17:07

YukoandHiro · 14/01/2023 15:44

PS in my (sadly extensive) experience there tends only to be one day of horrific pain then it settles. Nobody has ever cut mine off, just prescribed cream which does work. They're still there though and annoying

This is my experience too. Plus order yourself haemorrhoid pillow and a flexible ice pack (wrap it in a tea towel and sit on it).

quiteathome · 14/01/2023 17:20

I had a horrific pile this year. Warm waths or sitz baths help. A decent pile cream from the doctor. I was in absolute agony, but it did shrink without any surgical intervention. Also make sure your poo is soft, so plenty of water and fibre

Flowersonthewall123 · 14/01/2023 17:23

Get some lactulose from the pharmacy as it will help soften any stools and should put less pressure on that area

BranchingOut · 14/01/2023 17:32

Be prepared that it might burst and a fruit- sized blood clot emerge!

The doctor said she had never heard of anything similar in thirty years of medicine. I felt strangely proud - she was probably just relieved it was a telephone appointment! Plus it immediately felt a lot better.

Otherwise, try to get a prescription for a steroid ointment.

Bemyclementine · 14/01/2023 17:37

I had very painful piles after giving birth to dc2. Still in hospital, it was so painful . I was asking for pain relief or something they thought I was talking about the episiotomy. That was nothing compared to the piles.

A friend has had 2 x surgery for hers, the recovery is absolutely dreadful but she had suffered for years.

Bemyclementine · 14/01/2023 17:38

Sorry, my point being, it's unlikely anything will be done very quickly. It should improve quickly.

Iwannabeamartian · 14/01/2023 18:09

I went through this exact thing within the last month. Had an external pile that wasn’t responding to OTC creams or the stronger prescription steroid creams. Tried to make a gp appointment and was told it would be 6 weeks till I could have an over the phone appointment. I’d already been dealing with ‘Roy’ for a month so wasn’t thrilled at this prospect!

decided to book a private consultation just to find out what exactly was going on, could be done etc. booked it on Wednesday afternoon, was seen on Friday morning, was in ten minutes with the colorectal consultant who told me it was a thrombosed external heamorrhoid and the chances of any of those creams working were next to none due to the clot. He gave it a quick incision and removed the clot. 2 weeks later it has completely gone away. Best £200 I’ve ever spent!

BowiesJumper · 14/01/2023 18:13

I had one like that shortly after giving birth. Preparation h (the pile cream with hydrocortisone in) was the only thing that that helped. Not sure if they make
that any more. You can get hydrocortisone 1% from boots that will help. The regular ones (Anusol, germaloids) did nothing. It burst in the end after a few days and I had immediate relief.