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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:
Notaflippinclue · 14/01/2023 20:38

Vicks is great

Lostmyway86 · 14/01/2023 20:42

I suffer. Had one cut away years ago but I regularly get them back. Suppositories are the absolute best. Germaloids. They'll relieve the pain instantly and hopefully push it back inside. Anusol is no good really.

DottyLittleRainbow · 14/01/2023 20:47

If you have a fever as well then seek medical advice, OP.

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20viona · 14/01/2023 20:48

Suppositories are far better than cream.

PaperBagsAreUselessInRain · 14/01/2023 20:57

They are the most painful things ever

The doctor won't do anything. I begged mine to pop it but he wasn't having any of it. Said it would self resolve in 7-10 days and it did. They also gave me the cream beginning with S. if it makes you feel any better, he did say it's v high up their list of things that they consider extreme pain. You may need a rubber ring to sit on while it goes away.

Lifeisrelentless · 14/01/2023 21:23

I’m in exactly the same boat, I gave birth on Wednesday and since then have been in agony with piles that are now external!! I called 111 this morning and explained that I was bedridden with pain they referred me to an out of hours GP who prescribed anusol suppostries and scheripodt ointment , really hoping it works!

twoandcooplease · 14/01/2023 21:25

Oh no @OntarioBagnet I can't believe I just read that! That poster is brave mad

When mine was at its worse I used anusol suppositories at the same time as the cream and it eased very quickly. Only when I used both at the same time though

bobisbored · 14/01/2023 21:37

I had a dreadful thrombosed pile last year. I went to the doctors, they sent me to hospital. Doctor at the hospital pushed it back in (horrific) then it popped straight back out. They gave me some syringes filled with local anaesthetic which did nothing. I got a sitz bath which was amazing. Germaloids, ice, lactulose, and rest. Mine took a week to get to a point where I could comfortably sit!! I was off work for 10 days, so embarrassing but excruciating so I really do sympathise.

brainless21 · 14/01/2023 21:45

Surely a call to 111 would be the best course of action?

Rubyupbeat · 14/01/2023 21:53

Really sorry for you, they are nloody painful , advice as all the pp gave.
In future the moment you get itching or the slightest bit of discomfort start with the cream and suppositories, try to catch them early.

Wallabyone · 14/01/2023 21:58

You have my sympathies...since my third child I have suffered with them.
I noticed you said you have a temp-when mine have flared up my lymph nodes in my groin swell up, and I feel totally unwell.

For now, you need a cream with hydrocortisone in-ask at the chemist. Drink plenty of water. Rest is nigh on imposible with a baby, but try to when you can.

I've never had one removed, but I saw a lovely nurse who said diet can really help. Not too much sugar, lots of fruit and veg and good fibre. I hope you're feeling lots better soon xxx

bravelittletiger · 14/01/2023 22:08

Sounds like it's thrombosed. I had one once and it was utterly excruciating. I basically wrapped it in those with hazel pads, put anusol on all the time, used the pessaries and tried never to sit down on it only sitting on a pillow thing or on my side or standing. Also obviously massively dosed up on painkillers. The extreme pain went away after maybe 5 days, it reduced in size gradually over a number of weeks.

bravelittletiger · 14/01/2023 22:11

Also make sure you don't stand up too much or exercise because the pressure can make it worse. You really need to be sitting or lying down. It's incredibly painful but it's likely it will get better on its own over a few days.

Harrysutton · 14/01/2023 22:13

I had one and it burst walking across the street with a bag of fish and chips just after the Grand Depart (Tour de France) in Hebden Bridge. The relief was unbelievable

Urguth · 14/01/2023 22:24

Harrysutton · 14/01/2023 22:13

I had one and it burst walking across the street with a bag of fish and chips just after the Grand Depart (Tour de France) in Hebden Bridge. The relief was unbelievable

That is a fantastically specific description!

i can just imagine the relief. It is 8 years since I had a cyst burst, and I can describe precisely where I was and what I was doing.

Didjesuspoop · 14/01/2023 22:26

I’m prescribed lidocaine for mine, not sure if you can also get it over the counter but it’s a numbing cream and really helpful for when I have a bad flare up and am in agony! Obviously doesn’t help them go away or anything but just a suggestion incase you want something temporary to help with the pain until you can see a dr? :)

BuntyCollocks · 14/01/2023 23:00

Get the germoloid with topical lidocaine in it, and also to the docs to get sheriproct suppositories and ointment on Monday. They won’t cut it or drain it, but having suffered the same in November/December, this is what worked for me. It is shit.

SofiaAmes · 14/01/2023 23:05

1% hydrocortisone cream that you can buy without prescription at the chemists. It has the same active ingredient as all the fancy prescription treatments. Just rub it on the bubble and it will shrink away within 20 minutes.

I've had piles my whole adult life (way before kids) and this is what I have used for decades.

YukoandHiro · 15/01/2023 03:04

OP if you have a temperature you should call 111. It might be something more seriously like a rectal prolapse. You don't get a fever from a pile, however painful they are.

ItWasDobbinAtTheMareAndSpare · 15/01/2023 03:13

Harrysutton · 14/01/2023 22:13

I had one and it burst walking across the street with a bag of fish and chips just after the Grand Depart (Tour de France) in Hebden Bridge. The relief was unbelievable

I’m picturing a pile that got so big it went to get a bag of chips and watch the Tour de France by itself, and then sadly burst.

ItWasDobbinAtTheMareAndSpare · 15/01/2023 03:14

I also think you should get medical advice.

miraveille · 15/01/2023 04:39

I think your husband may have to work from home or take a few days off if you're in so much pain you cannot look after your baby.
I have been there and the got a cream called Procort on prescription, I'm not in Uk howeve. Anyhow that was amazing and shrunk it in a day or so.
I couldn't have had it lanced because I was pregnant and apparently they don't lance them then.
Definitely go private, call someone Monday and get seen, whatever the treatment it may take some time to recover, sitz baths and rubber rings will be your friends , do whatever you can to feel comfortable

Blufelt · 15/01/2023 05:32

They won’t do anything about it because they say it just comes back worse. You just have to use cream to ease the pain and live with the lump which never goes away.

Mamaneedsadrink · 15/01/2023 05:36

Try a bath in salt as well. I have had one so bad I think the pain when going to the toilet was worse than childbirth (hard to know though as I had gas for that). I only had relief once it burst, which was instant. Would not wish it on my worst enemy. Mine was like yours, external about the size of a small grape

olympicsrock · 15/01/2023 05:51

YukoandHiro · 15/01/2023 03:04

OP if you have a temperature you should call 111. It might be something more seriously like a rectal prolapse. You don't get a fever from a pile, however painful they are.

i’m a doctor/ surgeon. Thrombosed haemorrhoids don’t generally give you a temperature and once the pile has thrombosed it wouldn’t generally increase rapidly in size.

The initial description did shout thrombosed pile and you’ve have good advice about dealing with thrombosed piles but I’m wondering if you actually hav e a perianal abscess . You need a face to face ( or bottom review asap. GP will refer to surgeons directly to avoid the ED queue. If you can’t get to an urgent care place/ OOH GP go to ED. (Emergency department)