If you are in your 40s/50s, have you ever had piles?

[cathyj77]

This is a question no-one discusses! All my friends moan constantly about menopause symptoms but piles are something that no-one talks about. But apparently very common.

l’ve had them for years and they don’t generally bother me much but currently having a minor flare-up. Have spoken to no-one other than husband and GP about it ever so am curious as to whether everyone is secretly dealing with this… it’s very hard to explain why you’re not quite yourself.

@FinallyHereYeah I think your DH isn’t being honest with himself 😂. I ate very little fruit and veg when younger and was often constipated which I’m sure is the root of this. Have eaten well for over 20 years now but the body keeps the score…

Indeed. When I first had them they sent me for a simoidoscopy and then offered me surgery . They weren't bothering me back then so I declined.

But now I'd be v wary of surgery as you say.

Mine appeared late in pregnancy, I'm guessing just the weight of DD pressing on that general area. My diet was crap, but it's always been crap and didn't result in piles until then.

They definitely got worse after the birth, I was actively pushing for 2.5 hours and DD insisted on coming out face up instead of face down. So hopefully at least your c-sections saved you from the piles becoming worse - although I realise you might have preferred the Piles from Hell over having to recover from major abdominal surgery each time.

DD is nearly 15 now and they've never entirely gone. I don't think it's possible once you've had them, really. Generally the external ones look more like skin tags than full on angry piles. No idea whether I have internal ones, but when things feel a bit problematic down there I use a Germoloids suppository and it seems to help.

Thanks for this thread, OP! It has never really occurred to me to ask friends/colleagues about this issue, mostly because I don't want to admit to having them myself. I wonder if many of us middle-aged women are walking around with their little 'friends' and mistakenly believing we are the only ones affected!

Yeah @BlibBlabBlob, I don't know why it's such an embarrassing thing to admit to whereas people openly talk about cystitis etc. There's just something a bit grim about the idea of them, even the name!

I have had them since my last pregnancy of three. They flare up occasionally.
I have had varicose veins in my legs since being a teenager. I have very low blood pressure naturally and it is a risk factor.
I also had a vulva varicose vein as well. Awful feeling.

Yes I first experienced piles during pregnancy and even though my youngest is now 18 they flare up every now and then.
I think pregnancy set them off and I've been prone to them ever since.

That’s interesting @Namechangedasouting987- I’ve never had varicose veins and sorry to hear about the vulva one!

43 - 3 decent size babies (1x 8lbs, 2x 9lbs - vag birth) no piles, 1 episode of thrush (this year) and a good handful of UTI’s - usually after a lot of sex!!!

I got them with first pregnancy - they were the worst thing about my pregnancy. More painful that the natural birth with no pain relief!!

I used to lie on the bed with a pack of peas between my butt cheeks and cry. it was like a bunch of grapes on the side of my A hole!!

Dr also suggested cold baths to get the swelling down!!

I think women of all ages get them as it’s more about vaginal birth isn’t it

I'm 46 and had them once, when I was pg with my first. Haven't had them since then, though I had 2 more pregnancies.

54 and never had them even through two pregnancies and vaginal deliveries. Best friend did though

I had them for two years after giving birth at 21 but then they went and never came back and Im 63 now. I've never suffered from incontinence either.

Never!

Me: Never
DH: Quite frequently (he's fit, healthy weight, good diet, etc)

Call them Farmers round here but have not heard them called Chalfont st before
never worked out why they itch so much

@Gettingbysomehownever suffered from incontinence either so I guess that’s something to be grateful for. I always assumed it was due to having c sections but that didn’t prevent the piles!

I don’t think so. Can you have them without knowing?

I think theoretically yes you can have them without knowing but if they’re not causing you any problems, that’s a good thing/no need to be worried about them!

Yes, had them since I had my first. Tend to get a flare up in the heat or with stress.

Only in the immediate aftermath of childbirth.

No.

Same @PersephoneParlormaid- it was both in this case for me: heat and stress and lots of walking, which is another trigger.