Piles

[pilesup]

Posting here for traffic as I’m at my wits end with piles.

I had a c section 3 weeks ago and didn’t manage to go to the bathroom for 9 days following it. Then for a few days I couldn’t be more than 10 feet from a bathroom.

What I’ve been left with is some serious piles and they are killing me. I can’t sleep at night with the pain! I’ve tried suppositories and they’re done nothing.

Without too much detail they’re huge and right at the opening. I need advice. Has anyone had terrible piles before? What did you do? What can I do because I have 2 children to look after and the pain of these is worse than the c section

Oh I feel your pain . I had horrendous piles in late pregnancy and after giving birth when the midwives came to check my stitches etc they almost all commented - oh wow these are some of the biggest I’ve seen etc

You need your gp to prescribe something stronger than you can get over the counter when they’re this bad. Mine gave me something called scheriproct (?) which was very good, plus painkillers for the pain. Also a gentle laxative to keep things soft. I was terribly upset about mine and googling surgery etc to remove them but after a couple of months they were completely gone.

dinogreen

Thank you! I’m going to phone and see if i can get a telephone consultation today. I can’t even cough or sneeze without feeling like my bum is going to explode

Oh you poor thing. People joke about them but they are the worst.

Two enormous piles appeared at the end of my 2nd pregnancy. They reduced a little after he was born but didn’t go and nothing I was prescribed worked at all. I was referred to a coli-rectal surgeon. He injected them with something I think called ‘phenal’ (Wasn’t as bad as it sounds). Apparently this is the thing they generally do now as only necessary to have surgery if that doesn’t work. Mine are now pretty much gone although a little tag is left 😫.

I had private health care through work but if you don’t and the GP says it would be a wait or worse wants you to suffer it out, I would ask how much an appointment would be as it was literally a 5 minute appointment- if you have a couple of hundred pounds (a guess) you can spare, it may be the best money you have ever spent.

I had them for 3 weeks after giving birth, aswell as constipation, same as you. I initially thought I had been stitched up wrong down there but went to doctor who confirmed piles, gave me some drink for the constipation and cream for piles they went after 3 weeks 😁

I have managed to get an appt this morning. I’m climbing the walls but have managed to go to the toilet.

As well as being bloody agony they’re also so unhygienic (not envy!)

I have them after two pregnancies. They’re awful.

Fybogel twice a day
Lactulose (max dose)

That will keep things soft and regular.

The doctor might try to palm you off with Anusol HC - say ‘I’ve tried that and it really hasn’t helped much. The pharmacist said I should ask about Scheriproct or Protoctsedyl’.

They’re more expensive but MUCH better.

Ask for both suppositories and ointment. Once the attack has passed it’s all about keeping regular - avoid codeine where possible as that ruins ones bottom.

Witch Hazel on a big cotton pad also helps with cleanliness and eases the acute throbbing.

Good luck - it’s just awful I know.

merryoldgoat

I’ve used all the Anusol HC suppositories and they’ve not made a blind but if difference. I’m literally perched on a chair on an ice pack.

I’m at that point where I’m terrified that I’ll have them forever 😂

I was the same - I broke down in hysterics at the doctor at about 24 weeks pregnant as I was in so much pain. My GP was worried it was something else but had a look and realised they were in a terrible state. The ‘proper’ stuff makes a difference fast. I promise. Good luck with it all - I’m still suffering 4 months post partum as I’ve been taking codeine for a bad back and god constipated again.

I use a rubber glove filled with water and frozen.
Trust me you can shape the ice to be a finger and thumb (to go up your bum) also a maxi pad run under the tap and then frozen.

Oh god I feel for you. I had piles the size of Australia when I was pregnant. I went to the Dr in agony, she wanted to have an examination and you know it's bad when she has a look and says "oh.... they are rather large aren't they?"

The stuff she gave me was amazing and worked after only 2 applications with the pain. Hopefully the gp will give you some extra strong cream and maybe some laxative sachets to help it all along.

Poo step.
You also NEED a poo step.
It will change your life.

Oh ladies thanks for your reassurance. I’m currently in the waiting room and hoping that they numb my bum and give me some extra strong pessaries.

I would never have thought in a million years that this would have been so bloody painful!! 😭

A poo step??

So painful. I was in tears after second birth with mine.
Nothing to add, but sympathy. Keep on that fibre gel, lactulose and orange juice.

amzn.eu/6y2sjjW

You will PM me in a few days thanking me

You may be allergic to one of the ingredients in Anusol. I am, and after weeks of suffering my GP prescribed me Anugesic, which is the only thing that worked!

This was when my youngest was born, but because Anugesic is prescription only (all the OTC remedies have whatever ingredient I am allergic to in and just make things worse) I make sure I keep a tube by my side at all times. Piles are miserable, you have my absolute sympathy.

Poo step - small footstool in front of loo so you can mimic the more efficient squat position without actually having to squat on the floor. I didn't realise, but there's lots of them for sale, mainly plastic, some shaped so they fit snugly against the front of the toilet. Maybe I'm going to have to think about getting one.

My youngest is 6 and they still tear their ugly head every so often
The stuff from the GP is amazing compared to the over-counter stuff. I hope you get some relief soon, OP.

So the GP told me to keep going with anusol then if that doesn’t work she’s going to refer me to have them banded to put an end it it once and for all. She has prescribed the anusol pessaries, cream, lactulose, and a numbing gel. My section scar is also infected can’t wait to get my body back.

FFS! Why didn’t she give you better stuff? What was her reasoning?

You poor thing OP - I suffered really badly during and after both pregnancies and it's awful. The other thing I'd recommend, alongside all the other advice, is lukewarm baths after every movement - really eased the pain for me and also helps keep clean, as wiping loo roll round those things is not a happy experience :(

GP wasn't helpful then.
There a are witch hazel wipes on Amazon for after, don't use dry tissue.

I have an Epsom salt soak every day which helps but mine are brutal

Xpost with Ribbon.

Why in the name of farmer Giles didn't she prescribe you a steroid like scheriproct?

I feel your pain, I had them and a doctor shoved them back in whilst checking my stitches 1 day after giving birth. No warning just a finger in the anus. Nearly had to get a wallpaper stripper to retrieve me from the ceiling. Steroid suppositories were the only thing that helped mine. You have my deepest sympathies.

They are the most painful thing . I think baths is the main thing. My Gp prescribed some gel/ cream called proctesydl ? which helped a little but over the counter preparations don't seem to help. perhaps see your Gp just to check they aren't prolapsed/ strangulated. And take lactulose to soften things as otherwise every time you strain, it juts makes things worse again. I get them every time I get badly constipated, have needed up on surgical assessment unit twice, they are horrible.