I have piles! :(

[Aprilshowers34]

Posting for traffic as I'm panicking a little bit...

I've never had piles before, but unfortunately they appeared for the first time yesterday. I'm in discomfort and itching, and I've had a look via a mirror and feel quite grossed out with what I've seen. No idea how this happened as I'm not pregnant or constipated etc.

Anyway I have been Googling and came across a thread on MN that said they never go away?? Is that right? I was hoping it would disappear in a few days but now very concerned.

[skirk64]

Mine have got worse over time. They come and go, but with me it's (probably) because I haven't made any concerted effort to improve my lifestyle.

If you've just started getting them, consider what you can change. Lose weight, avoid sitting down as much as possible, don't strain on the toilet, that type of thing.

Get some AnuSol cream (I use the self-service checkout to avoid embarrassment... plus buying that is the one time I don't mind wearing a face covering) - it works well in relieving the itching.

[RainingZen]

I had them when pregnant, awful. I'm an expert sadly.

You can get them if you sit down for a long time in a bad position. Are you wfh, what is your chair like? Also from straining when doing heavy activity like digging the garden or lifting heavy items or straining when you poo.

Do not panic. You can very much improve and probably solve the problem permanently. Chance of external piles disappearing depends how big they get. I understand that they can improve but leave a sort of skin-tag thing if they are huge and external, this tag will just be in the way, and it can then be removed surgically.

You should drink loads and loads of water, like it is medicine. And steer clear of meat and hard to digest food for a while. I recommend buying a stool softener (I liked Fibrogel) and use it religiously. You need to permanently increase your fibre and water intake to bulk out your stool and make it easier to pass. Don't strain to do a poo and keep your feet raised on a little stool when you take a crap.

Meanwhile, Anusol is good. Also Tucks wipes are extremely soothing to cleanse and calm the irritation. When you shower, try to gently poke protruding piles back up your backside, as tucking them in can encourage your body to reabsorb them and also reduces the itching. If the itching and pain is awful then a tepid bath with some witch hazel in is lovely. Don't use very hot water on the area.

A small pad or period pants might be useful if they start to bleed as usually you don't know about it (no pain, as such).

Give it a few days to improve, they are terribly uncomfortable and I have huge sympathy.


Hope this helps!

[CosmicComfort]

They do go away. K used to suffer a lot and only have occasional problems now. I prefer germoloids suppositories to the cream but it depends if the discomfort is inside or outside.

You can get both from Amazon which is convenient.

Main risk is constipation so lots of fibre and water.

[Mindymomo]

I am 59 and have had piles probably 4 times in my life. If you can see them they are external so you need cream which will shrink them. Try Anusol or Germaloid cream or suppositories. A soak in a bath also helps. I find them most painful and burning in the night. You also have to try and make your poo (sorry) more softer, either by adding fruit and fibre, wholemeal bread and drinking loads of water as well as exercise like walking.

[Oilpyi]

They do go. I’ve got more active, not been pregnant in six years, lost weight and improved my diet massively and I’ve been about 4-5 years without. They used to be a big issue, I won’t freak you out with what led up to my huge effort to reform 😟

[Cuntryhouse]

They do go. Try and avoid getting constipated. They will gradually shrink back in. If really painful, use frozen veg in a food bag rolled like a sausage.

[mrssunshinexxx]

I'm scared to ask but also intrigued @Oilpyi

[mrssunshinexxx]

@RainingZen sorry to jump in but I am suffering and also pregnant I went to see the gp this morning and she put a referral in finally for me to see the surgeon I really hope they will do something either band them or give the injections to shrink them I am desperate. I got them in last pregnancy only last year and they were so fucking bad and huge and thrombosed it was horrific. Was expecting them to come back but not this soon! Only 9 weeks preg and I refuse to be in pain until baby is here

[Troublewaters2021]

Oh so I got piles last year turned out I was very very pregnant 😂

[Getoffmyhat]

@mrssunshinexxx

I'm scared to ask but also intrigued *@Oilpyi*

Me too. What happened?!

[Aprilshowers34]

Thanks for the replies. I bought some anusol and I've been applying this externally, but do I have to do it internally as well? Or is external enough? I'm still so uncomfortable. Thanks in advance for help!

[puffinkoala]

They will go away OP but they will probably also come back. Hopefully they will never be more than an itchy nuisance for you though.

Anusol is good - both in suppository and cream form. You may need to give it about 7 days to really work.

Slightly counter-intuitively they can be worse if you have loose bowels rather than get constipated.

Oh and if you have a small stool or box, put your feet on it when you go to the loo. It puts you in a better position where you don't strain. Something about the height of a pint glass but even a big book will help.

[SilentPanic]

Anusol/Germoloids were never great for me, but I have an amazing tip that made me feel so, so much better. Go to a health store, maybe somewhere like Holland and Barrett, and get hold of some distilled witch hazel. I use a plain cotton facial cleansing pad and douse it in the witch hazel, then pop it by the painful area and leave it there (bum cheeks keep it in place!) Nothing has been anywhere near this effective for me.

[mrssunshinexxx]

@SilentPanic I spent £20 on the tucks pads with witch hazel and they do precisely nothing wonder if neat witch hazel would be any better. I'm at the end of my tether with the pain I've rung 2 private clinics for treatment o can't wait for the nhs

[WetWeekends]

Scheriproct cream or suppositories or both on prescription on my opinion is better than anything you can buy. The GP has never ended to examine me, she just accepted what I said and gave me the prescription. It has steroid in to shrink them.

[LibbyL92]

Hello!

I suffered with piles in 2019 being age 27. This went on for a good year or so. Due to constipation. I was incredibly itchy and bleeding occasionally.

I went to my GP and was referred to a specialist who did an internal check, along with an sigmoidoscopy (I had some stomach drama a few years previous so they wanted to rule stuff out)

It was piles.
I went in for a banding procedure, I was put to sleep and they were banded, I also had a Botox injection for a Fischer (SP?) which was a tear.

I was in some discomfort for the duration of the day and night. And was signed off for a week. I then developed an infection and was signed off a further 2 weeks.

However, the banding was successful and I’m no longer suffering. Surgeon explained for my age this was the better option.

I’m glad I went for it.

[Babyroobs]

I have had terrible problems for many years since my third baby and a flare up can cause agony. Have ended up in hospital a couple of times. I have to be very careful about not getting constipated as one hard stool can cause a week's agony. I always make sure I eat an apple or two a day and if I find stools are becoming hard I take lactulose which is a softener and you can buy over the counter. If the pain is agony then warm baths and ointment help. They are horrible, i have had so many holidays ruined by a flare up when I've become constipated. I should have surgery really but can't face the agony of that.

[Rubyupbeat]

They will go, but will lie in wait and you get to know that certain itch just before they pop out to say hello again.
Mine started by giving birth to my son, 35 years ago and tbh they don't come out a lot, only if I get diarrhoea (sorry, tmi)
Get some cream for them, anusol is good and it's good to use suppositories too, as the ones outside are usually pushed out by inner ones. Also a salty bath is soothing.
I have to say, I've never looked at mine, the thought that they are there sickens me, so to see them would make me throw up.

[Rubyupbeat]

@SilentPanic I am going to try that, thanks.

[mrssunshinexxx]

@LibbyL92 are you so glad you had them
Banded ? I'm just in the process of booking a private consultation to get them sorted I am pregnant so I don't know if they will put me to sleep? Do you know if it can be done under local?

[mrssunshinexxx]

I feel really worried about the pain of after surgery but I know I can't live like this any longer, @Babyroobs I get the impression people who haven't experienced them have no idea how debilitating they can actually be

[LibbyL92]

When I had the original appointment I was told I would be awake. However when I arrived on the day they decided to put me to sleep.

I’m not sure why they changed their minds, but the fact they said I would be awake originally must mean they do it awake :)

It was so worth doing! I can’t believe the difference. I used to have to bolt to the toilet to relieve the itching, was a nightmare.

Keep us updated! X

[LibbyL92]

@mrssunshinexxx and yes, sorry! I definitely had them banded :) I think I had around 3/4

[mrssunshinexxx]

I have 4 and it is absolutely agony at the mo I'm just not sure they will do it whilst pregnant but I am not living like this for another 8 months @LibbyL92 your story gives me hope!
how was the recovery?
TMI we're you scared to go to the toilet after ? X

[Strokethefurrywall]

I was about to say what @SilentPanic said.

Neat witch hazel, poured onto sanitary pad. Even better if you keep it in the fridge.

I did this after birth and it's excellent