Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I have piles! :(

56 replies

Aprilshowers34 · 06/04/2021 08:52

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.

OP posts:
LibbyL92 · 07/04/2021 13:03

@mrssunshinexxx I’m not going to lie, I was uncomfortable, I wasn’t in pain, it was just a weird feeling. A feeling of being ‘heavy’ down there. It’s hard to explain.
I took plenty of painkillers and made sure I was drinking lots of fluid and also has stool softener.

It didn’t take me long to poo (tmi) and when it happened I was surprised by how painless it was. Recovery was pretty quick, like a week. I went back to work then got an infection so got signed off 2 more weeks.

Honestly, looking back it was so minor and the best decision I made!

My
Cousin also had the same thing. Hers were due to pregnancy and she has said the exact same thing!

I’ve had lots of procedures done, this wasn’t even a fraction of painful ect !

LibbyL92 · 07/04/2021 13:04

@mrssunshinexxx oh and personally, no creams ect ever helped me... may just be me though.

EnterFunnyNameHere · 07/04/2021 13:09

Ugh, same here, and having never been pregnant or constipated really it winds me up!

I think typically if you have something external you can see you probably also have something internal you can't. I'd give it a week with internal and external over the counter treatment. If not resolved get some stronger stuff from the GP.

They do resolve though, but pp are right they will come back if you don't fix the underlying cause...

If only I could work out what that was I'd be cured!!

PrelovedWithValue · 07/04/2021 13:13

The thing that worked best for me was coconut oil. Tried out of desperation as I was twenty miles and over a day away from open shops at the time.

Instant relief from itching, and they'd shrunk within a few days.

Clarich007 · 07/04/2021 13:22

Hi OP
You have my utmost sympathy.
I have had them on and off for years.They are painful and embarrassing.My Doctor referred me for banding.It felt weird but not painful.It sort of sucks them out then pops a band on.Not painful but an overwhelming feeling like you have to poo.
It didn't work and at my check up it was done again, but again didn't work so my only other treatment is excision, which I don't fancy at all !!
My doctor gave me a steroid suppository Prochicot ? I think which was brilliant took the pain and itching away and felt much better.I think I will always have them.I'm careful with diet now loads of fruit and veg and salad and plenty of fluid.
Hope you feel better soon.

DrSbaitso · 07/04/2021 13:26

@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.
I will try this, thank you.

I found Anusol was soothing but didn't do anything to cure them. Steroids from the GP helped.

If you can, don't wipe after the toilet. Just get in the shower instead. That helped too. Hurray for home working.

mrssunshinexxx · 07/04/2021 13:29

Oh no @Clarich007 this is not what I wanted to hear I think I'm
About to pay to have this done privately thoight it was a definite fix type thing Sad

Clarich007 · 07/04/2021 13:41

mrssunshine.
I hole it works for you I really do and being pregnant too can't be easy.
You don't need local anaesthetic at all.I's not painful.You just feel a sort of sucking sensation, don't know if it goes into a tube or what, then the band is put on.It only takes 10 minutes so very easy.
I felt a bit uncomfortable for the rest of the day

I was maybe unlycky that it didn't work for me.
Didn't your Doctor give you suppositories while you wait for a referral.?
Good luck hope you feel better soon

Clarich007 · 07/04/2021 13:44

Sorry typos !

CookPassBabtridge · 07/04/2021 13:49

I only get them when my diet is bad and I'm straining a lot, or just going a lot. When I eat healthily and less then they disappear and don't return!

EarringsandLipstick · 07/04/2021 13:51

They don't really go. Given what piles are, there's always the opportunity for them to cause problems again. But if managed well, they can cause little to no problems.

You've had good advice upthread about getting steroid based treatment on prescription. If it's very bad, that's hugely helpful.

All the other advice is also useful. Losing weight, a diet rich in fibre (but not too much, and ensuring that plenty of water is taken too), and looking after your bowel habits, should mean that you can prevent problems in the future

But if you've taken a look & can see them to the extent they are giving you a shock, go to the GP first. Anusol & other OTC medications won't help if they're that bad.

They are really unpleasant that's for sure, but definitely manageable.

WetWeekends · 07/04/2021 14:05

[quote 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?[/quote]
I know someone who had them done with gas and air and local anaesthetic cream.

mrssunshinexxx · 07/04/2021 15:02

@Clarich007 oh good that sounds like they will do it whilst pregnant then. One of them is thrombosed at the moment and huge and I can see the clots in it it is awful, honestly I've tried all the suppositories and creams nothing works sadly they are external only. X

Scotsmaw · 07/04/2021 16:18

I would definitely ask gp for the scheriproct as that was the best thing for mine and shrinks them way quicker than anusol.

mrssunshinexxx · 07/04/2021 18:06

Had it @Scotsmaw did nothing I'm gutted as I so wish cream would sort them out or even help a bit but they don't

CherryRipe1 · 07/04/2021 18:32

Been suffering with The Grapes of Wrath for years on and off due to pregnancies, weight & medication.
Keep your butt squeaky clean after each motion. You can get a a bowl you place over the toilet bowl & put warm water in it. Bliss! Also if you are struggling to go, relax & rinse your ring peice with a shower hose on warm, it will soften your stool. Sorry if this sounds crude but it works. Prunes, apples, pears, figs, avocados, mango & papaya all very high in fibre & sorbitol & will make you go nicely. Plenty of water & avoid caffeine. Some great advice on here. Good luck.

CatBumJuice · 07/04/2021 19:18

I've had them ever since giving birth to my first born (now 14). Not bad enough for surgery, but too bad for the creams to work. Inspired to try a few of the suggestions here now though. Thanks ladies!

MiddlesexGirl · 07/04/2021 19:22

@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.
They don't always go. Surgery, though hugely painful post-operatively, was one of the best decisions I ever made.
CherryRipe1 · 07/04/2021 20:54

No, agreed they don't always go, it's about management or a haemmoroidectomy. I think they are basically varicose veins of the rectum.

MiddlesexGirl · 07/04/2021 21:51

@CherryRipe1

No, agreed they don't always go, it's about management or a haemmoroidectomy. I think they are basically varicose veins of the rectum.
That big word beginning with 'h'. That's what I had.
Cuntryhouse · 07/04/2021 21:52

So far then mine have always managed to shrink back up. There may be more to look forward to then...

mrssunshinexxx · 07/04/2021 22:27

@MiddlesexGirl how was the recovery from it ?

CherryRipe1 · 07/04/2021 22:43

Ouchie Middlesex Girl! Glad it sorted it out for you Smile

MiddlesexGirl · 08/04/2021 19:13

[quote mrssunshinexxx]@MiddlesexGirl how was the recovery from it ?[/quote]
Post-operatively was awful. But it's well known to be awful .... a quick Google will tell you that.
The first couple of days were fine .... pain killers and no bowel movements. Then constipation started setting in. Fybogel and Lactulose were useless. Lots of water didn't seem to make much difference either. I spent a lot of time sitting in warm baths and lying down! And then there was the agony of trying to shit past open wounds. I can't sugar coat it ... it felt like trying to get broken glass out. it brought me out in cold sweats and took a good 15 minutes recovery after each. Then on about day 6 I found prunes, gave up on the Fybogel and Lactulose, and from then on things improved quite rapidly... could have been coincidence I don't know.

But I would definitely do it again without hesitation. Had the op about four years ago and have been completely pain and itch free since.

mrssunshinexxx · 08/04/2021 19:21

So on the whole positive ! That's good I think you can't go into it thinking it's not gunna be painful but out weighing the pros and cons. I keep reading about people getting them banding and it not working whatever that means.. they don't fall off or they return? @MiddlesexGirl

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.