to dread going to the doctor for my haemorrhoid problem?

[TurkishDelight57]

this post might be TMI

After two years of procrastinating, I’m finally going to a specialist for my little haemorrhoid problem. The bleeding has become alarming, and it’s scaring me now. I feel like I’ve put it off long enough. Can someone please tell me what the examination at the specialist involves? There aren’t any female specialists in my area so I’ve been referred to a male doctor. That does make it sightly more embarrassing for me, I won’t lie! What exactly does the whole visit involve? How painful/embarrassing is it? I might also need to have a rectal biopsy (which sounds terrifying), does anyone have first hand experience that they can share?

I’ve had the issue for over two years now- started when I became constipated due to some medications I was taking. There was blood every time I wiped (sorry, TMI), but I kept ignoring it thinking it was normal and would go away. Well- it hasn’t. The bleeding has just gotten worse, the pain isn’t unbearable by any means, but it’s worse than before. And there’s a constant itchiness/discomfort. I’ve tried OTC remedies and they did help, I’m very tempted to just carry on with those and avoid going to the doctor

I’ve had a couple of colonoscopies and a haemorrhoidectomy. If you have internal haemorrhoids like I did then the only way to make sure it wasn’t cancer was to have a colonoscopy. I had it done privately by a male consultant

OP, stop overthinking and just go.

The consultant and nurse see 30 bum holes a day.

You mention bleeding - this might be linked to a serious medical issue. But you won't know until you're examined and diagnosed.

Good luck. And let us know how you get on.

@FleurDeLizz hope you’re ok now!

But great- mine are internal (I can’t see any outside) so looks like they’ll be referring me for a colonoscopy. And since it’s private, they will 100% refer me because when it’s a case of making money, they like to do all the tests they possibly can, whether it’s necessary or not. I’ve been referred for several invasive, painful and entirely unnecessary procedures before (I realised they had been unnecessary when I sought a second opinion from a family friend who is a doctor)

I was hoping he could just do the examination in under a minute (that prospect was bad enough) and get this whole chapter closed. But apparently it’s not that easy...

How should I convey to the specialist that I really just want reassurance that it’s not cancer, and I’m not looking to do any tests or treatments that aren’t related to or absolutely necessary from a cancer/malignancy perspective? I reckon there will be push back

I've got the same issue and can't bring myself to go.

@PatterPaws you’re right. But they don’t even seem to have a treatment for half the issues this could be related to, I don’t want to go through all that anxiety, discomfort and humiliation just to be handed a piece of paper with a pointless diagnosis (like my endometriosis one)

@TurkishDelight57

On a bed knees to chest would mean he can see my lady bits too and that too from a rather odd angle. Lovely. Just lovely. I am so irrationally irritated that I have to do this.

If it was cancer, wouldn’t it show up on my blood work too? I’ve recently had a full blood profile done for some other medical procedures and that was all fine. Surely if it was cancer then something in the blood work would have indicated that too?

If it isn’t cancer then, I can handle it myself with anusol and fibre.

You lie on your left side and bring your knees to your chest because that's the way your lower bowel lies so we see nothing of your lady bits or anything else. It's effectively a foetal position so everything is covered.

You should always be offered a cover that can be eased slightly but still keep your front, legs etc covered.

When I said in an earlier post that there's little or nothing to see, I really meant it.

@Cherryblossoms85 so sorry to hear you’re suffering too I’m going (probably going, still not fully convinced) just in case it’s cancer. Otherwise, I’d live with it, it’s nowhere near as painful as endometriosis which I most probably have (I say most probably because apparently to even diagnose endometriosis they need to do a laparoscopy Cutting myself open to diagnose (not even fix) a condition that has no cure? No thank you. I’ll pass

You’d think they would have come up with something less invasive in this day and age right??! Like a high resolution CT scan or something, which doesn’t need to go up people’s bum Fhs. Do they possibly enjoy torturing us with discomfort and humiliation? I wonder sometimes!

Hi OP,

Are you waiting for an appointment with a colorectal specialist? If so, then I would expect them to ask you about your symptoms, family history, feel your stomach (they do this to see if there are any noticeable lumps), and they may do a PR exam (feel inside your bottom with a finger). If your GP has already done this then might not. Or you can decline if you would rather not have it done. Then they may refer you for a flexible sigmoidoscopy or a colonscopy. If your only symptom has been bleeding bright red blood, then I would guess it would be a flexible sigmoidoscopy. This would be done on another day.

Are you 100% set on staying private? I worked in an NHS endoscopy unit for a few years and we always accommodated patients who wanted male/female staff. In those years I never saw anyone's "lady's bits" btw!

@Nelliephant1 are you a colorectal or gastro specialist?

Do you mean they cover the lady bits with the blanket? Otherwise I don’t see how they wouldn’t be visible even in foetal position especially if (sorry to be graphic) the knees are brought up and there is uh, separation to access the back passage. The lady bits would be on full display there

How should I convey to the specialist that I really just want reassurance that it’s not cancer, and I’m not looking to do any tests or treatments that aren’t related to or absolutely necessary from a cancer/malignancy perspective? I reckon there will be push back

They can't tell you if it's cancer or not until they've done tests.

You’d think they would have come up with something less invasive in this day and age right??! Like a high resolution CT scan or something, which doesn’t need to go up people’s bum Fhs. Do they possibly enjoy torturing us with discomfort and humiliation? I wonder sometimes!

This is a thing. CT pneumocolon/"virtual colonoscopy". But if it comes back with anything then you will need a colonscopy with the camera, and it's not as reliable at picking problems up.

@KLH87 I don’t have a choice but to stay private because my NHS GP surgery takes nothing seriously and only do specialist referrals when it’s a matter or life or death.

My GP has not examined me- since I left the issue untreated for two years and there has been quite a bit of rectal bleeding, and I have a history of HPV, she referred me straight to the specialist.

I don’t see the point of refusing the PR exam, it they’re just going to insert a camera up there instead.

Do you mean they cover the lady bits with the blanket? Otherwise I don’t see how they wouldn’t be visible even in foetal position especially if (sorry to be graphic) the knees are brought up and there is uh, separation to access the back passage. The lady bits would be on full display there

Covered with a sheet. Sheet over bottom half of bum. We also offered patients disposable shorts that have a hole cut out.

@KLH87 I looked into virtual colonoscopy but that also requires something or another to go into the bum, so it not very virtual. And it involves an IV which I loathe.

@Daleksatemyshed

I'll second *@BestInterests* post Op, I thought I had piles but it was actually anal cancer. I'm now clear and no signs of the cancer returning but without wanting to scare, please, please don't let embarrassment get in the way of getting to a Doctor

Me too. Please go asap. When I was in hospital, as soon as I saw the consultant approaching, I'd roll over and stick my arse out for him and ... wait for it ... his team of medical students to have a good look. I just got immune to it

@KLH87 NHS seems a lot more accommodating of patient modesty! That’s good to know, it’s heartening.

I can only hope the private place also keeps the lower half covered, I have no desire for yet another unnecessary person to see my bits. I doubt they’ll offer the shorts, in my previous experiences with this hospital (won’t say which, very outing), they haven’t really been that fussed about patient modesty. I did categorically refuse to pee in front of an audience during my urodynamics test and they finally budged and told me I could just use the one behind the closed door. Why not offer that in the first place? I didn’t get it.

@Davros I’m so sorry to hear that you had cancer, have you recovered?

I draw the line at medical students. They have some guts to even suggest that. Smh

You could make your own "colorectal dignity shorts" (yes that's really what they are labelled as!) by cutting a hole in a pair of boxer shorts. That's what I would do if I needed a colonoscopy/flexi.

Not a nice thought getting examined I know OP, but you need it looking at, hopefully it is just piles.

Yes, I'm recovered thank you. I don't have much modesty of that sort so I just let all comers have a look. They always asked politely

I have worked in a surgical ward for many years. I have seen and been a part of the care given to hundreds of gastric and colorectal patients and I can guarantee that I have never had cause to see any lady bits. Anatomically the "cheek parting" is usually very localised and the focus is on the area where the issue is, there's no need or desire to go sightseeing anywhere else.
People's dignity and modesty is extremely important and protected at all times and in rectal examinations it is extremely easy to maintain.

I completely get that you're going for these examinations under duress, I do admire you for doing this. More often than not people are anxious about the procedures and also anxious about a potential diagnosis that they'd rather not have and this can become muddled. People can come over as angry and even aggressive at times often this is due to worry. Staff are used to this but they are only doing their jobs and are there to genuinely help.

Feel free to speak to your team about how uncomfortable you feel and how you'd rather do anything than have these tests done. The more they understand how you feel, the better understanding and care they can give you.

I realise that you're not going to believe me, so I will wish you all the very best both for the procedures and the outcome.

How else are medical students supposed to learn? Seriously? I think you need to grow up a little. Smh

@RyvitaBrevis Yes, “grow up” is always such a sensible thing to say to someone who has mental health issues and a history of abuse. Thanks. You realise that people who have this sort of anxiety have it with good reason and not just because we fancy being difficult?

And anyway- my body, my choice. I’m not obligated to give training to medical students at the cost of my dignity and peace of mind. Everyone gets to decide whether they consent to something like that or not. I don’t. And it’s completely uncalled for to pass judgement on that.

@Nelliephant1

Can you be my doctor?

Thanks for your non judgmental post, and it truly does help to understand things from your perspective, even if it doesn’t take away my anxiety completely.

I don’t generally discuss my nervousness or embarrassment with medical professionals anymore. Because it’s always the same reaction- sometimes they’re kind, but they’re always paternalistic and often patronising. They talk to me like I’m a five year old, and say completely pointless things like “it’ll be over before you know it” (yes but I’ll still have to go through it), “you can tell me to stop at any time” (right, reschedule and then mentally prepare myself for the same hideousness on another day. What’s the point?), and “shall I call the nurse/chaperone in” or”the nurse chaperone will be here the whole time” (how does that impact me? It’s just increasing the audience which is actually the last thing I want).

The worst ones are the deniers- “really, are you nervous? Oh but it isn’t even that invasive!” She was referring to a procedure whereby the puts a catheter in my urethra, vagina and bum, and then asks me to pee. Yes, not invasive in the slightest.

I reversed mine with tonnes of Magnesium Glycinate and Psyllium Husk (not simultaneously as it would hinder absorption) and vit c/zinc for a few months, then just the magnesium but big doses. I don’t have any useful advice for dealing with doctors, I’m useless

I also used Estriol cream locally, not sure if it’s placebo but it helped me. And magnesium cream but that stings. Magnesium (Epsom) Salt sitz bath helps to shrink them too.

‘Epsom salt has many medicinal applications, and the at-home treatment of hemorrhoids is one of the most popular applications. Magnesium sulfate, the active ingredient in Epsom salt, is absorbed through the skin with ease and works by causing shrinkage in enlarged hemorrhoids, which can also relieve pain. Soaking in Epsom salt also enhances the healing of damaged and bleeding hemorrhoids. It can also boost the effect of other at-home hemorrhoid treatments such as warm sitz baths. In a lesser known hemorrhoid treatment, Epsom salt can be combined with glycerin. You can mix 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt with 2 tablespoons of glycerin, apply the mixture to a gauze pad, and apply it to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes. This process can be repeated several times per day.’

@TurkishDelight57 Well, I thought I had read the entire thread and didn't see the history of abuse mentioned or the mental health issues. I don't quite understand why you are posting in AIBU without mentioning this because it changes whether or not you are being reasonable. Of course it's reasonable to feel dread about an examination if you have health anxiety or a history of abuse, but you are doing the right thing to go ahead and be seen. Apologies.

I wasn't passing judgement on the absolute right of anyone to consent to an examination or not, which of course you have.

@RyvitaBrevis

How else are medical students supposed to learn? Seriously? I think you need to grow up a little. Smh

You are painfully ignorant, you should look up the meaning of consent. Patients don’t exist for the benefit of students, might come as a surprise to you. Disgusting attitude. Nobody owes it to medical students to allow themselves to suffer unnecessarily just so a student can learn and any good doctor thinks the same.

It’s getting extremely tiresome to see people flaunt their ignorance regarding consent with such abandon. No wonder people have PTSD from dealing with HCP when there’s such ignorance amongst the population about the necessity of consent.