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Original poster

Piles...help

10 replies

pollypile · 26/04/2023 16:22

NC for obvious reasons but am a regular poster. I've had piles for years and they've never really caused me any problems. Occasional pain but nothing I couldn't manage. However as I've gotten older my IBS seems to be getting worse especially with stress and anxiety so this inevitably has an effect on my bum.

I'm no longer really sure what's normal for piles. I have pain and pressure in the area, often a tender swollen feeling after a flare up. They are visible, very much so Blush and I have quite a lot of bright red blood after BM and occasional mucus too. Sometimes I have a feeling that I haven't managed to empty my bowels fully.

I had a colonoscopy about 4 years ago (piles were present at the time) which was all clear but I worry sometimes about things like anal cancer because the symptoms are so similar. They are getting to the point where they are bothering me, not enough that I'd want surgery or anything like that but it does play on my mind. If there are any other sufferers out there does this sound normal to you? And any tips for keeping them under control?

OP posts:
SleepingisanArt · 26/04/2023 16:34

Have you tried treating them? Germaloids (other exterior creams are available) may help shrink them and you can use pessaries for internal ones if you don't fancy squirting cream into your anus! If home treatment doesn't work after a few weeks go and see your GP.

Original poster
pollypile · 26/04/2023 18:08

SleepingisanArt · 26/04/2023 16:34

Have you tried treating them? Germaloids (other exterior creams are available) may help shrink them and you can use pessaries for internal ones if you don't fancy squirting cream into your anus! If home treatment doesn't work after a few weeks go and see your GP.

Yeah when they're bad I use germaloids which seems to help a bit. I don't know what else the GP would do and to be honest I would rather cope with the mild discomfort when it crops up than try and see a GP. But I guess I just worry that it could be something more serious. You hear so much about bleeding from the bottom being a really bad sign.

OP posts:
SleepingisanArt · 26/04/2023 18:44

If you are so worried about them then just get them checked by your GP. (They will have seen many and probably a lot worse.) The choice is a little embarrassment on your part for reassurance and treatment or you can just carry on worrying about what could be nothing or something. If it is something serious you will need treatment sooner rather than later so you have nothing to lose going to see your GP. I don't mean to sound 'nasty' but if they are bothering you then it makes sense to get them checked out....

Mabelface · 26/04/2023 18:51

The gp can give you stronger medication for them. Bastard things, I hate them. Oh, and an antihistamine helps with the itching. Gp is a good shout anyway to double check the piles are causing the bleeding.

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 26/04/2023 18:57

Definitely the docs to put your mind at rest.

I had a particularly bad flare up and went the doctors. She gave me suppositories for the piles, plus some glycerin suppositories, which clears all the poop out when you get the feeling that it's all not quite out, as I was in that much agony, I couldn't poo. It's not a laxative as such, but it really loosens everything.

You can actually get the glycerin suppositories off Amazon.

Original poster
pollypile · 27/04/2023 11:30

I have seen the GP before for them. They prescribed a cream that soothed the pain but they never have gone away. I've also had two colonoscopies in the last 10 years. I think if I keep going back with the same symptoms having had two clear colonoscopies they are going to think I'm being irrational. The last colonoscopy I had was 4 years ago so quite a while. No biopsies or anything were taken at the time and I just sometimes wonder is this actually just a pile or could it be something worse?

I suppose I just wondered what other symptoms pile sufferers like me have experienced and if what I'm having does indeed sound within the realms of normality.

OP posts:
Original poster
pollypile · 27/04/2023 11:32

I do also have IBS symptoms - lots of loose stool often and have had a worrying FIT test in the past too. This was why I had my last colonoscopy. I just wish I had normal bowels and a normal bum!

OP posts:
rickandmorts · 27/04/2023 11:55

Could you ask for a stool sample kit from the GP to check for bowel cancer, this is less invasive than a colonoscopy. But you have my full sympathy, they're awful things!! Do you take regular lactulose/ another laxitive to keep stools soft and pass easier to stop them flaring up? When mine were really bad I got a sitz bath to put on the toilet and fill with warm water and Epsom salts which gave a little relief

Original poster
pollypile · 27/04/2023 12:19

rickandmorts · 27/04/2023 11:55

Could you ask for a stool sample kit from the GP to check for bowel cancer, this is less invasive than a colonoscopy. But you have my full sympathy, they're awful things!! Do you take regular lactulose/ another laxitive to keep stools soft and pass easier to stop them flaring up? When mine were really bad I got a sitz bath to put on the toilet and fill with warm water and Epsom salts which gave a little relief

I did do a stool sample which showed blood about 4 years ago. This was followed by a clear colonoscopy. So who knows? I don't really have the issue of hard stool, I'm the opposite. Soft and mushy and often quite urgent. I'm not too worried about the colon area as I'm presuming anything sinister would have been present in my last colonoscopy albeit a few years ago. It's my bum that's bothering me. How do you tell the difference between a pile or a more sinister growth just by sight?

OP posts:
wyntersuhn · 27/04/2023 13:57

I have haemorrhoids and IBS. I've found upping my fibre intake has really helped my IBS symptoms, which has also helped my haemorrhoids. I soak chia seeds in apple juice and have them for breakfast with some yoghurt, berries and a sprinkle of untoasted muesli. Fibre has been the absolute best thing for me in my situation. Having said that, a trip to the GP can help work out the bleeding to put your mind at ease.

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