When to worry...a bum one

[cactusjane]

Not a troll, MN can verify.

Had bright red blood from my bottom for years. With notable piles. Nice. Seen the GP many times and been given creams which do ease the discomfort but don't get rid of them. I could probably cope with them as they aren't majorly painful or uncomfortable but the bleeding seems to have gotten worse lately to the point where I saw a small clot earlier.

Obviously I'm aware of the other more sinister signs of rectal bleeding but because of my age and the clear piles the doctors don't seem to want to consider anything else. I did have a colonoscopy a few years ago which was clear but it's still a worry when you see that much blood after a BM.

Is this normal? Has anyone else with piles had significant bleeding and how did you deal with it? I know surgery is an option but it really frightens me.

Bump

I had what I thought were piles but turned out to be Anal cancer. If I were you I'd go back to your Dr just to be sure. Don't mean to worry you but better safe than sorry Op

Do you have any symptoms of pelvic congestion syndrome, which can cause piles. You are likely to have other varicose veins in your groin/legs and possibly have a dragging feeling in your pelvis sometimes.

Usually middle aged women who have had at least 1 child.

Go back to the doctor with photos and ask for a referral

My dad had this for years and it was always 'piles'. Turned out to be cancer. Don't leave it a second longer

In addition to getting it checked again- when did they last do a blood test to check you aren't anaemic?

I have mentioned cancer. Because I'm in my 30's they say very unlikely. And because the piles are fairly severe they put the bleeding down to that. As I said I had a colonoscopy about 3-4 years ago after one of my many trips to the GP because on that occasion a stool test had come back with markers.

No blood tests for a while and never been amebic. No other signs of pelvic congestion either.

Do you have health insurance through work or anything like that? I'd definitely want a second opinion (and am about to do something very similar myself).

I don’t want to be alarmist, but my MiL who had rectal bleeding which was dismissed by her GP as piles, died a couple of years later of bowel cancer.

Please insist on a referral/further tests.

It's very hard when you see multiple GPs and they all say the same thing. You feel like you should just take their word for it. And I know I definitely do have piles, it's not like they've misdiagnosed that. I guess I just worry that it could be covering something else.

It sounds like you need treatment for the piles first as if it continues then you’d know to investigate further. What is your current treatment plan?

I've been given cream and suppositories but I have to admit I haven't consistently used them and I haven't used the suppositories at all. Like I say, they don't really cause me too much trouble other than a bit of pain/pressure straight after a BM and the bleeding. The cream definitely helps with the pain.

But you can see how that’s a problem OP? if you are inconsistent in treating them, you will continue to get symptoms and then it’s very difficult to differentiate if the GP keeps saying ‘it’s just piles’.

Also they are causing you issues. They are bleeding or you can’t tell where from. I think you need to make a concerted effort for the next 2 weeks and see what happens. Good luck.

Your GP has clearly taken you seriously, as you've had a colonoscopy.

The suppositories will probably really help. Why haven't you used them?

Sounds so childish but I'm just a bit scared and unsure how they work and how to insert them

The cream takes the sting and pressure feeling away after a BM and that's usually all I need. I tend to forget about them until I have another bad BM and have pain or bleeding.

Suppositories really help with piles. Just push one gently up your bum. It doesnt hurt...but yiur next BM might be whitish so dont panic.

Witch hazel is also good for piles.

Make a plan - use the things as prescribed and if it doesn't get better then go to doc and tell them your worries. I watch the TV Doctor's Surgery programme and the number of people who come in and say they have stopped taking medicine is 🙄. The doctors must feel like punching them 😂

It’s not all you need as you keep getting symptoms back so it’s not fully treating the cause. Not having a go, just be brave and follow the plan 👍

Honestly, it's not difficult once you try. Probably the easiest way is whilst sat on the toilet, just try not to drop it in.

I've used hundreds as I have bowel disease and one of my meds comes as a suppository. I've also used anusol and germaloids suppositories, which really help internal piles.

Do they actually "cure" the piles though? I don't understand how a cream or suppository can get rid of what is technically a vein.

The suppository is solid, but creamy/ waxy and will melt once inside you. You don't have to push it in too far either. I find it sort of gets sucked in once it is most of the way in, so you shouldn't need to insert your finger at all.

You are likely straining when doing a BM or because you have a pile would benefit from a softer stool - that’s what the suppository is doing. Your vein is swollen, the cream will help reduce it and if it’s not continuously being strained it will go down. Obviously lots of water as well.

The medicine shrinks it. Yes, it may return if it becomes engorged again, but the vein is supposed to be there.

You can get the piles treated if they are affecting you. However, the wait list is long and they tend to be overrun with elderly patients with extremely severe piles. I had mine stapled and it was useless, so not take this option! I then needed something else done on my bum and the very kind surgeon removed the worst one while up there. I have two internal piles left that the next surgeon refused to touch (does how lucky I was the first time) but they don't affect me so I don't mind. It was a long dog and many fingers up my bum to get there! Would you consider going private?

@lazymorningscrolling It was a long dog and many fingers up my bum to get there!

OMG- Please tell me this was a typo!!! I nearly splat my vino all over the laptop reading that 😂