Piles - potentially TMI

ruffles23 · 2024-03-19T16:15:56+00:00

Nc for this as very embarrassing. Not a troll, MN can verify. Struggling with this and have been for several years. Seen at least 3 different doctors and had a colonoscopy about 5 years ago. Always just put the bleeding down to piles. Essentially had them for years. Got lots of lovely skin tags left around my bum from where they've come out and gone back in again. They've never really caused me any pain or discomfort which is why I've never pushed for treatment. During a bad flare up some cream and a hot bath will calm things down. But I'm bleeding a lot more both in terms of volume and frequency. For the first time today I noticed blood in my pants and this has never happened before. Used to seeing it on the loo roll but for some reason seeing it in my pants freaked me out a bit. I want to avoid surgery if I can. But I wondered if anyone else has tips on how to manage this?

WeeOrcadian · 19/03/2024 16:16

Isn't there a cream that helps? Anusol?

3pancakesplz · 19/03/2024 16:17

im not for one minute suggesting something else is going on, but I would visit the drs just to rule it out.

if you’re not looking at having surgery then I think creams are the only other option I think?

Original poster

ruffles23 · 19/03/2024 17:40

3pancakesplz · 19/03/2024 16:17

im not for one minute suggesting something else is going on, but I would visit the drs just to rule it out.

if you’re not looking at having surgery then I think creams are the only other option I think?

I've seen the doctors and they just examine me, say it's piles and prescribe cream and suppositories. I've had a colonoscopy because I was having bowel issues at one point too and that along with the bleeding was really worrying me. But it was clear. This was 5 years ago though. I'm in my late thirties and nobody will entertain the idea that it's anything other than piles.

Creams do help reduce the soreness and swelling. But they don't get rid of them or stop the bleeding long term.

OP posts:

Posithor · 19/03/2024 17:45

I've just had the op (open hemmerhoidectomy) 5 weeks ago tomorrow.
The first two weeks I was warned would be brutal. They weren't wrong.
BUT although I still have discomfort (and a new irritating skin tag I didn't have before!) Im starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel because prior they were a literal pain in the arse and were effecting my day to day life after 20 years of putting up with the - got my first one at 19, two kids later they got much worse.
If they are starting to dictate your life I'd look into the surgery. It's by no means the easy route but I'm hoping it'll be worth it long term.
A lot of people in the support group I'm in wished they'd done it sooner.

Posithor · 19/03/2024 17:49

Just to add to the above my kids are 2 & 4 and if I could have waited until they were a little older that'd have been ideal - but here we are - I had what my husband calls a holiday where he took them to his mams for a week at half term, just after my op...I needed that week 😳💩😂

Original poster

ruffles23 · 19/03/2024 17:54

Posithor · 19/03/2024 17:45

I've just had the op (open hemmerhoidectomy) 5 weeks ago tomorrow.
The first two weeks I was warned would be brutal. They weren't wrong.
BUT although I still have discomfort (and a new irritating skin tag I didn't have before!) Im starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel because prior they were a literal pain in the arse and were effecting my day to day life after 20 years of putting up with the - got my first one at 19, two kids later they got much worse.
If they are starting to dictate your life I'd look into the surgery. It's by no means the easy route but I'm hoping it'll be worth it long term.
A lot of people in the support group I'm in wished they'd done it sooner.

I feel like if they were causing me a lot of pain I'd be more inclined to do this but right now they're not. It's just the bleeding. It's alarming. I think as pp have said though, it's either surgery or deal with it. I'm not brave enough for surgery at the moment. Well done to you for going through with it, hopefully you're over the worst now.

OP posts:

BritneyBookClubPresident · 19/03/2024 18:23

How bad so they need to be for an operation? I've had them nearly 3 years and they frequently are sore. I use anusol daily

tempnameforadvice · 19/03/2024 18:45

Mine were horrific during and after pregnancy. So, so bad with so much blood. I've got some quite big skin tags too and tbh apart from having to use washlets to keep clean after poos etc I just let them be. If your piles are causing lots of blood I recommend the glycerin (?) suppositories, someone else may know the name of them. They're bulletproof shaped (and size!!) but I found over time they helped. None of the creams do a bloody thing, why they're sold I've no idea!!!

Original poster

ruffles23 · 19/03/2024 20:10

tempnameforadvice · 19/03/2024 18:45

Mine were horrific during and after pregnancy. So, so bad with so much blood. I've got some quite big skin tags too and tbh apart from having to use washlets to keep clean after poos etc I just let them be. If your piles are causing lots of blood I recommend the glycerin (?) suppositories, someone else may know the name of them. They're bulletproof shaped (and size!!) but I found over time they helped. None of the creams do a bloody thing, why they're sold I've no idea!!!

Can you buy these over the counter or do they need to be prescribed?

OP posts:

Mountainclimber50 · 19/03/2024 20:27

What are your stools like? My Dr says the creams and suppositories are no good it’s all to do with your stools. Laxido for a couple of months to soften your stools and see how they are then.

Also toilet roll brand only cushelle for me.

SweetFemaleAttitude · 19/03/2024 20:40

ruffles23 · 19/03/2024 20:10

Can you buy these over the counter or do they need to be prescribed?

Show quote history

You can order them off Amazon. They're quite cheap.

I always use them when I have a flare up and the definitely help.

whyismysoupcold · 19/03/2024 20:40

I use a mix of cream and suppositories when mine get really bad. From what I understand they don't hurt but have an alarming amount of blood?

I'd get yourself checked out again, tbh. Pain in the butt (hurr hurry) but worth doing. Are they external haemorrhoids or internal ones?

Original poster

ruffles23 · 19/03/2024 21:09

whyismysoupcold · 19/03/2024 20:40

I use a mix of cream and suppositories when mine get really bad. From what I understand they don't hurt but have an alarming amount of blood?

I'd get yourself checked out again, tbh. Pain in the butt (hurr hurry) but worth doing. Are they external haemorrhoids or internal ones?

It's hard to tell, the whole area is a mess to be honest. I have what I think are skin tags that are always visible. During a flare up I had piles that sort of come out but then gradually go back inside again. It's hard to tell what's what down there. Jesus.

OP posts:

Katemax82 · 19/03/2024 22:04

My husband was bleeding every time he went to the toilet. After 10 years of this he collapsed at work and had to have 2 bags of blood transfused into him as his blood count was really low. The only cure was surgery (he had this 6 months later). Surgery may be your best option

ChedderGorgeous · 19/03/2024 22:09

If you still have bleeding/ worsening bleeding get GP to refer to colorectal surgeons. 5 years is a while since your last colonoscopy

If you get referred to surgeons you can then discuss other measures for haemorrhoids apart from cream including banding (can be done in endoscopy, but dependent on size of piles) and operations including HALO and more traditional haemorrhoidectomy.