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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Ughh piles

66 replies

sallysinna · 10/06/2025 22:34

Sorry for the gross topic. If bum chat isn’t your thing move along now.

I’ve had them for years. Since I was in my early twenties and I’m now 40. Mostly they don’t cause much discomfort or itching but they did bleed quite a lot at one point. Had a colonoscopy about 5 years ago and they were noted but no further action taken.

Over the weekend I caught a d&v bug from my dc and had really bad diarrhoea and the pain and prolapse from them has been insane. I think the strain on the area has literally pushed everything out and it’s like a literal bunch of grapes. Very sore and unsightly. When things like this have happened in the past they have eventually reduced and gone back in but this time it seems to be taking longer and the whole area feels swollen and sensitive. I’ve got some prescription cream and over the counter suppositories but I wondered if this sounds normal?

I have skin tags in the area from the times they’ve come out and gone back in again, apparently it stretches the skin and that can’t be undone.

I’ve considered seeing about getting them banded or removed but I don’t think I can face it and generally they don’t cause me too many issues but this fresh hell is something else! Tips or support please?

OP posts:
Fibrous · 16/06/2025 22:49

That’s great, you must be very happy. I have a permanent flower around my bum, I have a few permanently on the outside.

Anyway, after yet another week of agony and no help from my gp, I’ve decided to go private and have an appointment with a surgeon tomorrow to discuss a plan. I didn’t really want to spend most of my savings on a painful procedure but think things are just getting worse and worse the longer I’m on the nhs waiting list. I look forward to the day (if there ever is one) where farting doesn’t hurt!

Ilovechocolatelimesandsherbertlemons · 17/06/2025 08:12

That does sound worse than what I had, my son has the same. Good luck with your appointment at I hope they can help you. My life was transformed after they'd gone, haemorrhoids are very difficult to live with.

AlertEagle · 17/06/2025 12:19

There are capsules you insert that shrink the piles but temporarily

sallysinna · 18/07/2025 23:05

Resurrecting this thread as I’m having a crap time again at the moment no pun intended.

Woke up feeling sore in that area. Had quite a heavy period recently and I don’t know if excessive wiping has caused an issue or if it’s maybe the hot weather making me sweat more. Combination of both maybe. But the skin around the pile area is very sore and I just feel miserable. Had two baths today which offer temporary relief and used a little sudocrem.

Whenever I get pain in the area my mind starts working overtime. As I said in pp they don’t generally cause me issues with pain so I tend to forget about it. But when I do get any pain and look at the area I’m reminded of how bad it looks either with high grade piles or skin tags I can’t even tell anymore.

I still don’t fancy surgery but I wonder if a doctor would do a biopsy just to confirm this is what they are. I did have a colonoscopy years ago and the report said there were piles and skin tags but I don’t know if they were ever tested. Ugh it is so grim and I can’t talk to anyone in real life about it. Currently laying pantless trying to air the area out! Super glamorous Friday night.

OP posts:
Fibrous · 19/07/2025 00:38

I use a gel called Wype on toilet paper to clean mine. I can’t use toilet paper alone, it’s too painful.

I had a sigmoidoscopy and discovered it’s a recurring fissure causing me so much pain, I think the haemorrhoids are pretty stable. Have you had a camera to check yours at all? The treatment might be different - mine is now. I need to learn how to relax my pelvic floor so it can heal. I was gearing myself up for surgery but that’s no longer the preferred route.

it’s all miserable, though. I’ve had hardly any pain free days since December. It gets you down!

AlertEagle · 19/07/2025 08:22

Just go private and get rid of the piles why live like this in pain

superplumb · 19/07/2025 08:25

God i had mine banded. Never again. I threw up with the pain. Due to this ive decided against actual surgery which is meant to be worse.

lovemeblender · 19/07/2025 09:18

Fellow pile sufferer here [hugs]. I've internal piles for the most part, I've been hospitalised numerous times due to pain and bleeding and the response is always to eat more fibre Hmm.
If mine come out and are inflamed, an effervescent tablet such as paracetamol or aspirin, dipped in water (to activate it) and placed on the pile really helps with psin and reducing swelling.
I make my own garlic suppositories for internal pain and they are a game changer. Basically cut the outer layer off a garlic clove to make it into a 3d rectangular shape (and cutting it exposed the garlic 'juice'), dip it in olive oil then insert. It stings like mad for a few minutes, then it's fine and is very good at reducing them in size and a natural pain killers. Be prepared for pungent garlic smelling poos though!

Ilovechocolatelimesandsherbertlemons · 19/07/2025 11:14

superplumb · 19/07/2025 08:25

God i had mine banded. Never again. I threw up with the pain. Due to this ive decided against actual surgery which is meant to be worse.

My DH and I felt absolutely nothing. Banding was fine and cured the whole thing. I wonder why yours was so different? They only put an elastic band round the piles to cut off the blood supply so they wither away and drop off, nothing to cause pain really.

superplumb · 20/07/2025 21:26

Ilovechocolatelimesandsherbertlemons · 19/07/2025 11:14

My DH and I felt absolutely nothing. Banding was fine and cured the whole thing. I wonder why yours was so different? They only put an elastic band round the piles to cut off the blood supply so they wither away and drop off, nothing to cause pain really.

It wasnt the procedure itself but the aftermath. They made me stay at the hospital for 10 mins afterwards and I felt okish. Then drove home and got caught in traffic. By the time I got home I felt like I had something shoved up my bum and was being sick. The pain was awful for around 12 hours. Woke up and it had stopped. Mine were bad tho.

sallysinna · 20/07/2025 23:08

AlertEagle · 19/07/2025 08:22

Just go private and get rid of the piles why live like this in pain

Because as I said, day to day they don’t cause me issues. It’s just that every now and then they’ll flare up. Usually caused by a stomach upset or irritated skin in the area. Creams, suppositories and warm baths do help ease it. If I were in constant pain I’d be more inclined to look into surgery but the thought of it makes my eyes water and would be a last resort for me.

OP posts:
AlertEagle · 20/07/2025 23:57

sallysinna · 20/07/2025 23:08

Because as I said, day to day they don’t cause me issues. It’s just that every now and then they’ll flare up. Usually caused by a stomach upset or irritated skin in the area. Creams, suppositories and warm baths do help ease it. If I were in constant pain I’d be more inclined to look into surgery but the thought of it makes my eyes water and would be a last resort for me.

Be careful with using suppositories because they thin out the skin.

FlorenceB19 · 17/08/2025 12:18

Fibrous · 19/07/2025 00:38

I use a gel called Wype on toilet paper to clean mine. I can’t use toilet paper alone, it’s too painful.

I had a sigmoidoscopy and discovered it’s a recurring fissure causing me so much pain, I think the haemorrhoids are pretty stable. Have you had a camera to check yours at all? The treatment might be different - mine is now. I need to learn how to relax my pelvic floor so it can heal. I was gearing myself up for surgery but that’s no longer the preferred route.

it’s all miserable, though. I’ve had hardly any pain free days since December. It gets you down!

My full sympathies to you!

I've also been experiencing chronic pain since March. Only had digital examinations and told it's a thrombosis haemorrhoid yet symptoms mirror a fissure!

Agonising pain 8-12 hours after a BM.
My internal anal sphincter constantly spasms and that's what causes the pain.

It has taken a GTN ointment to relax muscles, yet pain & intermittent bleeding remains after 5 months. (Unsure why I've developed these symptoms)

I've been off work since May as the symptoms & pain has been too much to bear! (Feeling embarrassed, pathetic and weak willed for not being fit to work due to bloody piles!!) but seriously the pain!!!

I've been bridging paracetamol & ibuprofen every 2 hours, days on end to take the edge off the pain.

I'm not even constipated & I continue to have 1 BM daily. Yet remain in constant pain for hours & hours after!

I'm at a loss as I don't know how or what to do to????

Fibrous · 17/08/2025 15:43

@FlorenceB19 that sounds awful. I really feel for you. I’ve been using the diltiazem cream for six weeks now and I have no pain or bleeding on bowel movement. I have some pain from my external haemorrhoids but it’s pain I can ignore. I got some cream from the states called panicura after watching some YouTube videos and that is really mentholly and it really detracts from the discomfort in the region - maybe you could order some of that?

im not sure what’s going on - can you ask for a referral for a sigmoidoscopy for a definitive diagnosis? The wait list in my region was nine months so I paid for one. I did have a call with the nhs surgeon last week and he said since I seem to be on the mend they would not repeat it with the nhs as he said it would risk a re-tear and to just wait and see if it comes back. But he said their standard treatment for fissures now is the cream, and to just repeat as many times as needed.

FlorenceB19 · 18/08/2025 17:38

Fibrous

Thank you for your reply, I will look into panicura.

Tbf.. I am awaiting results from an MRI on my Lumbar & sacrum due to overactive muscles in right thigh, buttocks as well as the internal anal sphincter! Unsure if it's all related as symptoms appeared around the same time. Which has also triggered gluteal tendinitis and bursitis hip due to my ITBand

I'm also awaiting surgery to remove a Dermoid cyst on my right ovary, so I wasn't too sure if inflammation was irritating the nerves to cause the constant spasms within those regions 🤷🏽‍♀️

If MRI is clear, I'm hoping they will refer me for a camera to see why/what has been causing long term pain & symptoms.

(Omg I don't think I could wait another 9 months for a proper diagnosis)!

I just want to be pain free & able to return to work asap.

I'm not usually one to have health anxieties, however we do hear horror stories of the big 'C' being misdiagnosed as haemorrhoids 🫣

I've never had issues in this department before, yet I am now 4 years post menopause & the past 18 months, my health has become systematical!!

I'm happy to hear that you have found relief from your symptoms 🫶🏼

Fibrous · 18/08/2025 21:02

@FlorenceB19 my surgeon was very dismissive of pelvic pain and hypertonic pelvic floor being linked to my issues but he’s wrong, he’s just focussed on his area of expertise. I was also an academic in my previous life and I know how specialised you can become but the human body just doesn’t work like that. Problems in one area have knock on effects far beyond that specific tissue and it’s so easy for us to end up going down a path where we feel we’re falling to bits. But I think once you get to the bottom on it, everything will start coming together again. It is worrying not knowing for sure what’s going on and whether it could be the big c or something serious. Once I had my diagnosis I could get my brain in gear and tell myself I wasn’t dying and I would get better, and that has really helped. It sounds like you have a lot going on but you will likely find they’re all just feeding each other. I was also fine before all this kicked off, with a good base level of health. I’ve reminded myself of that a few times so I know it won’t take much to get back to that as you’re not starting from a very low point. Good luck!

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