Piles - a great topic for a Saturday night! Please help :)

[Wiifitmama]

I am not generally prone to piles. I think I had some in pregnancies but those were a long time ago. I currently have an enormous external pile. It was not caused by constipation. Quite the opposite. I had a few days of IBS flat up which I think caused it.

Anyway, I have been self treating with anusol cream. Which helps. Temporarily. And then when I poo, it flares up again. I would say it is not getting at all better. Is there anything I can actually do or is it just a waiting game? I have made a GP appointment but it is not for quite a while and I am not convinced there is much they can do anyway.

So, if anyone has got any magic solution that they could pass on to me, me and my sore bum would be very grateful!

Desperate bump in the hope of some relief!

Try putting some salt or Epsom salts in the bath it's quite soothing and anusol hc cream

The 4 in 1 suppositories with hydrocortisone are the best OTC treatment. But GP can refer you to a colorectal surgeon who may be able to sort them by banding them or if too bad, actual surgery.

I'm a nurse we used to fill condoms up with water and freeze them, This was for internal piles. Maybe sit on a cool pack wrapped in a towel to ease the pain/ swelling

Thank you all for answering! I don't see how suppositories would help though as it is just one pile and it is most definitely external. Huge and external! Surgery seems quite drastic. How long does it usually take for a pile to get better?

Anusol with hydrocortisone will clear them up more quickly

Ok thank you. I will get that.

Try Preparation H on your piles. It helped my mum. Also, a fibre rich diet helps. Do google for more info.

I seriously don't need more fibre! This has been caused by going too much, not constipation. I will look at Preparation H though.

Fibre will bulk up the stool hopefully meaning you won't go as often.

Totally sympathise. The hydrocortisone cream is good in emergencies but don’t use for more than a few days at a time as it’s steroidal, can cause thinning of skin etc with extended use. PreparationH - great soother but I wouldn’t rely on it alone if you have it bad, you can use it with loo paper to help clean you up after you’ve gone to the loo though as it’s v soothing and natural (witch hazel I think) keeping the area clean, exercise, good hydration and diet are the enemies of piles. Inactivity, dehydration, poor diet or gastric problems and stress can all be factors in provoking a flare-up. Total bummer (excuse pun) if you are laid up for a few days, especially with something gastric, as it can really encourage dormant piles. It may take a few days but I find getting your circulation going - exercise - and drinking lots of water / not eating a crap diet is key. If you can’t do loads of exercise for whatever reason - do 10 mins of v energetic sun salutations / yoga (inversions are great and give relief - look up a routine on youtube) or basically get moving as soon as possible at the beginning of the day and add at least one brisk 30 min walk at some point in the day . You want to avoid sluggish circulation. Remember, they are varicose veins in your butt!! The above should definitely help. Good luck!