I suddenly developed what I am calling a haemorrhoid about a fortnight ago. It came up overnight, so it's probably a thrombosed vein, given that it's hard, spherical and sitting externally on my anal 'ring', about the size of a small grape.
It hasn't bled (yet!), nothing makes it better or worse, but it's beginning to ache a bit now so I know I must get it seen to.
I imagine they'll band it- does anyone have any experience of this? Just reading the horror stories on another thread on here 
but I believe those poor folks have had several 'proper' haemorrhoids, including internal ones requiring a GA, followed by weeks of painful recovery.
DH had banding years ago, at a screening colonoscopy, but I don't recall it giving him much trouble.