Really embarassing, but........

[duchesss]

I think I've got piles. Never having had them before (not even during both my pregnancies!) I wasn't sure, but a quick butchers at NHS direct has confirmed what I thought. It's basically (so sorry about this) one big lump just to one side of my bum hole on the outside, it's a bit painful and sore but so far isn't affecting my life too much (has been there for a couple of days).

My question: has anyone ever gone to the GP with this complaint? It's so silly, but I'm terrified.... I don't want to be examined there, I really don't! And the removal methods they talk about on NHS direct sound like absolute torture. AAAaaaargh!

Please if you don't mind the embarrassment can you share your stories here, so I know what to expect

Go to the chemist and get some Anusol or Germoloids ointment , normally these help quite a lot, GP can prescribe other creams but try these in first place, removal is only for persistant piles that don't go away. ( PS. when you use the cream try to push the pile back inside too!!)

Anusol (dreadful name) is very messy but soothing and Germoloids v good..agree with what Mrs JamesMartin says about pushing them back in (ew) - try it gently in the bath when washing

Thank you so much!

Duchesss go to the GPs - they won't examine you if you tell them your symptoms - that's what I did. Over the counter remedies don't always work as well as the heavy duty GP prescribed stuff.

Also up your fibre and water intake to prevent them coming back when you've treated them.

yup,that's good idea - I asked my gp when I was pregnant and he didn't need to examine me - he gave me some lidocaine...you really want stuff that will shrink and soothe.
I did know of someone who had them operated on and it sounded v painful and a palaver

Suppositories are easiest to use, I found ...

thing is that they are more for inside and if they're outside then they need soothing there

Also make sure you have a good diet with lots of fruit/fibre and drink lots of water - makes your poos softer and going to the loo less painful and traumatic!

Oh blimey ! Thanks again for the replies, really helpful x

you are not alone duchess

I think the insertion of the suppository can help to take the pile back in with it iyswim. I'd say definitely worth a try.

Painnnful. Try sitting on a bag of peas (wrap in a towel as they are lumpy) or put a sanitary towel in the freezer and use that. The cold shrinks the little buggers. Erm... then when the swelling has gone down and it's not tender you just push it back it (it probably won't shrink down completely to nothing).

You may find that you need the bepanthem handy... wiping your bot after going to the loo will be sore and dainty little dabs with cotton wool just don't do the job properly so you may feel a little nappy-rash-ish (owowowowow). Now we know how the babies feel.

Go to the doctors for the cream - I assume it's stronger than the over-the-counter stuff and you don't want to self-diagnose. Its really not as embarassing as you think. I am sure they've seen a lot worse (ie my backside!!).

I was talking to someone who works for the company that makes Anusol and they did some research a few years back and they reckoned 80% of women who have more than one child have piles at some point in their life.....you are definitely not alone.