I know it's not pleasant but PLEASE come and talk to me about piles!

[HighFibreDiet]

I know other people have this problem, whether temporarily or permanently. Piles certainly crop up regularly in antenatal discussions. And I've seen some discussions about operations too. But I've started a few threads in the past and no-one has replied to me .

I am pissed off because I never had piles during pregnancy but somehow developed prolapsed internal piles when ds3 was about 14 months old. I have a really good diet (hence my current name) and exercise pretty regularly too. My pelvic floor muscles aren't great but at the time my piles prolapsed I was going to a physio to improve them. So as far as I know I've been doing everything right... but these piles just refused to go back in, even with cream from my GP, so three weeks ago I had an op (Haemmorrhoidal Arterial Ligation) and now they seem to have popped out again . They are usually okay during the day but were pretty itchy last night and I didn't really know what to do about them.

I'm further pissed off as I am entered for a triathlon later in the year but the bike leg is going to be pretty awful if i haven't sorted the piles out by then.

So in the short term I'm looking for some recommendations for over-the-counter creams to reduce the itching, and in the long term I'm wondering what people have done - especially if they had an op which didn't work.

And please don't suggest I (a) just push them back in or (b) ignore them as if either of those approaches worked I wouldn't be bothering to post.

thank you

i think you need to go and see the specialist again. surely a cream is just going to treat the symptom / stop the itching. they need to find out why they're happening in the first place.

thank you warthog. I agree that I need to find out why it's happening. I have a follow-up appointment in a few weeks but the doctor can be a bit curt. Should probably take someone with me.

Ouch! That sounds so painful.

I don't suffer anywhere near as bad as you but I find Germaloids cream the most soothing.

Completely agree with Warthog, you need to get the Dr to take it a bit more seriously.

is it a dr seeing you or a specialist? gastroenterologist?

if a doc, i would very strongly push to be referred. this is a serious issue for you which is having a significant impact on your lifestyle.

i would phone up and ask to have the appointment moved forward if possible. say you've got an urgent problem re. the surgery and please can you see him asap.

I called my GP and he said I should just get an earlier appt with the surgeon (he's a specialist colorectal surgeon) as if I went to the GP he'd probably have to refer me back anyway. The surgeon is the one who is a bit curt - he hardly gave me any information about what to expect afterwards or what to do, it was the nurses who said to take laxatives initially etc. I might see if dp can come to the appointment with me although that could take some organising.

thanks anyway ladies.

Just annoyed that it's happened to me despite having no obvious risk factors, and even though I tried to do something to improve it, it hasn't improved.

well that's shoddy on his part. i'd do some reading up on the internet and try and arm yourself with as much info as possible. also when you're in there, try and ask open questions - are there any alternatives, what's the prognosis, what is the expected outcome like? and if he's still reticent about being open, say 'i don't know enough and i'm not comfortable. please can you tell me as much as possible?'

i hate the arrogance of some of these people, like giving you info is a bad thing.

good to go with someone, preferably someone who doesn't get intimidated!

I totally sympathise. I never had the problem during pregnancy, ended up with a c-section (so no pushing) and somehow got piles and an anal fissure - which still gives me grief 3 years on. In my case it's caused by stress and IBS .

I'm seeing a consultant next week to sort out the fissure, with botox apparently .

I have noticed the gp's not being very helpful TBH. It's stopping me eating as the pain is so bad but it's taken a long time to really think there might be an answer.