Think I have piles - absolute agony

[Screamer]

I'm 38 weeks and for the past two days have been in agony. I think I have piles....I have one or two tiny little things protruding (maybe the size of a little fingernail). It feels like I have a razor blade poking out...each step hurts when I walk and sitting down hurts. I have a two-year old DS so can't lie in bed all day.

I'm not in the UK so don't have access to usual medication. I've been using an OTC remedy that is suitable for pregnant women so basically has no active ingredients. Have also resorted to an out of date (2009) cream that has lidocaine and hydrocortisone in. I know it isn't suitable for pregnant women but I'm desperate.

What can I do? I guess a GP can't do anything or offer me anything stronger whilst I'm pregnant so it would be pointless making an appointment and dragging myself to the surgery on public transport. I'm also petrified about giving birth as I guess it will make it worse....there is no way I'll be able to cope with the pain of stitches plus the pain of piles

If you can't get a hold of Anusol HC then try ice. Full a condom with water, freeze it and wrap it in gauze. I had a few in the hospital after giving birth for my stitches and my piles. The condom is the perfect shape, and, oh, the relief! I also used Durex Aloe Vera lube on the area - very soothing.

But, the Anusol HC was the most effective.

Go to doctor, I was the same, total agony with every step, felt like razor blades, I got suppositories from doc that had a mild anaesthetic in them as well. Worked a treat. Just because your pregnant it doesn't mean you should suffer. Hope you feel better soon. I remember how miserable it made me feel.

Thank you. Silly question - but is there a cure for piles or do I just have to use ice etc. to reduce pain and wait for them to disappear?

Where are you Screamer? I'm in France and have suffered 3 bouts of piles during my pregnancy. I was prescribed cream, suppositries (which really help) and tablets called Daflon (safe in pregnancy) - they did sort the problem but it does take time. You can buy all these items OTC at the pharmacy in France. You have my sympathy, it's a horrible sympton of pregnancy!

I have a midwife appointment on Tuesday so will ask her then. They only appeared on Friday afternoon so not had a chance to speak to doctor/midwife yet. Am now dreading giving birth even more than before.

The last few weeks of this pregnancy have been so worse than with DS1 - in the past fortnight I have suffered from piles, thrush, acid reflux and gums that gush with blood every time I brush my teeth

Screamer, I am absolutely with you. I've also had all those symptoms in the last few weeks, thrush and piles......delightful! I'm more embarrassed about exposing my hideous nether regions to the midwife than the actual labour!

poor you, it is awful! The 'razor blade poking out' makes it sound like it may be an anal fissure and not a pile, or you could have a combination of them both. When you release a stool, does it feel like you are excreting broken glass?

Actually, going to the toilet is fine......for the first time in months! It is a few hours afterwards that it all starts to 'hang out' and then is painful.

Can you get Sudocrem where you live OP? it really helped me. Do not use Bepanthan though- I nearly went through the roof trying that and it actually bleached my black knickers white.(Imagine Tom and Jerry when Tom gets an anvil dropped on his tail- that was me!)

Sudocrem or any gentle,slightly medicated nappy cream really helped me and is discreet as you use for babies too.

Ooo....I have sudocream....may try that and will speak to the midwife when I see her tomorrow. Thank you!

Slather in sudocrem and if you. An bear it poke them back in using a clean finger. Easier while sitting on loo. Almost instant relief once they are back inside.

Well midwife was less than useless..... apparently I can only use homoeopathic remedies and she recommended one made from plants and one made from chestnuts!!!!! WTF!!!! Didn't have the heart to tell her that I've been using one containing lidocaine and hydrocortisone.....which seems to have done the trick by the way. Still there but much less painful....will stop using the strong stuff now as I'm scared about effect on baby but at least I can walk without crying now....

I tell you what OP, the midwife wouldn't be recommending gentle homoeopathic shit if SHE had piles. She'd be emptying her purse on the pharmacy counter, and hissing "give me everything you've got" whilst tears of embarrassed pain ran down her face.

Make up this homo pathic remedy. Lavender and geranium oil mixed with k y jelly and keep it in the fridge before use. It works really well.

Am 39 weeks and they have become big issue this last week. Doc gave me lidocaine today and said it will treat pain but not the actual piles. Have had two applications and it is marvellous. Feels so much better. Do go to doc though - she checked them as was concerned in case they were strangulated but apparently all fine. She said continue to also do what I was doing which is slather in sudocrem and push back in where possible.