my friend is 26 weeks and has the most painful piles ever...............

[blushingm]

i've never suffered from them pregnant or not. Has anyone got any tips/ideas for what she can do to relieve the discomfort and pain?

She needs to drink lots of water and eat lots of fibre to make sure the stools are soft enough to change shape when coming out this will help it will not take the pain away but will make it bearable. I was given anusol cream from my gp which seems to be helping mine along with the extra fluid and fibre in my diet.
It also seems to help to stand up for a while after going to the toilet i.e. not putting pressure on the area. If it hurts to sit down she can roll two towels put the beside each other on the sofa and sit on the as this relieves any pressure from the area. Also I have read on another website that making ice packs with the fingers of rubber gloves can help relieve the pain.
I have had mine since my baby was born and he is 23 weeks now so I really do feel her pain!!! they do seem to be getting better slowly but surely but it does help to know that there are other people suffering from the same problem.
sorry for the long post.
hope this helps

thanks baby boy - the ice rubber glove fingers sound like a great idea - she has prep H but it doesn't seem to be easing them much - i'm seeing her later so will pass that one aswell as the towel trick

i hope yours start inproving....23 weeks seems like a long time