The dreaded piles

[Cagedbird00]

Hi to whoever may read this & apologies if I share tmi but I’m absolutely fed up!

I’ve been struggling with piles for years, made worse since giving birth a few years ago. I have 1 skin tag left which causes problems, along with other small “swellings” that seem to be there constantly. If any friction is applied (for example if I wore a thong) these small swellings, (which I assume are external piles) get angry, big & very sore.

I have regular bleeding from internal piles & any time I do anything particularly strenuous, such as lots of lifting, walking, standing for long periods, I start to get a sharp pain on the outside which is my warning to stop & rest or else I get the extremely painful external piles which have thrombosed on more than one occasion leaving me bed ridden.

I’m miserable & just feel like they’ll never go away. I have to avoid so many things because it seems to set off swelling.

I haven’t spoken to my dr about this. I remember my mum & grandma suffering so I just felt like it’s one of those things & I need to get over it. My dr isn’t great either & I just shudder at the thought of discussing this with her.

Anyone got a similar problem or have any useful advice? I’ve heard some horror stories of surgeries so I just don’t know what’s for the best!

I suffer from similar, and have had them in better or worse degrees for years (I'm 36 now; youngest dc 3). I went to the doc recently just to check on them (again), as I'm sure it can't be good to bleed this often for so many years. Alas though she just said it's v common, and some people are just prone to chronic piles. Yay.

I don't know about you, but creams and suppositories do nothing for me, other than feel comfy . I had 3 internal piles injected before getting pg with my second, which helped for a while but they came back. I asked the doc about other options but she said they'll likely keep coming back as I'm prone.

My mum and granny both suffered with piles long-term so I guess it's just one of those things.

Things that make mine worse are exercise (great! What are you supposed to do?! High impact is worst), being dehydrated or having too much caffeine. And I could definitely do better on cutting down on these things. But I do feel reassured by doc saying there's no danger to it, just an annoyance.

Sorry, longest post ever!

Thanks for replying, sorry you’re in the same boat. Hmm I might cut down the caffeine & see if it helps. I suffer with anaemia & I often worry in the back of my mind if it’s related to this bleeding, although I do have heavy periods also.

I don’t take the iron tablets for as long as I should because they make me constipated, which would then make the piles worse. Talk about a viscous cycle!

I really want another baby but am terrified about the effect another pregnant & labour will have

I agree, the over the counter treatments don’t do much for me. Currently sat on an ice pack as hubby is out. What a Saturday night hey! Haha