Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Morning.🙂
Quick intro: I'm 26, dealing with one or two external hemorrhoids and some stage II internal ones. They haven't bled on me yet. My diet hasn't been great either—constipation has been my lifelong companion.
It’s definitely genetic, too. My dad had his hemorrhoids operated on ages ago; my mom is actually in the middle of getting laser treatment for her internal ones plus surgery for her external ones (stage III, under Dr. Misirov).

I've seen a few doctors. One private specialist told me they could use a laser for the internal stuff and go with traditional surgery for the external ones. He said since there's no bleeding, it isn't an emergency. Over at Sun City Clinic, they mentioned they only do traditional ligation, which is a hard pass for me.

On top of that, I've been battling chronic candidiasis for about a year now, which I'm pretty sure is making my gut health even worse.

I'm going to dig through this thread (I heard Butterfly and Arithera use more modern methods), but I really want to hear about your experiences. I know deep down hemorrhoids aren't just going to vanish 🙂, but I've been acting like it's not a big deal, thinking I have plenty of time. Am I being naive here? Should I start taking this seriously and look for a fix, even if they aren't hurting or bleeding right now?

Elizabeth Price85 said:I’m planning to look through this thread (I’ve heard the Butterfly and Arithera clinics use some really cutting-edge techniques), but I’d love to hear about people's actual experiences. I know hemorrhoids aren't just going to vanish into thin air 🙂, but honestly, I've been treating them like they aren't even an issue—kind of acting like there's plenty of time to deal with it later. Am I being too relaxed here, or should I start getting serious about fixing this now, even if they aren't causing me any pain or bleeding right this second?

It really boils down to how your body reacts, so it’s incredibly individual from person to person. You have people who live their entire lives dealing with hemorrhoids and only face minor inconveniences, but speaking from my own heart, I truly regret not seeing a doctor the moment I realized they weren't going away on their own. Once they actually start hurting... man, it is pure misery. If you scroll back through the last few pages of this thread, you'll see just how many different complications can pop up out of nowhere.

The only thing I’d suggest is staying away from laser removal since it isn't a permanent fix, and if I recall correctly, the prices for the DG HAL RAR and THD methods are roughly in that same ballpark.
I mean, if you are already at the point where you are considering surgery, you might as well go all in and get rid of them for good once and for all.

Plus, since yours aren't even bleeding or causing you pain yet, you probably won't even have much of a recovery period to worry about. I dealt with the exact same issues regarding bowel movements as you are, and for the first time in my life, everything is totally regular and normal. I honestly can't tell if I owe that to the surgery or just switching up my diet...

My best advice to you is to just take care of it and not wait around. 🙂

Karen Thompson10 said:It’s all very subjective. Some people deal with hemorrhoids their entire lives and just live with mild discomfort. Honestly, looking back at my own experience, I really regret not seeing a doctor the second I realized they weren't going away on their own. Once the pain actually sets in... man, it’s pure misery. If you read the last few pages, you'll see just how many complications can pop up.

The only thing I’d suggest is skipping the laser removal. It isn't a permanent fix, and if I recall correctly, the prices for the DG HAL RAR and THD methods are roughly in the same ballpark.
Look, if you're already weighing the option of surgery, you might as well go for the one that gets rid of them for good.

And since yours aren't even bleeding or hurting yet, you probably won't even have much of a recovery period. I dealt with the exact same stool issues you're having, and for the first time in my life, things are finally regular and normal. I honestly don't know if I owe that to the surgery or just changing my diet...

My advice? Just get rid of them now. Don't wait. 🙂

Thanks for getting back to me so fast.
Given my family history, there's a pretty high chance I'll be dealing with complications in that area my whole life.
Just a quick question (I'll Google it later, but in plain English): what's the actual difference between THD and DG HAL? From what I gather, there's also the + RAR version versus just the standard HAL method.

So, does that mean my mom might have made a mistake by choosing laser removal for her internal ones? 😢 Dr. Misir told her they wouldn't come back after that.

I completely overhauled my diet about six months ago (because of some Candida issues), but my hemorrhoids have actually gotten worse since then.😠
I could probably get this done through Merkur or privately (like at Butterfly), right? I assume the wait times are just longer at the hospital.

I mean, I think it's been happening for a while, so it's likely just Stage II—there's no need to panic or rush. I don't want to be paranoid when I see how much trouble, pain, and bleeding other people deal with (my mom is a prime example), but I know this isn't just going to vanish. It's better to handle it sooner rather than later.

Elizabeth Price85 said:Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
Given my family history, there’s a pretty high chance I won't make it through life without dealing with some complications in that area.
Just a quick question (I'll Google it later, but just in plain English): what’s the actual difference between THD and DG HAL? From what I understand, there’s also a + RAR version versus just the standard HAL method?

So, does that mean my mom might have made a mistake by opting for laser removal of the internal ones?😢 Her doctor, Dr. Misir, told her they wouldn't come back after that.

I’ve completely overhauled my diet over the last six months (trying to deal with candida), but ironically, my hemorrhoids have actually gotten worse since then.😠
And if I decide to move forward, I could probably get it done at Merkur or go private somewhere (like Butterfly), right? It’s just that the wait times at the hospital can be such a drag.

Honestly, I feel like this has been building up for a while, so it’s clearly Stage II—there’s really no reason to panic or rush into anything blindly. When you see the kind of intense pain and bleeding other people deal with (my mom is a prime example), you don't want to be paranoid. But I do know it isn't going away, and it’s definitely better to tackle it now rather than waiting until things get even messier.

Hmm, from what I’ve read, THD and DG HAL work on very similar principles. Both methods are designed to fix hemorrhoids for good. With THD, you don't even need anesthesia, and people are often back at work within a single day. However, that’s specifically for internal issues. When I called to book a THD procedure, they told me it wasn't an option for me because I have external ones; apparently, that method is strictly for internal cases.

As for the difference between DG HAL and RAR... think of DG HAL as being for the lighter cases, like Stage 2 hemorrhoids, whereas RAR is meant for the tougher stuff (and I think it covers external ones too). Since I had Stage 2 internal hemorrhoids but a Stage 3 external one, I ended up going with the DG HAL RAR.

Look, it doesn't necessarily mean your mom's issues will return; you can never know for sure. Some people go in for laser treatment, get cleared, and never have to deal with it again. But a doctor shouldn't be making absolute promises that laser is a permanent "one and done" fix! It was the exact same situation for me... Dr. Misir told me the same thing, but when I actually showed up at the hospital, the doctor there just rolled his eyes at that claim. He even tried to sell me on this nonsense about Botox injections to permanently fix a fissure. The nurse at Merkur told me straight up that those injections only last about six months before everything goes back to how it was, and they constantly see patients coming back in after Misir "fixes" them. I had a pretty unpleasant experience with him (🙄), but seriously, it’s entirely possible your mom is in the clear.

Yeah, from what I gather, they do offer that method at Merkur too, but if I were in your shoes, I’d call and double-check. My doctor mentioned he could handle it, but I was so confused at the time that I didn't press him for specifics on the technique. The nurse did mention they have the latest equipment, so I assume she was referring to the DG HAL RAR.

Listen, if Merkur offers that method, there’s really no point in paying out of pocket privately unless you’re in a massive hurry. If I were you, I’d just wait. That said, I was really impressed with the service at Butterfly. At Arither, though, they only perform the DG HAL.

Guys, I really need some help! For a while now, I’ve been noticing blood in my stool. It’s been going on for about three weeks—some days there’s blood, some days there isn't, but overall it's been a three-week pattern. Now, a month has passed, and yesterday it happened again. I was absolutely convinced it was just hemorrhoids, but now I'm honestly not sure... this has been dragging on too long. I am terrified to actually go to the doctor; I've heard stories about how uncomfortable and painful all those exams can be. My mom keeps telling me it’s definitely just external hemorrhoids. To be specific, I have this little lump near my anus, about the size of a pea, and it doesn't hurt at all. Is that what an external hemorrhoid looks like? Aside from that, nothing itches, nothing hurts, and I don't have any other bad symptoms—just the blood. I'm freaking out because I've read that blood in your stool can be something serious, but the thought of seeing a doctor scares the life out of me... and I'm only 19... help me please😕

Chloe Garcia55 said:Guys, I really need some help here. For about three weeks now, I’ve been noticing blood in my stool. It’s been inconsistent—some days there’s blood, some days there isn't—but it’s been happening on and off for that whole three-week stretch. Now, a month has passed, and yesterday it happened again. I was honestly convinced it was just hemorrhoids, but now I’m starting to second-guess myself. This has been dragging on too long. To be completely honest, I am terrified of going to the doctor. I’ve heard horror stories about how uncomfortable and painful those exams can be. My mom keeps telling me it’s definitely just external hemorrhoids. She pointed out that I have this little pea-sized bump right at the opening, which doesn't hurt at all. Is that what an external hemorrhoid actually looks like? Aside from the blood, nothing else is wrong—no itching, no pain, no other bad symptoms. Just the blood. I’m spiraling a bit because I’ve been reading online that blood in your stool can be a sign of something serious, and the thought of seeing a doctor scares the life out of me. I'm only 19. Please, help.😕

There’s really nothing to be afraid of. Honestly, if you take a look at what I went through, you might realize it's better to deal with this now rather than waiting years until the situation becomes much worse. There are painless ways to handle this. In short, catching it at the early stages is the easiest way out—that's when you can actually do something about hemorrhoids. You essentially just address the underlying vein issues that feed them, and the problem is gone for good. It’ll all be over in a few days. No long hospital stays, no drama; everything is done under local anesthesia, so there's zero hassle. After my own ordeal, I can sincerely tell anyone: go see a doctor while it's still in the beginning stages. You can get it resolved without any major pain. Is it possible to live with hemorrhoids? Sure, you can. But over time, they only get more complicated because they never just go away on their own...

Karen Thompson10 said:Man, Michael Diaz4, I honestly can't believe everything you've had to endure and what you're still dealing with right now. I'm rooting for a speedy recovery for you—mostly just hoping that pain finally lets up. I was in pain for a few days myself, and by then, I'd already had enough of it... 😢

So, you went through the DG HAL RAR procedure too, just like me. Well, at least people are getting some actual information now.
In my opinion, THD and DG HAL RAR are the least invasive ways to handle this. If you catch it early enough during the recovery phase, you're almost golden. My best advice? See a doctor the second the pain starts and just get it handled for good.

Michael Diaz4, seriously... hang in there! 🙂

Thanks, really... Honestly, today marks day 15 and I'm feeling better than ever. The pain isn't intense anymore, though I can't sit down quite yet—just lying around or walking through the house. It’s uncomfortable, sure, but the pain today is significantly less than it was last night. Once I'm feeling a bit more stable, I have some personal errands to run, which I should be able to tackle in maybe 7 days, provided everything stays on track without complications. So far, so good. You mentioned you felt better in less than two weeks and the pain subsided. I think I'm a much tougher case, though. They basically reconstructed the whole area; they removed three veins and cauterized the main one. The wounds are healing slowly, and I think in a few days, the leaking should stop entirely. After my awful experience, all I can say is that I recommend this DG HAL RAR method to everyone—and I mean absolutely everyone. It's a permanent fix. 😉

Karen Thompson10 said:Dennis White43, if there is any solace to be found in my words, it’s this: I am only 24 years old, yet I still found myself facing surgery after battling hemorrhoids for several years now.
In my experience, it is purely a matter of genetics; besides, from what I gather, an increasing number of young people are being plagued by these very same issues.
The examination itself isn't nearly as terrifying as the rumors suggest, nor is the surgery; the recovery process afterward simply depends on the specifics of your particular situation. It is nothing one cannot endure. Honestly, I believe you have made the absolute right call by scheduling that doctor's visit, because if I could turn back the clock, I would have sought help much, much sooner.
The true nightmare is when complications begin to arise.
Do not let fear take hold; first, listen intently to what your doctor has to say. If you aren't experiencing excruciating pain, you might not even be a "severe case," which would make your recovery far more manageable. As for postoperative complications, they are remarkably rare—at least, that is what I was told.
Wishing you the best of luck; there truly is nothing to fear! 🙂

Hey, I'm dealing with a fissure myself, but they're sending me in for a sigmoidoscopy. Did you have to go through that exam first, or did they jump straight to surgery?

First, get a checkup, then go for surgery if it turns out you actually need it...

Sophia Brooks50 said:Hey, I’m dealing with an anal fissure too, but they’re sending me in for a rectoscopy; did you have to go through those extra tests, or did you just jump straight into surgery?

I actually saw two different doctors and neither one of them even mentioned a rectoscopy—I just went ahead and had the surgery right away.
It feels a little strange to me that they’d want you to undergo more testing just for a fissure, almost like they're looking for a needle in a haystack. Have you been struggling with this for a while now? It might be because of your medical history... maybe they just want to be absolutely certain everything else is running smoothly before they move forward.🤷

I know this might sound a little silly, but I was wondering if anyone here could recommend a female doctor? Honestly, I’m feeling a bit uneasy about having some guy peeking at me during an exam...

You just go to see the best doctor you can find. It really doesn't matter whether they're male or female. Usually, the men are...

Hi there! Has anyone here been to Sun City Clinic for hemorrhoid ligation? It’s surprisingly affordable and takes only about 10 minutes. Dr. Cavcic recommended I look into it because if my hemorrhoids progress to stage 3 or 4, things could get pretty nasty and might require actual surgery...

Drew Booth said:Hi everyone. Has anyone here been to Sun City Clinic for hemorrhoid ligation? It’s pretty affordable and only takes about 10 minutes. Dr. Cavcic recommended I look into it because if my hemorrhoids progress to stage 3 or 4, things could get ugly, and then we're looking at actual surgery..

Ligation isn't really a permanent fix. It's an old-school method, and honestly, the hemorrhoids tend to come right back because they don't address the main vein supplying them. That's why people opt for the DG HAL RAR method—it's meant to be a more definitive solution. If you just go with ligation, you might find yourself back in the doctor's office sooner than you'd like...

Does anyone happen to know what the typical cost for that procedure is?

Thanks!

Drew Booth said:Does anyone happen to know how much that procedure costs?

Thanks

I'm not entirely sure. I had a classic cleaning of inflamed hemorrhoidal veins done, along with full area reconstruction and polyp removal, all combined with the DG HAL RAR method to treat the main vein. Back in Canada, when you convert the cost to dollars, it came out to roughly $3.25. I don't know the price for just the DG HAL RAR method on its own, but it’s definitely more affordable...

Drew Booth said:Does anyone happen to know how much that procedure actually runs you?

Thanks

I ended up getting a fissure repair using the DG HAL RAR method, and the whole thing set me back about $8,000$0.00. Honestly, I don't think the price for the specific technique itself is much lower than other options, especially since even a THD procedure costs around $10,000$0.00, and that's considered a permanent fix. It feels like that's just the standard rate for this kind of work.

Also, if my memory serves me right—and I could be wrong here😁—I'm pretty sure they use that same exact method over at Merkur, so it might be worth checking in with them first to see if you can save some money.

And yeah, I'm not so sure if getting ligation is really worth the investment when there's always that nagging possibility that the hemorrhoids might just come right back anyway.

Karen Thompson10 said:Yeah, I’m just not sure if ligation is even worth the trouble when there's such a high chance those hemorrhoids will just come right back.

It isn't just a "chance," though—they almost certainly return. That's actually why that method has largely fallen out of favor in most developed countries...

A Hemorrhoid just popped out on me.😢 It wasn't even because I was constipated—honestly, that's what surprised me, since I've been having soft, easy movements every single day for the last ten days. This thing is huge and it hurts like hell when I walk, and sitting down is just pure discomfort.😢 Is there any chance it’ll just relax, shrink, or slide back inside on its own?
What’s the absolute worst-case scenario here, and what's the best?

And is this a sign that I need to rush to the doctor and get this sorted immediately, or am I just overthinking it?
(I'm constantly trying to find that sweet spot—trying not to freak out, because let's be real, I'm a total overthinker and a chronic panicker, but also trying not to wait too long and turn a small issue into a massive disaster.)

Elizabeth Price85 said:A hemorrhoid just popped out on me.😢 It wasn't even because of hard stools—which actually caught me off guard since I’ve been having soft, easy movements every single day for the last ten days. It's pretty large and it hurts whenever I walk, and sitting down is just pure discomfort.😢 Is there any chance it will relax, shrink, or just slide back inside on its own?
What’s the absolute best-case and worst-case scenario here?

And is this a sign that I need to rush to the doctor to get this handled right away, or is there really no reason to panic?
(I'm constantly trying to find that sweet spot where I don't spiral into a total panic—because let's be honest, I'm a bit of a worrier by nature—but I also don't want to wait too long and turn a small issue into a massive headache.)

Don't go spiraling just yet, because there's honestly no reason to freak out. 🙂
In my opinion, the smartest move you can make is to just head to the doctor and get it sorted out once and for all.
The best thing that could happen without seeing a professional is that the hemorrhoid simply recedes and the pain vanishes, but since you've been dealing with this for a while now, I think deep down you already know it'll just come back.
On the flip side, the worst-case scenario is that you end up facing complications like fissures, fistulas, polyps, or who knows what else. And trust me, if that happens, you'll really regret not stepping up and fixing it sooner. Recovering from those kinds of issues is a much steeper hill to climb.

Going to the doctor isn't nearly as terrifying as it sounds! I used to get so nervous about it myself, but looking back after everything was resolved, I actually regretted not going earlier. You mentioned your mom went to the doctor too, so what did she tell you about it?

I don't know... I know the pain is the hardest part right now, because if you haven't experienced it, you truly have no idea how much it sucks. Ugh... maybe try applying some Faktua ointment; that might give you a little relief. There are also specific hemorrhoid creams available. But honestly, those are just temporary Band-Aids, and I think you realize that. 😢

I really hope the pain eases up quickly for you... but please, stop putting off that doctor's appointment. 🙂

And don't wait until you're officially in "panic mode," because by then, the pain is usually so intense that you can barely function. You definitely don't want to find yourself in that position.