Take a laxative to clear out that blockage; I’ve been relying on them for years myself, and while it’s certainly not a healthy way to live, what else can one really do when things get stuck like that?
Honestly, just take a laxative to clear out whatever is causing that blockage. I have been relying on them for years now; it certainly isn't a healthy way to live, but at this point, what choice do I really have?
Steven Castillo82 said:Over the last few days, I’ve completely overhauled my diet; I’m simmering vegetable stews with lentils, making fresh fish soups, chicken, eating plenty of fruit and nuts, and I start and end my day with a glass of probiotics mixed with flaxseed oil (which I read about somewhere😁). My digestion feels fine overall, but for some inexplicable reason, the initial part of the stool comes out as hard as a rock, causing damage every single morning—it’s almost as if there’s an issue with airflow down there, allowing air to enter and dry everything out😬
As far as medications and supplements go, I picked up a small trial pack of FedEx tablets and I’m currently on day three. Honestly, when you're desperate, you'll try just about anything. Besides, they're natural and don't have side effects; normally, I avoid pills of any kind at all costs. After using Aspirin for two days, I tried applying Hemeropropy ointment several times a day, but that cream is a poor choice for a fissure; it’s far too aggressive and always caused a burning sensation—I actually suspect it made things slightly worse. I’ve reverted to Aspirin, which is much gentler. I tried the hemorrhoid rings, but everything is so swollen and ulcerated that they simply slip right out.
Today, passing a stool was relatively painless, though the ache persisted throughout the entire day, even if it wasn't the absolute agony I endured yesterday.
I still need to try a chamomile soak.
Back when I was staying active with sports, everything was under control, but toward the end of the summer, I went on a few trips, let myself go a bit, and there was alcohol flowing like water; naturally, everything took a massive turn for the worse. I think once this episode passes, I’ll have to seriously consider making some decisive changes to my lifestyle because this is truly terrifying. For the past fifteen days, I’ve been stuck at home suffering, incapacitated, irritable, and frankly, losing my mind.
I understand; for me, it lasted two years. You absolutely have to cut out alcohol. Try the chamomile baths at least twice a day, and pick up some ProctisM ointment—that works well for me. To be honest, FedEx won't help you much if it’s actually a fissure. I bought and took a whole box of Detralex thinking I had hemorrhoids, only for the doctor to tell me it was a fissure. I'm going through the exact same thing; the moment I eat something heavy or if the stool is harder, the burning intensifies, and then it settles back down. It’s a miserable situation, but I'm not looking toward surgery yet. Just go see the doctor for an exam; it’s over quickly, it doesn't hurt, and they'll probably just do a thirty-second finger exam and give you a diagnosis.
Steven Castillo82 said:I wasn't even aware an anal fistula was a possibility, but after doing some reading, every single symptom points directly to that diagnosis. Honestly, I feel like I'm dying today; I've tried cutting back on food to reduce my movements, 😁, but nothing seems to touch the pain—it's absolutely debilitating.🙂
Sunscreen is actually a decent cream; I keep the whole 10g tube sitting right there in my bathroom, but if things start stinging, it doesn't always cut it. Since it failed me this time, I switched over to Proctis m, which comes with those suppositories, though frankly, I’m too intimidated to even try inserting them. I was worried that getting an exam would be a public spectacle and the entire hospital would hear me, but it wasn't like that at all—I went to a private clinic instead.
Steven Castillo82 said:I honestly hadn't even considered an anal fistula before this, but after reading up on it, every single symptom points directly to that diagnosis. It’s been an absolute nightmare today; I've barely eaten anything, which naturally means less movement through my system, 😁, but nothing seems to touch the pain. This thing is absolutely killing me.🙂
Look, if you want to find some relief, you need to overhaul your entire diet immediately. Think bland and gentle: boiled foods, light soups, plenty of vegetables—just steer clear of anything sugary, spicy, or heavy on the cheese. Personally, I struggle enough as it is because those aren't even things I particularly enjoy, but it's necessary. Beyond that, try sitting in a warm sitz bath with some chamomile tea for about ten minutes twice a day. If you're dealing with constipation, take a laxative—though, truth be told, I've been relying on them for years. Lately, I've been trying to transition to fruit compotes, oatmeal, or psyllium husk instead. For topical relief, I've found that using a simple baby cream helps, though currently, I'm using Proctis M ointment and it actually provides some soothing comfort. That's my best advice. I've been battling this for a decade now; I had a five-year stretch where things were quiet despite my poor dietary choices—I lived on sweets and ice cream, for heaven's sake—but I think I really overdid it this time. I consumed far too many tangerines and sauerkraut, combined with an excessive amount of laxatives. Being constipated is miserable, but having diarrhea is just as bad, so you're caught in a lose-lose situation. Just try these adjustments; hopefully, they'll offer you some initial respite.
Steven Castillo82 said:Greetings, I am reaching out in hopes of receiving some counsel and assistance.
I have been dealing with internal hemorrhoids for about seven or eight years now, though until recently, things weren't particularly dire; they would flare up once or twice a year and subside just as quickly. They have always been prone to bleeding and frequently quite painful.
However, about a month and a half ago, the situation escalated to the point where I had to resort to using ointments and suppositories because the pain and bleeding became unbearable; I suspect the condition has significantly progressed.
To be fair, the Faktu ointment provided some relief within a few days, and everything seemed fine until ten days ago when the true agony began—an ordeal that continues to this day. To put it plainly, bowel movements are excruciating, accompanied by discharge and blood; even after applying Faktu for an entire week following my movements, there has been no improvement. A few days ago, I switched over to Hemeroprotekt, but it hasn't yielded any better results. After using the restroom, I find myself lying down, in total discomfort for roughly seven to ten hours at a time; while walking offers slight relief, I am left feeling utterly exhausted and too drained to maintain any kind of steady work schedule.
I suspect the root causes are my sedentary lifestyle, excessive sitting, my diet, and a chronically erratic digestive system characterized by alternating bouts of diarrhea and hard stools. I am not overweight. My digestion is currently somewhat regular—I usually go every day between 11:00 AM and noon, which has been consistent for a year—but the issue lies with the very beginning of the stool,😁 which emerges as hard as a stone, tearing through the delicate tissue that managed to heal slightly overnight.
My questions are as follows:
-What can I do to ensure the entire stool is soft, so that the initial part doesn't harden so intensely?
-What should my diet generally consist of, and what should I strictly avoid?
-Which medications are worth taking? Should I consider Pilex tablets—yes or no?
-In this state of pain, is it better to remain lying down, or should I engage in light movement, such as walking or staying on my feet?
-Which doctor or medical clinic should I visit to ensure I am seeing professionals rather than charlatans merely looking to drain my wallet? Note: money is not an issue.
I want to resolve this once and for all, or at least secure a period of lasting relief. The complication is that my job is one where I cannot be easily replaced, so I must endure this until at least the New Year, and ideally until Christmas, before considering any surgical procedures.
Please help! Thank you!
This sounds remarkably like an anal fissure to me. You really ought to see a doctor to get a definitive diagnosis; I suffer from hemorrhoids myself and was taking Detralex, but when I went in for an exam the day before yesterday, it turned out I actually had a fissure as well. So, I am dealing with both internal hemorrhoids and a fissure. I was told I needed to stick to a strict diet, high in fiber and plenty of water.
quietpanther37 said:Poxz I would strongly advise you to seek a medical consultation—and make it a priority. If you can't secure a private appointment with dr. Nol, then schedule something at the hospital immediately to prevent any complications. As for Detralex, I’ve used it myself, and frankly, it feels like throwing money down the drain. If you have the option, buy some castor oil; you can apply it both internally and externally. Wishing you all the best.
I have been undergoing regular check-ups for years now, dealing with hemorrhoids since my childbirth and even an anal fissure. Things had actually been quite manageable for about five years, but clearly, I made a dietary error about ten days ago—was it the cabbage and beans? Regardless, I am feeling quite hesitant to go back for another exam because the doctor is the same one who wasn't particularly personable during our last encounter. He recommended Detralex back then, which I declined, but I ended up buying it yesterday and it's just sitting there on my side table. I also picked up some castor oil, and I already have Hemeroprotekt at home; I usually keep it close by for when there's a bit of stinging, but lately, applying it seems to actually aggravate the burning sensation, so that's why I bought the oil. What has your experience been like? Did Detralex truly offer no relief whatsoever? Oh dear, I just finished reading your post, and honestly, a wave of panic has washed over me—I tend to be quite prone to anxiety and panicking. I haven't decided what to do yet. I'm not from Washington, D.C., so I'm a bit lost here... but did the oil actually help?
About six days ago, I started noticing a slight itch in my rectal area, though I didn't give it much thought at the time. To be perfectly honest, I’ve never dealt with hemorrhoids before, nor did I truly understand what they actually entailed.
Then, three days later, this mild stinging sensation began to develop, steadily intensifying until it became quite severe—not to mention the sheer discomfort during wiping after a bowel movement. After six days of essentially just waiting to see if it would pass, I finally went to a local pharmacy, explained my symptoms to the pharmacist, and she provided me with some hemorrhoid cream.
I don't believe I have external hemorrhoids, as there aren't any visible lumps or swelling in the area, yet there is this intense burning sensation internally. When I had a bowel movement today, I noticed a significant amount of blood, which was a first for me. That internal burning and searing pain is still very much present. I read somewhere that internal hemorrhoids aren't supposed to be painful and only cause bleeding, so I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced such intense internal pain?
My internal ones are causing me quite a bit of pain as well; did you manage to find any relief? I picked up some Detralex, but I'm feeling a bit hesitant to actually start taking it.
Betty Nelson71 said:Low doses of antipsychotics are frequently prescribed just to help people sleep. I went through a similar nightmare with insomnia myself, and my doctor put me on Vera—which, let’s be clear, is an antipsychotic typically used to manage schizophrenia. Just a fair warning: they can cause significant weight gain, and you’ll likely feel like a walking zombie until your system adjusts.
"Until your system adjusts"? How long on earth are we talking about here?
I was told that a fasting glucose level of 7 means I already have diabetes, yet everywhere I look online, they claim that number falls squarely into the prediabetes category. To make matters worse, after an entire year, my levels have climbed back up to 7, and only now am I being referred for those follow-up tests like Hbc1 and OGTT. I haven't gone in yet, but I can't help but wonder: just how high does this sugar level need to climb before they actually start me on pills? I haven't found a single reliable source stating that a value of 7 constitutes full-blown diabetes; rather, it seems to be characterized as glucose intolerance, which is exactly what the nephrologist noted in my test interpretation.
Yesterday I had an appointment at the Nephrology Institute, and since I’ve been battling hypertension for two decades now—managing my regimen with Concor 5 mg and varying doses of Monopril between 2 to 6 mg—my specialist decided to introduce Tomid 5 mg into the mix. To be perfectly honest, the dosage feels a bit heavy-handed to me; I find myself wondering if dropping down to 2.5 mg might be a more sensible approach. I sought medical advice because even when I stick to the 6 mg dose of Monopril, my blood pressure still decides to spike, hitting levels like 145/87—which is exactly what it was doing during my visit yesterday—though typically I settle for 4 mg, and during those sweltering summer months, it seems nothing works quite as well as the Concor. My potassium levels are also a constant source of anxiety; despite being on a variety of diuretics, they frequently run high. My last reading hit 5.8, which sent me into a complete panic, prompting me to head back for another test ten days later, only to find it had settled at a much more reasonable 4.4. I do consume quite a few bananas, though surely one a day isn't enough to cause such a dramatic shift. My doctor characterized Tomid as a mild diuretic, yet I recall someone else mentioning it has a much stronger effect? I am torn between asking my primary care physician about switching to Indapamide or simply opting for the 2.5 mg dose of this new medication.
Maria Fisher46 said:You see, those little handheld glucose monitors are designed specifically to analyze glucose levels from capillary blood. It’s a fundamental distinction that often gets lost in translation, but as we've discussed before, the readings you get from a quick finger prick aren't going to be an exact mirror image of what you'd see from a venous blood draw. They are two different streams of data, much like comparing the temperature at the surface of the ocean to the temperature deep down in the trenches; they might tell a similar story, but the numbers simply won't match up perfectly.
And just there you have it—those little gadgets aren't some miracle cure; they exist solely to serve as monitoring tools for those already living under the heavy thumb of a diabetes diagnosis.
You simply cannot establish a definitive diabetes diagnosis based solely on a finger-prick capillary blood test; that is one of those fundamental truths etched into the very first pages of every single major endocrinology textbook and clinical manual out there. If you find yourself sitting there with even the slightest shadow of doubt or a nagging suspicion that something isn't quite right, don't settle for the quick check. The only truly meaningful way to confirm—or decisively rule out—the diagnosis is through a proper glucose test performed on venous blood. Anything less is just guesswork when you need certainty.
So, here’s the deal: when I had my blood drawn from the vein, my glucose level was sitting at 7.1 while fasting. Normally, I usually hover around a 6, which puts me right on that precarious borderline, even though the lab equipment always seems to flag everything as perfectly normal. It really feels like they ought to run that three-month retrospective test—you know, the A1c—just to get the full picture of what's actually happening under the hood. I remember one instance when I was in the ER; they checked my glucose, waited an hour, and then tested me again, and everything came back totally fine. But then there was that time last year when I had some coffee with sugar beforehand and my levels hit a 7—so I definitely wasn't fasting then. It's all a bit of a moving target, isn't it? Anyway, I’m going to pick my doctor's brain about this and see what they have to say. It seems you’re still waiting on an answer regarding the eGFR results? You haven't addressed my question about that yet.
Susan Martin4 said:Jason Vaughn482, I can't say for certain, but when I went in for my glucose checkups, my OB-GYN mentioned that there’s actually a noticeable difference between testing via a finger prick versus a venous draw. Apparently, blood taken directly from a vein carries a different profile than what you get from a fingertip. And honestly, stress is a massive factor too; it can send your blood sugar spiking through the roof—I've experienced that firsthand once before.
Still, if that's the case, I find myself scratching my head wondering how people living with diabetes manage to monitor their levels five times a day using nothing but those little finger pricks.
This morning, I pulled out my Bayer meter to check my fasting glucose, and it clocked in at 5.6. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster compared to yesterday afternoon when it was sitting at 4.7, and then just two hours after having a meal and a sweet coffee today, it jumped to 6.1. Now I’m left sitting here wondering how all this compares to the results from my actual lab work via venous draw. Back then, it was 7.1, but honestly, I’ve been under an immense amount of stress over the last few months, and I’ve always been a naturally anxious person—especially when health issues enter the conversation; I tend to spiral into panic attacks quite easily. Generally speaking, my levels at the hospital range from 5.6 to a maximum of 7.1, though they usually hover right around 6. I remember one instance at the ER where they performed a glucose tolerance test on me, and even though my levels weren't particularly elevated when I arrived seeking help for blood pressure issues (and I had eaten beforehand), everything returned to normal within an hour. So, frankly, I am completely lost as to what these fluctuations actually signify.
Michelle Ortiz said:Could someone please help me make sense of these kidney function numbers and this creatinine level?
Creatinine (s) 139 ref. range 64-104) eGFR CKD-EPI 49 ref. > 90
in urine Creatinine (dU) 18840 ref. range (7700-21300) Creatinine (u) 11775
Creatinine clearance 77.9 ref.int (66 - 143)
Given that the eGFR looks quite poor while the clearance seems perfectly fine, which one should I actually be paying attention to here? We're talking about a 54-year-old male who hits the gym three times a week and was supplementing with protein until just last month. The elevated creatinine was caught during a routine checkup, and he had been hitting the weight room just three days prior to the blood draw.
That eGFR calculation is a relatively recent addition to the books, and honestly, it's enough to give anyone pause. It creates this frustrating paradox where you see a high creatinine paired with a low eGFR—which suggests something is wrong. In my own case, my creatinine sits within a normal range, yet my eGFR is hovering at a concerningly low 69. This implies a troubling logic: anyone whose creatinine climbs toward 70 or higher will automatically see a depressed eGFR, signaling trouble even when things might be okay. It makes you wonder if everyone facing these numbers needs to go schedule an appointment with a nephrologist immediately.
I just got my blood work and biochemistry results back, and while most of it sits within the standard range, there are a few outliers causing me quite a bit of consternation. My glucose came in at 7.1; however, when I test myself at home with my finger-prick monitor, it almost always lands squarely in the normal zone. It makes me wonder—is there a significant discrepancy between a capillary sample from a finger prick and a venous draw? Sometimes the lab results come back normal even after fasting for about six hours, so this inconsistency is unsettling. Furthermore, while my urea (/4.0/) and creatinine (/79/) remain within their usual normal limits, I noticed a shift in my eGFR. In my last two tests—one from a year ago and this current one—my eGFR has dropped to 69, whereas the reference range is typically anything above 90. It seems this value is calculated based on a formula; interestingly, when my creatinine was lower last year (/65/), my eGFR was higher (/88/). Now, suddenly, it appears as though my kidney function isn't optimal, something I've never had to worry about before. To add to my anxiety, I've been managing hypertension for twenty years now. On top of all that, my potassium hit 5.8, which sent me into a complete panic. It occasionally drifts up to 5.1 or 5.2, but usually stays steady; seeing it at 5.8 is alarming. I’m planning to head to a private clinic in two weeks to get retested, just to ensure this isn't some fluke caused by my diet—I have been consuming quite a lot of bananas lately. My cholesterol is sitting at 7.8, though for the last two decades, it has stubbornly fluctuated between 6.5 and 7.8 regardless of what I put on my plate. I haven't started any statins yet, but I am considering trying red rice as a natural approach. My HDL is 2.3 and my LDL is 5... I realize those numbers are high, but I can't help but observe the strange inconsistencies in human biology. For instance, I have a friend who survives almost exclusively on salads, fruit, and vegetables, yet her total cholesterol remains at 7. While another friend indulges in every greasy, sugary temptation imaginable and struggles with her weight, her total cholesterol is only a 5. It all feels rather nonsensical, doesn't it?
Maria Fisher46 said:An inhomogeneous or uneven liver structure seen on an ultrasound can be nothing more than a subjective impression from the technician performing the scan, or it could indeed signal changes in the liver, such as fatty liver disease or inflammation.
If we were looking at fatty liver, that wouldn't be caused by what you ate just a single day before the exam; that process is typically a much longer, more gradual buildup that doesn't just materialize within a 24-hour window.
Given that the gastroenterologist conducting the abdominal ultrasound didn't seem particularly concerned about it, that "inhomogeneous" finding likely isn't something that should be causing you undue anxiety at this stage.
As for the immunoglobulins—I don't have much to add there. You requested the tests, you received them, so now you simply go ahead and get them done.
Thanks. The doctor was just a resident, but honestly, I feel like I'm playing a guessing game here. One time it’s hyperechoic, then it’s normoechoic, and now suddenly it's inhomogeneous... it's like, is it fatty or isn't it? I honestly can't wrap my head around the difference between echogenicity and homogeneity—does it mean it's fattier in both scenarios? And regarding the immunoglobulins, what exactly does that entail? I haven't actually had my blood drawn yet, I just crossed it off my list.
I just got my abdominal ultrasound results back: The liver is normal in size and shape and appears normoechogenic, though it feels somewhat Inhomogeneous; there are no visible focal lesions and no dilation in the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. There is a parenchymal cyst measuring 9.4 mm in segment 3 (I’ve actually had this one for 4 years now/ My gallbladder was surgically removed Because of some bloating, the pancreas was partially obscured in the head and body region. In the parts that were visible, the contours are regular, the parenchyma is homogeneous, and it's clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue The spleen is normal in size and homogeneous Both kidneys are normal in size and shape, with preserved parenchyma and no dilation of the system. There is a visible cortical cyst on the left kidney measuring 10 mm /I also had a similar cyst a few years ago, but that one was on the right kidney and it's gone now/ The abdominal aorta appears to have normal calibration in the visualized section No pathologically enlarged lymph nodes were detected No abnormal fluid was found in the abdomen It’s this "inhomogeneous" part that’s really eating at me... is it possible my liver just looks fatty because I gorged on pastries and greasy food the day before the scan? My gastroenterologist didn't seem too concerned about it, but I asked him for a referral for a KKS and full blood work anyway. He gave me the slip, but once I got home, I noticed they included tests for three different immunoglobulins among the other things, and that absolutely spooked me. I’ve never had those checked before, and now I’m honestly tempted to skip the blood draw altogether—what if they come back high? I should mention, I am a total hypochondriac and I get terrified easily. I've actually been through a whole battery of tests lately—an abdominal MRI which was fine, lung imaging, a colonoscopy, and I get ultrasounds every six months along with regular blood work, all of which come back normal... yet these immunoglobulins are still haunting me. I’d love nothing more than to just cross them off the referral and pretend they don't exist To be honest, I’m terrified of what the results might show
Angela Green2 said:I’m feeling a bit anxious waiting on these results, though I’m desperately hoping they come back negative; my blood work and liver enzymes have been perfectly normal for quite some time now.
From what I’ve gathered, a hemangioma is typically nothing to worry about, but you should probably do a little digging on Google to be sure.
I honestly can't wrap my head around the reasoning here—why on earth did you go through with the extraction? I’m sitting here staring at one of my own markers that’s running high, and while I know deep down I ought to get it checked out too, the sheer apprehension keeps me paralyzed.