Noah Chase4 Asks:
I haven't managed to catch up on everything everyone has posted yet, but I felt like I should chime in since I've been dealing with some symptoms for nearly two years now. I went back to see my doctor for the second time today, and she just handed me a referral for surgery—specifically, I think they want to run a sigmoidoscopy.
So, looking back, my first run-in with hemorrhoids happened about five or six years ago. I was only twenty at the time. It was an external one—nothing life-threatening, as the doctor put it. He handed me some Pfizer cream, and honestly, within a few days, the whole thing just settled down. His diagnosis? My lifestyle. Apparently, being a full-time student and sitting in a chair all day will do that to you. He wasn't wrong. One thing I learned, though, is that you can't just stop the moment you feel better. You have to keep applying that cream three times a day, even after the symptoms fade, until you’re absolutely certain everything is completely back to normal. It is strange, though. There’s a weird pattern to it. It seems like this flares up almost every single year around the exact same time—for me, it’s always April.
What’s been weighing on me more heavily—and honestly, this is the serious stuff—is that less than two years ago, I saw blood in my stool for the very first time. I don't mean just a tiny little smudge on the paper like you'd get from a minor scratch. No, it was bright red, liquid blood. When I wiped, it looked like I had dipped the toilet paper directly into a bucket of blood. It was terrifying. When you see that for the first time, you immediately start self-diagnosing everything. You go straight to the worst-case scenarios—cancer, tumors... all those things you hear about suddenly feel like they're living inside your own head. My neighbor told me it's almost certainly just internal hemorrhoids. Still, I have a rectoscopy scheduled soon, and who knows, maybe even a colonoscopy after that.
I’m not saying I’m terrified or anything—it’s just that I want to get ahead of this, because it keeps happening. Over the last ten days, it’s flared up at least four times now. I’ve noticed a pattern, too; the blood doesn't show up right away with the first movement, but rather after things have moved along further. Honestly, I can adjust my diet without any issue. That really isn't the problem here.
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately. What exactly is the deal with physical exertion? Am I allowed to hit the gym and lift weights? Or maybe even tackle some heavy lifting, like moving bags of mulch around? I can certainly up my water intake—that's really no issue at all. Same goes for eating more vegetables; that sounds perfectly fine. But then there’s the other stuff. What about coffee? Cigarettes? Alcohol? I mean, I don't necessarily have to indulge, but it's a question. The main thing on my mind, though, is the actual physical strain. Should I be avoiding strenuous activity altogether?
So, it looks like the issue lies with the internal components. Thanks in advance for the help—talk soon.
P.S. I’m not feeling any pain, just seeing blood. Liquid, disgusting, bright red blood on the toilet paper. Just... ugh.
You really need to avoid any heavy physical exertion. On a side note—and this might seem like a random tangent—sitting actually isn't the main culprit behind hemorrhoids; if anything, standing all day is even worse. Evolutionarily speaking, we were built for different postures long before we became modern humans. That’s why you see it most often in people like retail clerks, hairstylists, or surgeons. I’ve heard it said that you almost never find a surgeon who hasn't dealt with them at some point. Please, just go see a doctor to get an official diagnosis and handle it while it's still manageable. I learned that the hard way. It started for me about twenty years ago, and it eventually ended with me on the operating table.
Ronald Johnson92 said:Hey everyone. I’m 19, and honestly, this whole thing has really hit me hard. It’s a mix of shame and anxiety, if you know what I mean. I started noticing symptoms just a few days ago—this past Saturday, actually. It began as a slight itch that’s slowly turning into a dull ache or a stinging sensation. I decided to check things out myself, and I "found" this little swollen bump right on the edge—not quite inside, not quite outside, but leaning more toward the exterior. There’s no bleeding, and it barely hurts; I can sit down without any real issue, so it isn't anything major. Still, it's weighing on me. What do you guys suggest? I’m pretty much set on going in for a professional exam, but I wanted to ask here first: can this be treated with standard ointments or creams? To be honest, I spent two years doing my clinical rotations at a local hospital, so I'm familiar with how things work. Everyone there knows me. But yeah... what do you think?
I wanted to ask if a full recovery is actually possible, and whether physical activity is allowed?
Thanks in advance!
Avoid heavy exertion, but there’s absolutely no reason to feel embarrassed. You think the staff at the hospital doesn't understand human anatomy? Don't let shame hold you back from getting help...
feralwolf7 said:Yeah, that's what I thought too—that I wouldn't get through it. But look, I've had them for a year now. It doesn't exactly hurt, but they're constant. They mess with my life 24/7 :/ so yeah, I definitely need to see a doctor.😁
Aki — "painful" is an understatement. I suppose a week of pain is better than living with this forever. How long have you been waiting for surgery? Did you do any preliminary testing first? Does your supplemental insurance cover it? I read somewhere that symptoms can sometimes return after surgery, but if they treat it properly the first time to fix it for good, who knows how accurate that is... either way, there isn't much choice left here.🙂
Of course you need to see a specialist; there is no room for hesitation here. And honestly, it's not just a "week of pain" if the condition has progressed quite a bit. There will be discomfort, certainly, but it isn't something you can't handle...