Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?
in Health ·
So... I've been dealing with hemorrhoids for years now. At first, they were painful, itchy, and bleeding, but things settled down for a while. Lately, it's just occasional bleeding when I go to the bathroom. Back in 2008, I had a perianal abscess that required surgery—they basically cut it open, drained the pus, and left the wound open to heal. Even today, there's this little hole where some discharge leaks out. I don't know if it's pus, since it doesn't have that intense, nasty smell. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I developed a fistula, but I just can't bring myself to get it fixed. I'm terrified of the recovery time, especially with college constantly breathing down my neck with exams and everything. Plus, I've read horror stories about them nicking the sphincter and leaving you unable to control your bowels... having to wear diapers for life. :/ Everything would be fine if it weren't for this swelling near my labia that popped up a few weeks ago, along with some discomfort. It wasn't agonizing, just annoying. I had a fever for a couple of days too, but obviously, I didn't go to a doctor. After a few days, I realized that when I press on the swelling, stuff starts leaking from that old abscess wound. Maybe it's pus, maybe not. It didn't smell as bad as the original abscess did, which was revolting. At first, it was yellowish/whitish, and I’d squeeze it out every time I used the restroom. Now it still leaks when I press, and sometimes it looks brownish or even bloody. Does this mean the abscess or fistula spread and created new channels, or could it be related to a Bartolini gland? :/ I just don't have the energy to deal with doctors, and half of them seem completely incompetent anyway. :S