Posts by placidraven14

Alright, just wanted to drop a quick heads-up for everyone here based on my own run-in with one particular private clinic...
Back about two years ago—after dealing with two months of absolute misery—I went in for a checkup at this high-end private facility (think Chicago, near Central Park... just enough detail for you to get the vibe) where, after the exam ( $133 ), they told me I had 2nd or 3rd degree hemorrhoids and suggested I call them back once the inflammation died down to schedule surgery.
The swelling eventually went away, life got busy, and everything seemed fine until about a month and a half ago.
Then, boom—same pain, same inflammation (can't sleep, can't sit, can't even lie down...), so I head right back to that same clinic for another look and to finally settle the deal on surgery so I can put this nightmare behind me forever.
$133, apparently it’s 2nd or 3rd degree hemorrhoids, and they’re pitching the HAL RAR procedure plus removing some rectal polyps = $4167. Honestly, if it means the end of the pain, I was game.
We already had a date set, but then a buddy of mine dropped by—he’s a surgeon himself (different specialty, obviously)—and he casually suggested I go see a colleague of his over at KB Dubrava instead. He said the guy is top-tier, so I figured, why not get a second opinion?
So, I go in today, and man, what a shocker. It turns out I don't have hemorrhoids at all; I have a fissure measuring about 10x6x2 mm. As for those polyps? Not a trace. Turns out what I actually have is something called a sentinel skin tag (anal papilla, I think).
Even my surgeon friend (who specializes in hips and knees) told me that once I described the pain, he was 99% sure it was a fissure, even though that's not his field.
Seriously though, watch yourselves—it feels like these private places are purely motivated by the bottom line. Always seek a second opinion before committing to surgery, because they really convinced me the hemorrhoids were the issue and didn't even mention the fissure.
Public hospitals can be a headache with the wait times, but at least there, they try to actually treat the patient like a human being rather than just trying to fleece you for an operation you don't even need.
Anyway, time for some grits and cereal...

Since this crew on the forum has been such a massive help with their advice, I figured it’s about time I tried to pay it forward and help someone else if I can...

Before summer hit, I was basically bedridden because of hemorrhoids—we’re talking 8 hours of actual work and 16 hours just lying in bed or soaking in a tub. Honestly, I couldn't even move without agony... you guys know the drill. And if you haven't experienced it, well, better you don't.

PHASE 1 OF TRIAL AND ERROR: I started with creams—Procten, then some Fact stuff, followed by similar tablets.
Fifteen days later? Zero progress. A few suppositories here and there, but nothing.

PHASE 2: I went to see a specialist at the Pfizer clinic, where they had to... well, stick a finger in one place and then some metal instrument in another... and the verdict was in: I had grade 2-3 internal hemorrhoids with some pretty intense inflammation. Just my luck. The doctor tells me, "Just use Fact cream"—oh, joy! As if that's a helpful suggestion for $150 when you're already dealing with the wonderful sensation of having something foreign stuck in your rectum. Yay me. I honestly think their main goal is just to push us toward surgery.

PHASE 3: I read some "golden" advice online saying I should eat tons of fruit—which, sure, but if you overdo it, you end up with diarrhea, which just makes everything ten times worse.

PHASE 4 RECOVERY: After about 15 days of sticking to the following:

a. Diet—In the mornings, I had cereal with LGG yogurt. For lunch, I stuck strictly to cooked foods—soups, chicken, stews—and within a few days, things were totally regular, so everything passed through like it was "well-lubricated."
b. Meds: I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy some Advil tablets for a 14-day course (it’s pricey, but hey, I already threw a ton of money away at the doctor's office for nothing). Besides that, just so I could walk ten feet without feeling like I was dying, I used Tylenol gel as a local anesthetic (I actually checked with a friend of the doctor, and he said the gel is great and you can't really overdo it, which was definitely my situation). Seriously, that gel is a lifesaver; it cuts the pain down by at least 50%. I also used some calendula specialty ointment.

After about 5 or 6 days, things started looking up, and after 15 days, I was almost back to my normal self.

Anyway, I hope my little roadmap helps someone out.

Good luck to everyone.