Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

analogpanther41 said:Oh, yeah, that’s possible. Does everyone always see bright red? For me, sometimes it's light and sometimes it's dark.

If you head to the doctor... I'm almost 100% certain it's hemorrhoids, but you really need to talk to a solid physician to get the specifics...

Michael Diaz4 said:Just go see a doctor... Honestly, I'm like 100% sure it's hemorrhoids, but you need a real doc to confirm the details...

Anyone got a doctor recommendation? I'm based in Washington, D.C.

analogpanther41 said:Does anyone have a doctor recommendation? I'm based in Washington, D.C.

Actually, I'm from out of town myself... But you can find some solid recommendations for Washington, D.C. if you scroll back through this thread for a bit. If I recall correctly, someone mentioned "butterfly" and Ivanovich... Or maybe it wasn't "butterfly," but that other clinic "unknown" or something like that. Regardless, I know Ivanovich usually gets a lot of praise from people around here...

analogpanther41 said:Oh yeah, that’s possible. Does everyone always see bright red? For me, sometimes it's light, sometimes it's dark...

The color usually depends on where the bleeding is coming from. Generally, the brighter the blood, the closer it is to the exit.

Either way, you should definitely go talk to a doctor.

The local clinic guys... there's two of them doing this stuff in my neck of the woods... honestly... I found a few others too, but I don't have the cash—I'm currently unemployed... you won't believe it, but I literally scraped this together from my allowance... even though I'm 30 years old 😢 😢 😢 , and I've got zero shame left to ask anyone for anything... I cost them a fortune through my entire education, which isn't worth a dime today

Oh, forgot to mention—I'm not actually in physical pain, it's just the mental toll that really breaks a person... you can feel it, like something is just constantly gnawing at your nerves

I could've gone that route in Chicago—using my insurance card—but if I did things their way, I'd be bedridden for at least three months... because we're talking about a surgical blade here

What should I even do at this point? I'm 22 and I've been dealing with hemorrhoids since I was basically 15.--😢
I eat super clean—vegetarian, workout, zero bad habits—so there's nothing "wrong" with my lifestyle, yet I can't shake these damn things. It’s both external and internal, and they bleed about five days out of seven... it's been going on for years. Using some over-the-counter cream helps a bit, but honestly, there are still days where I just want to lie down and cry because the pain is so brutal. Clearly, I need surgery. :/

Amy Garcia38 said:What should I do? I'm 22 and I've been dealing with hemorrhoids since I was maybe 15 or 16. 😢
I eat incredibly healthy—I'm vegetarian—I exercise regularly, and I don't have any other health issues, yet I just can't shake these things. It's both external and internal, and they bleed about five days out of seven, and it's been going on for years. Using an over-the-counter cream helps quite a bit, but there are still those awful days where I just want to lie down and cry because of the pain. Clearly, I need surgery. :/

Go see a doctor... Something definitely needs to be done. Surgery is usually the most predictable route if you're looking at a prolapse or if it's reached stage 4...

Spot on... honestly the best advice you'll get—just confirming what we already know here.

Hey guys... looks like everyone’s dealing with different levels of this crap. I finally jumped on this thread on June 18th even though I've had hemorrhoids forever. Usually, they only bleed when things get tough during a bowel movement, but for the last three days, blood has been leaking out whenever I go to the bathroom. I guess once everything stretches out on the toilet seat and gravity kicks in, it just pours out. Hard to say how much we're talking—maybe 1ml, maybe 5ml? It’s impossible to tell when it hits the bowl and spreads. Just to be clear, nothing happens while I'm going about my day, sitting, working, etc. It only happens when I'm on the toilet. I called the ER tonight and they told me to get down there immediately. Honestly, I don't want to go, so I'm asking you: is this a "run to the hospital right now" situation or can it wait a couple of days? I'm also on my period right now so the last thing I want is a trip to the hospital... Plus, there's zero pain, no burning, no itching... just this damn bleeding. You think it's just the hemorrhoids or could it be something worse? Like my stomach? But if it were my stomach, wouldn't the blood be dark? Do hemorrhoids need an emergency room visit when they bleed like this, or does it just settle down? Do I seriously need to head to the ER right this second? Please let me know how long yours have been bleeding and how much? Can it really bleed that much? Thanks, you guys are the only ones who can calm me down here.

analogpanther41 said:Dear fellow sufferers... I see there are varying degrees of severity among you all. I joined this thread for the first time on June 18th, even though I've dealt with hemorrhoids for years. Usually, they only bleed when I have a hard stool, but over the last three days, blood has been leaking from my anus and even during urination. I suppose when things spread out on the toilet seat combined with gravity, it just leaks out. I can't really tell how much we're talking about—maybe 1 ml, maybe 5 ml. It's hard to judge once it hits the bowl and spreads. I should mention that during the day, while doing normal chores or sitting around, there is no blood. It only happens when I sit on the toilet. I called the ER tonight, and they told me to come in immediately. Honestly, I don't want to go, so I'm asking you: do you think this is an emergency, or can it wait a few days? I'm also on my period right now, so the thought of going to the hospital isn't appealing... Otherwise, I have no pain, no burning, no itching... just this unfortunate bleeding. Do you think it's just the hemorrhoids, or could it be something more serious? Like the stomach? But if it were from the stomach, the blood wouldn't be bright red. Do hemorrhoids require immediate medical attention when they bleed like this, or does it settle down? Do I really need to rush to the ER? Please let me know how long yours have been bleeding or how much you've experienced. Can it really bleed this much? Thank you; you're the only ones who can calm me down now.

You don't necessarily need the ER, but once you create the conditions for a smoother doctor visit, make sure you go (in a few days) to have them look at it. Typically, bleeding is a sign of hemorrhoids, but that symptom can also show up in other dangerous illnesses—though that usually isn't the case, and there's a huge probability it's the same for you. Still, to ease your conscience and prevent complications, go to a good doctor to get checked. Don't be afraid; it's nothing embarrassing. I'm telling you this as a bit of an expert on the matter because I suffered from hemorrhoids for years, and thank God, I finally got rid of those attacks forever. It was unpleasant because I waited too long, but in the end, I conquered that nuisance. To avoid ending up at the doctor as a neglected case, go while you aren't in major pain yet...

Michael Diaz4 said:You don't need the ER right this second, but once things settle down enough to actually leave the house, go see a doctor in a couple days. Look, bleeding usually means hemorrhoids, but that same symptom can pop up with much scarier stuff—though honestly, it's probably just nothing serious. Still, go see a solid doctor just to clear your conscience and stop things from getting worse. Don't be embarrassed, it's not a big deal. Trust me, I'm basically an expert since I dealt with hemorrhoid hell for years before finally kicking the habit for good. It was nasty because I waited too long, so don't be like me. Go while it doesn't hurt like crazy...

Thanks Michael, but my whole family is freaking out telling me to sprint to the ER, and I'm just not feeling it. Does anyone know a decent proctologist in New York City? Private or hospital, whatever works. So far, I found some leads on Kocman and Ivanovic at KB Merkur. I called Dr. Solomon and he told me to swing by next Thursday for a quick colonoscopy—I mean, if it were life-threatening, wouldn't he have told me to get there right now? Or maybe he just wasn't really listening to me on the phone? He mentioned it could be bleeding from a polyp and suggested checking the first 60 cm of the colon (or last 60 cm, depending on how you look at it). But man, the second I hear "colonoscopy," I just freeze up thinking about how much I screamed during my only one. I'd rather see a proctologist first, and if they say it's just hemorrhoids, then we'll deal with the rest. Is it risky to head out on a 10-day beach trip like this? Nothing's gonna happen, right? And even if it *is* hemorrhoids, how is a checkup gonna stop the bleeding instantly? Michael, any tips on how to stop the bleeding? I'm taking Donat and my stools are soft, but I don't know what else to do.

analogpanther41 said:Thanks, Michael Diaz4. Everyone at home is freaking out, trying to rush me to the ER, but I just don't want to go. Does anyone know a good proctologist in New York City they could recommend? Private practice is fine, or even a hospital specialist... So far, I've found some good names, Kocman and Ivanovic over at KB Merkur. I actually called Dr. Solomon, and he suggested I come in next Thursday for a quick colonoscopy. I suppose if it were truly urgent, he would have told me to come right away... though, then again, who knows how closely he was actually listening to me on the phone. He mentioned it could be bleeding from a polyp, which is why it's better to check those first 60 cm of the colon (or the last 60 cm, depending on how you look at it). But honestly, the second I hear the word "colonoscopy," my heart sinks. I still remember how much I screamed during my first and only one. Still, I’d rather see a proctologist first; if he determines the bleeding isn't just hemorrhoids, then we can deal with the next steps. Is there any risk in heading to the beach for ten days in this state? Surely nothing bad will happen... and even if it is hemorrhoids, how is an exam with the doctor going to help stop the bleeding immediately? Michael Diaz4, do you have any advice on how to stop the bleeding? I'm drinking that Donat, so my stools are soft, but I'm not sure what else to do.

It really could be a polyp. Those stringy structures usually develop when enlarged hemorrhoids have been present for a long time... The main thing is keeping your stools soft, but you definitely don't want diarrhea either. Hold off on that beach trip until things settle down a bit. See a doctor first, then you can make a smarter decision...

I feel like I should probably weigh in here too... I’ve been dealing with hemorrhoids for about 12 years now—ever since my last pregnancy. They flare up pretty regularly, though maybe not quite as often as some of you mentioned... but when they do, it's a nightmare. It causes this radiating pain down my entire leg, probably because a nerve is getting pinched, and my lower back just feels completely wrecked. It's honestly a disaster. As for treatment: besides the standard stuff like creams and the usual prescriptions, I actually use ice or even a frozen potato, or just really cold water. To be clear, this was a suggestion from a doctor who's big on "alternative" methods. Basically, when the inflammation gets unbearable, I apply the ice or that frozen potato, and it just sort of "kills" the swelling. Sometimes I get relief within an hour... other times, it doesn't do a thing. I tried Pilex, which is pricey, and it helped a little bit for maybe a month or two before things went right back to how they were. I didn't mention that mine are Stage IV; I have one massive one on the outside about the size of a large hazelnut... so, yeah, I'm just going to push through as long as I can, even though surgery is constantly staring me in the face. If you're in the middle of a bad flare-up, try the ice trick—it might give you a little window of relief, at least for a bit..

Sophia Davis4 said:I feel like I should weigh in here too. I’ve been dealing with hemorrhoids for 12 years now—ever since my last baby—and they flare up quite often, though maybe not as frequently as some of you mentioned. When they get bad, the pain radiates down my entire leg, probably because a nerve gets compressed, and my lower back just feels destroyed. It’s a nightmare. As for treatment: besides the standard stuff like creams, I use ice or even a frozen potato, or just really cold water. To be clear, that was actually advice from a doctor who leans toward "alternative" methods. Basically, when the inflammation is at its worst, I apply ice or a frozen potato and it just... kills the swelling. Sometimes I get relief within an hour; other times, nothing works. I tried Pilex... it's expensive and helped for maybe a month or two before I went right back to square one. I didn't mention this earlier, but mine are Stage IV. I have one massive one on the outside about the size of a large hazelnut. So, I'll just keep pushing through as long as I can, even though surgery is staring me in the face. Try the ice when things are at their worst; it might help, even if only briefly..

The idea of your leg going numb from hemorrhoids sounds almost impossible to me. It's likely just the pressure causing referred pain. But how long you decide to endure it is entirely up to you. Good luck...😉

25 days post-op... feeling way better than before... doctor checked me out today and says everything should be back to 100% about 50 days after surgery. according to him, recovery is right on track—and honestly, I can definitely feel it too... 😁
hopefully in another 25 days I can finally say goodbye to all those chemicals.

Hey guys,

So, after scrolling through several pages of this forum plus digging through a mountain of stuff I found online 🙄 I figured I’d check in and see if anyone else out there has dealt with something similar to what I'm going through...

Basically, about two or three weeks ago, I was on some really heavy-duty antibiotics to clear up a tooth infection—and man, those things absolutely wrecked my stomach, giving me such constant diarrhea that I actually had to stop taking them mid-course.

Right after that happened, I noticed this little lump near my anus, about the size of a pea... and it’s just been sitting there for 2-3 weeks now without budging.

There isn't any bleeding or intense pain, but I do get this itchiness right during and immediately after using the bathroom (so again, nothing excruciatingly painful there...) and it feels a bit weird when I'm washing the area with soap and stuff... plus there's just a tiny bit of discomfort when I'm sitting down. So, GENERALLY speaking, it's not a massive crisis, but honestly, it's getting to me mentally more than anything—like, the current "struggle" is mostly just in my own head because of how annoying it is.

From everything I've been reading, I can't tell if we're talking about internal hemorrhoids or maybe an internal one prolapsing, or if it's actually a perianal thrombosis (which is what people usually MISTAKENLY call "external hemorrhoids")...🤷

Has anyone here gone through something identical or even close to this? And does anyone have any advice on treatment? (I saw somewhere that for these "external" ones, or perianal thrombosis, you can use 3% boric acid compresses)... I am seriously HOPING that it's just the thrombosis, because from what I gather, that sounds way better than having to go under local anesthesia for an incision... because God forbid it's actually an internal hemorrhoid prolapsing, which seems like the start of that long-term misery some of you guys have mentioned...

Thanks so much for any advice or pointers you can throw my way.

Best.

First off, don't even bother using soap on that area... it just dries out your skin, which leads to that "amazing" itching sensation later... honestly, just grab one of those modern body washes you see everywhere... find one that works and stick to it. Keeping things clean is step one, period.

Now, the real question is—can you actually push it back in manually, or is it stuck? If you can't, then we're talking external issues, which are a total pain to deal with compared to internal ones... my advice? Go see a specialist right now. Don't sit around waiting like everyone else does (guilty as charged, unfortunately)... eat more fiber, drink milk, snack on some prunes... get your digestion dialed in so things aren't too hard or too loose. And for god's sake, skip the spicy food, the booze, and anything greasy or heavily seasoned...
Every CVS or Walgreens is packed with creams you can try first... I won't list them all, but just ask the pharmacist for hemorrhoid cream and they'll point you to the whole shelf... honestly, any of them is better than doing nothing.

If this doesn't clear up soon (which I hope it does), go see a doctor properly... I spent 15 years trying "natural remedies" and amateur hacks... probably wasted thousands of dollars at various clinics... if I had any sense back then, I would've gone to a pro from day one.

There are plenty of people on this forum who'll throw more useful tips your way... good luck man... hope this helps even a little bit.

Michael Diaz4 said:Honestly, the idea of hemorrhoids causing leg numbness sounds pretty far-fetched to me. It’s more likely that you’re just tensing up everything from the stress of the pain, and that muscle tension is what’s actually traveling down into your leg. At the end of the day, how much discomfort you're willing to put up with is really up to you. Good luck with it...😉

Believe me... after I had my baby, there was this entire week where I couldn't even roll over in bed without being in agony on my left side. There wasn't anything visible on the outside, just this deep, internal pain. Honestly, if it hadn't been for this one old doctor—he’s retired now—who immediately clocked that it was actually hemorrhoids, I would've been lost. The pain was radiating all the way down my left leg and into my lower back. Seriously, if that doctor hadn't stepped in, I probably would have died from the sheer amount of Advil I was popping. It sounds wild, I know, but I guess I'm just one of those weird cases.

Hi everyone. About two weeks ago, I dealt with some hard stools and ended up with what looked like two external hemorrhoids. I applied some Preparation H, and they actually subsided pretty quickly—maybe within 10 to 20 minutes.
It’s been two weeks now and I'm feeling fine, except for this slight sensation of pressure or pulsing near the end of my rectum. This only happens right after I wash up, regardless of whether I just had a bowel movement.
I don't have any other symptoms. There are no visible hemorrhoids, no burning, no itching, and no bleeding. I also always clean up thoroughly after using the bathroom.
Is it possible that the anal rim just became slightly swollen from straining during those harder movements?

Daniel Martin50 said:Hey everyone. So, about two weeks ago, I dealt with some harder stools and ended up with what looked like maybe two external hemorrhoids. I applied some Fact, and they actually subsided pretty quickly—maybe within 10 to 20 minutes.
Now, two weeks later, everything feels fine except for this slight sensation of pressure or pulsing at the end of the rectum, and that only happens after I wash up (regardless of whether I just had a bowel movement).
I don't have any other symptoms. No visible hemorrhoids, no burning, no itching, no bleeding, and my movements are always complete.
Is it possible the anal rim just swelled up a bit from straining during those harder stools?

If it popped up and then vanished, you might just be seeing the very beginning of things. As an amateur, I’d say it looks like a precursor stage... though that doesn't necessarily mean you're headed for trouble down the road. Just keep an eye on your stool consistency, stay on top of hygiene, and monitor how things feel. If issues crop up later, definitely go see a doctor. No need to panic, though. It's nothing to lose sleep over.