Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

David Cook5 said:@crimsongull20/">@@crimsongull20, does Pavlovic ointment actually have properties to make hemorrhoids "shrink" or heal the skin, or is it just for numbing the irritation and pain?

As for a proctologist, can I go by myself without my parents if it’s just an exam? Can you just walk in and book a slot, or is everything done over the phone? And are there actually any proctologists seeing patients right now, given those protests... is that still a thing?

It just eases the irritation and pain. For actual hemorrhoid creams, ask at a pharmacy or just scroll back through this thread.

Your family doctor gives you the referral, then you book the appointment wherever they send you. I assume you can go alone. Not sure how it works down in San Diego, so just ask your doctor when you get the referral. Proctologists shouldn't be striking any more than other hospital doctors. Best bet is to just show up with your referral and Medicare card and see what happens.

coppercanyon57 said:silvercanyon7, which hospital did you have that surgery at, and what specific METHOD was used?

I'm out right now, so I'm not sure how much those details matter. 🙂

David Cook5 said:... I'm still a kid (16, turning 17 soon) and I have zero clue how to get to a doctor in San Diego without my parents catching on (if my mom finds out, the whole damn city will know I've got an external hemorrhoid). Plus, I don't really get how you even book appointments for exams, especially since my folks usually handle all that stuff for me.

As much as it kills me to ask this, health comes first, right?

PS I've got my insurance card in my pocket...

David Cook5 said:Regarding a proctologist, can I go see one without my parents coming along if it's just for an exam?

Look, you actually got some solid answers here, though I'd just add a little something to what was quoted above.

So, you have your own primary care doctor (or family doctor, basically the same thing) through Medicare.

You can show up to "your" doctor by yourself, no parents required, and that office is legally bound to keep your info private under medical privacy laws. Once you hit 16, you don't need anyone to tag along to see specialists—it’s really just up to you if you want someone there or not. And trust me, nobody is going to be in the exam room with you during the actual checkup. (By the way, gynecologists only deal with women.)

Your primary doctor will tell you exactly how to schedule the follow-up exam, because depending on the clinic, they might book it directly through their network, or you might have to send an email, a fax, or give them a call.

Don't let embarrassment get the better of you. If you read through this thread, you'll see people deal with this stuff all the time. It's definitely not worth ignoring, and there's plenty of advice here on how to help prevent it from happening again.

Here’s a perfect example of how much this sucks. Everyone in my family deals with hemorrhoids—me included. Maybe it’s in our DNA, maybe it isn't, who knows? BUT, honestly, it might not even be that shocking considering we don't eat heavy stews five days a week, nobody smokes or drinks, we barely touch chocolate, we almost never snack on chips or junk food, we stay away from sweets, and our jobs involve moving around constantly instead of just sitting on our butts all day.
I’m dealing with hemorrhoids every single month, both external and internal. After a long bathroom session, I LITERALLY have to go lie down and let my anus rest (and I’m not even straining!), because if I try to go do something physical or stay active right after, I swear I grow a third butt!!!! I’ve actually timed everything so I hit the restroom in the evening before bed, and I keep up with hygiene religiously, but even then, I still end up getting the internal ones. I just can't escape them, and it is beyond frustrating.
Has anyone else dealt with this crap where you can't do anything after using the bathroom because you won't be able to move the next day? Seeing a doctor is an option, and with how fed up I am, I’m seriously starting to consider it because I am more than done with these situations.

hiddenotter89 said:Everyone in my family suffers from hemorrhoids, myself included. Maybe it's genetic, maybe it isn't.

How many more knees do you need to see before you're convinced about heredity?
😂
Especially considering everything else mentioned here.
Some people inherit a stock portfolio, while others inherit a cocktail of chemicals.🤣
I just hope my daughters don't inherit my chemical makeup.
As for the stocks, I'm pretty sure they won't be inheriting those either.😢

Hey everyone, I guess I'm joining the club here too 🙂
About six months ago, I dealt with my first external hemorrhoid, so I just grabbed some cream at a local pharmacy and it cleared up in maybe four or five days.
But then about a week ago, another external one popped up, and even though I've been applying cream for a week now, it hasn't really changed size. It doesn't actually hurt, it's just this bluish little lump. Now, after a bowel movement, I think another one flared up—kind of like a red little cushion—it doesn't hurt either, and I just gently pushed it back inside, so I have a few questions...
1. Is it somewhat normal for a hemorrhoid to hang around for more than a week without shrinking?
2. Regarding this new one, should I expect things to get worse tomorrow, or could it just stay exactly like this? (I'm mostly asking because the one I had six months ago was pretty painful.)
3. Is this new one external or internal? (Just wondering.)
I'm 20 years old, if that matters at all.

Can someone please help me deal with this absolute nightmare I'm going through right now?
I’ve got this one massive, nasty hemorrhoid that’s swollen up outside like a freaking thumb...
I am honestly praying to God that it just pops and starts bleeding already, because it’s been sitting there for five days straight causing nothing but pure agony...
I’ve been using this combo cream that usually does the trick, and I’m basically choking down painkillers like they’re candy at this point...
I’m definitely not ready to go under the knife for surgery until things actually calm down a bit...
Is it even safe to try and poke it with something—like a needle or whatever—just to get it to bleed so the pressure and pain finally drop?
Has anyone here ever tried something like that?🙂

Kimberly Kim4 Asks:
I'm reaching out because I really need some help navigating a nightmare of a situation right now. If anyone has experience with this, please, I could use your advice.
I've got one really nasty hemorrhoid flared up right now—it's swollen outward and feels about the size of my thumb.
I'm praying to God that it finally pops and starts bleeding. It’s been five days now, and it’s just sitting there, causing this unbearable pain.
I’ve been using this one combo cream that actually worked for me up until now, but lately, I've been popping painkillers like they're candy. It's getting a bit out of hand.
I’m not going through with the surgery until things settle down. I've definitely made my decision, but I need some peace of mind first.
Is it ever okay to try and pierce the skin—maybe with a needle or something—just to trigger some bleeding, hoping it might lower the pressure and ease the pain?
Has anyone here actually dealt with this before? I'm looking for some real-world experience.🙂

Don't touch it, don't poke at it, just apply the cream... and go see a doctor.

I'm looking for some advice here...

My 10-year-old girl has been dealing with a hemorrhoid for about a year now. It isn't constantly visible; it only shows up when she's using the bathroom. We already saw a pediatric surgeon, and his diagnosis was a hemorrhoid, with the recommendation to focus more on her diet. Now I'm wondering—can something like this actually stick around for that long without bursting? She isn't in any pain, just some occasional itching. Does anyone have recommendations for what I could use to apply to the area?

I’m looking for some advice from those who have been through this before!

So, last Thursday, I started feeling this sudden throbbing and pulsing sensation near my anus while I was at work. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I have an external hemorrhoid, though it looks slightly smaller than the one in this photo: http://wheretobuyvenapro.com/wp-cont...emorrhoids.jpg.

The weird thing is, there’s no pain, no burning, and no itching. To make matters worse, I have no clue what caused it; I suspect it might be my diet, since I generally follow low-carb, high-fat principles.
I recently added more fruit and a lot of yogurt to my routine, and now I'm having bowel movements three times a day 🤣—though I used to go once or twice normally, so I really don't know. I don't have a sedentary job, I stay pretty active, blah blah blah, and I honestly can't see any reason for this popping up!!! 🤷

My current routine involves cleaning myself thoroughly after using the bathroom and then applying lubricant, believe it or not. That’s about it.

I’ve Googled just about everything and scrolled through nearly a hundred posts on this forum regarding this topic, but I haven't found a single answer as to whether this lump will actually shrink. Will it disappear? It’s just unsightly and unflattering, and touch wood, IT DOESN'T HURT, which is why I haven't seen a doctor yet.

I just want to know if it will get smaller, or if it will dry up like a pimple.

Hi, I’m reaching out because I am honestly quite worried and could use some perspective. On a few occasions now, I've noticed mucus in my stool, and there was even a little bit of blood. My bowel movements have always been normal until recently; that specific day, I was waiting on some test results and ended up running to the restroom more often than usual just from the sheer anxiety of it all. While checking, I felt what I think was a hemorrhoid that had actually flared out. Since then, the stress of the situation has messed with my digestion. While I suspect this is all just due to hemorrhoids, I can't shake the feeling—I'm terrified that it might be something much worse.

shadowcyclist13 said:I’m also looking for some advice from the pros here!

So, last Thursday, I suddenly started feeling this weird throbbing and pulsing sensation near my anus while I was at work. It wasn't until I got home that I realized I have an external hemorrhoid. It looks a little smaller than the one in this picture: http://wheretobuyvenapro.com/wp-cont...emorrhoids.jpg.

There's no pain, no burning, and no itching. Honestly, the worst part is that I have no clue what caused it. I suspect my diet, though I generally follow LCHF principles.
I recently added more fruit and a lot of yogurt to my routine, and now I'm having bowel movements three times a day.🤣 I used to go once or twice a day normally, so I really don't know. I don't have a sedentary job, I stay active, blah blah blah—I just don't see any reason why this would pop up out of nowhere!!! 🤷

My current routine is basically just making sure I clean up well after using the bathroom and then applying lubricant, believe it or not. That's about it.

I've Googled everything under the sun and scrolled through about a hundred posts on this forum regarding this topic, but I haven't found a single answer to my main question: will this lump actually shrink? Will it disappear? It's just ugly and unappealing. And if I touch it, knock on wood, IT DOESN'T HURT, which is why I haven't gone to see a doctor yet.

So, I just want to know if it goes down, or if it dries up like a pimple.

It won't just vanish. Honestly, it's a good thing it doesn't hurt... Once it starts hurting, that's when you'll need to see a doctor. We've all been there... I certainly have... and eventually, I ended up needing surgery to save my life.☕

Grace Ross62 said:Hi everyone, I’m reaching out because I’m honestly terrified right now. A few times lately, I’ve noticed some mucus on the toilet paper and even a tiny bit of blood when I go. My bowel movements were totally normal before this, but that day I was waiting on some medical results and was running to the bathroom more often just from being so anxious. I felt what I think might be a hemorrhoid popping out. Since then, I've been so stressed about it that my digestion has been all over the place. My doctor thinks it's just hemorrhoids, but I can't stop worrying that it might be something much worse.

What's the worst case scenario? It's really not worth the panic. The main thing is just getting your digestion back on track and making sure you aren't straining too hard... Just go see a doctor so they can take a look and get you on the right treatment plan...

Michael Diaz4 said:What's the worst part? It’s not about being dramatic; it’s just important to get your digestion under control so you aren't straining... And go see a doctor to have them take a look and figure out a treatment plan...

But could these be symptoms of hemorrhoids? I'm terrified it might be cancer.

Grace Ross62 said:But could these be symptoms of hemorrhoids? I'm terrified it might be cancer.

Oh, come on, don't go there... Where on earth did the thought of cancer even come from? What exactly did the doctor you saw tell you? Just go back and have them take a much closer look. If you're unable to have a bowel movement because of hemorrhoids, you'd likely be at an advanced stage with prolapse. Don't let fear stop you from getting an exam. Once they check you out, they'll get you on the right treatment...

Alexander Chavez77 said:I need someone to help me sort out this absolute nightmare of a situation I'm dealing with right now.
I've got one nasty hemorrhoid flared up right now, sticking out like a thumb.
I’m honestly praying to God that this thing just pops and starts bleeding already, because I’ve been stuck dealing with this excruciating pain for five days straight now.
I’m slathering on this combo cream that’s actually worked for me up until now, but I’m still popping painkillers like they're candy just to get by.
I'm not moving forward with this surgery until things settle down, because I've already made up my mind on it.
Is it actually a good idea to try and puncture something with a needle or whatever just to get some bleeding started, thinking it'll drop the pressure and kill the pain? Because honestly, that sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Anyone here actually have some experience with this?🙂

Don't even think about trying that on your own; you're just asking for sepsis. It's a vein, for crying out loud.🙂
Only a doctor can handle that kind of thing. And honestly, they actually get things done out West; they don't just sit there and let you suffer through it. In my opinion, the medical system here in America is absolute bottom-of-the-barrel, at least for those of us who actually work hard and pay their salaries. You should really go talk to people living with hemophilia; you'll see exactly how much they struggle for years on end.

If you're dealing with hemorrhoids, you really have to watch what you're putting on your plate. Most of the time, it’s just junk food that irritates your gut and triggers a flare-up. You usually see the same pattern: people who don't pay attention to their diet end up stuck in this endless cycle of recurring issues, especially when they're dealing with constipation from hard stools.

Based on what I've seen with a family member, they can't really go wild with certain foods—things like bell peppers just don't sit right. Plus, alcohol is a total vasodilator, so that's another issue.
Once you start feeling it, just hit it with some Fact paste and those suppositories. It works every single time, provided you actually take it when things kick off instead of waiting around for it to get worse.
You need to keep that area clean, and honestly, I think taking a decent warm shower helps—though I'm not 100% sure on that part.
Strengthen those veins; it’s all about preventing them from dilating.
I personally deal with leg vein issues, though I don't have hemorrhoids. I know plenty of people who have perfect legs without a single visible vein, yet they're absolutely wrecked with hemorrhoids. It really just comes down to where the swelling decides to show up.

When it comes to herbal supplements, a few actually hold their own.
It’s basically just hedgehog cream—you rub it on and drink it.
Maybe someone can help out with some St. John's Wort oil.
Some people swear by that store-bought aloe vera gel, but honestly, you've gotta make sure there aren't any extra essential oils tossed in there.
Just take vitamin E as a supplement along with some ginkgo biloba.

Load up on fruits and veggies since they're loaded with bioflavonoids. They basically stop your blood vessels from spreading out and help toughen up those tiny capillaries. You can also just pick up some Detralex—it's actually half the price in Canada—and honestly, even doctors swear by it.

Get moving and get some exercise, because sitting around is absolutely wrecking your entire body. Humans were built to walk, not to spend their lives glued to a chair.
Kegels can definitely help, but you’ve got to be consistent with them and actually do them right if you want any real results.

Whenever you get a chance, just lie down and alternate lifting and shaking both legs in the air. It helps get that old blood pooling in your lower half actually circulating again. Just do it a few times. This is especially huge if your job involves standing around or sitting at a desk all day.

Honestly, I'm pretty sure it just comes down to being lazy and eating like crap.
Food used to be medicine and fuel, but nowadays it’s basically just slow-motion suicide. We aren't eating like our grandparents did, and we've completely ditched the herbal teas in favor of popping antibiotics for every little thing. So, who else here has ever overdone it on the garlic and spent the rest of the day walking around smelling like a walking biohazard?
I've spent my entire life being lectured about how lard is basically poison, only for them to turn around today and announce it's some kind of miracle cure.🙂
Lard lubricates your joints, heals your lungs, and fixes your mucous membranes. It’s just facts.
Now it's a regular thing on my slice of toast.😍

Michael Diaz4 said:Come on, don't be like that... Where on earth are you getting cancer from? What did your doctor actually tell you during your visit? Just go get a more thorough look at it... If you can't even pass stool because of hemorrhoids, you’d have to be at an advanced stage with prolapse... Don't be afraid to get checked out; they'll give you a treatment plan...

One doctor says it's just hemorrhoids, but my GP wants me to monitor it because it could be colitis. I'm spiraling this morning—I saw these dark, crumb-like bits in my stool, little strips of all different shapes, not round at all. I read online that bleeding can sometimes show up as black specks in the stool. Could this be that? I'm going to lose my mind waiting until Monday if anyone knows anything, please. I had bloodwork done about a week ago, and my hemoglobin was low—lower than usual. That's likely why it was noticed.

Grace Ross62 said:One doctor told me it’s just hemorrhoids, but my GP wants me to monitor it because it could be colitis. I was even more stressed this morning—I noticed some dark, crumbly bits in my stool, almost like little irregular flakes rather than round shapes. I read somewhere that bleeding can show up as tiny black specks in the stool. Does this sound like that? I’m going to lose my mind waiting until Monday if anyone knows. I had bloodwork done about a week ago, and my hemoglobin is low, though slightly higher than usual. It seems to have been reflected there.

Hold on, don't panic... What's going on with your bowel movements? From what I gather, you're dealing with constipation and a bit of mucus... That sounds like classic constipation to me. No need to freak out; mucus shows up during constipation because those lubricating glands near the anus kick in to help things move along. Honestly, everyone deals with constipation and a little mucus at some point—it's just how it works. Just watch your diet, get your digestion back on track, and you'll be fine. If you really want peace of mind, go see your primary care physician the day after tomorrow to have them take a look. Don't stress too much.☕

Michael Diaz4 As stated by:
It won't just disappear on its own, and honestly, it’s probably for the best that you aren't feeling any pain right now. Once the pain actually sets in, that's when you'll find yourself heading to the doctor. We all tend to be that way—I know I certainly was—until we eventually end up having surgery just to save our own lives.☕

🙂 What? The little pill. Will they be staying here permanently?😲

Michael Diaz4 said:Hold on, don't panic... What's actually going on with your bowel movements? From what I gather, you're dealing with some constipation and a little bit of mucus. That sounds like a textbook case of constipation to me. There’s really no reason to freak out; mucus often shows up during constipation because those lubricating glands are trying to help ease the passage. Honestly, almost everyone deals with constipation and seeing a bit of mucus at that moment. Just watch your diet, get your digestion back on track, and things should settle down. If you want total peace of mind, though, go see a doctor the day after tomorrow to have them take a look. Don't stress about it.☕

No, it’s not constipation. It’s more that I’m running to the bathroom constantly because of nausea and nerves, and then I end up straining. Basically, there’s some mucus in my stool, and I’ve noticed a little bit of light blood—twice now—on it. I don't have diarrhea; the stool itself looks normal otherwise. On the day this all started, I could feel a sort of lump, which I assume was a hemorrhoid. Now, I’m dealing with this slight itching, and I can actually feel those protrusions. Could this all be coming from hemorrhoids?