Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Greetings
If we are discussing external hemorrhoids, I find that applying St. John's Wort oil topically really does help—but, I suppose, one should also try eating a few slices of homemade bacon on an empty stomach followed by a glass of lukewarm water. If bacon isn't quite your thing, I would recommend using the St. John's Wort oil externally every day right after you shower.

I haven't given Fact a shot yet. Right now, I'm just rubbing Hemopip plus on it along with some rosehip oil. It doesn't hurt nearly as much, and if I'm being honest, it feels like things have shrunk just a tiny bit.
I picked up some Portalak syrup just to be safe. I’m trying to watch everything I eat and drink, but since that hasn't really done the trick, I've been using glycerin suppositories. They aren't a miracle cure, but hey, at least they do something.
Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll just keep fighting this external stuff until I actually give birth. In the meantime, it's nothing but figs, plums, peaches, tons of fiber, chugging water, and drinking plenty of Donat mg. If all else fails, I'll just end up needing an enema.

Hey there, fellow hemorrhoid sufferers, 🙂 I’m going through the same hell right now. I went to see my doctor, and she just smeared some Vaseline on her finger and shoved it in, 😁 which honestly left me throbbing for a few hours afterward...
Anyway, the moment she pushed her finger in—ouch. If I'm reading this right, that means I've got internal ones or something, right?

The real kicker is that after I go to the bathroom, I get this nagging sensation like I didn't quite finish the job. Then, when I actually manage to clear out, it's a total disaster for the first five minutes; I can barely walk straight. Things finally settle down after about 15 minutes or so.

Basically, for the last two days since my last bout, I've had this constant urge, like I need to go, but there's absolutely nothing to unload...
I used to struggle with external ones too, but those seem fine for now.

When I told the doc that I still feel that "phantom urge" after I'm done, she suggested I should probably get a rectoscopy (knock on wood, I hope it's not bad)...
To be clear, there's no bleeding, and my stool looks normal color-wise, though there is some mucus present...

I was dealing with some really hard stools for a while, and now I'm basically paying the price for that.
Honestly, I think I'd much rather deal with external ones than these internal ones...
The doctor gave me a referral for the rectoscopy, and I told her straight up that I just want this fixed once and for all, so it's better to just go in and see what the actual situation is.

I had my 7HAL+6RAR procedure about three weeks ago.

A little bit of background on my situation

I’m 45 now, and I first started dealing with hemorrhoid issues when I was 22. It usually just meant some minor stinging, a bit of heat in the area, and maybe a few drops of blood...
I don't want to bore everyone with too many details since so much has already been covered here, but basically, over the last decade or so, things progressed to stage 3. There were times when the bleeding got a bit heavier, but then it would settle down, and I guess you just get used to living that way. Occasionally there would be some quick, uncomfortable pain, but nothing too crazy. My doctor mentioned that plenty of people deal with this stuff. He suggested staying active, eating healthy, and sitting less... For milder cases, ointments help. I tried Pilex once, and it worked, though it didn't work the second time.
I’ve always lived a pretty disciplined life and I stay in good shape with an ideal weight, but my job requires me to sit for most of the workday.

Then, at the start of last August, after doing some very brief and minor squats, everything flared up overnight. What was stage 2 or 3 suddenly jumped to stage 4, with about two-thirds of the hemorrhoids prolapsing.
At that point, I couldn't really do anything except take short, easy walks or lie on my stomach. I immediately started looking up all the surgical options online and on this forum.

I want to say thanks to everyone on the forum, especially "Dreamland" and specifically Michael Diaz4. His posts—and his own story—were incredibly helpful and definitely played a part in my decision to go through with the surgery. I think Michael Diaz4 deserves a gold medal on this thread; he’s been such a great example of a kind person for years by sharing his experiences and being so available to others. Thanks, Michael! 👍

I went to a private clinic and saw the doctor who's been mentioned here before ("Dreamland") to get checked out, and we scheduled the HAL+RAR procedure for ten days later. In the meantime, I was trying to calm the inflammation using Medazol antibiotics and Daflon tablets (and, of course, some Proctolog ointment).

The inflammation eventually settled down, moving back to stage 3, and the prolapse decreased a bit.

The surgery and recovery process

The surgery took place at the clinic. The accommodations were nice, and the staff was great too. The whole procedure was done under general anesthesia and lasted about an hour and twenty minutes.
As I mentioned before, for us guys, the hardest part after a procedure like this is the pain and inflammation in the prostate area. Urinating is pretty difficult for the first 3 or 4 days. You feel like you need to go every half hour. Plus, after the first day, bowel movements become quite a unique experience. Because of that uncomfortable pressure, you constantly feel like you need to go. It’s really important not to strain or sit on the toilet for too long. If things move, they move quickly! 😍 Your usual control isn't really there for the first five days, so I wouldn't suggest wandering too far from a restroom. The window between feeling like you "need to go" and actually having to go is very small, but I guess you get used to it pretty fast.

I'm still on the same medications they prescribed (antibiotics for 10 days, Daflon for 3 months), along with Proctolog cream and Lidocaine gel (for numbing). For the pain, I take Advil 600 mg. It made me feel a little drugged for about 24 hours, so I ended up avoiding it. Luckily, my pain wasn't too intense, aside from what I described regarding the prostate.
To make things easier, it was recommended that I take two teaspoons of mineral oil before every meal. It seems to "lubricate the way," so everything passes quite easily.

There is also some constant, moderate to medium pain around the anus and tailbone area. I assume it's from the instrument/tube used to stabilize the area while they find the artery. Massaging the area and using cold compresses really helps during those first five days. It might look a little silly seeing a man walking around his house massaging his tailbone, but it truly helps with the pain!

Like Michael Diaz4 said once, if you're dealing with stage 4 (with prolapse), you probably shouldn't expect to recover in just a couple of days.
It’s almost been three weeks since my surgery, and I think I only felt ready to head back to the office after day 20 had passed. I suppose everyone heals differently, but it was only recently that I could sit for longer periods without feeling that uncomfortable pressure in my rectal area.
That was just my personal experience, but I really hope you all take good care of yourselves and make sure to see a doctor right away if anything feels off! 🙂

I recently picked up some Unguentum
I haven't used anything for this in about two years—which was a massive mistake
Because lately, the itching has become constant
I even thought I noticed some discharge, though maybe I'm just imagining things since there's no bleeding and it doesn't really hurt

Hopefully, this ointment actually does its job
We're talking external issues here

They’re back again in the absolute worst possible state. To give you the short version, I underwent surgery at Leptir Clinic about two and a half years ago using the Hal-RAR method. For a while, it seemed to be holding steady, but about six months ago, things started shifting again. I went back for a check-up and spent three months on Daflon, followed by ten days of Medazol and some cream. Things stabilized briefly, but they didn't actually go away. My routine has been to just wash up after using the restroom, push them back in, and try to move on with my life. But yesterday, they flared up so aggressively that it felt completely out of control, and I simply cannot get them back in. I haven't slept a wink all night or during the day; it has been an absolute disaster. The inflammation is so intense that the pain is driving me to the brink of insanity. I picked up some Pilex for the first time to see if it helps, alongside various creams and other pharmacy supplies, but honestly, it's just pure drama. I paid a massive amount of money for this surgery, and in the end, it hasn't helped me one bit. So where does that leave me? Do I really have to go through with another surgery? When I saw the doctor six months ago, he mentioned we could repeat the procedure, but that means paying a fortune all over again, enduring those insane post-op pains, and still having zero guarantee that everything will turn out fine. This isn't even a matter of logic anymore. How often do hemorrhoids recur after the Hal-RAR method? They claim a success rate of up to 95%. Am I just incredibly unlucky, or did the doctor fail to perform the procedure correctly?
THE PAIN IS DRIVING ME INSANE
Michael Diaz4, you seem to know a lot about Hal-RAR, or perhaps someone else might know more.
What am I left with here? Should I just live with this and suffer, or undergo surgery again? I don't want either option; I just want to be cured.🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Kate Allen35, I’m planning to head over to Germany in a few weeks for the HAL-RAR, maybe combine it with a laser depending on how things look. Found a highly recommended surgeon, but I won't vouch for him until I see how it goes for me personally. Not sure what you ended up paying at Leptir Clinic, but this route doesn't seem too pricey yet, at least regarding the surgeon's fees... still waiting on the numbers for the anesthesiologist and the hospital stay. I'll let you know. 🙂

swiftmason25 As specified by:
It’s been three weeks since I had my 7HAL+6RAR procedure.

A brief history of the problem.

I'm 45 now, but this whole hemorrhoid situation actually started way back when I was only 22. It usually starts out as just a little stinging sensation, a feeling of heat down there, and then a few drops of blood...
I don't want to bore you all by repeating things that have already been said—there’s clearly a lot of shared experience here. Looking back over the last decade or so, it feels like these issues eventually progress to stage three. You get these bouts where the bleeding is heavier, then it settles down again, and honestly, you just kind of adapt to living this way. There’s that occasional, sharp, uncomfortable sting near the anus, but nothing too catastrophic. My doctor tells me it's incredibly common; most people deal with something similar at some point. The standard advice is always the same: move around more, eat better, sit less... and use ointments when things are still in the early stages. I tried Pilex once and it actually worked, but the second time around? Not so much.
I’ve always been someone who keeps things orderly. I stay in shape and maintain my ideal weight, no question about it. But my job? Well, that's a different story. Most of my workday is spent sitting behind a desk.

At the start of last month, I did some very brief, almost insignificant squats. Then, overnight, everything went south. My hemorrhoids flared up from stage two and three straight into stage four, with a 2/3 prolapse. It was sudden and honestly pretty overwhelming.
Right now, I’m pretty much incapable of doing anything besides taking tiny little walks or just lying on my stomach. I didn't waste any time, though—I immediately went online and started digging through this forum to look into every possible surgical option available.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone on this forum, especially to the folks over at Dreamland, and most notably to Michael Diaz4. His posts—and his entire journey—have been incredibly insightful. They played a massive role in helping me finally pull the trigger on my procedure. Honestly, Michael Diaz4 deserves a gold medal for this thread; the way he shares his experiences and stays so available to help others is such a rare, selfless quality. Thank you, Michael! 👍

I went in for an exam at a private clinic and saw that doctor mentioned earlier—"Dreamland"—and we’ve scheduled my HAL-RAR procedure for ten days from now. In the meantime, I've been working on calming down the inflammation using Medazol antibiotics and Daflon tablets (and, of course, some Proctolog ointment too).

The inflammation has finally settled down. My hemorrhoids have retreated back to stage three, and the prolapse has actually shrunk.

The surgical process and what follows.

I had my surgery at the Leptir Clinic. The accommodations were perfectly suited for recovery, and the nursing care was just as appropriate. The procedure itself was performed under full anesthesia and lasted about an hour and twenty minutes.
Like I’ve said before, for us guys, the biggest headache after a procedure like this is dealing with a painful, inflamed prostate. For those first three or four days, peeing is a total struggle. You feel that urge to go every thirty minutes or so. On top of that, once you get past day one, bowel movements become... interesting, to say the least. Because of that uncomfortable pressure in the rectal area, you constantly feel like you need to go. It’s vital that you don't strain or spend way too much time sitting on the toilet. If things move along naturally, then great—just let it happen! 😍 Just a heads-up: those last few brakes that usually help you hold things in aren't exactly working right now. So, for the first five days, I wouldn't suggest wandering too far from the restroom. There’s a very tiny window between that "I should probably go" feeling and the actual "okay, it's happening" moment, but honestly, you get used to the rhythm pretty quickly.

I’m still on the exact same regimen: a ten-day course of antibiotics and three months of Daflon. I've also got Proctolog and some Lidocaine gel to deal with. For the pain, they put me on Advil 600mg. Honestly? It made me feel completely drugged for about 24 hours, so I've been avoiding it. Luckily, the pain hasn't been too intense, aside from that prostate issue I mentioned before.
To make things move more smoothly, I’ve been advised to take two teaspoons of mineral oil before every meal. It basically lubricates the whole system, so everything just glides right through when it's time to go.

I’ve been dealing with this constant, moderate to fairly sharp pain right around the anal area and my tailbone. I’m guessing it’s from the instruments—specifically that tube they insert to hold everything steady while they hunt for the artery. It feels like the pressure just bruises the whole area. Massaging the spot and using cold compresses during those first five days really does the trick. It might look a little ridiculous to see a guy pacing around his apartment massaging his own tailbone, but honestly? It’s a lifesaver for the pain.

Like Michael Diaz4 once mentioned, if you're dealing with stage 4 issues (with prolapse), don't expect to bounce back in just a couple of days.
I'll be hitting the three-week mark post-surgery in a few days, and honestly, I wasn't even ready to head back to work until after day 20. Everyone's recovery is different. For me, it’s only now that I can sit for longer stretches without feeling that uncomfortable pressure.
That was my experience. My advice? Take care of yourselves, and if something feels off, get to a doctor immediately! 🙂

And hey, no need to thank me. It's no big deal to reply to everyone via DM. I'm truly glad you finally got rid of yours for good... Good luck, friend.🙂

Andrew Ramos38 said:I recently picked up some Unguentum cream
I haven't used anything for two years, which was a mistake
because lately, they've started itching constantly
I even thought there was some discharge, though maybe not, since there's no bleeding or much pain

I'm hoping this ointment helps
they are external issues

The itching can be manageable, but it can get irritating enough to keep you up at night. Discharge is definitely possible, so you have to keep cleaning up and using whatever cream works for you. For the specifics, go see a specialist and let them suggest a treatment plan. Good luck...😉

David Collins77 said:Here they are again, back in the worst possible state. To make a long story short, I had surgery at Leptir Clinic two and a half years ago using the Hal-RAR method. Things stayed under control until about six months ago. Then I went back for a checkup and did three months of Daflon, followed by 10 days of Medazol and some cream. They stabilized, but didn't disappear. After using the bathroom, I'd clean up, push them back in, and move on. But yesterday, they popped out like crazy and I can't get them back in. I didn't sleep all night or all day. It's a disaster. Everything is inflamed and sticking out, and the pain is maddening. I bought some Pilex for the first time to see if it helps, along with creams and other pharmacy supplies. Basically, it's total drama. I paid huge amounts of money for a surgery that ended up doing nothing. So now what? Do I go in for surgery again? My doctor told me we could repeat the procedure when I saw him 6 months ago, but now I have to pay all over again, endure insane post-op pain, and nobody can guarantee it'll work. This is beyond frustrating. How often do hemorrhoids come back after Hal-RAR? It says there's a 95% success rate. Am I just incredibly unlucky, or did the doctor mess something up?....
GOING CRAZY FROM THE PAIN
Michael Diaz4, you know a lot about Hal-RAR, and so does someone else...
What am I left with? Either live with this and suffer, or get surgery? I don't want either. I just want to be cured! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

Uh, this sounds like a tough spot to be in... I personally don't know anyone who had issues returning after a Hal-RAR treatment. From what I've read, only about 1% of people deal with recurrences because things get so complicated they basically turn into a scientific puzzle. At that point, you need deep investigation and a lot of patience, but it is fixable. My surgeon told me once that when a problem is neglected and escalates, even doctors start scratching their heads—it becomes a massive headache for them too. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't hesitate. You have to resolve this. That means surgery is likely necessary, and you might have to undergo the procedure again. If you aren't happy with the care you got, find a different doctor—someone with a better track record. I don't want to badmouth the guy who treated you, though; maybe your case just fell into that unlucky 1% where things got complicated. If you think the doctor is actually good and this was just a freak occurrence, then go back to him. Maybe you can even negotiate a discount. Honestly, I don't think money should be the main concern right now; getting cured is what matters, regardless of how many times you have to do it. Just remember—no matter how much pain you're in right now, the actual surgery is easier in the long run. After those first few days, the pain starts to subside (you've been through that already, so you know what I mean), and there's also that psychological relief knowing the suffering is almost over. I felt indescribably happy after my surgery, even during that first painful night at home, because I knew the end was in sight. I wouldn't second-guess the surgery itself. As for whether to stick with the same doctor, try to weigh your options. There might be better specialists out there, or maybe not. What stage are you at currently? If I understood you correctly, you're at stage four, where they don't really push anything back in anymore. Just go get the surgery. The pain sounds unbearable... Good luck, and please let us know how it goes.

Michael Diaz4 said:Man, that's a rough spot to be in... I personally don't know anyone who had issues returning after a Hal-RAR treatment. From what I've read, maybe like 1% of people deal with setbacks because things get so complicated they turn into a scientific puzzle. It requires deep dives and a massive amount of patience, but honestly, it can be fixed.

As for me, everything came back to normal about three years after my Hal-RAR procedure at Leptir Clinic.🙂
Anyway, I'm just waiting until I'm ready to have kids before I worry about the specifics.🙂 But if it happens, I'm definitely doing it in a hospital. Until then, hang in there, buddy.😳

Looks like we’ve got two clear failures from the Leptir Clinic here. Since the sample size is tiny, patients might want to keep this in mind when picking a surgeon.

As for ointments, I highly recommend Proctolyn from Italy. I've tried just about everything, but nothing else comes close. I know others who feel the same way.

Here’s some data on how successful HAL-RAR procedures actually are out there in the world:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3580282/

It is now the second day, and while the hemorrhoid has increased in size, the pain has actually subsided somewhat. I managed to get some sleep last night, which was a significant improvement over the night before. I suspect this might be a thrombosed hemorrhoid, though I cannot say for certain. My plan is to wait until Monday to see if it finally begins to recede, but I am honestly uncertain about how that will play out given that it is currently as large as a walnut. What is the typical protocol if it is indeed a thrombosis? From what I have gathered, this can be resolved at a clinic through a minor surgical procedure that is supposedly quite painless. However, I am curious if anyone here has experience regarding how long it takes for a mass of this magnitude to shrink. It truly is enormous; I have never experienced anything quite like this, even during my worst flare-ups prior to my previous surgery.
I am considering waiting once again to see if I can manage the situation through dietary changes to keep things under control. I am conflicted. On one hand, I could commit to a long-term struggle with dietary adjustments, or on the other, I could simply opt for surgery tomorrow.
I am genuinely wondering how much time it will take to subside because this specific one is massive. Looking at it, I have this sensation that it may never retract because of how large and firm it feels.

David Collins77 said:Today is day two. The hemorrhoid is actually larger now, though the pain has subsided a bit. I actually managed to get some sleep last night, which was a huge relief compared to the night before. I suspect it might be a thrombosis, but I can't say for sure. I’m planning to wait until Monday to see if it finally starts to recede, but I’m honestly worried because this thing is as big as a walnut. What’s the deal if it really is a thrombosis? I’ve seen that a quick, supposedly painless surgical procedure at a clinic can fix it. But I’m curious—has anyone dealt with something this size? How long does it take for a massive lump like this to shrink back down? It’s truly enormous. I haven't even experienced anything this extreme during my worst flare-ups prior to surgery.
I think I'll try to hold out one more time and see if I can manage it through diet alone. I'm torn, honestly. On one hand, I could commit to a long-term dietary battle to keep things under control, but on the other, I could just go in for surgery tomorrow.
I'm genuinely wondering how much time it will take to subside because this one is massive. Looking at it, I feel like it’s never going to go back inside; it's just too large and firm.

That isn't going to just disappear on its own. You need to see a doctor; you're likely looking at surgery...

I honestly don't know anymore. I am feeling incredibly frustrated because, for the first time, I actually believed that my surgery would provide the relief I needed, but now I am starting to have serious doubts about that being the case.

crimsongull20 said:When it comes to ointments, I honestly can't recommend the Italian Proctolyn enough. I've tried just about everything out there, but nothing else even comes close to how well it works. I know a few others who feel the exact same way.

Does anyone know how much it costs?

And does the ointment just help ease the symptoms—you know, the swelling, inflammation, pain, and all that—or does it actually get rid of the hemorrhoids themselves?

Scott Martin51 said:How much does it cost?

And does the ointment just soothe the symptoms (swelling, inflammation, pain, etc.), or does it actually get rid of the hemorrhoids?

No ointment is going to make hemorrhoids disappear. It’s all symptomatic treatment—you're managing the fallout without touching the actual cause. There are plenty of good options out there, though. It's worth trying whatever worked for someone else, even if it doesn't solve the underlying issue of enlarged hemorrhoids.

Scott Martin51 said:How much does it cost?

And does the ointment just soothe the symptoms (swelling, inflammation, pain, etc.) or actually get rid of hemorrhoids?

Well, here’s a rough price estimate from this site: http://eshop.interfarmazorzetto.com/...10/p/5872.html

As far as I know, you can't find it in any local pharmacies. I always have to beg someone traveling to Italy to bring me some.

And yeah, it won't permanently fix the hemorrhoids. But there's a good chance it helps with the symptoms... Good luck. 🙂

David Collins77 said:I don't even know anymore... just frustrated because for once I actually believed surgery would fix things. Now I'm starting to doubt that too...

You have to pick a surgeon with way more caution than you'd pick a spouse. 😉

So, I finally went through with the HAL-RAR procedure at Merkur Hospital last week. I made the call to just get it over with after more than 20 years of dealing with hemorrhoids—which, by the end, had hit stage 3... absolute misery.
The stories shared by folks on this forum definitely pushed me toward making the decision, so I really want to say thanks to Michael Diaz4, Dreamland, and everyone else who shared their experiences just to help others out.
The surgery happened 6 days ago over at Merkur, performed by the same surgeon who also works at Leptir Clinic—I won't even bother naming him since I'm sure you all know exactly who I'm talking about.
Since I wasn't in a massive rush, I actually waited over 6 months for an appointment, but since the method is identical to what they do at Leptir, I figured I'd go with Merkur instead. It’s covered by Medicare, whereas at Leptir, it's basically whoever can afford to pay goes there.
Anyway, it's been five days now and I'm already sitting here at my computer typing this up, though I think I'll have to go lie down pretty soon...
To keep it brief, the symptoms are almost exactly what swiftmason25 described on the previous page—and he did a great job laying it out.
It's way too early to start celebrating, though, so I'm not going to jump to any conclusions just yet.
Hang in there to everyone else dealing with this crap... stay brave if you end up needing surgery. 🙂

Hey there,

I figured I’d jump in here and share my own ongoing saga with hemorrhoids.

I’ve been dealing with this for a few years now, though things have taken a pretty nasty turn over the last twelve months—it actually escalated to the point where I ended up in the ER a couple of months back. I won't go into the specific symptoms because, frankly, enough said, but if anyone is genuinely curious about the gory details, feel free to ask 🙂
.
I'm sitting at stage 3 hemorrhoids... basically, any time I pull on my underwear, the reaction is just a straight-up "aaaaagh." I've checked in with both the Mayo Clinic and Mercury, and apparently, the only real fix is surgery.

The last time I was at the Mayo Clinic was back in August, and they gave me an appointment for March 2015. They perform the standard surgical removal, which I've heard is quite intense; the recovery is long, painful, and there's even the nagging possibility that these damn things might come back anyway. Because of that, I did some digging into different surgical options and eventually decided that the DG HAL + RAR method is the way to go.

So, since I don't exactly have a mountain of cash lying around for private clinics, I went in for a consultation at Mercury this week to look into the DG HAL + RAR procedure. After the doctor finished the exam, the diagnosis was stage 3, and the prescribed treatment was surgery. That part isn't surprising given how I'm feeling, but what is absolutely absurd is the timeline they gave me for the actual procedure: November 2015. A fourteen-month wait 😠???. Despite my best efforts to plead my case and explain how much pain I'm in, all I got was: "If I were in your shoes with this condition, I wouldn't be waiting at all, let alone until late 2015; I (the doctor) can't help you because I don't control the scheduling..." blah, blah, blah.

Naturally, I lost my mind, and honestly, I’m still a little rattled, but I've managed to calm down enough to share this mess with you all.

Does anyone happen to know if any hospitals in the metro area (like Holy Spirit, the Suburban neighborhood hospital, or maybe one near the Vineyard...) offer the DG HAL + RAR method?

Thanks!