Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

I find myself wondering, if I may ask for your collective wisdom, whether it would be prudent to apply Hemoprofin ointment on a daily basis even in the absence of active inflammation. Might there be any unforeseen or undesirable side effects resulting from such frequent use?

I have discovered a small lump, roughly half a centimeter in diameter, located on the left side of my anal area, and I am considering taking some Tylenol to manage things; does anyone happen to know what the current pricing might look like over in Canada?

Dear fellow sufferers, I’m reaching out in the hope of finding someone dealing with the exact same issues I am.
Basically, I’ve been struggling with hemorrhoids for about two or three years now—though looking back, I had occasional bleeding after long drives or straining during bowel movements even before that. What really spooked me, however, was a small skin tag near my anus that appeared two years ago and hasn't budged since. At the time, I wasn't going to the bathroom very often, so I assumed the straining caused it. I finally forced myself to see a doctor about a year ago. Since then, I've started a job where I'm essentially glued to a desk all day, which has definitely exacerbated the bleeding—usually right before my period or after eating heavier meals and having a drink (even though I try my best to keep things "moving" smoothly). It also happens when I walk in the cold—sounds strange, I know, but after a long walk, it feels like everything just chafes and becomes slightly bloody. My doctor identified it as an external thrombosed hemorrhoid and said there's no need for removal yet. She did an internal exam and felt some thickening—which I suspect might actually be an internal issue given the bleeding—and sent me for stool tests. No blood was found in the stool, and my general blood work was fine, aside from elevated iron levels, which has always been my baseline.

What I really want to know is: does anyone else have a hemorrhoid that doesn't behave like the textbook version? Most people describe them as these blueish lumps that eventually vanish, right? Mine isn't going anywhere; it's more skin-colored, almost like the skin has just stretched out. My gynecologist told me not to bother removing it because it would likely just come back. Then there’s the pain—or lack thereof. Usually, it doesn't hurt, but I've had this bizarre sensation twice now—ugh—where if I sit down, especially in a cross-legged position, it feels like something is pulling or stinging me from the inside. Now that it's flared up again, I feel fine while standing, but sitting causes this sharp, localized poking sensation. To make matters worse, this was preceded by a few days of brutal coughing; the sheer strain of coughing everything out might have triggered it. Could that be the cause? Is it the hemorrhoid? Also, my father has dealt with this his entire life, so I assume it's hereditary—especially since I'm only in my twenties—though my doctor noted, "Honey, this didn't just start two years ago; you've likely been carrying this for much longer."

I’m starting to lose my mind here. I’m honestly considering pushing myself to get a colonoscopy, even though the fear of finding something much more serious is hovering over me. Someone has probably posted about this before, but the threads are too massive to search through one by one. If anyone can offer some advice or share their experience, I would be incredibly grateful. 🙂

Jason Nelson80, those skin flaps are basically what Americans call "anal skin tags," so feel free to Google that if you want.
It's benign, and doctors usually avoid removing them unless they're causing actual issues, mostly because the success rates for that procedure aren't great...

Bright red bleeding is a classic sign of internal hemorrhoids, which can get painful if they swell up. Of course, it could be something else entirely, and while it's unlikely to be anything serious at your age, if you want total peace of mind... just go get a colonoscopy.

Hey everyone,

I’ve been dealing with some external hemorrhoids for about five days now, and they just aren't subsiding. Since I live out on one of the islands, getting to a proctologist means at least a four or five-hour drive, which is honestly the last thing I want to deal with right now while I'm in this much discomfort.

I did stop by my primary doctor, and she advised me to apply some Fact ointment and use ice packs for the swelling. She also gave me a pain injection and prescribed some Lupocet to help manage things. Now I’m wondering, does anyone know how long this kind of inflammation usually lasts, or what exactly I'm dealing with here? Any advice would be truly appreciated—I'll take all the help I can get.

I am actually planning to look into surgical options to resolve this once things settle down a bit.

Thanks, everyone!

Thanks a million! 🙂

Jason Ortiz4 said:As a physician with many years of experience, I have spent a significant portion of my career specializing in proctology. Over the years, I’ve encountered a wide spectrum of issues and have learned quite a bit simply by listening to my patients. Since everyone’s lifestyle is different, I suppose everyone experiences this kind of stressful issue in their own way. I’ve noticed that people on this forum frequently exchange advice regarding various products and instructions. I have to say, some of the guidance shared here is genuinely useful, and as a doctor, it’s quite heartening to see so many people staying well-informed. However, I feel compelled to offer my own perspective to assist those who haven't reached advanced stages yet—specifically, those dealing with mild hemorrhoids that don't necessarily require surgery. Based on the feedback I’ve been receiving from an increasing number of my patients, Quest Diagnostics has proven to be a very effective product. This actually prompted me to do some further research so that I might contribute more meaningful advice in my professional capacity. The ingredients found in Quest Diagnostics are elements that have long since established their medicinal properties; in fact, we often utilize them individually to address various other ailments. One could argue that you should practically be incorporating these ingredients into your daily regimen. Provided that these plants undergo a high-quality extraction process to preserve their healing properties, such a product would undoubtedly have a significant impact on your health, potentially slowing down or even treating hemorrhoid symptoms. With hemorrhoidal disease, there is always an underlying cause, but if that cause is difficult to manage, then these types of ingredients become quite necessary to mitigate the issue or slow the progression. By taking these herbal remedies several times a year, you might minimize the occurrence of hemorrhoids significantly. Once things reach a critical stage, our options become much more limited. I realize this sounds like a pitch, but if this post is deleted, it prevents a piece of useful advice—based on actual patient feedback—from being available to those who, as I understand it, come here looking for clearer explanations.

Could antibiotics trigger internal hemorrhoids? After finishing a course of antibiotics (Augmentin 1g), I experienced a sharp, knife-like pain during bowel movements, and I noticed traces of bright red blood on the paper. The bleeding lasted for a few days before stopping, but I am still dealing with a persistent stinging sensation, pain, and a feeling of rectal fullness (regardless of whether I've had a movement) which has lasted for about two months now. It feels somewhat better after I go, especially when my bowels aren't overly full (which is a struggle for me). My bowel movements are relatively regular, though I occasionally skip a day, which causes quite a bit of discomfort during the next movement. I dealt with an external hemorrhoid earlier this year that bled, but after using Microsoft and some herbal salve I picked up from a local apothecary, it receded. Are these typical symptoms of internal hemorrhoids, and what can I do to alleviate them?

Which medicinal plants was the doctor referring to in the post without naming them?

Hey everyone!
I am seriously having a total meltdown right now—my entire post just vanished into thin air...
So, I had surgery about ten days ago (at Mayo Clinic) and my system finally decided to kick in last night. But honestly? It’s been a nightmare. Up until now, I've been stuck with nothing happening eight times over. Now, I have this intense urge to go, but hardly anything comes out, and the pain is just unreal—honestly, worse than anything else I've felt. It's soft, but it feels like there's some kind of spasm happening, plus I've got two new tiny hemorrhoids acting up too. Has anyone dealt with something similar after a procedure? How long did it take for things to actually get normal? I usually have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I'm hitting a wall here—I've been feeling so weak and just plain sick from the pain since yesterday. Any advice at all would be a lifesaver!!

Hi there,
I'm new to this thread... mostly because, thankfully, I didn't need to be here before.🤣🤣 A few days ago, I felt something really uncomfortable—this itching sensation... nothing I've ever dealt with until now. My mind immediately jumped to hemorrhoids... just the thought of it absolutely terrified me, but I kept turning it over in my head, trying to figure out what else it could be, and every single answer pointed to the same thing. It was itching for two or three days, but honestly, out of pure fear, I just couldn't bring myself to actually look. Since it wouldn't stop, I finally worked up the courage and grabbed a mirror... and of course, there was something to see... a little external lump. It isn't bleeding, and it doesn't hurt, per se... it’s just incredibly annoying, bothersome, and it itches like crazy. Naturally, I immediately started digging for info and took some first steps. As if I knew, I went out the day before and bought some calendula ointment, and since I read in several places that you can mix it with honey... well, I've been applying that mixture to the lump for two days now, and I even smear some on my pillowcase and hold it there for a bit... until I change my clothes. I'm wondering, how long does it usually take for this to clear up? I see all sorts of different cases online, and since I'm new to all this... I'm pretty uninformed. I also want to know, is it possible for this to get worse? I couldn't find answers anywhere, so I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me... once you get hemorrhoids, does it mean you'll have them forever? Or is that not necessarily true? And how often do they show up? I don't even know what I should change about my lifestyle because I've always eaten the same way, so I don't think it's that, otherwise I would have had them a long time ago—though I suppose my diet is relatively varied and decent. I've had digestive issues my whole life and nothing has changed there, maybe things were even slightly better than usual lately, so I'm left wondering what could have suddenly triggered them to appear...

Karen Martinez55 said:Hey everyone, reaching out here hoping to find someone dealing with the same stuff I am.
So, I've been dealing with hemorrhoid issues for about 2 or 3 years now, though even before that, I'd notice some bleeding after long drives or when I had to go pretty hard. What’s really bugging me is this little skin tag that popped up about 2 years ago near my anus, and it just won't budge. Back then, I wasn't going to the bathroom very often, so I figured all that straining caused it. I finally pushed myself to see a doctor about a year ago since I started working and spend basically my whole day sitting at a desk—which definitely makes the bleeding worse, especially around my period or after eating heavy food and having a drink (even though I try to keep things moving!). It also happens sometimes during walks when it's cold—sounds weird, I know, but it feels like everything gets irritated and there's a bit of blood. My doctor said it’s an external thrombosed hemorrhoid and doesn't need removal yet. She checked me out internally too and felt some thickening—I'm guessing that might be internal since I bleed from inside, but who knows! She sent me for stool tests—no blood found there, and my bloodwork was mostly fine, except my iron is a bit high, but that's always been the case.

What I'm wondering is if anyone else has a hemorrhoid like mine? Most people describe them as these blue bumps that eventually vanish, right? But mine isn't going away; it's just skin-colored, almost like the skin just stretched out. My OBGYN told me I shouldn't have it removed because it'll just come back. Also, the pain—usually it doesn't hurt, but a couple of times I've felt this weird sensation, like a sharp pulling or stinging inside when I sit down, especially in a squatting position. It just happened again recently. When I'm standing, I'm totally fine, but sitting down feels like being poked from the inside. And honestly, I had this crazy coughing fit for a few days right before it flared up, so maybe all that straining from coughing triggered it? Is that actually the hemorrhoid? I should mention my dad has dealt with this his whole life, so maybe it's genetic since I'm only in my twenties, though my doctor was like, "Honey, this didn't just start two years ago, you've had this much longer."

I'm starting to freak out a little, maybe even enough to force myself into getting a colonoscopy, though I'm terrified they'll find something serious. Someone probably already posted about this, but there are so many posts I can't find it individually. If anyone has advice or has gone through this, I'd be so grateful. 🙂

Jason Nelson80, did you ever get rid of that skin tag thing?? Because I have the exact same thing left over after my hemorrhoids and it just won't go away!! :-(
I use Factual ointment and hemopropin, so there's no blood or pain anymore, but it's still there, annoying me and not leaving!!
Anyone else experienced this??
The worst part is I'm currently going through IVF, and I'm just so embarrassed to bring this up with my doctor...

Sandra Garcia12 said:Jason Nelson80, did you actually manage to deal with that skin tag issue?? Honestly, I’ve had the exact same thing lingering after my hemorrhoids, and it just won't budge!! :-(
I've been using Fact ointments and hemopropin—no bleeding, no pain, but it's still there, annoying me and refusing to go away!!
Anyone else dealt with this by chance??
The worst part is I'm currently in the middle of an IVF cycle, and I'm honestly too embarrassed to bring it up with my OBGYN...

Hey 🙂
So, I actually just had a rectoscopy recently—my doctor confirmed the internal issues, but regarding the external stuff? She basically said it's just a skin tag, no big deal. Anyway, from what I've gathered: there isn't really a reason to remove it unless it's messing with your hygiene. There's truly no need to feel self-conscious—even my gynecologist mentioned that she wouldn't have even noticed if I hadn't pointed it out. Don't let it get to you, and good luck with the IVF process. 🙂

I keep posting here hoping someone might actually drop a helpful suggestion...
The issue is external hemorrhoids. I can't tell if they're just getting worse or if new ones are popping up constantly, but the itching is unbearable—like I'm going to tear my skin raw from scratching.
I could spend forever cycling through random creams, or maybe I should just see a specialist. I know there are private clinics out there, but does anyone know of a high-quality place where I won't get ripped off or at least won't have to pay an insane premium?

Hi everyone!
About three weeks ago, I noticed some blood after using the bathroom. I went to see my doctor, but she basically just brushed it off as hemorrhoids, recommended some Pfizer cream, gave me a few pointers, and sent me on my way. Aside from an occasional sharp twinge during bowel movements—which is usually followed by some bleeding and itching—I don't have any major issues yet. However, after diving down the rabbit hole of online forums to learn more about what people actually deal with, I’ve honestly spiraled into a bit of a depression. I can't even imagine living with the kind of intense pain some people describe. Because of that, I've decided to go see a proctologist. My question is: is it possible to resolve hemorrhoids through a minor procedure if they are still at Stage 1? (I'm assuming mine are, since I haven't noticed anything external yet). If so, where should I go, and is there a specific specialist you’d recommend? I did some searching online and found places like the Mayo Clinic, which has really detailed descriptions of their removal procedures, as well as Butterfly and Arithera. Does anyone here have experience with those clinics or how they operate? Also, what kind of pricing are we talking about generally? Would it be better to stick to a hospital setting instead? I know there’s a ton of information out there, but with so many different posts, I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed and lost on what to do next. To be honest, I’m only 19 and I have absolutely no experience dealing with anything like this. I would be so grateful for any advice or help you could offer!

Is it actually possible that in this day and age—with all the medical breakthroughs we hear about constantly—we still haven't found an affordable, highly effective cure for hemorrhoids? 😠😠😠

quietscout4- I think it’s still a bit early to jump straight to laxatives. Focus on adjusting your diet and cutting back on sitting—just follow your body's lead. Cut out the spicy stuff and anything else that triggers you; I’ve noticed mine tends to flare up a few days before my period, so during that time, I try to soften things up—usually by having some fiber cereal and adding flaxseeds every night, plus staying hydrated. I know how mentally draining this can be—I dealt with the exact same thing for the last three years—but honestly, just try to put it out of your mind. I don't have any experience with places like the Mayo Clinic, so I can't really offer much insight there.
cosmicviper18- From what I’ve heard, there are three common remedies: St. John's Wort oil, frozen pellets of lard, or grated potato with olive oil. You should Google the specifics; I only tried the St. John's Wort, and it worked fine for me. Good luck! 🙂

Karen Martinez55 said:quietscout4—I honestly think it might be a bit early to start looking into supplements or medications. Maybe focus on tweaking your diet and moving around a little more first? Just listen to your body—cut out anything spicy or anything else that triggers you. I’ve noticed mine tend to flare up a few days before my period starts, so during those times, I try to keep things moving along—like having some cereal with flaxseeds every night and staying super hydrated. I know how mentally draining this whole thing can be—it’s been my reality for the last three years—but you just have to try to move past it. I don't really have any experience with places like the Mayo Clinic, so I can't offer much insight there.
cosmicviper18—from what I've heard, there are three common remedies: St. John's Wort oil, frozen lard pellets, or grating potato and mixing it with olive oil. You should probably Google the details; I only tried the St. John's Wort, and it worked okay for me. Good luck! 🙂

Did they disappear completely after you used the St. John's Wort?
Or are they still there, just without the inflammation and everything?

First off, I’m not looking for advice, nor am I here to dish any out.
But, having read through every single page of this thread, I figured I'd share...

I first dealt with hemorrhoids a few years back. I spent two days straight eating at a Chipotle in New York City. Chicken, spicy sauces—you know how it goes. By the third day, it was a total nightmare. Everything just shut down. A friend of mine who happens to be a doctor ended up saving my skin by telling me to lie on my stomach and use ice water on the area as often as possible. I finally managed to find some relief by that evening, and once I got back home to Washington, D.C., I used some Fact suppositories to help things along.

It actually scared the hell out of me, so I eventually forced myself to go get checked out. Where? Honestly, I had no clue. Google suggested Aritheru. Once I got there, the doctor diagnosed me with a transition from stage two to stage three and recommended surgery. The price tag was roughly $3.25.
By some strange stroke of luck, I ran into the Secretary of Health, Rajko Ostojić, around that time. We were chatting about various things, and when he overheard that I had scheduled surgery, he told me that they only operate on stage four cases. According to him, my situation—moving from stage two to three—could be managed simply by walking more. He told me to watch my diet, stay active, and everything would settle down. Since his advice coincided perfectly with an upcoming trip I had planned, I decided to take his word for it. But, after just a week or two of being undisciplined and eating poorly, the whole problem came roaring back.

About six months ago, after a hiking trip—it’s easy to eat poorly in the mountains, too much dehydrated food and way too much whiskey—the issue forced me back into the doctor's office. This time, Google pointed me toward Mayo Clinic. Diagnosis: stage two, recommendation: rubber band ligation.
Once again, I tried the "just walk and watch what you eat" approach. But this time, fate wasn't playing along. Even the tiniest slip-ups in my—let's call it—prescribed diet resulted in flared-up symptoms. So, I finally decided to listen to Dr. Ratančić.

The procedure literally takes about thirty seconds. It’s painless. They do one hemorrhoid per month. The cost is $117 per session. At the beginning of March, once it’s been a full month since my third procedure, I’ll be able to give a final verdict, but so far, so good. My only real frustration is that I have to avoid heavy straining, and I am a total fitness addict.

Hey everyone, can someone point me toward a good proctologist in Washington, D.C.? I’ve been seeing a few names floating around—Arithera, Lastric, Ivanovic, and some doctor whose name starts with an R... Is there anyone else out there worth seeing? Also, any chance of finding a female specialist? Honestly, I'd much rather have a woman perform the exam if possible. :/
Thanks for the help!

Hi everyone.

I noticed an external hemorrhoid a few months back. :/ Right now I’m just using some herbal ointment, but honestly, I don't think it's doing much. It doesn't really hurt... but there's this constant itching and excessive sweating. I've been digging through some old posts about this, and I'm stuck between buying Fact or Hemopropin cream. I was also thinking about heading over to the Mayo Clinic for a checkup—has anyone here actually gone there? Any experiences to share? They mention a quick surgical procedure under local anesthesia (only 15 minutes!) that's supposedly painless... It would be amazing if someone who's been through it could weigh in.

Feeling a little desperate here.. :/

Kevin Taylor9 said:Hey everyone.

I noticed an external hemorrhoid a few months back. :/ Right now I'm using some herbal ointment, but honestly, I don't think it's doing anything. It doesn't really hurt... but the itching and excessive sweating are constant. I've been digging through old posts on this topic, and I'm torn between buying Fact or Hemopropin cream. I was actually thinking about heading over to the Mayo Clinic for a checkup—has anyone here ever gone there? Any experiences? They mention a quick surgical procedure under local anesthesia (about 15 mins) that's supposedly painless... It would be great if someone who's actually been through it could weigh in..

I'm feeling a bit desperate here.. :/

Initially, I tried using Fact suppositories, and they actually helped.
Then I switched over to Microsoft tablets. The first time around, the results were fantastic, but the second time, they didn't really do much for me.
So, I went back to Fact.
Then I tried Acidosalus.
I even attempted to tackle the issue through my diet, which I blogged about. And did a little more blogging after that.
I also tried some kind of oil, but I can't remember the name.

Eventually, I got worried that the itching would turn into actual pain. I've had a few sharp, shooting pains, and even though they were internal, I decided to visit the Mayo Clinic. I didn't need surgery; I just had a ligation, which is a procedure that takes about thirty seconds.

Good luck!