Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

I've been dealing with hemorrhoids for a few years now—usually just a bit of bright red blood after using the bathroom. Lately, though, it’s been getting pretty frequent, and today it actually started on its own without me even having a bowel movement. I’m planning to schedule an appointment tomorrow to get checked out, but I can't help wondering if it's truly just hemorrhoids or something more serious. I know a doctor is the only one who can give me a real answer after an exam, but honestly, I'm pretty anxious about it. I'm only 24.

Karen Allen16 said:I've been dealing with hemorrhoids for a few years now—basically just some bright red blood after using the bathroom. But lately, it's been getting pretty bad. Today it even started on its own, even though I hadn't even gone yet. I'm gonna call the doctor tomorrow to get checked out. Is this actually just hemorrhoids or could it be something else? I know I won't really know until a pro looks at me, but honestly, I'm kind of freaking out. I'm 24.

Man, I've been fighting this crap for years. Internal hemorrhoids are the worst. Usually, they bleed after a heavy bowel movement or if I spend too much time sitting on the toilet. Lately, since I've been eating way more fruits and veggies, things have actually gotten a lot better. Now it only happens occasionally after I go, and even then, it's just a little bit.

swiftmason25 I guess someone mentioned:
I guess it’s been about a year since my IBM surgery, and I suppose things seem to be settling into a pretty steady rhythm now.

I’d love to give you all a really detailed and thorough breakdown of how I’m feeling lately, but honestly, it’s probably best summed up in just one quick sentence. I don't have any issues at all anymore! It did take a few months to get back to one hundred percent, I guess, but now it feels like those problems never even happened, though I already touched on my recovery process after the surgery earlier in this thread.I guess maybe it could be helpful to look at things from a different perspective, though I might be overthinking it. It seems like there might be some value in considering how these factors overlap, if that makes sense. I've pretty much stuck to all my old habits, and I guess I’m just really happy that I don't have to deal with that issue anymore—fingers crossed it stays that way!

I really feel for everyone dealing with those same issues right now. I've been through it myself, so I think I understand how tough it can be... I'm just hoping you guys can find a way to move past them or maybe at least find some relief soon.

Hi everyone,
Does anyone happen to know where I can pick up some Pilex tablets in Canada, and what kind of price we're looking at?
Thanks for any info you can share.

Three people in my family have used Detralex for hemorrhoids, and every single one of them was extremely satisfied. It’s half the price of Pilex, and since you actually need a prescription for it, you know it's real medicine—just call your doctor, get a digital prescription sent over, and take it to the pharmacy.
That said, sometimes private pharmacies might just let you grab it without the paperwork 😛

Anyway, I still have half a box at home for emergencies. There is no way I'm paying for Pilex when there's an equally effective, cheaper option available (about 60 tabs for $47) and they even have smaller packs.

I’ve posted here a few times before voicing my concerns about how effective the IBM procedure actually was—mostly because I was dealing with some pretty brutal pain after using the bathroom for a long time following my surgery. Now, don't get me wrong, things were generally way better than they were before the operation—the bleeding stopped and everything moved along much easier—but that constant, nagging pain just wouldn't quit.
From what I’ve gathered from the folks on this forum, the pain is supposed to die down within three months tops.
Well, I can finally say with total confidence that everything is fine now and the pain has completely vanished.
It took me a full eight months to actually feel like myself again.
During that stretch, I had to be super disciplined—watching my diet, staying on top of water intake, keeping a regular schedule... you know, all that stuff.
So, yeah, we're all built differently. Some people bounce back fast, others take their sweet time—and sure, I guess being 57 doesn't help matters either—but the bottom line is that IBM worked for me, and there shouldn't be any doubt about this kind of surgery.
That's my two cents. If you're dealing with Grade 3 or 4 hemorrhoids, I'd say go for it.
Good luck! 👍

I'm curious—has anyone here actually gone through with a Barron-ligature procedure for grade 1 or 2 hemorrhoids? I'd love to hear what the experience was like for you.

I had a Barron-ligature procedure done at the Lastrić Clinic about five or six years ago, and I haven't dealt with any hemorrhoid issues since. On the flip side, a buddy of mine is actually going in for his third procedure. It really just comes down to the individual case.

I'm actually considering doing the same thing at the Lastrić Clinic—thanks for the heads-up. 🙂

I’m clearly not smart enough to figure out how to actually fix this condition.
Why on earth do hemorrhoids have to itch so much?...
Some private specialists charge a fortune just to look at you. Is there any decent proctologist in New York City—maybe at a hospital—where the exam and everything else is covered?

From what I’ve read here, it seems like everyone ends up right back where they started with their hemorrhoids after surgery. Is there actually anyone out there who didn't deal with a relapse?

Alright, here’s an old-school remedy I’ve actually tried and it really works; just rub some homemade lard on your hemorrhoids every single time you have a bowel movement.

It worked wonders for me and they're totally gone now, but listen—you can't be eating anything spicy or super acidic if you want results.
Mine flared up while I was pregnant, but after 20 days, they're completely vanished.☕

coppercanyon57 said:From everything I've read here, it seems like everyone's hemorrhoids just came right back after surgery. Is there actually anyone out there where they didn't return?

In my case, they haven't come back at all. DG Hal-RaR. It’s been nearly four and a half years now... Everything has been perfect since the procedure.

Kimberly Booth said:Here’s an old remedy I’ve tried that actually works—just rub some homemade lard on your hemorrhoids every time you have a bowel movement.

It worked for me and they're completely gone now, but you really shouldn't eat anything spicy or too acidic either.
Mine showed up during my pregnancy, and they haven't been back for 20 years.☕

"you shouldn't eat anything spicy or too acidic"
Do you mean the hemorrhoids will just come right back if you do, or should you avoid spicy/acidic foods for some other reason?

Scott Martin51 said:"you can't eat anything spicy or too acidic"
Is that because the hemorrhoids are just gonna come right back, or is there some other reason to skip the hot sauce and citrus?

Nah, it’s more about watching what you put in your body overall. The cold hard Fact is they flare up because of super spicy food. I've dealt with both the external and internal kind, and honestly, applying Fact cream and using those suppositories works wonders—but yeah, you usually need a prescription to get them.

Does applying lard work for internal hemorrhoids too?
If not, what's the best way to actually get something on the internal ones?

Kimberly Booth said:Not exactly—you really have to watch what you eat. The truth is, they often flare up because of spicy food. I’ve dealt with both external and internal ones myself, and applying Fact cream or using suppositories works wonders, though you might need a prescription for some of them.

Does lard actually help with internal hemorrhoids if you just apply it externally?
If not, how are you even supposed to treat the internal ones?

Scott Martin51 said:Does lard work on internal hemorrhoids if you just rub it on the outside?
If not, how the hell am I supposed to get anything on the internal ones?

Just put some ointment on and shove your finger in there....

Garant pork lard definitely doesn't work. I tried it multiple times over 20 years ago... I even gave some Himalayan ointment a shot back then. Nothing. It’s all just a scam. And get ready for this one: I spoke with the top doctor and surgeon specializing in hemorrhoids today, and he told me straight up that Pilex is nothing but a total fraud. A way overpriced fraud at that...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anyway, I hope my little roadmap helps someone out.

Good luck to everyone.