Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Joseph Stewart38 said:It looks like hemorrhoids are finally giving me grief, even though I spent my whole life wondering what they actually were—I guess I got my answer in the worst way possible. Basically, I've got this lump around my anus, sort of sac-like, looking like some kind of growth, polyp, or whatever... so, I'm wondering if there's any cream that can fix this, or am I stuck going in for an exam? Obviously, I'd much rather go the first route, because if I go in for a checkup, there's a chance they might suggest a colonoscopy or something similar, and that's definitely not on my bucket list. So, is it actually possible to just rub some ointment on the area and make that growth vanish?

Just a quick Fact (and I mean a total torpedo, not some cream) before you head off to see your doctor.

Even if what you're describing sounds exactly like hemorrhoids, you really need to get checked out by a professional, maybe even a specialist surgeon, to figure out whether conservative treatment (using something like Detralex) or actual surgery is the move here, assuming it really is hemorrhoids.

velvetmoose9 said:Just a Fact (it’s a suppository, not an ointment) to try first before you go see your doctor.

Even if what you're describing sounds a whole lot like hemorrhoids—which, let's be honest, they usually are—you really need to get checked out by a pro. Maybe even a surgeon (a proctologist) to figure out if you can just deal with it conservatively—using something like Detralex, for instance—or if you actually need surgery to get it sorted once and for all.

Thanks for the reply.

So, we're talking about "just" one little growth here—kind of looks like a tiny sac or a polyp. Now, the big question: does that thing have to be cut out surgically, or is there some other way to handle it?

And what's the deal with that Quest Diagnostics ointment everyone keeps raving about?

I managed to find this Faktu ointment online, but I couldn't find any mention of a suppository—what exactly is that? Also, the ointment says you need a prescription just to get it...

Sometimes you’ll hear people toss around the term "torpedo" when they’re talking about a suppository that gets pushed deep into the lower colon.
There’s this old legend floating around that some patient actually coined the phrase during a particularly rough bout of constipation, though I suppose this probably isn't the most dignified place to go around sharing those kinds of urban legends.

But hey, you can always just stick to using Faktu ointment if that’s what you prefer.

At the end of the day, getting a professional exam is essential so a doctor can actually figure out which treatment path makes the most sense for your specific situation.
Generally speaking, whenever possible, doctors will try to take the conservative route—meaning they won't even talk about surgery unless all the other options have completely failed you.

Products like Quest Diagnostics, Hemopropin, and stuff like that really do help some people find a bit of relief from the discomfort.

I guess those Quest Diagnostics capsules and cream were a total lifesaver—seriously, they worked wonders for me. After three weeks, everything's back to normal. Honestly, the ointment and Hemopropin didn't do squat for me, at least not in my experience.

Elizabeth Price85 said:Hi there,
I was active on this thread about three years ago when I had the DG HAL RAR procedure done. Since then, I’ve dealt with massive complications that were never really explained to me.
I see that Leslie is still around.🙂

In the meantime, my hemorrhoid situation has been about as okay as it can be. Then, late 2011, I found out I have epilepsy. I'm on a lot of meds now, which unfortunately mess with my digestion. My gut health has always been pretty terrible to begin with.
Now I'm pregnant, and since this is a high-risk pregnancy, I have to add even more medications to the mix. All of this combined makes having a normal bowel movement nearly impossible, so I'm dealing with constant constipation. It actually hurt so much today that I started panicking about whether they'll come back—most women deal with constipation during pregnancy and end up with hemorrhoids, but I'm only in my first trimester.
I'm taking Donat mg, eating dried prunes, and using magnesium effervescents, but clearly, it's just not cutting it.

After the surgery, the doctor told me the hemorrhoids wouldn't return.
Basically, I want to know if anyone else who had the HAL RAR procedure experienced a recurrence.

I guess I'll answer this for myself and anyone else wondering (I'm Linea exclusive; the forum disabled my profile at some point last year, though I have no idea why): yes, I had a recurrence after the DG HAL+RAR surgery.
I obviously fall into that 4-5% where the procedure just doesn't work out.🙄

They came back while I was pregnant back in 2014. They've been there ever since—a few external ones, and obviously some internal ones too. They don't hurt and there's no bleeding, so that's that.
I'm thinking about repeating the surgery once I'm finished with my planned pregnancies and births. Only this time, I won't go private, so I don't have to deal with the same misery I went through in 2011.
Maybe by then, there will be some newer methods available.

Hello there.

About six days ago, I started noticing a slight itch around my anus, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Honestly, I’ve never dealt with hemorrhoids before, so I wasn't even entirely sure what I was feeling.

Three days later, that mild itch turned into a stinging sensation that just kept intensifying. Wiping after a bowel movement became a genuine pain. After letting things slide for about six days, I finally headed to a local pharmacy, explained my symptoms to the pharmacist, and she handed me some hemorrhoid cream.

I don't think I have external hemorrhoids because I don't feel any lumps or swelling in the area, but the burning sensation on the inside is intense. To make matters worse, when I had a bowel movement today, there was a significant amount of blood—which is a first for me. The internal stinging and burning haven't let up. I read somewhere that internal hemorrhoids aren't supposed to be painful and only cause bleeding. Has anyone else experienced this level of intense internal pain?

Hey everyone.
I’ve been fighting hemorrhoids for years, which finally led me to surgery (the THD method over at the Mall of America clinic).

I first ran into this mess back in high school. The culprits? Irregular bathroom habits (constipation lasting 3 to 7 days), weekend drinking, constant sports, and the classic habit of sitting on cold concrete. Back then, they were just external hemorrhoids, which I managed with Fact ointment and a massive overhaul of my diet. After spending 3 to 5 days lying around groaning, things would go back to normal. That was my life until I turned 26. On average, I dealt with external hemorrhoids (Grade II, confirmed by a proctological exam) about once a year.
Phase 2
Internal hemorrhoids (Grade III—confirmed via sigmoidoscopy)
Even after cutting out all the triggers and sticking to a strict eating schedule where every meal is timed and planned for maximum fiber, they still found ways to ruin my quality of life. We're talking prolapsed hemorrhoids, having to manually push them back in, bleeding for three weeks straight, and all that. So, I decided it was time for the THD procedure.

In my next post, I’ll break down how the recovery is actually going. Feel free to ask questions, though I should point out that every case is different and depends on a lot of variables. If I can provide even one helpful detail, I'll be glad. Honestly, it would be better if you weren't even reading this—because if you are, you're probably already in deep trouble. 🙂

THD surgery (6.7.2018) at the Mall of America.

Like I said before, the exam confirmed Grade III hemorrhoids.
They move straight from the exam to the procedure. The check-up takes maybe five minutes, then the doctor says they’re jumping right into the surgery itself. If it helps anyone, the prolapse was at the 3, 7, and 11 o'clock positions. As soon as you wake up, the pain hits. That’s normal. After lying around the clinic for about 3 or 4 hours, I headed home. For the next five days, the pain was intense and heavy. My bowel movements were fine and soft, thanks to paraffin oil and prunes (once or twice a day). By day 6 or 7, I could already walk around lightly, but there is NO way you should return to your daily routine like they claim. That’s my only complaint about this whole ordeal—they lie, and it’s simply impossible to go back that fast.

On day 8 after the surgery, I went on a trip where I spent most of the time lying down. During the trip, I had an intense urge to pass gas, but I held it back because that’s easily the most painful part. Then comes the need for a major bowel movement, and you just can't hold it. I ended up passing about 600-700ml of blood through my rectum, along with clots, mucus, and all sorts of nonsense. I was rushed to the hospital and kept there to see if the bleeding had stopped. The next day, they had to perform another procedure. The THD surgery itself was done perfectly, but the sutures holding the mucosa in place simply gave way, which caused the bleeding. At that point, I thought everything was over and I’d just have a normal hospital recovery from there. Instead, two days later, the bleeding started again (another 700ml), and I was back in surgery first thing the next morning. It's fine now. Today is the third day since the last surgery, and I should be going home. Just waiting for the doctor's visit. 🙂

CONCLUSION: Recovery from the THD method takes LONGER THAN 7 days!! Take it from me: rest if you need to. Take 14 days if necessary, then gradually get back to your usual activities.

Quest Diagnostics worked wonders for me. I’ve been taking the capsules for two weeks now, and instead of using toilet paper after hitting the restroom, I just hop straight in the shower. Plus, I've completely cut out spicy food. Honestly, give it a shot.

Hey everyone, I have a quick question about these awful hemorrhoids... So, about 7 days ago, one huge one popped up, about the size of a kidney bean. At first, it was pretty painful, so I was applying Fact and using cold compresses. The pain actually stopped after a few days, which was great! But here's the thing: this little monster just won't go away. It shrunk a tiny bit, but it's still right there. It doesn't hurt anymore, but it feels a little hard when I touch it. When does this thing finally disappear completely???🥱

Hey everyone, I'm 18 and totally new here. I’ve got this massive problem that feels like a total dead end. Basically, I've been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which comes with all the usual stuff—bloating, gas, you name it. But the real nightmare happens when I have to hit the restroom. After the initial reflex, it feels like my body isn't actually finished. There's always leftover waste that I have to force out by straining and pushing. To make matters worse, there’s a ton of mucus involved—sometimes mixed in, sometimes coming out separately right after. If I don't push that mucus out within like 5 or 10 minutes, the cramps and gas start hitting me hard. My stool usually fluctuates between being normal and a mushy consistency, though the mushy stuff is way more common. Because of this whole ordeal, I’m stuck in the bathroom for up to half an hour, sometimes even longer. It’s honestly so embarrassing. I want help so bad, but nothing seems to work. Right now, my therapy includes Dicetel, Vivomixx probiotics, and Iberogast drops. They help a little bit—things were definitely worse before in terms of how long I spend on the toilet—but it's not enough. I’ve had every test under the sun, including seeing a GI specialist and getting a colonoscopy, and everything came back perfectly fine. I get the feeling my doctors are slowly just giving up on me because they can't figure out what's wrong if all the tests say my gut is technically "healthy." But then where is this problem coming from if everything is supposedly okay? I've been struggling with this bathroom situation for 5 or 6 years now, and I know that if I keep straining like this to get everything and the mucus out, I’m going to end up with hemorrhoids. Honestly, I’m surprised I haven't developed them yet, but I worry about what happens when they do and I still have the same issue. It’s also super awkward to go away with friends for more than a day because I’d hate having to explain why I’m gone forever; people might not understand, and I really don't need that extra stress. Life is hard enough as it is. Does anyone else deal with something similar? I read about this online all the time, but I’ve never found anyone describing this exact bathroom struggle. 😕 Or maybe someone who actually managed to get rid of that mucus during or after their bowel movements? Please help, guys—if anyone has even a tiny bit of advice to help me cut down my time in the restroom or at least deal with the mucus, I’d be so grateful. Thanks a million in advance.

George Kelly4 said:Hi, I'm 18 and new here. I have a massive problem that feels like there's no way out. I've been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which comes with bloating and gas, but the real issue is when I use the restroom. After the initial movement, I can't fully clear everything; part stays behind, forcing me to strain and push just to finish. To make matters worse, there’s often significant mucus in or after my stool. If I don't force it all out within five to ten minutes, the cramps and gas start hitting me hard. My stools vary from normal to mostly soft/mushy. Because of this struggle, I end up stuck in the restroom for thirty minutes or more at a time. It's embarrassing. I want help, but nothing seems to work. Currently, I'm on Dicetel, Vivomixx probiotics, and Iberogast drops. They help slightly—things were worse before—but not much. I've done all the tests, including gastro consults and a colonoscopy, and everything came back normal. I feel like doctors are starting to give up on me because they can't find anything wrong with my physical scans. But if everything is "fine," why am I suffering? I've dealt with this for five or six years now. If I have to keep straining like this to get rid of the stool and mucus, I know I'm going to end up with hemorrhoids. Honestly, I'm surprised I haven't by now. What happens when the hemorrhoids kick in and the underlying problem remains? It's also hard to travel or go away for a day with friends because I dread explaining why I'm gone from the restroom for so long. People won't understand, and I don't need that extra stress. Does anyone else deal with this? I read about it online, but I haven't found anyone describing this exact bathroom struggle. 😕 Or at least anyone who managed to get rid of the mucus in/after their stool? Please, if anyone has any advice to even slightly reduce my time in the restroom or the mucus, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

I have ulcerative colitis, and whenever I see mucus, I know my bowel is inflamed and bleeding will likely start in a few days.
Certain foods might irritate the gut and trigger mucus production, which isn't normal when I'm in remission without symptoms.
I experience all the symptoms you described. You might want to seek a second opinion from another doctor; it could be a sensitivity to gluten, dairy, or something else entirely...

Sarah Williams37 said:Quest Diagnostics helped me out. I've been taking the capsules for two weeks now. Also, instead of using paper after using the restroom, just rinse off immediately. I haven't had any irritation since. Give it a shot.

Excuse me, would it be better to just get the capsules, or should I get the full set including the ointment?
Thanks in advance for the help.

Elizabeth Rodriguez34 said:I’ve got ulcerative colitis, and whenever I start seeing mucus, I just know my gut is irritated and bleeding is going to kick in within a few days.
Some food that doesn't sit right with me can really flare things up and trigger that mucus discharge, which definitely isn't normal for me when I'm in remission and feeling fine.
Honestly, I have every single symptom you just described. You might want to get a second opinion from another doctor—maybe it's gluten, dairy, or something else entirely...

So, I actually did tests for gluten and it turns out it's not an issue, but I don't touch milk at all because it makes everything way worse. I even cut out gluten completely for a whole year, even though my labs say I'm fine, but the symptoms were actually even more brutal when I was being super careful about what I ate... It feels like whatever I eat, I end up seeing mucus in the restroom, so it's like everything is off-limits, and I have to eat *something* to survive. I've already sought advice from tons of doctors, and now I'm heading to the top specialist in my area, but even he's leaning toward IBS, and this mucus just won't go away.😢

👍

Paul Campbell10 said:Alright, I think we can close the book on that debate. To be honest, I was actually more terrified of the surgery itself than the recovery, and man, was I wrong. I've heard stories about people waking up mid-procedure or feeling pain even under anesthesia, but I won't dwell on that because everyone’s experience is different.

Unfortunately, I have my doubts about anyone finding a truly painless recovery after hemorrhoid surgery. All those clinics that advertise "painless" procedures are usually just trying to attract patients, but that rarely matches reality. From what I understand, THD or DG HAL is one of the most successful and least painful methods available, but personally, my first day and a half of recovery were quite intense. Maybe there are some folks who genuinely sailed through without any discomfort, but I spent most of that time just praying to God that the pain wouldn't last longer than a few days.

If someone were to ask me today if I'd go through it all over again if they came back, I'd tell them I'd schedule the operation within a week, regardless of knowing exactly what lies ahead.

Hi there, would you mind sharing a bit about how things have been going now that a few months have passed since your surgery? I'm curious if you're feeling satisfied with the results. Thanks.

Paul Campbell10 said:I dealt with that same bloating and that constant urge to go right after the procedure myself... it all lasted about four or five days before things settled down, and honestly, the pain was gone in less than two days.

It’s been a month since my surgery now, and to be honest, I’ve almost completely forgotten about those initial discomforts. About ten days in, I finally felt like I was over the hump and everything was back to normal.

I have a follow-up appointment in ten days, and I’m just hoping the doctor confirms that everything healed up perfectly.

I was wondering if anyone here who has gone through the HAL RAR procedure could share their experience, specifically regarding how it went and which facility you used for the surgery. I'd really appreciate any insight you can offer.

Gary Ortiz74 said:Excuse me, would it be better to just get the capsules, or should I go for the full set including the ointment?
Thanks in advance for the help.

Honestly, you’ll get the most bang for your buck if you grab both. Think of it this way: the capsules do the heavy lifting by regulating your digestion, but once you stop taking them, you still need to stay vigilant about those hemorrhoids. My personal trick? After using the restroom, skip the dry toilet paper and just use a warm water rinse instead. That’s how I manage things, and it keeps everything running smoothly.

Here’s my rundown on getting my hemorrhoids fixed via Laparoscopic surgery. Honestly, the actual procedure went super smoothly. The hemorrhoid was massive, so I insisted on full general anesthesia—and if I had to go under the knife again, I wouldn't change a thing. They let me head home on the third day (after I had a massive bathroom emergency triggered by some prune juice and yogurt, which was a total nightmare, but hey, whatever). But man, the real struggle started once I got back home. Dealing with bowel movements became an absolute ordeal for a long time; I’m talking about the 20th poop being even worse than the first one. I was literally crying, drinking enough laxative tea to fill a lake from the local drugstore, chugging water, eating flaxseed, chia seeds, and blending smoothies with combinations you wouldn't believe just to make sure I had a daily movement. I couldn't even risk a hard stool or missing a day because, for me, that felt like taking five steps backward. Long story short, it was a painful, brutal experience. I seriously didn't think recovery would be this much of a mess; for me, just using the restroom was a huge battle. On top of that, I dealt with uncontrollable gas during those bathroom trips—sometimes it happens so fast you don't even have time to reach the toilet, so yeah, there were accidents in my underwear too. Total sick leave ended up being three months altogether. Down there feels okay now, it just feels like there's a literal rope pulling when I go. I’m still sipping on laxative tea because I’ve always struggled with constipation, which is what landed me in surgery in the first place. Drink tons of water, watch what you eat, and... yeah, it passed. Good luck to everyone else heading in for surgery! 🙂

Jose Stewart8 Asks:
Hi there, I have a question about these awful hemorrhoids. About seven days ago, a large one popped up—roughly the size of a kidney bean. At first, it was pretty painful, so I’ve been applying Fact and using cold compresses. The pain actually subsided after a few days, but the thing itself just won't budge. It has shrunk a little bit, but it's still right there, sitting on the outside. It doesn't hurt anymore, but it feels a bit firm to the touch. When does this thing finally disappear completely?🥱

It’s not going to disappear entirely; it just gets smaller. If you want it gone for good, surgery is really the only way to deal with it.