Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Here is my experience, in case anyone is interested. Internal, second degree, specifically at positions 1, 5, and 9. I had surgery via THD seven months ago, but the 5 and 9 have returned—the latter being slightly smaller. The issue stems from the irreversible weakening of the vein wall tissue; whether the etiology is genetic, behavioral, or a combination of both is essentially irrelevant. My proctologist tells me quite bluntly that every single method carries a risk of recurrence, and if one were truly perfect, no other options would even need to exist (at least for my situation), which honestly seems like a fair assessment.

Right now, I’m focusing on dietary management combined with supplements—essentially trying to find a solution through lifestyle. I’m not even considering LHP; I might look into rubber band ligation instead, since the results will likely be temporary anyway, and ligation is much easier and can be done as an outpatient procedure.

That’s my take on it. Of course, someone else could have a completely different experience.

By the way, I have an external one too, but that’s irrelevant—they call that a skin fold. It doesn't hurt, doesn't itch, and isn't worth my time. The internal ones, however, are a real mess and can escalate into much worse stages if you aren't careful. You really need to get them handled so you don't end up constantly relying on Michelle Mulligan (which is unpleasant enough, especially since even those cases can recur, albeit less frequently).

Correction:

It wasn't Michelle Mulligan, it was Milligen Morgan.

Hey everyone! First off, sorry if this looks a bit messy—I'm typing this on my phone, so please just ignore any typos. 😁
So, I had surgery last night for DG HAL RAR, specifically dealing with Grade III internal hemorrhoids, a 3mm anal fissure, a small thrombosis, and an anal reconstruction to fix some skin tags. It was all done over at the Leptis Clinic by Dr. Ivanovic. Honestly, the entire staff and the doctor were wonderful. There’s definitely some pain, but nothing unbearable... at least not yet. Feel free to ask me anything you want to know!

Just a few more updates from my side. It’s day four post-op now. The pain has definitely dialed back, but that stinging sensation and the pressure? Still there. I also had my first bowel movement today. Honestly, I was waiting for it like it was some kind of major life event—I was terrified of getting backed up. I know most people on this forum seem to have their first one by day one or two at the latest, but I suppose it really depends on how much you've been eating. Personally, I’ve barely eaten enough in three days to cover a single normal day. You’ll probably deal with a lot of gas as you start eating more regularly, too; the intestines tend to get filled with air after all that prepping before surgery.

What’s actually the best cream for hemorrhoids?

Hey there,
I had surgery back in 2016 using the Milligen Morgan method for my hemorrhoids.
It was pretty painful at the time, but the end result was good. I’ve dealt with some minor spotting—just a few drops here and there—whenever I had a few bowel movements in a single day.
Yesterday, though, things took a turn. I had some heavier bleeding (nothing like this before the surgery), and there's a stinging sensation. I definitely strained a bit too much.
I don't feel any lumps or anything. My guess is it's either a fissure or just some scar tissue from the old hemorrhoids acting up and bleeding occasionally.
If anyone has gone through something similar or has an idea of what this might be, I'd really appreciate the insight.
Later.

brightwalker32 said:What’s the best cream for hemorrhoids?

I’ve tried stuff like this before, but honestly, if you're dealing with grade 3 or 4 hemorrhoids, you're just throwing money down the drain.

https://www.cvs.com/pharmacy/hemorrhoid-creams-with-boric-acid.html

Eric Chase3 said:Hey there,
I had surgery back in 2016 for hemorrhoids using the Milligen Morgan method.
It was pretty painful—honestly—but the end result was good. I’d get some light bleeding (just a few drops) here and there when I had multiple bowel movements in one day.
Yesterday, though, I had a bit more bleeding than usual (nothing compared to before the surgery, obviously), and it stings. I think I strained a little too much.
I don't feel any lumps or anything. I'm thinking maybe it's just a fissure, or perhaps just some scar tissue from the hemorrhoids acting up.
If anyone else has dealt with something similar and might know what this could be, I'd really appreciate the help.
Bye!

Could you mention what stage of hemorrhoids you had before the procedure, where you went for it (like a private clinic or a hospital), and how long the recovery took—you know, for time off work?
Also, would you do that specific method again, or if you had to choose now, would you go for something "milder"?

Procten works wonders, especially if you pair it with Detralex tablets.

stormyraven10 said:Could you let me know what stage of hemorrhoids you were dealing with before the surgery? Also, did you go through a hospital or a private clinic, and how long was the recovery period in terms of time off work?
If you had to do it all over again, would you choose this same method, or would you opt for something "milder" if given the choice?

I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic. It was third-degree hemorrhoids. I was constantly hitting the ER because of the bleeding, which eventually led to anemia.
I spent three days in the hospital and ended up on medical leave for about a month.
Overall, I'm happy with the results. If I ever had to go through this again, I’d probably look for a private clinic to do the HAL RAR method. (Though, I do know a few people whose hemorrhoids came right back after using that specific technique.)

It’s acting up again
I had no idea this condition actually came in stages

So, where do I land on that scale?
Back on November 28, 2018, I had bleeding
And then yesterday... three separate times—one shot and two smaller ones
Honestly, I'm pretty sure my diet is the culprit (dried meat... peanuts... sandwiches and pies, plus more meat)

Eric Chase3 said:I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic—it was stage three. Honestly, I was constantly running to the ER because of all the bleeding. Dealing with anemia was rough.
I spent three days in the hospital and ended up on medical leave for about a month.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with how the surgery turned out! If I ever had to do it again, I’d probably head to a private clinic for the HAL RAR method. (Though, I do know a few folks who actually had their hemorrhoids come back after trying that method.)

Could you let me know which doctor performed the surgery, what the wait time was like, and how long it took you to feel totally back to normal? Private options are fine too!

I dealt with my first hemorrhoids when I was just 19. On top of that, I was battling inflammation and yeast infections. Then they crawled back at 24, and honestly, probably more often after that since I was working a job that absolutely wrecked my body—all while eating like garbage. Nowadays, I can laugh about it, but there were times I’d be sitting in my car just loosening my belt just to get some relief...

Three years later, I can look back and laugh, but let me tell you: the absolute maze of misery you fall into before ending up on an operating table? It isn't a joke.

You want to laugh? Or do you actually want to sit down without constant shifting, itching, and burning? Do you really want to spend your life sweating in public, trying to hide the fact that this thing is low-key killing you? P.S. — My diet is basically a crime scene. I eat processed meats like they're going out of style, gorge on eggs and greasy food without a second thought, and dump chili on everything like there's no tomorrow. (Does that sound like a commercial for a one-pill solution? Maybe.)

I'm 29. I can't tell you what it's like if you're older or if things have gotten even more brazen for you, but if you're hitting those middle years and just want to fix the chaos and the mess—if you want to forget what a restroom looks like and stop reading the ingredients on Arf products or shampoo bottles in the shower—I think you've got a shot.


Hit me up via PM but only if you're actually serious about fixing this. I can help you sort this out in 3 to 6 weeks, maybe even less.

I'm using an old username because I forgot my password, but I remember reading this thread 10 years ago and just wanting to run away as soon as I saw what people were posting here.

I wrote about my experiences a few years back. Here is the follow-up. I dealt with hemorrhoids that bled, just like many others describe. I went to see Dr. Ivanovic at Mercury for an exam and scheduled surgery for three months later (DG HAL RAR). That was how it went back then, about five years ago. Dr. Ivanovic performed the surgery at Mercury using spinal anesthesia. The procedure itself went perfectly. I stayed attentive and kept communicating with the anesthesiologists. I was admitted to the ward and everything was fine until the anesthesia started wearing off. Then the pain set in, which only subsided slightly with heavy painkillers. I barely slept at all that night. The next day, my wife drove me home—I just lay there in the car. For the first week, the pain was intense, though it lessened every single day. After about ten days, I would say I was pain-free. However, I was careful not to strain myself; I watched how I sat, mostly staying lying down or in a semi-reclined position. After three weeks, it felt like the issue was resolved, though I was still being cautious. I went in for a checkup 42 days after the surgery, and they confirmed everything was fine. It is not pointless to get a checkup after 42 days. Healing simply doesn't happen that fast. But, as I mentioned, those first 3–4 days post-op are brutal, and from there, it only gets better.
My advice? Be careful after surgery. Don't even think about going back to work after a week. Watch your diet, watch how you sit, don't lift heavy weights, etc.
My hemorrhoids were Grade III/IV. Today, over five years after the operation, everything is fine and I haven't had any issues with hemorrhoids or bleeding.

Does anyone know where I can go for a private proctologist exam or an anoscopy in the Rijeka area? Any good recommendations or advice out there?

So, I figured I’d jump in here and share my own—unfortunately quite extensive—experience. I’ve been dealing with this since I was 17, which means we're looking at 18 years now. It started with just some minor itching, but lately, during flare-ups, I can end up with three external clusters at once! I've cycled through all sorts of creams, ointments, and various compresses—they're great for temporary relief, sure, but they don't fix the root issue. On average, I get hit about twice a year, with each bout lasting roughly seven days, though the internal ones are always there in the background. One thing I’ve realized is that lifestyle and diet are massive triggers. You really have to watch what you eat—for me, spicy food and alcohol are the big culprits, though everyone is different. Also, for heaven's sake, don't spend half an hour scrolling on your phone while you're sitting on the toilet—just go, do your business, and get out. One year, to my absolute shock, I didn't have a single symptom, internal or external. That was the year I took up running. In 18 years, that was the first time they completely vanished, and the reason was simply staying active. Hemorrhoids are basically just clogged veins; if you're predisposed to those veins getting blocked, you're going to deal with inflammation. Eating plenty of fiber is key because it helps keep things moving along. As for surgery, I’ve heard all kinds of horror stories. I'm not saying you shouldn't consider it, but personally, I won't. I know plenty of people who say the issues came right back after a year, or that they dropped $1,000 just to get a 4 or 5-year break—but honestly, if you don't change your lifestyle and diet, they'll be back, guaranteed. So, I’ve just learned to live with them. Aside from maybe once or twice a long time ago, I don't have issues with bleeding. I can handle those two weeks a year, and I just try to live healthier. Hygiene is a non-negotiable, but I won't even mention it because, well, obviously. Anyway, I’ve actually given them names... one is Goran, one is Mark, and one is John. But my real advice? Run, stay active, and eat your fiber! Good luck to everyone out there! May God have mercy on our souls!

coastalhawk18 said:John Wayne told me those Quest Diagnostics capsules and cream were a total lifesaver—seriously, they worked like magic. After just three weeks, everything was back to normal. To be honest, the ointment and Hemopropin didn't do squat for me.

Hey, would you mind telling me where you picked up that cream and if I can get it without a prescription? Was your situation really intense, and did it completely clear up? Thanks!

Paul Martin92 said:I figured I’d jump in here and share my own, unfortunately extensive experience with this stuff. I’ve been dealing with them since I was 17, so we're looking at about 18 years now. It started with just some minor itching, but lately, when things flare up, I can end up with three external clusters at once! I’ve tried all sorts of creams and various types of compresses; they’re great for a quick fix, but that's about it. On average, I deal with flares twice a year, lasting about a week each time, though the internal ones are pretty much always there. One thing I’ve really noticed is how much lifestyle and diet trigger these flare-ups. You seriously have to watch what you eat—don't go overboard on spicy food or alcohol (it varies for everyone, but that’s definitely the trigger for me). Also, stop scrolling through your phone while you're on the toilet; it ends up turning into a thirty-minute session because you're distracted... just get in, do your business, and get out. One year, to my absolute shock, I didn't have any internal or external issues at all, and that was the year I took up running. In 18 years, that was the first time they completely vanished, and running was the reason! Hemorrhoids are basically just clogged veins, so if you're prone to that, they’re going to inflame. Eating high-fiber foods is huge because it helps keep everything moving. As for surgery, I’ve heard all kinds of stories, and while I'm not saying you shouldn't consider it, I personally won't. I know plenty of people who say they came back a year later, or that they dropped $1,000 just to get a 4-5 year break, but if you don't change your lifestyle and diet, they are guaranteed to come back. So, I’ve just learned to live with them (no bleeding issues except maybe once or twice a long time ago), I tough out those two weeks a year, and I try to stay healthy. Hygiene is a total must, but I won't even mention that since it goes without saying... Anyway, I’ve actually given them names... one is Goran, one is Mark, and one is John. But my best advice? Run, stay active, and eat your fiber! Good luck to everyone! May God have mercy on our souls!

I have to admit, you cracked me up with those names... Love the optimism, seriously...
I'm 30 and have been an athlete most of my life, but just a week ago, I ended up with a tiny external one. It doesn't bother me at all, but it's there—about the size of a grain of rice, maybe slightly larger...
For anyone else hoping for a solution or in the same boat, what do you think? I watch my diet, but what else can I do? I picked up some 3% Boric acid solution from the pharmacy (Boric acid solution)... Thanks so much!

Alexander Allen31 said:I have to admit, you actually gave me a good laugh with those names... Optimism, I love it...
I'm 30 years old and I've basically lived my life through sports—just a week ago, I noticed a tiny external one... It doesn't bother me at all, but it's there, about the size of a grain of rice, maybe slightly larger...
For anyone who has dealt with this or finds themselves in a similar spot, what's your take? I watch what I eat, but what can you do? I picked up some 3% Boric acid solution from the pharmacy... (Borna solution) Thanks a lot

I've always been into sports too—always constant training, pull-ups, hitting the gym and stuff like that... though running actually helped me out quite a bit, like doing half-marathons and such, but I guess everyone is different. Maybe this might help you, but I used to brew some chamomile tea and pour it into a basin; once it cools down and steeps, you just sit in the basin and watch a show or something, then use cold compresses... if nothing else eases the inflammation, try moving around to get the circulation going. From what I gather, they aren't huge, so you might have to make it part of your routine—maybe applying it twice a week after using the restroom or even using an applicator internally... It’s not pleasant by any means (at least not for me) using the applicator, but it helps, and I'd much rather do that than just suffer through the pain.