Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Chloe Garcia55 said:Guys, please, I need some help... for about two months now, I've been seeing blood when I go to the bathroom. It stopped for a week or two, but then it came back. I noticed this little lump near my opening and was totally convinced it was just an external Hemorrhoid. But then one morning, I went to the bathroom and there was blood everywhere. I was scared to death and rushed straight to the doctor. They checked me out and said there aren't any external ones, and they aren't sure about internal ones either, so I have to get a colonoscopy. And I won't lie, the doctor didn't even look at me right away during the appointment; I have to wait until the fifth month! I was so terrified that I called my mom, and she managed to set up an appointment with a private specialist for this Friday. Now, for the last two times, there hasn't been any blood. Is it possible that an internal Hemorrhoid just burst (if I even have one) that last time when everything turned red? The hospital staff told me it’s definitely internal Hemorrhoids. Now I’m torn about whether I should even go to that appointment—I am absolutely terrified and so anxious. If it was just a burst Hemorrhoid, maybe the exam isn't even necessary anymore? I don't know, I'm just so confused... I'm only 19. Can anyone help?🤷

First off, try not to let the fear take over, because honestly, I really doubt you're dealing with anything life-threatening. 🙂
It sounds like those internal Hemorrhoids are likely what's bleeding, and regardless of what tests they run, you really ought to get this sorted out, but there's absolutely no reason to spiral into a panic.
Okay, we have plenty of regulars here, and I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in (Michael Diaz4, jump in here 😁), because I might be off base here, but...
I don't quite get why they're jumping straight to a colonoscopy for this! In my experience, doctors have figured things out twice using just the most basic exams without ever mentioning anything invasive. I imagine it's the same for everyone else too.

It also seems pretty strange that the hospital couldn't identify internal ones if they're there... if you can swing it, definitely seek a second opinion, ideally from a highly reputable specialist.
But whatever you do, please don't just ignore this or decide to skip the appointment, because you really need to pinpoint the source of that bleeding. It could be anything.

If that second doctor suggests a colonoscopy, then go ahead and do it. Just make sure you follow up with a physician no matter what happens.

And hang tight for a bit... maybe someone will pop up with a smarter perspective, and maybe a colonoscopy actually isn't as uncommon as it sounds. 🤷

Karen Thompson10 said:Look, first things first—don't go spiraling just yet. I highly doubt you're dealing with anything catastrophic. 🙂
It’s likely just internal hemorrhoids bleeding, and while I think you really ought to get that sorted regardless of what the tests show, there's absolutely no reason to panic.
Now, we have plenty of old-timers here, and I'm sure someone with more experience will weigh in (Michael Diaz4, jump in here 😁), because I might be off base on this one, but...
I honestly don't get why they're pushing for a colonoscopy right now! In my experience, two routine exams were enough to figure everything out, and no doctor ever even brought up invasive procedures. I suspect it's the same for most people.

And frankly, it's a bit strange if the hospital didn't catch any internal issues... if you can swing it, seek out a second opinion—ideally from someone a bit more "prestigious."
But whatever you do, don't just ignore this or decide to stay home. You need to find out where that bleeding is coming from. It could be anything.

If a second doctor suggests a colonoscopy too, then fine, go ahead. But either way, you need to follow up with a physician.

Just hang tight for a moment... maybe someone else will chime in with better advice. Maybe a colonoscopy isn't as unusual as it sounds. 🤷

Well, a colonoscopy is basically an exam of the large intestine to pinpoint the exact cause of the bleeding. They can't see that through a standard physical exam—like the finger exam I had done. That's what they told me... so I've actually scheduled a rectoscopy instead, since my private doctor said that should suffice. I assume a colonoscopy is more painful, so she doesn't want to put me through that if a rectoscopy can also identify the source of the bleeding.

Chloe Garcia55 said:Well, a colonoscopy is basically an exam of the large intestine used to pinpoint exactly why there's bleeding happening, which is something they just can't catch with a standard physical exam—you know, like when they use a finger, which is what I had done. That’s what they told me, anyway... so now I've gone ahead and scheduled a rectoscopy because my private doctor thought that would be enough, and since a colonoscopy sounds way more intense, she didn't want to put me through all that if a rectoscopy could get her the answers she needs regarding the bleeding.

Look, I definitely know what a colonoscopy entails, but from everything I've gathered, it isn't actually necessary just to find a Hemorrhoid. Even getting a rectoscopy isn't really the standard procedure for this.
In my own experience, I've seen two different doctors, and both times an anoscopy was performed, which turned out to be perfectly sufficient for what needed to be done.

I'm just speaking from my own personal history here, so maybe I don't have it all figured out, but I think your private doctor gave you solid advice—it's probably much better to opt for the rectoscopy instead of dealing with a full colonoscopy.

From what I understand, a standard digital exam is the usual way to go. I actually had to have a rectoscopy done back when I was dealing with hemorrhoids. Honestly, once I saw that little light at the tip of the probe, my legs almost gave out on me. It wasn't even that painful, though.

Michael Diaz4,
When you had your surgery, can you tell me if they put you under general anesthesia or just did it locally? And how long did the whole thing actually take?
Best,

fadedstag1 said:Michael Diaz4
When you had your surgery, can you tell me if they used general anesthesia or just local? And how long did the whole thing take?
Best,

Well...🙄 I had my surgery just over a month ago. Here’s how it went down. They picked me up at 6:05 PM. I laid straight down on the table. There's this little prick in your spine—you don't even really feel it—but after a few seconds, you just feel this warmth spreading under your backside. I actually asked them to put me under because I didn't want to sit there listening to them talk. They told me it was entirely up to me. You can stay awake or you can sleep through it. I woke up right as they were packing up the instruments. I remember being moved to a bed and then taken back to my private room. I think it was around 7:45 or maybe 8:00 PM when I checked the clock. So, it lasted a little over an hour and a half, nearly two hours total. But my case was exceptionally complicated. If they had used the old-school methods, everything would have been ruined—specifically my ability to control bowel movements and gas. 🙄 With the DG HAL RAR method, that doesn't happen; they cauterized the main vein deeper inside. While they were at it, they removed polyps, cleaned up the ulcers on the veins, and dealt with a massive amount of thrombosis. That doesn't mean your situation will be quite as intense. Back in the day, before we had lasers and Doppler, surgeries to destroy the veins supplying blood to hemorrhoids were a last resort because they kept coming back. The professor mentioned he could only perform maybe three to five of those surgeries a year back then. People's lives were essentially destroyed after those procedures. He used to say, "Forget about having a life if you can't even tell if you've gone to the bathroom or not." Nowadays, everything is much easier and you don't deal with those old complications. That’s why this method is such a game-changer.😉

Thanks,
Since I’m planning on going through with that treatment soon, I’m really interested in everything. Like I mentioned before, things tend to flare up if I strain too much on the toilet or if I deal with a bout of diarrhea.
It usually happens maybe two or three times a year if I'm not careful, but honestly, it feels like they're lurking after every single bathroom trip. That’s why right after I go, I immediately sit or lie down just to let things settle back into place. And if I still feel that discomfort? I'll hop in a warm bath for about 15 minutes, and that usually keeps them at bay. This is just my experience, but if anyone out there is currently struggling with Hemorrhoids, seriously—just get in some warm water and sit or lie down. If you're feeling that intense pain deeper inside, try to ease that tension first, then get in the water. It’ll definitely make you feel better.
So, that’s basically where I’m at. What do you think? Should I keep playing this little game of wits with them, or should I just get rid of them for good? If there aren't any long-term side effects, I'm leaning towards trying to fix the problem once and for all. Sorry if I sound overly cautious; it's not an emergency right now, but I see that this method you mentioned seems to have almost no downsides. So, what’s your take—should I go for the procedure or just keep doing what I'm doing?

fadedstag1 said:Thanks,
Since I'm planning on undergoing that treatment soon, I'm really interested in everything. As I mentioned before, they flare up if I strain too hard or if I get diarrhea.
In a given year, I deal with this 2-3 times when I'm not careful, but there's always a threat after every bowel movement. That’s why immediately after I go, I sit or lie down to help things settle back in. If I still feel discomfort, I take a warm bath for about 15 minutes, and that keeps them from flaring up. (This is just my experience, but if anyone else is suffering right now from Hemorrhoid pain, please, just get in some warm water and sit or lie down. If the pain is deep inside, try to push through it—because the pain can be unbearable—and then get in the water. It will definitely make you feel better.)
That’s pretty much where I stand. What do you think? Should I keep playing this game of outsmarting them, or should I just get rid of them for good? If there aren't any long-term side effects to the procedure, I'm thinking about trying to resolve this once and for all. Sorry if I sound overly cautious; it isn't an acute emergency yet, and I see that this method, as you put it, seems to have almost no consequences. Would you recommend the procedure, or should I just keep doing what I'm doing?

You absolutely need to get that fixed now. You said they protrude when you strain. If they are retracting on their own, you might be looking at stage two or three; if they don't go back in at all, it's even more serious. Straining is bad for you because those things need to stay tucked away. It's true that a warm bath helps, but that isn't a cure. Go get it handled, because every time they flare up, the situation gets a little tougher. It will eventually escalate to stage four. Why wait? I used to think I didn't have a problem either. Then suddenly, everything flared up—I dealt with thrombosis, internal ulcers, and even polyps. It just kept getting worse. And polyps can be precancerous. Everything is fine with me now; the pathology report confirmed it. That's why, while you can still finish this with a minor surgery, you should act immediately. From the way you describe it, the situation isn't great and it could easily worsen. Go see a specialist who can get this sorted out for you...

I called Dr. Ivanovic, and he basically just told me to drink more herbal tea and/or take some Dulcolax.
Well, I had the tea, but the pain and pressure aren't budging.

The weird part is that it doesn't even hurt when I'm lying down; the pain only hits me whenever I try to stand up or sit back down. So now I’m running to the bathroom every hour on the dot—it hurts like hell, and I barely pass anything. But hey, little by little, right? Hopefully things start moving along by tomorrow.🙄

Elizabeth Price85 said:I called Dr. Ivanovic, and he just told me to drink more herbal tea and/or take some Dulcolax.
I've had the tea, but the pain and pressure are still there.

It’s tricky because it doesn't just hurt when I'm lying down; the discomfort hits right when I stand up or sit back down. So, I'm ending up on the toilet every hour—it hurts, and there's hardly anything coming out. But hopefully, things will start moving along by tomorrow.🙄

Just foam?

Michael Diaz4 said:From what I understand, a standard digital exam is pretty common. I actually had to undergo a rectoscopy back when I was dealing with Hemorrhoids. Honestly, just seeing that little light at the tip of the scope made my legs go weak... though, in fairness, it wasn't actually that painful.

What is it about a rectoscopy that makes it so terrifying?😕

Chloe Garcia55 said:Why is a rectoscopy such a scary prospect?😕

Look, when you're dealing with inflamed hemorrhoids, anything being pushed back there is going to hurt like hell. It’s simple physics. But if things aren't flared up, it isn't nearly as bad. That's usually why doctors suggest waiting until the inflammation settles down before doing these kinds of procedures...

Great, I'm glad we're finally on the same page about this. It looks like DG HAL RAR is only being handled at Mercury or that private clinic, Butterfly. There might be other spots out there, but that's all I've heard so far...
I'm definitely going to take action on this... 🙂
Honestly, I just wish I’d started tackling this sooner. Now summer is rolling in, and the last thing I want is to be stuck recovering in this heat. They say it's actually better to get these surgeries out of the way during the winter anyway... but whatever, we'll see how it goes.
I'll talk to you later, and thanks again for all the kind words and support!
My doctor told me to keep swimming this summer—apparently, it's highly recommended for chemo patients and during recovery too. 👍
Best,

Michael Diaz4 said:When hemorrhoids get inflamed, anything being pushed through... well, it hurts like hell. It’s not nearly as bad when things aren't that swollen. That's why you usually hold off on trying anything when the inflammation is at its peak...

As for me, there’s no pain and no itching. Just blood. Last time, there was a significant amount of bleeding. Since then, though, the bleeding has completely stopped. Could that mean a hemorrhoid actually ruptured? And if so, does it even make sense to bother going in for an exam? Will they be able to tell?

Chloe Garcia55 said:Honestly, there’s no pain or itching on my end. Just the bleeding. Last time, it was actually quite a lot of blood. Since then, though, everything has stopped. Could that mean a hemorrhoid finally burst? And if so, does it even make sense to bother going in for an exam? Will they even be able to see anything at this point?

A good specialist will see everything, provided they know what they're looking for...

Michael Diaz4 said:A doctor sees everything, provided they actually know what they're doing and are a decent specialist...

Ah, well. I'll check back in on Friday once I've survived the exam... hoping it's just some Preparation H territory...🙂

Michael Diaz4isn't just foam, but it's not exactly the real deal either. Honestly, last night around 9 or 10 PM, I had what I’d call a "normal" movement—if you can even call it that, because it definitely wasn't enough.
This morning, I woke up with that intense pressure right at the exit. I’ve been sitting on the toilet for half an hour now, but nothing is happening.🤷I think I'm actually going to listen to my doctor and use a Dulcolax suppository (which I absolutely loathe). I'm making a point not to lie down, even though it hurts; instead, I'll stay moving, keep drinking water, and just wait it out. I don't have much of a choice—I can't function like this.

Elizabeth Price85 said:Michael Diaz4 isn't just foam, but it's not quite a real stool either. Honestly, last night around 9 or 10 PM, I had what I'd call a somewhat normal bowel movement (though clearly not enough).
Woke up this morning with that heavy pressure right at the exit again. I've been sitting on the toilet for half an hour, but nothing's happening.🤷 I think I'm going to follow doctor's orders and use a Dulcolax suppository (which I absolutely dread). I'm going to try staying active instead of lying down even though it hurts, drinking plenty of water and just waiting. I don't have much choice; I can't function like this.

Nothing to worry about. Just some stomach nerves. Try to stick to foods that won't cause constipation. The stool needs to be soft and mushy. If you're seeing white foam in there, it might mean someone in your family has issues with their gallbladder. Just a heads-up. Dulcolax suppositories usually kick in after 30 minutes and help soften the solid waste in the large intestine. It might hurt when you apply it. Personally, I wouldn't use those right after surgery. Stick to soups, stay hydrated, and take some Linex...

So... I've been dealing with hemorrhoids for years now. At first, they were painful, itchy, and bleeding, but things settled down for a while. Lately, it's just occasional bleeding when I go to the bathroom. Back in 2008, I had a perianal abscess that required surgery—they basically cut it open, drained the pus, and left the wound open to heal. Even today, there's this little hole where some discharge leaks out. I don't know if it's pus, since it doesn't have that intense, nasty smell. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I developed a fistula, but I just can't bring myself to get it fixed. I'm terrified of the recovery time, especially with college constantly breathing down my neck with exams and everything. Plus, I've read horror stories about them nicking the sphincter and leaving you unable to control your bowels... having to wear diapers for life. :/ Everything would be fine if it weren't for this swelling near my labia that popped up a few weeks ago, along with some discomfort. It wasn't agonizing, just annoying. I had a fever for a couple of days too, but obviously, I didn't go to a doctor. After a few days, I realized that when I press on the swelling, stuff starts leaking from that old abscess wound. Maybe it's pus, maybe not. It didn't smell as bad as the original abscess did, which was revolting. At first, it was yellowish/whitish, and I’d squeeze it out every time I used the restroom. Now it still leaks when I press, and sometimes it looks brownish or even bloody. Does this mean the abscess or fistula spread and created new channels, or could it be related to a Bartolini gland? :/ I just don't have the energy to deal with doctors, and half of them seem completely incompetent anyway. :S

Jamie Taylor25 said:I’m pretty certain I’ve developed a fistula now, but honestly, I just can’t bring myself to make the decision to go in and have it removed. I’m terrified of a long recovery period—especially since I'm heading back to college and the exams and responsibilities never seem to stop—plus, I’ve read horror stories about them nicking the sphincter and leaving you unable to control your bowel movements, which basically means wearing diapers for the rest of your life. :/ Everything would be fine if it weren't for this swelling near my labia that popped up about two or three weeks ago, bringing this nagging pain along with it (it wasn't intense, just really uncomfortable). I had a fever for a couple of days too, but of course, I didn't go to the doctor. After a few days, I realized that when I press on the swelling, it feels like stuff is draining from that old abscess wound—maybe pus, I can't be sure. Then again, it didn't have that awful smell you get with an abscess. At first, it was sort of yellowish or whitish, and I was squeezing it out every time I went to the bathroom. Even today, it keeps leaking when I press, and sometimes it looks brownish or even bloody. Does this mean the abscess or fistula has spread and created new channels, or could it be related to that Bartolini gland? :/ I just don't have the mental energy to deal with doctors right now, and frankly, most of them I've encountered seem completely incompetent... :S

No one here can give you a real diagnosis because that's what doctors are trained for, but based on everything you've described, I’d strongly suggest you go get this taken care of as soon as possible.
If you think about it logically... if you're already dreading a long recovery now, imagine how much longer it will be once things get even more complicated. From what you're telling me, it sounds like the complications might already be starting... 😢
Go see a doctor; that drainage and the swelling... there's no way to know what's actually happening inside without a professional looking at it.
If you're in Washington, D.C., you can go to Mercury, where they have excellent surgeons who are quite capable.