Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Michael Diaz4 said:At least there's no pain—that's a plus. If they aren't sliding back in on their own, we're talking stage four. Stage three doesn't work like that either. If you notice lumps during a bowel movement that eventually pop back in, then—in my estimation—it probably isn't stage four. If you’re heading to the same clinic where I sorted out my own issues, then don't sweat it; you'll be in good hands. Besides, if you've already had an exam and surgery is scheduled for three days from now, surely the doctor explained the whole situation to you.

I haven't actually had the full exam yet—just a consultation. Since I'm fairly traditional—and frankly, I can't wrap my head around anyone looking down there, let alone touching—I just showed the doctor a photo I took. He insisted it's stage four and needs intervention. The actual physical exam will happen right before the procedure while I'm under anesthesia. What really trips me up is that I have zero symptoms, and the lumps slide back inside within minutes of using the bathroom. I'm at a loss. Based on your experience, how much can I realistically expect the recovery to be shorter or less painful?

Thomas King28 said:I didn't actually have the physical exam yet, just the initial consultation. I'm a pretty traditional guy, honestly. The idea of someone... well, looking or touching down there is something I just can't wrap my head around. So, I just showed the doctor a photo I took. He looked at it and claimed they were Grade 4 and need surgery. They'll do the actual exam right before the procedure while I'm under anesthesia. What really trips me up is that I don't have any symptoms. They seem to just slip back inside a few minutes after I go to the bathroom. I'm lost on how to feel about this. Based on what you've been through, is there any way to make the recovery shorter or less painful?

Well, he has to verify if it’s actually Grade 4 or something smaller. It’s strange to me that he didn't perform a manual exam. That's the most basic part of the process. My doctor checked me out immediately. As for recovery, the fewer complications you have, the faster you bounce back. But since nobody has even laid eyes on you yet, I can't say for sure what your situation looks like. That's what surprises me. 😕Don't let the surgery scare you. According to my surgeon, I was one of the toughest cases, and now everything is perfect. I actually had a follow-up in the tenth month for a polyp—not hemorrhoids, because those are gone for good and aren't coming back. Just be brave and listen to your doctor. Who did you see for the consultation? Was it Dr. Vuletić or Professor Kandić? Vuletić is an incredible surgeon too, and he'll give you solid advice. I've written quite a bit about my experience, so feel free to scroll back through a few pages if you want to read more.

Michael Diaz4 said:Well, they really ought to determine if we're talking about stage 4 or anything lower—is it really that hard to perform a basic check? It’s fundamental. I had mine checked immediately. Generally speaking, the shorter the post-op recovery, the fewer the complications—though how things stand with you is anyone's guess since you haven't even seen a doctor yet, which is frankly baffling.😕 Don't let the surgery intimidate you; according to the professor, I was one of the most difficult cases, yet everything is flawless now. I’m heading back for an exam in the tenth month because of polyps—not hemorrhoids, since those are gone for good. Be brave and just follow medical advice. Who did you consult with—Vuletić or Professor Kandić? Vuletić is also a phenomenal surgeon and will offer plenty of guidance; I've written quite a bit about him, so feel free to scroll back through a few pages if you're interested.

Both were present, and we had a productive discussion. They offered to perform the exam right then, but—quite simply—I wasn't ready. We agreed the exam would happen before the procedure; regardless of the stage, it needs to be done because I am finally ready to put this behind me.
It was likely based on the photos and his own experience that he provided a preliminary diagnosis—and wouldn't it be lovely if he were wrong and it was a milder case? Regardless, I've committed to this and have no intention of backing down.
Of course, I didn't just skim a few pages; I read the entire history along with other sources. My wife is quite knowledgeable about nutrition and herbal supplements, so I don't anticipate issues there—the only real obstacle is my own discomfort, which I just can't seem to shake.

Thomas King28 said:They were both there, and we had a really good talk. They wanted to perform an exam right then, but honestly, I just wasn't ready. We agreed that the exam would happen before the actual procedure—basically, regardless of how bad it looks, we’re doing this because I just want to get this over with once and for all.
It was likely based on the photos and their own experience, but they managed to give me a preliminary diagnosis. I wish they were wrong. I wish it were a minor issue, but regardless, I've started this process and I have no intention of backing down.
Of course, I haven't just skimmed a few pages; I've read the whole story and looked into other sources too. My wife knows her stuff when it comes to healthy eating and herbal supplements, so I don't expect any issues there. The only real issue is me and this discomfort I just can't seem to shake.

Hmm, here is a little advice for anyone out there feeling too embarrassed to see a doctor. Do you think they don't understand human anatomy? Of course they do. They’ve seen plenty of people since they were students and interns; everyone starts out in general practice. It's the same for the rest of the medical staff. They'll be the ones inserting the catheter. Then a nurse will be the one removing it. They'll even have to shave the area around the anus. That’s handled by a nurse, too. There is simply no room for shame. They've seen it all. Good luck...

Michael Diaz4 said:Well, here’s a little tip for everyone too embarrassed to actually see a doctor. Do you honestly think they don't understand human anatomy? Of course they do—they've been examining people since their days as med students and interns; everyone starts out in general practice. It’s the same for the nursing staff. They'll be the ones inserting the catheter—and a nurse will be the one removing it. They'll even have to shave everything around your backside. And yes, a nurse does that too. So really, there's no room for modesty. They've seen it all before. Good luck...

What kind of black catheter??? And where exactly are they putting it???

Thomas King28 said:A black catheter??? And what exactly are they putting it in???

I already touched on this earlier. It goes into the urinary tract. It can be pretty uncomfortable, especially once they pull it out because things tend to swell up a bit. You’ll probably want to sip some cranberry juice once you get back home. Don't stress too much; you're in good hands. It’s just going to be a bit rough since the heat is already kicking in. This surgery isn't exactly a walk in the park, and the recovery period can be tough, but look at the bright side—you'll finally be rid of this problem for good.

Michael Diaz4 said:Look, I’ve already covered this. It goes straight into the urinary tract—which is a total nightmare once they pull it out because of the swelling. You'll basically be living on herbal tea once you get home. Don't stress too much—you're in good hands—but let's be real: it's going to suck, especially with this heat. The surgery isn't exactly a walk in the park and the recovery is brutal, but at least the problem will be gone for good.

Ugh, I am definitely not ready for this—do you think there's any way to avoid it entirely?

Thomas King28 said:Uh, I’m really not ready to face this one yet. What do you think—is there any way to avoid this?

If things get serious and we hit stage four, then no. It can't be avoided.

I honestly don't get it. When someone visits a specialist with first or second-degree hemorrhoids, why isn't surgery offered right away if things like ointments, suppositories, and diet changes don't do the trick within a month or two?
I’ve started to wonder if they just want people to sink as much money as possible into all those different creams and treatments—which, let's face it, aren't cheap—only to end up needing surgery once they hit stage four. By then, the recovery process is way more brutal than if they had just dealt with it at the start.

Casey Rogers47 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around why someone would walk into a proctologist's office with Stage I or II hemorrhoids and not just opt for surgery right then and there, especially if things like ointments, suppositories, or dietary changes don't start showing results within a month or two.
It’s starting to feel like there’s this subtle push to get people to pour money into all those various over-the-counter treatments—which, let's face it, aren't cheap—only to end up needing surgery once they hit Stage IV, at which point the recovery process is way more grueling than if they had just dealt with it from the jump.

I’ve actually landed on a similar conclusion myself, and I think the situation is even more frustrating in private practices because they often gloss over newer, better methods just to keep patients coming back, essentially dragging out the treatment for a year or two.
In the public hospital system, it feels like they prioritize cases with higher stages because the waiting lists are already massive; if they offered surgery to everyone immediately, they wouldn't be able to keep up, especially since hospitals operate on specific budget allocations for certain procedures. It’s like if they have a strict cap on how many hemorrhoid surgeries they can perform annually and the demand is through the roof, they’re naturally going to focus on the most severe cases first.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the pattern with almost every type of surgery. It really brings up much larger questions about the overall efficiency of our healthcare system, but that’s probably a whole different conversation.
If you truly want to resolve an issue, you basically have to become a bit of a nuisance and stand your ground. You go to the doctor and firmly insist that you want the surgery, and they'll eventually have to make it happen.
That said, traditional surgery is undeniably invasive and the healing period can be quite rough, plus there's always the risk of them coming back, so doctors might assume that if you aren't in constant pain and can manage your daily life, it's better to avoid the knife if possible.

Look, this whole laser treatment for deep vein destruction isn't actually the big scary thing people think it is. From what I've gathered, the first and second stages just sort of retract on their own afterward. You don't really deal with those typical post-op headaches because it’s not even a traditional surgical procedure. Back in the day, there was no way to handle hemorrhoids like this. Now? It's a game changer. Even the specialist who performed my procedure told me straight up that it’s a fantastic method. If people would just bite the bullet and get it handled early on, they could bypass all the misery down the road. But people are just wired that way—they avoid the doctor until everything hits the fan. That was my mistake, too. I honestly thought I could just rub some cream on it and call it a day. It doesn't work like that. Once things get complicated, it can get genuinely dangerous. You can develop polyps from hemorrhoids, and polyps are basically one step away from cancer. So, take it from me: go see a doctor immediately before things turn into a nightmare.

I couldn't agree more; you hit the nail right on the head. But I think Casey Rogers47 might be missing why doctors often just prescribe ointments and other useless stuff instead of suggesting surgery. It really comes down to a few things:
a) Private clinics are often stuck using old-school methods or they don't even bother performing hemorrhoid surgery at all because they'd rather just keep the money coming in, and naturally, they aren't going to refer a patient elsewhere to get it fixed properly.
b) Public hospital doctors are still mostly sticking to those grueling, traditional surgeries—for instance, in New York City, only Mercury really performs the DG-HAL-RAR procedure—so they tend to steer clear of anything else.
c) Hospital waiting lists are massive, so if a patient doesn't proactively demand surgery, they’ll just keep getting handed a prescription for creams and meds indefinitely.

That's just how I see it. Honestly, stage I and II hemorrhoids can be handled quite easily with either the DG-HAL-RAR or the THD method; both are permanent solutions and much less invasive. The real tragedy is that most people simply don't know these options exist, so they go to a doctor who never even mentions them. That’s why you have to dig deep into every possibility and seek out multiple opinions first.
And look, if a doctor tells you there's nothing they can do, you absolutely need to do your own homework, because we've already seen cases on this forum where someone was treated incorrectly for an anal fissure, and just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.

You should definitely see a specialist, but you also need to spend some time doing your own research online so you can walk into that office feeling informed, and whenever possible, try to get information directly from the source.

This forum has been a huge help to me personally, and I feel like the situation here has improved immensely; there's so much more info available now, and people aren't just endlessly recommending creams and ointments anymore. 👍

Greetings,

It’s been seven days since my surgery—I am still very much alive. Recovery is moving along, albeit slowly.

For anyone out there struggling with similar issues, my advice? Get checked out. Seriously. I walked into this thinking my situation wasn't even that bad—only to find out it was stage 4, thrombosed, and had a fissure. Thank God that's finally behind me now.

A huge thanks to Michael Diaz4, who I've been talking to most, and to Karen Thompson10, who really set everything in motion.

Thomas King28 said:Hey there,

It’s been seven days since my surgery, and I’m still here. Recovery is happening, slowly but surely.

For anyone out there struggling, my biggest advice is to get a real diagnosis. I honestly thought my situation wasn't that bad. Turns out, it was stage 4, thrombosed, and had a fissure. Thankfully, I finally got that sorted out.

Big thanks to Michael Diaz4, who I talked to the most, and Karen Thompson10, who really started this whole journey for me.

Don't worry about thanking us. The main thing is that you're finally free from the pain. It just goes to show what I've always believed: you can't truly know what's going on inside your body until a doctor actually examines you. Now, please, don't spend the entire summer sitting around. Not even if you feel like it. One woman on this forum might have dealt with massive bleeding specifically because she waited too long. This surgery might mess with your summer plans, but hang in there—it'll be worth it. Just keep the wound clean. Rinse it constantly in the shower. Wounds heal much faster when they stay clean. That’s exactly what the doctor told me. Just follow medical advice to the letter. Don't go experimenting on yourself...

Thomas King28 said:Hey everyone,

I’m officially one week out from my surgery, and honestly, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again as I recover.

For anyone else out there struggling with this, my biggest piece of advice is to get a clear picture of exactly what you're dealing with. I went into this thinking it wasn't such a big deal, but it turns out I was actually facing stage 4 issues, including thrombosis and a fissure. Thankfully, I've finally got that sorted out.

A huge thank you to Michael Diaz4, who was my main lifeline for info, and to Karen Thompson10, who really set everything in motion for me.

🙂
It makes me so incredibly happy to hear that everything went smoothly and that the worst is behind you now. Just take it easy, focus on eating well, and please, try to stay off your feet for a while.
🙂

Does anyone know a good proctologist down in Miami? I'm wondering if the doctors over at the local hospital are any good or if I should look elsewhere

Michael Diaz4 and Karen Thompson10—if you ever find yourselves in Boston, consider this an open invitation for lunch or something similar. Honestly, I'm finally feeling more like myself again—and I'm optimistic about returning to my old "way of life."

sorry Dreamland, my bad regarding the mistake in my last post—I’m currently lying down while typing!

Thomas King28 said:Michael Diaz4 and Karen Thompson10, if you two ever find yourselves in Boston, consider me your host for lunch or something similar. Honestly, I’m starting to feel much better lately, and I'm feeling pretty optimistic about getting back to my old "way of life."

Look, I've lived in this city my whole life—born and raised. It’s great to hear you're doing better. If you're ever in town, we should definitely grab a beer sometime... it's on me.🙂 How is the recovery coming along?

Thomas King28 said:Michael Diaz4 and Karen Thompson10, if you guys ever find yourselves down in Boston, consider the offer open—I'd love to host you all for lunch or something similar, especially since I'm finally feeling more like myself again and am genuinely optimistic about getting back to my old way of life.

I'm actually based out of Chicago, but man, thank you so much for the kind offer, that really means a lot. 🙂
And you absolutely should stay positive, because those setbacks are firmly in the rearview mirror now, like a storm that's finally passed and left everything clear behind you.