Dealing with hemorrhoids – any advice?

Scott Martin6 said:Hey everyone. I honestly never thought I’d be the type of person to go online asking about this kind of thing.
Over the last day or two, I’ve noticed these two little black spots—one slightly larger than the other—right at the opening. Before that, there was this strange, uncomfortable ache that actually prompted me to start wondering what was going on. I went straight to the internet to see if I could figure out what it might be. 🤦

From what I managed to dig up through my research, it seems like an early stage of something. I’m pretty certain about the cause, too. Last week, I went several days without a bowel movement, which eventually led to a really painful and difficult experience when I finally went (it had been over five days).😢
Generally speaking, my diet has been pretty dry and irregular lately.

What I want to know now is, for those of you who have dealt with this or are currently going through it: what should my first step be? What should I be using? How do people typically move forward from here? Also, is there any sort of rule regarding how fast this progresses or if it turns into something worse?
😕

First off, what do you mean by "spots"? Hemorrhoids aren't usually described as spots... Are you absolutely sure it isn't something else?

I misspoke—not little dots, but more like blood clots, lumps, or blisters. Dark purple or blackish ones.

external
You can only really see them when you're relaxed, or if you slightly spread the skin with your fingers.

So yeah, they really are hemorrhoids. I’m honestly not sure what else to tell you at this point. It’s such a massive topic, and everyone seems to have a different story to tell about it. It started the same way for me, too—though I can't even pin down the exact cause; I think I actually developed them from all the physical strain back during my service. Eventually, I ended up having to go under the knife for surgery. Just scroll through the threads for a bit and see everything we've discussed here.

I’m heading to the pharmacy tomorrow to pick up some cream and maybe grab some calendula ointment too; I’m honestly at a loss for what else to try besides just hoping this all clears up on its own.

At this point, I'm actually terrified to even use the bathroom.😢 ?

Scott Martin6 said:I think I’ll head to the drugstore tomorrow to pick up some cream. I'll grab some calendula ointment too, since I'm honestly at a loss. Other than hoping this just disappears on its own, I don't know what else to do.

Now I'm actually terrified to even step into the bathroom. 😢?

Let me recap this quickly for you. Honestly, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s just that this isn't something that ever truly goes away for good. They might shrink—if it's just stage one, they might vanish for a bit—but they have a habit of coming back later down the road. You really need to stay regular. Stick to fruit juices, veggies, boiled foods, and soups. Plenty of greens are highly recommended. Don't deal with constipation, but don't trigger diarrhea either; that's lethal. And for heaven's sake, stay far away from spicy food. Hygiene has to be spotless... and please, go see a doctor to get it checked out properly...

What kind of doctor are we talking about here? A general practitioner or is there a specialist involved?

You really need a specialist to take a look at this. Your typical family doctor is just going to give it a quick glance without actually doing a digital exam. So, if you’re heading to a public clinic, go see your primary care physician first and ask for a referral to a specialist. Honestly, if you ask me? If you have the cash, I’d just drop the money right away and head to a top-tier surgeon at a private clinic. It gets handled immediately. Of course, that assumes you can afford it. The initial consultation isn't exactly breaking the bank, and sure, if they need to run more tests, it might cost a bit more, but you get everything sorted out on the spot. Take a look back through my previous posts. Check who else has chimed in on this thread, click on my username, and you'll find everything I've written. Just a heads-up: there is a ton of info out there. Don't let what you read scare you; use it as motivation to actually see a doctor. When you're in the exam room, just relax. Don't tense up, don't clench, and just let them do their job. Don't be afraid...

Scott Martin6 said:What kind of doctor are we talking about here? A general practitioner or some kind of specialist?

If it's just a mild case, a simple over-the-counter remedy should do the trick.

So, I’m dealing with this whole hemorrhoid situation. They flared up about two weeks ago right after some heavy cycling and—if my theory holds—some pretty crappy eating habits. I don't have the "classic" symptoms, you know? No bleeding, no real pain when I'm on the toilet... but there’s this constant, nagging discomfort. It feels like something is just... stuck halfway in or out. I haven't been able to feel any actual lumps or protrusions around the area, so honestly, I can't even tell if these are internal ones that popped out or external ones. It mostly bugs me when I'm sitting or walking, especially when that slight burning sensation kicks in. Until yesterday, I could sit for a decent amount of time—like during lunch—if I just shifted my weight forward. But now, with this feeling of something being half-there, sitting is just uncomfortable. It’s not painful, per se, just awkward. I'm 27. In my life, I've only had one flare-up before, and that cleared itself up in like a week. For the last two weeks, I've been trying to be good—lots of oatmeal, chicken and turkey breast, veggies like tomatoes and salad, whole grain seeded bread, drinking tons of water... everything. My stools are way more regular and "smooth" now.

I already scheduled an appointment with my doctor, but they can't see me until Friday. Meanwhile, I'm stuck here reading all these gross horror stories online and sweating through my shirt, imagining the absolute worst-case scenario in my head.

If they actually protruded, would I be able to easily feel them? That feels like the nightmare scenario to me.

Is it even worth looking into a procedure like General Hal + RAR while I'm still young? What kind of risks are we talking about? And does that method actually get rid of them for good?

P.S. Obviously, I'm going to talk through all of this with the proctologist, but I'd really love to get some info before Friday hits....

cosmicmoose2 said:I'm dealing with some hemorrhoid issues. They flared up about two weeks ago after I went a bit too hard on my bike rides and ate pretty poorly (at least, that's my theory). I don't have the typical symptoms—nothing like bleeding or pain when I go to the bathroom—but there's this constant sense of discomfort, like something is stuck halfway in or out. I haven't been able to feel any actual lumps or protrusions around the area, so I can't even tell if they are internal ones that have slipped out or external ones. It's most annoying when sitting or walking because it starts to feel a little warm and irritated. Until yesterday, I could sit for a decent amount of time (like during lunch) if I shifted my weight forward. Now, since it feels like something is just... there, sitting halfway, every time I sit down it's uncomfortable, though not exactly painful. In my life, I've only had one flare-up before, and that cleared up on its own in maybe a week. I'm 27. For the last two weeks, I've been sticking to oatmeal, chicken and turkey breast, veggies like tomatoes and salad, whole grain seeded bread, and drinking plenty of water. My movements have been much more regular and "soft" lately.

I've scheduled an appointment with my doctor, but they won't see me until Friday. Meanwhile, I'm scrolling through all these gross stories online and breaking out in a cold sweat, imagining the absolute worst-case scenario.

If they actually protruded, would I be able to easily feel them? That feels like the worst possibility to me.

Would it make sense to go for a procedure like the General Hal method right now while I'm still young? What are the risks involved? And does that approach actually fix the problem for good?

P.S. Obviously, I'm going to discuss everything with my specialist, but I'd love to get some insight before Friday hits...

Go ahead and get it fixed permanently right away. They basically close off the blood vessel feeding the hemorrhoids. Usually, they handle it without much pain...

This was a total lifesaver for my wife!!!!! http://www.coolinarika.com/recept/pr...tiv-hemoroida/

I dealt with them for about three months straight, and they’d flare up every two weeks like clockwork. I tried some ointment from the local drugstore, but honestly, it didn't do a damn thing, not even for a second. So, I went to a different pharmacy, and they recommended this cream in an orange box based on some old-school formula—I can't recall the exact name, but it had calendula in it. That actually gave me instant relief, though I have no clue if it works for the long haul. After that, I picked up some organic flaxseed oil; it was maybe $3 at CVS and maybe $4 at a pharmacy. I’d suggest getting it at CVS because the bottle is bigger. I'd stir two tablespoons into my yogurt, oatmeal, or whatever else every single day. It totally kicked my digestion into gear, and after that, the hemorrhoids just vanished. I stuck with it for about a month, even though the symptoms were gone, and even now—three or four months later—they haven't come back once, despite the fact that I stopped taking the oil. If I have a particularly heavy Saturday night involving drinks, I might take those two tablespoons again since alcohol absolutely wreaks havoc on your digestion.
Basically, fix your diet and cut out the booze for at least a month (while you're on the flaxseed oil) and they'll clear up 👍
If that doesn't do the trick, you really need to go see a doctor.

Look, I didn't have symptoms nearly as bad as yours either. Honestly, maybe that’s why I didn't need to go on some long-term "therapy" with flaxseed oil, but hey, give it a shot if you want. Just don't expect any ointments to actually help you in the long run. Good luck 😉

Like most people, I kept putting off seeing a doctor until my hemorrhoids started prolapsing every single time I took a long walk or exerted myself just a little too much.
I’ve actually dealt with this since I was a kid because I’ve struggled with constipation my entire life, though back then, the symptoms would just resolve themselves spontaneously. It used to sting and ache for a few days here and there, but it was nothing I couldn't handle at the time.
Thanks to the discussions on this forum, I finally found the courage to visit a specialist at a private clinic, since I had no intention of waiting forever in a massive line at a state-run facility. The exam itself was brief and minimally uncomfortable; honestly, I’d say it was less unpleasant than a gynecological exam. The doctor didn't specify the exact grade, but he assured me it wasn't too severe yet. He went ahead and performed a rubber band ligation right then and there—it caught me off guard since he didn't ask if I wanted it done immediately—but I'm actually grateful he did. If he hadn't, I probably would have let fear talk me into delaying the procedure all over again.
The actual banding and the injection were only slightly painful, barely noticeable, but about thirty minutes later, the pain became absolutely unbearable. That first day was truly miserable. The second day was still painful, though slightly better. Today, which is the third day since the ligation, there is just a minor stinging sensation.
I have three more sessions and three more trips through this hell ahead of me, but I am firmly committed to finishing the process to prevent further complications. My hemorrhoids had been dormant for years, and then suddenly, everything flared up. I realize now that you can't just play around with this kind of thing.
Creams, ointments, and suppositories might be effective during the early stages or for acute flare-ups, but once things progress, they don't do anything at all. I know this from firsthand experience.
As previously mentioned, it is vital to adjust your diet and ensure your stools remain soft. Of course, you shouldn't go overboard, as overly soft stools can also trigger hemorrhoid issues. In my case, I think that's exactly what happened.

To anyone out there struggling who is currently stalling their doctor's visit: grit your teeth and go as soon as possible. If I had been better informed, I would have taken care of this years ago. I am 32 now.

I’m 15 years old and I just got my first period a few days ago. It lasted about a week. I made sure to wash with cold water and used wet wipes instead of regular toilet paper to stay clean... honestly, I'm really hoping this is a one-time thing and won't happen again 🙂

Angela Barnes48 said:I'm 15 and I just got my first period a few days ago. It lasted about a week. I've been washing with cold water and using wet wipes instead of toilet paper... honestly, I really hope this is the first and last time I ever have to deal with this.🙂

Unfortunately, it won't be the last time...🙄 Just try to keep an eye on your diet, your digestion, and your hygiene. You really need to rinse the area rather than just wiping.

Finally finished my full checkup today. Honestly? I’m pretty bummed out. I went through all that discomfort just hoping for some straight answers, and here we are...

Still, I’d tell anyone in this spot to just go get checked out. You can read anything and everything on the internet, and before you know it, you're spiraling into the worst-case scenarios in your head—especially when the inflammation won't quit...

So, the verdict: Grade II internal hemorrhoids. My doctor put me on Daflon pills and some Preparation H ointment. He couldn't give me a timeline, though, or even guarantee I'll get back to how I felt before this whole mess started. He says there’s no reason they shouldn't recede, but hey, nothing is certain...

He actually told me to skip any kind of procedure. Even those "minimally invasive" ones like General Hal. Man, that sounds tempting, especially if this keeps dragging on forever....

Anyway, does anyone here actually have experience with that ointment? I had a nightmare trying to find it because apparently, a whole batch was pulled from the market due to some contaminants, so I could only track down the little suppositories...

Has anyone used those suppositories? Did they actually work for you? And what’s the deal with the pills?

It’s been nearly a month now. Every time I feel like I'm finally turning a corner, I'm right back in the gutter after a day or two. If I walk too much or if things get a little "rough" in the restroom... man, I am going to lose my mind.... 😕

cosmicmoose2 said:I finally sat through the full exam today. Honestly, I’m feeling a little let down. I went through all that discomfort just hoping for some definitive answers, you know?

Still, I’d tell anyone in this spot to just go get checked out. You read too much stuff online and your mind starts racing toward the worst-case scenarios, especially when the inflammation hangs on for a while...

All I found out is that I have Grade II internal hemorrhoids. My doctor put me on Daflon tablets and some Preparation H ointment. He couldn't give me a timeline for recovery or guarantee I'll get back to how I felt before the flare-up—even though he said there's no reason they shouldn't recede...

He actually advised against any procedures right now, even those "minimally invasive" ones like General Hal, which is tempting because if this keeps dragging on, I might need something more permanent...

Anyway, does anyone here have experience with that ointment? I had a hard time finding it since a whole batch was pulled from the market due to some contaminants, so I only managed to snag a few single-use applicators...

Has anyone used those applicators? Did they actually work? And what's the verdict on the tablets?

It’s been nearly a month now. Every time I feel a bit better, things take a turn for the worse after a day or two—especially if I walk too much or if my bathroom trips get a little "difficult." It’s driving me crazy... 😕

Look, man, as time goes on, those General Hal options will start sounding a lot more interesting, but eventually, you'll probably end up needing the major surgery. He couldn't tell you exactly when things would improve—honestly, nobody can give you a straight answer on that. This has already been going on way too long for you. It will definitely improve at some point, sure, but it usually gets tougher in the years following. That was my experience. I didn't even believe they'd go away on their own. People on this forum kept telling me hemorrhoids wouldn't resolve without surgery. And they were right. No one knows how much worse things might get over the next few years, but it certainly won't get easier. You'll have these quiet periods, then a slight relapse, and you'll basically be playing this game for years. We've talked about this here before, so maybe dig through the old threads to find what you need. Besides watching your diet to keep things moving, you already know hygiene is everything... Good luck...

I’m a total wimp when it comes to anything involving... well, let's just say "down there," and on top of that, my pain tolerance is practically non-existent.
But look, I’ll just have to grit my teeth and deal with it if I ever want this nightmare to end.
How? Honestly, I haven't a clue.
It didn't help that I stumbled upon that news story about that incident over in Cleveland today.
Just as I was psyching myself up to take some kind of decisive action, I run right into an article like that.
🙂

Basically, I'm torn between traditional surgery and the laser approach (those are the only
two methods I've even heard of, though please tell me if there's something else out there), so I'm wondering
what the actual difference is between a standard procedure and
laser surgery (or whatever other fancy options exist)?
Specifically, I'm looking at:
1. effectiveness,
2. the risk of complications,
3. recovery time.
Those three points are what I need to know. If there is a kind soul out there who can
give me some solid, reliable answers, I would be incredibly grateful.
🙏

Even though things started looking up, I’m still not feeling 100% back to normal, so I finally just bit the bullet and decided to head over to General Hal. I am NOT spending the rest of my life constantly messing around with creams and ointments in my butt...

I’ve been lurking on this forum, but I’d really appreciate it if anyone else could chime in with their experience after the procedure.

They promised me maybe 2-3 days of mild-to-moderate pain, and then after that, it’ll be like the whole thing never even happened. Honestly, it sounds a little too good to be true...

Plus, the doctor is telling me that since I'm dealing with stage II internal issues, the success rate is basically 100%. He says I should get this sorted now before things turn into a total nightmare.

I'll update everyone once it's all over. I'm actually a little nervous because I've never had surgery in my entire life, let alone having to stay overnight at a hospital...