Dealing with hemorrhoids

Donald Trump said:Nobody replied, so I’m asking again... there's this white patch near my anus, maybe an inch away, and it gets red and itchy sometimes. I've been slathering Nivea on it, which helped the redness, but the white spot won't go away and there's still some irritation. It's been going on forever. I'm pretty young and honestly too embarrassed to tell my parents. Should I just go to a doctor? I don't even know where to start...

If it's stinging and turning red, using random drugstore stuff like Nivea probably isn't the brightest move.
Just make sure you wash up after using the bathroom, pat dry with a towel, and use an actual medicated cream instead.

You really need to get over the embarrassment and see a doctor. Things can get ugly if you wait too long.
At the end of the day, this is just a forum and everyone's situation is different.

Donald Trump said:Since nobody bothered to reply, I guess I'll ask again... there's this white patch of skin right near my anus, maybe about a centimeter away, and it gets red and itchy sometimes. I've been rubbing Nivea cream all over the area, which helped the redness go away, but the white patch is still there along with some lingering irritation. This has been going on for quite a while now. I'm pretty young, and honestly, I'm too embarrassed to even mention this to my parents! My only option is seeing a doctor, but I have absolutely no clue where to go...

You MUST see a proctologist. It might not be anything serious, but you really need to hear that from a specialist.
Maybe start by visiting your primary care physician first; they should be able to give you some answers (hopefully) and provide a referral to a specialist. Alternatively, you could just go to a private clinic if you don't want to wait for a referral, though it'll probably cost you somewhere between $200 and $133.

There is absolutely no reason to feel ashamed. This is about your health, and that's what matters most in life...

"If your skin is stinging and turning red every now and then, I really don't think it's a bright idea to go slathering on heavy cosmetics like Nivea cream.
In my opinion, you're much better off using a basic baby cream—something simple that isn't packed with all those artificial fragrances and random additives.
"At the end of the day, this is just a forum and we all have our own unique situations."
I totally agree. Seriously, don't be embarrassed to see a doctor; that's what they're there for! We're all just swapping stories here, and what works for one person might do absolutely nothing for someone else. Start by heading to your primary care physician. They'll give you the right referrals from there. I mean, my own doctor actually had to take a look at my backside before she sent me off to a specialist.
By the way, I just got back from my checkup today. Things are looking okay, though the wound is still weeping a bit, but the doctor told me that’s just how it goes until it fully heals. I've got another follow-up in two weeks.

I'm heading to the doctor soon... I've been spiraling lately trying to figure out what's actually going on, and the anxiety is just hitting me hard. Everything has been feeling increasingly irritated and painful over the last few days.

off topic

Steven Martinez7, can I just lean on you and vent for a second?

I’ve gotta head back into Chicago to see my doctor... one of those issues—maybe even a few—is acting up again.

Ugh....

I am so incredibly sorry, Ronald Lopez3. Best of luck with everything—please let me know how it all turns out once you're through it.

So, last Wednesday I finally dealt with a massive headache I've been lugging around for 15 years. Three internal, two external. I’ve heard all the horror stories—survived three agonizing exams between private clinics and public hospitals—and listened to people recount nightmares about surgical removals. Eventually, I just pulled the trigger on a laser procedure at a private clinic in Chicago (Dr. Misir).
Ten minutes later, I was sitting in my car feeling like absolutely nothing had happened. If you're dealing with bleeding, digestive issues, or any of the other "lucky" side effects of hemorrhoids, I highly recommend this. 👍

If anyone wants the specifics, just ask 😉

rustyhawk3 said:So, last Wednesday I finally dealt with this massive nuisance I've been dragging around for fifteen years—three internal and two external ones. I spent way too much time listening to horror stories and endured three agonizing exams at both some private clinic and the local county hospital. After hearing all those grim tales about people getting them surgically removed, I decided to just go to a private clinic in Los Angeles (Dr. Misir) for laser surgery instead.
Ten minutes later, I was just sitting in my car feeling like nothing had even happened. Honestly, if you're dealing with bleeding, bathroom issues, or any other "joyful" side effects of hemorrhoids, I’d highly recommend it. 👍

If anyone wants the lowdown on how it went, just ask 😉

What's the damage, price-wise?

$667 knots. Honestly, considering how painless and lightning-fast the whole thing is—plus there’s zero recovery period—it’s worth every penny. Back when I was looking at options in Chicago, they wanted $3000 from me at Salus to just cut everything out surgically. They’d have had me under general anesthesia, stuck in a hospital bed for a day, and then left to suffer through two months of absolute agony at home. I’ve heard horror stories from plenty of people who went the old-school scalpel route for internal hemorrhoids; they say the pain is literally unbearable—people actually passing out from the shock...

Sure, critics claim this method (much like the old rubber band ligation or those suffocating cooling techniques from the 80s) is "unreliable" and doesn't guarantee they won't come back. But take my colleague, for instance—he’s 70 now, a freelance 😁—and his godfather swears they had an outpatient procedure done back in the early eighties, and he hasn't had a single issue since.

Bottom line: I’m incredibly happy with the decision so far. (Knock knock)

I was actually wondering if anyone here has any first-hand experience working with Dr. Misir? I’ve heard some decent things about him, but you know how it is—it's always better to hear it from someone who's been there. Anyway, thanks a ton for letting us know your experience was solid; hopefully, I won't ever have to take you up on that, God forbid! I've added your name to my little list just in case I need to reach out for more details regarding Dr. Misir later on.

Man, what a heavy topic! Seriously. I actually went through surgery myself about two years ago—internal laser treatment, done over in Madrid. Recovery took me more than a month. And let me tell you... it was brutal. There were moments where I honestly just wanted to bang my head against a wall. The pain was constant. Thank God that part is finally behind me.

So, this past summer, I was chatting with this woman who lives in Switzerland, and she told me she actually cured her issues using some kind of tomato. Listen to this 😲 : It’s smaller than a cherry tomato, about the size of a marble, and you just... insert it. I am not kidding, I am being dead serious here. You put it in and go about your day like normal. When you sit down on a toilet, it probably just pops right back out (completely intact).

At first, I thought she was joking, but then she gave one to my old man. Now, he’s the type of guy who wouldn't even let a catfish whisker touch his backside, but once he tried it, the bleeding just stopped instantly. He was totally fine by the next day. So, yeah, I stopped laughing pretty quickly after that. I have no clue if you can find these little "marbles" at any local shopping centers around here, but hey, it couldn't hurt to look for them and give it a shot. It worked for those two people...

I’ve dealt with them too👎 😕 It was absolutely miserable....
They weren't massive or anything, but I was practically bleeding out and losing my mind every single time I hit the bathroom... the pain was unreal, and I could never even get a full movement in😲
I ended up getting an ultrasound and a colonoscopy, then they prescribed some Detralex pills and Faktu cream, though I didn't actually need the meds once I fixed my diet. If you're dealing with hemorrhoids, you seriously have to cut back on the pizza and chips and stick to whole foods, and honestly, forget about anal sex for a while. Plus, my doctor told me I really shouldn't be straining so hard on the toilet😁

hollowowl88 said:What a nightmare of a topic! Honestly. I had my own surgery nearly two years ago—laser treatment, internal, done in Madrid. Recovery took over a month. What a brutal stretch of time. There were moments I just wanted to bang my head against a wall. The pain was constant. Thank God it’s finally behind me.

I was chatting this summer with a woman who lives in Switzerland, and she claimed she cured herself using some kind of tomato. Now, listen to this 😲: It’s smaller than a cherry tomato, about the size of a marble, and you just insert it. I’m not kidding—I am dead serious. You put it in and go about your day normally. When you use the restroom, it presumably comes right back out (intact).

At first, I thought it was a joke. But when she gave it to my father—a man who previously swore he wouldn't let even a catfish whisker touch his backside—his bleeding stopped instantly. He was fine by the very next day. So, I stopped laughing. I have no idea if you can find these "marbles" at any local shopping centers, but it wouldn't hurt to look. It worked for those two...

I wouldn't exactly call that laser surgery...

rustyhawk3 said:I wouldn't exactly call it a laser back then...

Look, if my doctor is lying to me, then I’m just playing along. He explained that the recovery is such a slow, painful slog because the incisions are internal—you know, in those areas that stay moist and aren't exactly sterile, so healing just takes forever.

Before the surgery, I was trying all sorts of stuff, including that Faktu ointment hiddenscout362 mentioned, but honestly? It didn't do much for me. For me, the real lifesaver was this Austrian cream called HÄDENSA. It has menthol in it and it literally just "cools" the whole situation down. Using that alongside the same kind of cushions was a total game-changer...

Alright, here’s a little home remedy for you—it actually works!

Take some small sticks made of lard and keep them in the fridge. Right before you hit the sack at night, just pop one up your butt. Do that for a few days... and by morning, you'll be heading to the WC without any of that pain.

hollowowl88 said:If my doctor is lying—then I guess I’m lying too. He explained that the recovery is slow and painful because the incisions are internal, in an area that stays moist and unclean, which slows down healing.

Before my surgery, I used several different products—including that Faktu ointment hiddenscout362 mentioned—but it didn't do much for me. Personally, I found Hädensa ointment from Austria to be the best; it has menthol and literally "cools" the discomfort. Using that alongside those specific pads was a lifesaver.

I had one internal one removed, and let me tell you—those hurt. Before this, I consulted with a surgeon at a private clinic in Chicago. He suggested the classic procedure, the so-called "stapler" method—basically a scalpel plus suturing the bowel. Now, THAT hurts... three people I know who went that route told me they've never experienced worse pain in their lives. Just Google "stapler hemorrhoidectomy" and read up on it... essentially, they cut out a SECTION of the colon and then stitch the rest back together.
This laser approach (which I hear Lastrić performs in the city as well) isn't quite as radical—it doesn't completely remove the swollen vein, but rather necrotizes it (if there are any doctors in this group, please correct me; I'm just a layman repeating what I've heard). Regardless, a month later, I feel great—knock on wood. 🙂

External ones are still operated on with a scalpel, according to Dr. Misir. I have no idea how painful that recovery is, but it's definitely less brutal than dealing with the internal ones.

Can anyone help me identify the type of hemorrhoid I'm dealing with? I honestly can't tell if it's an internal one that's prolapsed 🙂 or if it's actually an external one 🙂 lol
So, there's this lump—about the size of half a hazelnut—but it’s more oblong than perfectly round. It started hurting a few days ago... nothing constant, just a nagging sensation. Of course, it flares up during bowel movements, accompanied by some minor bleeding. I started paying closer attention after using the restroom the day before yesterday because I noticed it wasn't just going away on its own, and things have actually taken a turn for the worse. Now the bleeding is heavier, and I was pretty shaken when I saw quite a bit of blood on my boxers. There is pain, though I suppose that's subjective; I wouldn't call it "unbearable," but let's just say it hurts—quite a bit 🙂
Anyway, there's a fair amount of blood on the paper after using the bathroom, even though the actual act itself isn't painful. The real issue is wiping, because the lump itself is tender to the touch. It all started hurting just one day after a trip to the restroom... at first, I couldn't even sit down or stand up from a chair without feeling a decent amount of discomfort. And today... well, I've described it.

Now, why didn't I react sooner? Well, for most of my life, I've had what I'd call "something weird hanging around down there." It wasn't until about a year ago that I realized maybe it wasn't supposed to be there. But it's not like I haven't seen doctors before; I figured if it were serious, they would have said something. I even went in for a prostate exam a few years back for other reasons, and the doctor didn't mention a thing... however, in the past, that pain would also show up after using the bathroom—more of a stinging sensation—and then it would vanish after a couple of days like nothing happened (I remember this from when I was a kid and my mom used to clean me up... I'm 25 now). Back then, there would be slight bleeding too, but it passed quickly. That's why I thought this was just the same old thing... but now, after a few days—and I THINK—the lump has grown slightly, the pain has intensified, and the bleeding has increased, which naturally means my anxiety has spiked too.

I won't even get into my lifestyle: I don't drink enough fluids because, by some miracle, I never feel thirsty. I'll eat lunch and not drink a single drop of anything... unbelievable, but true. My diet consists mostly of pizza, sandwiches, and junk like that; I probably have one hot meal a day at most. I'm sitting down 80% of the time since I work in IT and spend my time studying and stuff. So, I think we've pretty much pinpointed the cause 🙂

So, what do you guys recommend?

So, looking at how you live your life, you basically answered your own question right there.

You spend most of your life dealing with stuff you barely even notice because you assume if it were actually serious, a doctor would bring it up.
But they won't. They aren't going to ask you anything; you have to tell them, and even then, half the time they couldn't care less.
When I went to my doctor asking for a referral for a colonoscopy—telling her I’ve had issues my whole life and that everyone in my family deals with GI problems—she wouldn't even give me the referral.
Then, when I went to a private specialist for surgery, she finally asked if I wanted a colonoscopy. Like, why now? Now I see what was really happening.
I guess she just needed more paperwork to justify my medical leave.
That’s doctors for you—they don't ask a thing unless you push them.

The problem is obvious. You've been dealing with GI issues for ages, and that's it.
If you don't fix your diet, things are only going to get worse. It's never going away; the only difference will be whether the pain and bleeding are mild or intense.

See for yourself what happens, and maybe you'll finally get some real answers.

Why are you being so aggressive 🙂?
Look, I’ve typed out quite a bit because I’ve read just as much in this thread—I’m simply bringing up everything that seems relevant to the situation...
I honestly don't follow what you think you've understood, but my goal remains the same: I want to get rid of this once and for all. If I have to overhaul my entire diet for $180 or whatever it takes, fine—that’s the easy part. The one thing I can't control much is the sitting... I can stand up and pace around every thirty minutes if I have to, but that’s about the limit. I have to spend a certain amount of time at my desk. That said, I can certainly increase my activity during my off-hours. I can also drink way more fluids... since from what I gather, hydration is a massive factor here.

What I am actually looking for from you all is some concrete, actionable advice. Something like: "Hey, if you see X, get to the ER immediately," or "If Y happens, don't sweat it, just do Z..." or even just, "It's only one thing, don't panic, just cut back on sitting until it clears up—apply the ointment and take some Advil..."
In short, tell me what I need to do TODAY, because I'm stuck in this limbo where I don't know whether to freak out, head to the urgent care, or just lie down in bed and hope for the best.

I actually just stepped out of the CVS and picked up their ointment. If I'm reading the label correctly, it's called "Procto"... or maybe "Procto-Gly"? I'm hoping someone with actual experience can tell me if it's any good. I've read so many different things on these forums that I can barely remember the specific names, other than remembering someone mentioned a "homemade" remedy...

So, I’ve been dealing with internal hemorrhoids for about two years now. They aren't exactly excruciating, but they've become quite uncomfortable lately and are starting to really get in the way of my daily life. If anyone here has navigated similar issues, I’d truly appreciate some guidance on how to finally resolve this. I’ve tried using Preparation H, and I even consulted a holistic practitioner, but nothing seems to provide a lasting fix. Plus, being a college student, my diet isn't exactly top-tier right now 🙂 So, if anyone could offer some advice on dietary adjustments, specific creams, or other remedies, I would be very grateful!