Dealing with hemorrhoids

Hey everyone!
I’m also part of that unlucky group dealing with the nightmare of hemorrhoids.
About ten years ago, I actually had laser surgery to get rid of them, plus treatment for a fissure that popped up at the same time. Honestly, it worked wonders—until now, when they’ve decided to make a comeback. Now, every single time I hit the bathroom, it’s pure pain and burning, and I deal with bleeding more often than not. I tried calling a few proctologists, but oh my god, the exams were a total disaster and the prices? Insane. Take Dr. Misir, for example; I saw him ages ago for that laser procedure. His setup is so much better because he uses a specialized exam chair, kind of like a raised gynecologist chair where you just lie back comfortably, instead of those other doctors who force you to awkwardly hump a table or lie on your side. Plus, Dr. Misir uses lasers rather than just tying them off. The results are way better—it’s smoother, less painful, dries out the hemorrhoid, and tightens everything up immediately so there's zero bleeding. It held up great for ten years, even though I kept eating junk food, but I guess I finally pushed my luck too far. I’d go back to Dr. Misir in a heartbeat, but unfortunately, his prices have skyrocketed. Now, every single hemorrhoid costs up to $1667 and a fissure goes up to $2667. I practically fell on my butt in shock! Back then, it was only like $100. *Sniff.*
So, what now? I called Dr. Phil and Dr. Smith, and oh man, they are straight-up butchers. They do the ligation method where you bleed everywhere, and they’re shoving fingers inside while you’re in absolute agony—honestly, I wanted to punch them right in the junk! And the exam? You either have to hump the table or lie on your side. Their prices are a bit more "affordable" at $1500-$833, but still. As for fissures, some of them will even treat you and others won't, and you might end up stuck in a hospital under total anesthesia, like at the Bates clinic. Just awful.
I also tried those Pfizer tablets. I finished two boxes and now I'm taking a three-month break. At least, that’s what Dr. Landon, the Pfizer advisor, suggests. But honestly, even after that, it still hurts every time I go, especially if I have to go again right away. I feel like things are a bit more resilient, but it's definitely not back to normal. I try to watch what I eat, but if I slip up even once, it's game over. My digestive system has become a total rollercoaster. I’m honestly at a loss. I don't have the cash for Dr. Misir, and I definitely don't have the guts or the energy to deal with those butchers. So yeah, that’s my experience. I’m just waiting a little longer before I decide my next move. 🤷

Just jumping in here because reading through all your posts, I’ve realized a lot of people don't really get what hemorrhoids actually are—they just think it's some random vein down there. /if they even know that much/
Hemorrhoids aren't just one thing; they come from a bunch of different factors. Besides genetics, you've got people whose whole anatomy is just "low-slung," from their feet up to their pelvis and abdominal organs, plus bad posture. Then there's the digestive side of things—metabolism issues, obviously, and eating way too much "dry" or spicy food. Plus, sitting for ages and straining on the toilet doesn't help. Look, you can't force a bowel movement if it just isn't happening. It’s honestly better to go twice and have smaller movements than to try and force a massive one all at once. If the stool is too hard or too runny, you risk tearing the lining of your colon, which burns and hurts, and that pressure pushes those veins out, creating those little lumps at the entrance. Some might be dark because the blood has pooled and clotted, while others are lighter because it's just engorged blood that hasn't clotted yet. You might feel a weird sense of relief if a hemorrhoid actually pops and bleeds, but trust me, that doesn't make your situation any better! You need to keep up with ointments, wash up after every single bathroom trip, and be seriously careful about your diet. Avoid pizza and soda. If you're in an acute flare-up, stay away from alcohol, red meat, and tomatoes. And absolutely NO spicy food! Stick to soups, stews, fish, or boiled/grilled white meat. Cut back on heavy cream, bananas, rice, and sugary chocolate treats. Also, don't overstuff your stomach. For breakfast, maybe some muesli, juice, toast with butter or jam, or some ham—but skip the eggs. Anything that "constipates" you needs to go, because hard stools are exactly what trigger those hemorrhoids and cause all that pain.
One girl asked me if thongs cause hemorrhoids. NO, A THONG CANNOT CAUSE HEMORRHOIDS. You wear a thong on clean skin just like any other underwear. Just make sure to wash up after every bathroom break, especially after a BM. Hygiene in that area is everything. Also, to keep your pH balanced, ladies, please don't use regular soaps on your intimate areas or your butt. Plain water is best, and then you can apply an ointment—if you're dealing with hemorrhoids, that is. Obviously, if you're flared up, you probably won't want to wear a thong anyway, at least not until it clears up. A great ointment to try is Preparation H since it has antibiotic properties. Herbal ones based on propolis and olive oil work wonders too.
Good luck, everyone. I truly know how much this sucks. In any case, getting a checkup with a private proctologist is $133. Do it whenever you can, just to be safe, because the colon carries all sorts of bacteria and illnesses. You never know what kind of trouble might be lurking in there 😠 Pusa to everyone 🙂

Amanda Vaughn2 said:And just to jump in here—reading through everyone's posts, it seems like a lot of people don't actually know much about hemorrhoids beyond them being "veins in the butt" (if they even know that much to begin with).
Hemorrhoids are caused by several different factors:...

I'm following this thread because I've been dealing with my own issues for at least 20 years now—nothing extreme, but enough. Honestly, though, I can't wrap my head around why some people write such long, detailed essays about the topic of "hemORoids." Like, if we have chemo, hemoglobin, or hemophilia, does that mean it's also a "hemo" thing? It sounds so uneducated to me—kind of like someone trying to say "hemeglobin"...

One thing that really works for bleeding is Vaseline—though I think pretty much any product designed to strengthen veins helps. My theory is they just reinforce the capillary walls so they don't burst. Along with that, I use standard creams from Italy (like Proctolog and stuff like that) just after using the restroom, so maybe once a day. (And look, everything regarding hygiene has already been covered!) For years, I've kept things under control with a pretty normal diet—occasional beer and all that. Sure, I might see a little blood a few times a year, but it’s never too much, and within ten minutes, everything is fine again. Still, after 20 years, the situation is basically the same... so, yeah, we keep moving.

Plus, here’s something else I figured out. I end up taking Tylenol for pain pretty frequently. And every single time, I deal with bleeding issues. So, besides watching my diet, I’ve completely cut Tylenol out of my routine. The instructions actually mention that it can "thin" the blood, which is where the trouble starts. I’m probably being a bit layperson about the terminology here—I don't know exactly how they phrase it in the medical jargon—but basically, for anyone who knows their chemistry, stay away from Tylenol.

I need some advice,

I’ve never dealt with hemorrhoids before, but a few days ago I noticed this little lump right by my anus. I honestly thought it would just disappear on its own, but it’s still hanging out there. It doesn't bleed, it doesn't sting, and it isn't even bothering me—it's just... there. And now I have no clue what to do about it.

Should I be rubbing some cream on it or massaging it or something?! Is it actually possible for this thing to just shrink back down on its own?

I personally found success using Proctolog cream, though it seems they've pulled it from the shelves entirely. I gave Faktu a shot, but frankly, it's nowhere near the quality of what I was using before.

Does anyone happen to know of a comparable alternative to Proctolog? 🤷

Taylor Lopez7 said:I used to rely on Proctolog cream, but they don't seem to carry it anymore. I gave Faktu a shot, but honestly, it’s garbage compared to what I was using before.

Does anyone know of anything similar to Proctolog?? 🤷

It feels like everything is just some variation of "procto" these days... If you can manage to get Proctyl from Italy, it's actually quite good—though there were even better ones that got pulled from the market entirely... and one has to wonder why! Still, looking back, if I managed to survive 15 years on these creams without things getting significantly worse—well, obviously things fluctuate, but it's all stayed manageable—and I haven't seen any lasting damage, then I guess it worked!

I'm not sure if anyone else has brought this up, but bleeding is almost always triggered by hours of intense physical labor—you know, the whole squatting, lifting, climbing routine—or even stomach issues followed by diarrhea. That kind of thing acts like acid on the lining, making everything much more prone to tearing. When that happens, you really just need rest, some Vaseline, a bit of that "procto-something," and of course, good hygiene. If you do that, things usually settle down pretty quickly.

Maybe this is just a bit of advice coming from two decades of dealing with this: don't let fear take over. Just accept that you have this issue and learn how to live with it—for instance, always keep a roll of paper and some wipes in your car, just in case! Or, you could look into surgery, and IF it doesn't come back—which seems to be rare—then you're set. Trust me, there are plenty of things out there much worse than this!

Susan Scott5 said:I need some advice,

I've never dealt with hemorrhoids before, but a few days ago I noticed this little bump right by my anus. I figured it would just go away on its own, but it’s still there. It doesn't bleed, it doesn't sting, and it isn't even bothering me—it's just sitting there, and I have no clue what to do about it.

Should I be rubbing some ointment on it or massaging it?! Can stuff like this actually just vanish on its own?

If you actually bother to read this whole thread from start to finish😉, you'll find the diagnosis

I've been dealing with hemorrhoids for about two years now. Lately, they've really flared up—the itching around my anus is intense, and there's this constant discharge that’s actually leaving my underwear wet in that area. On top of that, the skin around the opening feels thick and swollen, to the point where it just feels heavy and inflamed. I went ahead and ordered some cream from the pharmacy that I used to use back when I had a prescription from my proctologist.
Hopefully, I can finally put an end to this misery.

swiftscout21 said:I've had hemorrhoids for 2 years. Now they're acting up so bad that my anus is itching like crazy and there's some kind of discharge—basically, my underwear gets wet in that area. It's itchy and there's this thick swelling around the opening, to the point where it just feels swollen. I ordered some American cream from the pharmacy that I used before on prescription from a proctologist.
I really hope this misery ends soon.

Man, talk about being totally in the dark! 🙄 What you’re describing doesn't sound like hemorrhoids at all; those are classic symptoms of a PERIANAL ABSCESS! You're just wasting your time with those creams, and honestly, things could get way worse. 👎 You need to get to SURGERY ASAP—this needs to be operated on! If you drag your feet, it could get complicated or even turn into sepsis, and then you're in real trouble, so please hurry to a doctor! You likely have a big pocket of pus building up inside, which is why you're feeling this way, and it needs to be opened and drained immediately. The surgery isn't super intense, but it's done under general anesthesia, meaning they'll put you out, and it takes about half an hour. If everything goes smoothly and you handle it well, they might even send you home the same day, maybe just with some follow-up visits for dressing changes and checkups.
Anyway, let us know how it goes and if I guessed the diagnosis right! 👍 Fingers crossed that everything turns out okay! 👍

Just one more tip from my experience; maybe it’ll help someone else... During one of my first bad flare-ups, I used Preparation H suppositories and cream, which worked at the time. But since they contain corticosteroids, you shouldn't overdo it, so next time I switched to Hemophagen, a propolis-based cream, and that helped too. About six months ago, things got rough again with bleeding and discomfort; I tried the Hemophagen and the Preparation H, but nothing worked... Then it hit me. I started using Apibaby propolis drops (the alcohol-free kind) and applied it internally and externally after every bathroom trip. I saw improvement within just a few days. If anyone wants to try it, go ahead... Propolis is great for sore throats and wound healing anyway. It's completely natural. Just make sure to ask for the children's version when buying so you don't get the alcohol solution. Good luck to everyone...

swiftscout21, any news? You've gone totally MIA on me! 🤷 Did you actually take my advice and head to the doctor in the meantime? Was everything exactly like I said it would be? 😕 Did they keep you there for immediate surgery, or did they make you wait a few days? Either way, if you haven't seen a doctor yet, please just go—I don't want to freak you out or anything, but a perianal abscess can turn into a massive problem really fast if you don't get it operated on. And honestly, surgery is probably the only real fix; I guess most ointments aren't going to cut it here. I'm still crossing my fingers that everything turns out fine! 👍 Let us know how it goes!

Man, this is awkward, but I’ll try to be straight with you. For quite a while now, whenever I’m on the toilet, something sort of... undefined 🤷 pops out. Reading through these threads, though, I’m starting to wonder if it’s actually hemorrhoids—I mean, there’s no bleeding, and they aren't turning that weird bluish color, but I have to wait a beat for things to settle back down just so I can wipe properly. Honestly, the thought of dragging myself to the doctor for something like this is depressing as hell, but I guess I don't have much choice. I was wondering if anyone here could give me a rough idea of what we're looking at or what the deal is going to be. Also, I should mention that lately, I’ve been feeling this pulsing sensation in my rear, almost like my heart is located right down there. When I'm actually going, the pain is constant but somewhat bearable, though it gets way worse when the urge hits and I can't exactly hold back the 😁.
THANKS. 🙏

Larry Lewis22 said:Man, this sucks, but I'll try to be clear. For a while now, whenever I'm on the toilet, something sort of undefined 🤷 pops out. Reading through the forums, I'm not even sure if it's hemorrhoids since there's no bleeding and they aren't blueish or anything, but I have to wait a second for it to slide back in before I can wipe. Honestly, going to the doctor feels like such a nightmare, but I guess I don't have much choice, so I was wondering if anyone could give me a rough idea of what's going on or what to expect. Also, lately, I've been feeling this pulsing sensation in my anal area, almost like my heart is down there. There's a constant pain when I'm using the bathroom, though it's bearable—it just gets way worse when I really need to go but can't quite 😁.
THANKS. 🙏

You say "for a while"—how long are we talking here? A month or two? A year? A couple of weeks?! 🤷 Give us some actual details! 😉 Do you have any of the symptoms that swiftscout21 mentioned? Look at what they wrote. Even though your symptoms aren't quite as textbook for a perianal abscess as theirs (I'd bet money that's exactly what they've got), since you mentioned that "pulsing" thing, I'm thinking it might be an abscess for you too. That pulsing feeling usually happens because of a big buildup of pus in a possible abscess. 👎 Anyway, WHY is seeing a doctor such a huge deal for you? 😕 Seriously, why?! Just get to a doctor ASAP, because if it actually is an abscess, you're gonna need surgery pronto; if it's gotten bad enough, they might even have to admit you to the hospital right then and there! So, for your own sake, stop stalling and run to a proctologist or a surgeon! 👍 To make you feel a little better, the surgery isn't a massive ordeal; they usually send you home the same day, but just a heads-up, they'll have to put you under for about half an hour—you can't really do this with just local anesthesia. But hey, don't worry, everything will be fine. And hey, maybe it isn't an abscess at all, but it's better to check than to assume! Fingers crossed for you! 👍

rapidheron2 said:You say "a long time ago"—but how long are we actually talking here? A month or two? A year or two? Maybe a couple of weeks?! 🤷 Give me something to work with! 😉 Do you have any of the symptoms that swiftscout21 mentioned? Take a look at what he wrote. Even if your symptoms aren't quite as textbook as his—and honestly, I'd bet my bottom dollar he definitely has a perianal abscess—that "pulsing" sensation you mentioned makes me think you might be dealing with an abscess too. That throbbing feeling usually happens when there's a major buildup of pus in an abscess. 👎 Anyway, why on earth are you so terrified of seeing a doctor? 😕 Seriously, why?! Just go get checked out ASAP, because if this really is an abscess, you need surgery immediately; if it’s gotten bad enough, they might even admit you to the hospital right then and there. For your own sake, stop stalling and run to a proctologist or a surgeon! 👍 If it helps ease your mind, the surgery itself isn't some massive ordeal—they usually send you home the same day—but just a heads-up, they’ll have to put you under for about half an hour; you can't really do this with just local anesthesia. But hey, don't worry, everything will be fine. And look, maybe it isn't an abscess at all, but it's better to be safe than sorry! Fingers crossed for you! 👍

I've been dealing with this for a few years now, but lately, I've really started to feel it sitting there. It's terrifying... honestly, just seeing a white coat from a doctor makes me want to pass out. I can't even imagine going through with surgery, let alone the appointment. What even causes this stuff to happen?

Larry Lewis22 said:I’ve actually been feeling this way for a few years now, but lately, it’s really started hitting me. Honestly, if I see a white box from the doctor, I’m done for. I can’t even imagine having to deal with a full procedure, let alone surgery—it’s hard to describe. What even causes this?

You’ve got me a little confused there, because an abscess usually moves pretty fast—we're talking days, weeks, maybe a couple of months at most—but you’re saying this has been going on for years... So, maybe it’s just hemorrhoids? Or, I mean, it could be something more serious. Either way, I think you really need to see a doctor; seriously, don't be scared! I totally get that it's awkward, though. I mean, who actually enjoys going to the doctor? 😕 But hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go!
As for what causes an abscess: there are a few different things, but usually, it all kicks off with an inflammation in the anal glands. It can even start from something as minor as an ingrown hair. To keep it simple—an infection slowly spreads deeper, the tissue gets inflamed, and a pocket starts forming that fills up with pus. It grows quite a bit, so a lot of people mistake it for a tumor. If you wait too long, you usually end up with a fistula, which basically breaks through into the bowel so the pus can drain out on its own. That’s a pretty nasty situation you definitely want to avoid. I really hope you don't end up needing surgery, but if you do, you won't even have time to freak out. They'll just hook you up to an IV with some sedative, you'll drift right off, and by the time you wake up, it’ll be over and everything will be fine! 👍

rapidheron2 said:You’ve actually got me a bit confused here—usually, an abscess moves pretty fast, like within a few days, weeks, maybe a couple of months at most, but you’re saying this has been going on for years? If that's the case, it might just be hemorrhoids, though it could definitely be something more serious. Either way, you really need to see a doctor—seriously, don't let fear get in the way. I totally get that it’s awkward, though; I mean, who actually enjoys sitting in a doctor's office? 😕 But hey, when you gotta go, you gotta go!
As for what causes an abscess in the first place—there are a few things, but usually, it starts with an infection in the anal glands. It can even stem from something as trivial as an ingrown hair. To make a long story short, the infection slowly works its way deeper, the tissue gets inflamed, and a pocket forms that fills up with pus. It grows until people start worrying it's a tumor. If you wait too long, you often end up with a fistula, where it breaks through into the bowel and the pus just drains out spontaneously. That's a nasty situation you want to avoid. I really hope you don't end up needing surgery, but if you do, you won't even have time to be scared. They'll just hook you up to an IV, give you something to put you under, and you'll drift right off. Before you know it, you'll wake up, it'll all be over, and you'll be fine! 👍

Now you've gone and confused me even more by saying it could be something worse... but yeah, it's clear I need to go see someone, sooner or later. Are you studying medicine or working in healthcare or something? Your advice is incredibly detailed.

Larry Lewis22 said:Go outside... but honestly, if I want to clean up, I need to wait a second for that thing to actually slide back inside...

I can feel this pulsing in my rectal area—it’s like my heart has migrated down there. 😁.
THANKS. 🙏

Looking at those first couple of sentences: you're talking about an internal hemorrhoid that prolapses and then retracts. You can live with that for your whole life, really—as long as the count doesn't go up, they don't get too huge, and they aren't splitting or bleeding on you. Basically, it's a physical nuisance, it's not a total disaster, you just need to stay on top of hygiene, use some creams, and call it a day.

But that pulsing part? That's actually a sign you should probably head to the doctor ASAP. Seriously, act all overwhelmed when you see them—they'll figure out the next steps pretty quickly. Or don't... just make sure you write down your symptoms so they know exactly what triggered the "sneeze," so to speak. But maybe you will go... honestly, just listen to your gut and go. Grab a couple of appetizers before you head out, and then...

I've just been dealing with really intense pain lately, so I was wondering if anyone could help me understand what kind of hemorrhoids I might actually be facing

I just deal with intense pain, so I'm wondering—what kind of hemorrhoids are we actually talking about here?