Dealing with hemorrhoids

Hey everyone,

I’m really not thrilled about being part of the "same old problem" club here, but hey, 😛

I didn't see anyone mention Baxter cream earlier, but honestly, that stuff works fast. It's got a propolis base so it acts like a mild analgesic.

You can grab it over the counter, by the way.

I’m getting more and more convinced that I’m eventually going to have to bite the bullet and head to the doctor—just to deal with someone poking around where the sun don't shine. This whole mess has been going on for about a month now; during those first three or four days, I couldn't even sit down or walk without feeling like I was being burned alive. Then it shifted to this constant itching, but luckily the Baxter stuff knocked that right out.🙂

Anyway, my gut feeling is that this isn't just going to clear up on its own and I'll probably need to have it surgically removed. So, I'm wondering—how long is the recovery before you can actually use the restroom again? And just generally, how does the whole process work?

Thanks,

First off, go get checked out by a doctor. Just because you have hemorrhoids doesn't mean you're automatically headed for surgery.
A friend of mine actually had the Longo procedure done over in Italy; he was discharged the very next day and was back to his normal routine within a week. You can check out how the Longo technique works here, even if you don't speak the language. I think there's a clinic in a small town in the US that uses this method, maybe near Cleveland, if my memory serves me right.
The Milligan-Morgan version is way more painful. My sister had that one done and she really went through it for nearly a month after the procedure. That said, they've refined that technique too, so it’s probably much less brutal than it was 15 years ago.

stormylynx4, it’s not even about being scared of the actual pain or the doctors—it’s just that whole vibe of a physical exam makes me super uncomfortable. Look, I’ll be real with you: I’m a massive hypochondriac. I deal with constant panic attacks, anxiety, and a mountain of different phobias. One of the big ones? Fear of getting sick. And that’s where things get messy... I can't even begin to explain it properly, because if you haven't dealt with this kind of mental loop, I probably just sound like some immature, airheaded kid, but honestly? It’s a full-blown pathological fear.
I constantly have this nagging gut feeling that whatever is happening is something way more serious than it looks, so I end up paralyzed and too terrified to actually go get checked out... I know, I know, it sounds completely irrational, but that's just how my brain works. Dammit... I don't even know what's worse: the paralyzing fear itself or the actual pain I'm feeling. 😲

Sandra Baker35 said:I constantly feel like it’s something serious, which is why I’m terrified to actually go get checked out... it sounds irrational, but that's just how it is. Dammit... I don't know what's worse, the fear or the actual pain. 😲

I get it, I really do. You're dealing with a double whammy: you have the physical pain, and then you have the constant mental loop of imagining the absolute worst-case scenarios. Given how stressed you are, there's probably some IBS in the mix too, which usually makes hemorrhoids even worse... but you won't know for sure until you see a doctor. We're all scared of something. Honestly, the worst thing you can hear is, "I wish you had come in sooner."

Sorry, stormylynx4, but what exactly is IBS?
Given my current mental state—which, let’s be honest, is pretty fragile and basically held together by sheer willpower at this point—I’ve actually signed up for psychotherapy. I need to get a handle on all this stuff... I just can't tackle it solo, so I figured it's time to bring in a professional.

Irritable bowel syndrome
In American

Alright, so I finally sat down, read through everything, and it all clicked... yeah, I definitely have that irritable... whatever you want to call it. My cousin—who’s an internist, by the way—actually flagged that stuff for me like 15 years ago. On top of that, I just stumbled onto some pretty big news: apparently, I’ve got the genetic predisposition for celiac disease. I actually had some bloodwork done back when she was checking things out, and at the time, it wasn't showing as active. But, while I was digging into the whole IBS thing, I hit a point where they recommend people with a celiac predisposition cut out gluten for a while to see what happens... so, honestly, it might be a smart move to give it a shot. Anyway, thanks for the heads-up.

Sandra Baker35 said:Jesse Evans85, what kind of symptoms are you actually dealing with? How does it manifest for you? Has it ever flared up to the point where it hurts just sitting down or walking around? Right now, I feel like there's this massive, raw wound down there.🤷

When this first started, all I noticed was a little blood on the toilet paper, and honestly, I nearly died of fright. Being quite young at the time, I had absolutely no clue what was actually happening.
Once I finally sat down and talked it through with my mom, I realized what it was—and seeing as almost everyone in my family deals with it, the panic subsided a bit.
Fortunately, I don't have any major issues, aside from the occasional spotting or some discomfort when things are a bit harder to pass. Lately, there's been some itching as well, but applying some ointment helps clear it right up. Of course, I’m very careful about my diet, staying active, and using wet wipes... I just hope it doesn't get any worse.

Listen, if you want the truth, homemade castor oil that hasn't been sitting around for more than eighteen months is the only thing that actually works for hemorrhoids. All those overpriced ointments they sell at CVS are just a total rip-off.

Jack Lopez63 said:Look, I’m telling you, homemade castor oil—as long as it hasn't been sitting on your shelf for more than eighteen months—is hands down the best remedy for hemorrhoids. All those overpriced ointments they sell at the drugstore? Total rip-offs.

Speaking of old-school home remedies, I’ve heard plenty of people swear by eating boiled wheat to fix the same issue. If only everyone had easy access to stuff made the traditional way...

I actually have a question of my own to throw into the mix here.

The very first time I dealt with hemorrhoids was right after my first child was born, though honestly, I didn't even realize that was what was happening at the time; I just assumed that excruciating pain was coming from the stitches. That first bowel movement after giving birth? It was arguably more brutal than the actual labor itself.

My entire postpartum recovery basically just boiled down to managing hemorrhoids, because everything else seemed to settle itself back into place pretty quickly.
I used some over-the-counter cream from the drugstore and managed to get rid of them within about a month. By the time my second baby came along, I was a bit wiser and stuck to taking Dulcolax, which kept things significantly more manageable.

But then, about a week ago—likely due to sitting far too long at the office (and those rushed trips to the bathroom because there’s always a kid needing something right at that exact moment 🙄)—a whole cluster of external hemorrhoids flared up on me. One of them is about the size of my upper thumb, and the other three or four are roughly the size of peas.

Now, I haven't a clue what the "normal" size range is for external hemorrhoids, but trust me, this feels massive to me. I’ve been reading some forums where people claim they can grow to the size of a tangerine, or maybe even the size of a fist... I can't even begin to imagine that nightmare.😕
The absolute worst part was the inflammation; the pain was so sharp it actually brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't sleep at night, walking was a struggle, sitting was pure torture, and yet I had to be at my desk for ten hours a day because of a sudden spike in my workload. I ended up sitting on cold compresses from CVS just to endure it. A little numbing helps, I suppose. I think one of them might have actually ruptured slightly, which brought a bit of relief, though it hasn't quite deflated yet.
I couldn't even make it in to see my doctor, so I just called her office, and she told me they were probably just inflamed. She prescribed me Claritin once a day, twice daily for a week, along with some FactSet ointment and suppositories. The inflammation subsided after two days and the pain became bearable, but there's still this lingering, uncomfortable sensation since they're still protruding.
I heard somewhere that you're supposed to manually push them back inside if you want them to actually disappear, but frankly, I'm terrified to even poke around near there.

I mean, I guess I can live with it as long as it doesn't hurt and my movements stay regular; for now, I'm just sticking to the FactSet ointment (though if they don't clear up soon, I might try some home remedies), but it really is quite unsightly having a cluster like that back there.
Has anyone else dealt with something similar, and how does that whole "pushing them back in" thing actually work? What am I supposed to use—my fingers, gauze, cotton swabs...? Or is it better to just leave them completely alone?

Or is it possible I've totally misdiagnosed myself? I was reading that rectal prolapse is also a thing, so how on earth are you supposed to tell the difference between external hemorrhoids and a prolapse?

Grace Martinez56 said:

Well, you're dealing with a minor issue compared to what I've faced—but don't worry, it tends to grow. Here’s my playbook: first, you absolutely have to use an ointment that includes a little local anesthetic to take the edge off the pain (there are plenty of options out there). Personally, I use an Italian version of Proctolog—honestly, it's the best thing I've ever tried. My routine goes like this: put about 7mm of ointment on some toilet paper, then add maybe 5-6mm of Vaseline or any kind of vein cream—that helps strengthen the walls so nothing ruptures—and just apply it directly to the sensitive area. After that, you need a solid, angled setup. For instance, grab a chair, lay some toilet paper over it, and sit right on the edge so the angle provides the right kind of pressure. Then, tuck everything back in! That's how I've been managing things for over two decades now... they stay on the outside, I keep them on the inside, and we move on. It rarely actually ruptures—usually, if things go wrong, it's because of stomach issues; if you end up with diarrhea, then you've got a real problem.

I haven't actually managed to pass them yet—honestly, I thought for a split second that one tiny little thing had made an appearance, so I basically tried to shove it back in there myself, which was probably a bad call. But the main issue is that the area around my anus is super swollen... the pain has dialed down a bit, I guess, but that swelling is still very much hanging around.

Oh, Jessica Grant56, you really have a way of making me feel better... I’m just crossing my fingers that I won't have to live with these things for too long, especially since we actually have decent medical options and decent food these days...

Thanks for the tip, really, and I did try it, but honestly? It feels like that biggest one—the one heading toward my rectum—didn't actually come from the inside, it just seems to be growing right on the skin.

Since this isn't some chronic thing for me, just a rare, occasional nuisance, I guess I'll try to stay optimistic and hope they just... dissolve? I read somewhere once that for some people, they just vanished after a month or two.
I'll just sit here patiently, chanting my little mantras while applying every ointment and compress I can find, but honestly, if they aren't gone in a few months, I'm going for that less painful removal method—just as soon as I manage to get my credit score up enough to afford it.
Tomorrow I'm heading out to pick up some Pilex; apparently, some people swear by it even if it didn't do much for you... I suppose we're all built differently, so I'll stick to the conservative stuff first. As long as the inflammation is gone, I can actually think straight again, because when they're inflamed, the pain hits your brain so hard you just want to be anesthetized from the waist up.

Did I mention that I've basically declared total war on them? ☕

I’ve been seeing some people mention that their hemorrhoids keep flaring up right after they push themselves physically, and it honestly makes me wonder what that actually implies for anyone prone to this issue—does it mean they just have to hang up the gym sneakers and give up on working out entirely? I mean, are we really suggesting that people should just collectively decide to forget about exercise altogether because of this?

Is there actually any chance that if they're just small... I mean, if there's just one tiny external thing that could be removed so it's gone for good...
Or maybe they could just disappear entirely, so they aren't sticking out quite so much.🤣

Between my studies and my job, I find myself stuck in a chair far more often than I’d like. It was only after a long, draining conversation with a close friend of mine who happens to be a doctor that I realized I've developed what she calls "chemical imbalances"... and frankly, I'm spiraling into a bit of a panic over it.😕

rapidraven4 said:Is there any chance that if they're just small... I mean, maybe there's some little external thing you could just get rid of so they're gone for good?
Or at least have them fade away so they aren't sticking out so much...🤣

Of course there is; I'm assuming we're talking about staying active, keeping things clean, watching what you eat, all that stuff...

In my experience, they've actually cleared up on their own a few times—usually because of a bout of diarrhea or just dealing with some really hard stools.

Grace Martinez56 said:Of course there are ways; I’m talking about staying active, keeping things lubricated, watching your diet, and basic hygiene.

In my own experience, they’ve vanished quite predictably on several occasions—usually triggered by either some family stress or just dealing with stubborn constipation.

Alright... thanks... though I honestly think I'll head in for a professional exam before I try anything else.

Should I book an appointment with a proctologist right away, or would it be wiser to start with my primary care physician? Since we are discussing external topical treatments... and since I've actually taken a look myself... I know how ridiculous that might sound, but between using a mirror, squatting, and sheer willpower, one can manage to get a clear view.😂

Good grief, just thinking about it again gives me a bit of a headache...😁

Been MIA from this thread for a few days, which means exactly one thing: I'm finally feeling better!
The inflammation is dying down since I've been watching my diet.
I get a little sting here and there, but I'm being careful on the toilet and life is good! 👍

Also, can a proctologist actually assault you while you're under anesthesia? It hurts like hell after surgery anyway, so how would you even know 😁:

It’s pretty obvious, at least from my own experience, that if you have a genetic predisposition for hemorrhoids, they just keep coming back no matter what you do; you can't ever truly shake them for good. I’ve been dealing with this mess for the last ten years, and honestly, I haven't been able to bring myself to go through with surgery yet. I’ve tried every home remedy available here in the States, everything from various creams to even using Pilex.
So, earlier this year, I actually went to see a private proctologist—had to shell out my own cash for the visit—and let me tell you, it wasn't exactly the highlight of my year. $1000 So, I'm prepping for surgery. Day one is just the ligation, then they'll go in and cauterize everything on the second day.
Look, I’m 45 years old, and I can honestly say I don't remember ever feeling anything more painful than those local anesthesia injections they give you—six times, twice per session, shot straight into your gut. It was brutal.
I was out of commission in a coma for a few days right after the surgery, but once I finally came around—man, what a total transformation.
Look, it’s been five months now and I’m right back where I started. It’s all happening all over again, though thankfully it’s a little less intense than that first time around. I don't really have much of a choice, so I guess it's back to using the creams just to get through the day until things settle down... and then, god help me, we'll see what happens.