Dealing with hemorrhoids

Sandra Baker35 said:Well done to you, rapidraven4, though I have my doubts about seeing a general practitioner for this. Is that really what they specialize in? Do they even look at things like this?
I managed to book an appointment with my doctor for the day after tomorrow—just a standard GP visit, really—but I must admit, I am absolutely terrified that they might find something far more sinister than mere hemorrhoids! Honestly, I can't tell if my anxiety stems from the actual physical pain or just the sheer dread that there's something much worse lurking beneath the surface... and frankly, I have no idea what kind of hemorrhoids I'm dealing with. There is this noticeable thickening around the anal area, and I constantly feel as though something is about to slip out at any given moment 😠! I haven't seen any blood, and I manage one bowel movement a day, early in the morning; it’s perfectly normal, neither too soft nor too hard, and quite substantial (not some tiny thing like a matchstick, more like a thick cucumber 😕), so I desperately hope it isn't something more serious... regardless, I suppose I just have to face that dreaded examination 🤷
. Oh, and by the way... if anyone happens to have a recommendation for a decent proctologist... I certainly wouldn't turn them down.

On another note... I actually have a pretty good GP... he's about 40 years old... I felt a bit embarrassed at first, thinking about him having to examine my backside 😂🤣, but he assured me he sees these issues all the time, so I just lay on my side and let him proceed... he examined the area, used his finger to check for irregularities, and asked if it was painful... and that's how he reached his diagnosis...

I don't think I've reached a critical enough stage to require a specialist proctologist just yet....😁

The thing is... I definitely have this thickening around the anus... and when I'm sitting on the toilet... it seems to protrude outward 🤣🤣
only to recede back inside afterwards....
As for recommendations... my mother dealt with similar issues ages ago and saw Dr. Filati..... she swears he is excellent....
Maybe try asking around....👍

Ugh... okay, so I have my own doctor 😢. Basically, I've got this thickening around my anus—I can't tell if something is actually protruding or if it just feels like it's about to pop out, though I think it actually happened once! The real kicker is that the pain down there is brutal, and it’s radiating all the way down my leg, making everything around the area ache so much that I honestly can't tell what's hurting anymore. Weirdly enough, when I actually touch the swelling, it doesn't hurt that bad... it's more like this spontaneous, throbbing pain that just hits me out of nowhere. Now I'm spiraling thinking it might be something way worse, even though my bowel movements are fine, everything else seems normal, I don't have a fever, and I haven't lost any weight, but... ugh... I have no clue what tomorrow's exam is going to reveal... all I know is I've been a complete nervous wreck for days because of this!
Elisco... I really hope you feel better soon, man, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this crap. Wait, you already had surgery? Where did you go for that? Hang in there 👍!
Anyway, rapidraven4, is that Dr. Filati a private practice guy?

Sandra Baker35 said:Well... I have my own doctor 😢. For the most part, I've just got this swelling around the anus; I can't tell if something is actually protruding, though it certainly feels like it might pop out, but I think it only happened once! The real issue is that the pain down there is excruciating, and it radiates right into my leg—it’s such a pervasive ache that I can't even pinpoint the exact source anymore. Curiously, when I actually touch the swelling itself, it doesn't hurt all that much; instead, it’s more of this spontaneous, throbbing agony that strikes out of nowhere. Now I'm terrified it might be something far more sinister, even though my bowel movements are normal, everything else seems fine, I haven't run a fever, and I haven't lost any weight, but... ugh... I have no idea what tomorrow's exam is going to reveal... I just know I've been an absolute wreck for days because of this!
Elisco... I truly hope you feel better soon; it pains me to hear you're suffering like this. Tell me, did you undergo surgery already, and where was it performed? Hang in there, 👍!
By the way, rapidraven4, is that Dr. Filati running a private practice?

I see... so Dr. Filati is in private practice... and word on the street is he's quite excellent.
He actually maintains his own website, www.drfilati-clinic.com,
where everything is laid out clearly...
And honestly, I suspect everything will turn out fine... perhaps you really just have some particularly large hemorrhoids.🤣

Goodness... please, you absolutely must let us know what your doctor says...
A friend of mine, who graduated from medical school, actually diagnosed me with hemorrhoids during a trip to the coast this past year... we had been drinking quite a bit, and I mentioned how much my backside was hurting due to poor digestion—we were eating whatever we could get our hands on at the beach—and she just shot back, "Honey, you've got hemorrhoids." And I was like😕😂... "Don't you dare joke with me!" and she just replied, "Welcome to the club."
What kind of club is that, anyway? We aren't exactly old ladies...😲😲

Oh, and Elisco; you should probably try one of those suppositories to help things move along... you know, the kind they suggest to clear your system before surgery... they aren't harmful; they just soften the stool and make the whole process much easier. :9
I can't offer much more advice than that...🤷
Stay strong, 👍

boldheron7 said:you should give Daflon a shot; it’s actually the only one officially FDA-approved as a medication for veins and hemorrhoids, whereas everything else out there is just some glorified supplement or "wellness" aid, and frankly, it’s much easier on the wallet than Viagra—it’s sitting at roughly $33 for a pack of 30 tablets

Hmm... I actually have some Daflon sitting in my cabinet right now... a friend of mine, who happens to be a physician, handed them to me because she swears by them after finishing a full course...😉

But the real question is, can I actually get my hands on them without a prescription??
....I know they aren't free, obviously, but I'm wondering if I can just stroll into a CVS or Walgreens and pick them up off the shelf like any other over-the-counter item...
Then again, I suppose I'll just head down to the pharmacy and ask; if they turn me away, I'll figure out my next move soon enough...
And what about Viagra?
Does anyone here actually have first-hand experience with it? 😕

Hey there, everyone!

Look, you might find this post boring, but I’m asking for advice here... 🙏
About a week ago, I noticed traces of blood on the toilet paper when I went to the bathroom. To make matters even worse, yesterday a relentless pain kicked in—just this intense, dull ache. There’s no itching, and my bowel movements are regular. But now? It hurts so much I can barely sit down normally. What am I supposed to do about this?

Just like Steven Booth65 said:

Sandra Baker35 said:The problem is this: my lower half is killing me. The pain shoots straight down my leg, and it’s spreading everywhere. It’s constant. At this point, I can't even tell where one ache ends and the next begins. Everything else feels fine—no fever, nothing like that—but this? This is a mess.

Are we actually talking about hemorrhoids here? Is that the topic? 🤷
So, how am I supposed to help myself here? What’s the move? Supplements? Pills? Seriously?

P.S. — I’ve never dealt with this kind of mess before...

briskdriver57 said:Hey there, fellow forum dwellers!

Look, I know this might be a total snooze-fest for most of you, but I’m really hoping someone out there can throw me a bone and give me some actual advice... 🙏
So, about a week ago, I started noticing traces of blood on the toilet paper whenever I went to the bathroom. And just to make things even more miserable, yesterday this unbearable pain kicked in—we’re talking a really intense, dull ache that just won't quit. It’s not like anything is itching or anything, and my bathroom routine is pretty much regular, but the pain has gotten so bad that I can't even sit down normally without feeling like absolute crap.

Just like Steven Booth65 was saying:

Are we seriously talking about hemorrhoids here? Is that really where this conversation is headed? 🤷
So, how am I supposed to fix this mess? What's the move here—should I just go all in on some high-strength supplements, or is it actually worth messing around with pills?

P.S. — honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever dealt with this kind of mess...

Man, I’ve finally realized just how much these hemorrhoids can absolutely flare up—it’s probably happening to me right now—and when they do, everything just hurts. Like, seriously, some people can’t even sit down without losing it. I can manage to stay seated, but I get these random stabs of pain and this stinging sensation... then it passes. It’s a total rollercoaster. I’ve tried everything from Fact ointment to that Nevan stuff and even some propolis-based cream... the propolis one actually calmed things down for a bit, but now I'm right back at square one. I'm heading to see my doctor tomorrow because, honestly, I'm low-key terrified it might be something way worse than this... so yeah, we'll see what happens. 😕

Sandra Baker35 said:From what I can tell, hemorrhoids can seriously flare up—which is probably what's happening to me—and then everything just hurts. People can't even sit down! I can manage sitting, but I get this intermittent pain and burning sensation... then it passes. I tried Fact ointment, some Nevan cream, and one based on propolis... the propolis one actually calmed things down for a bit, but now I'm right back where I started. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow because honestly, I'm terrified it might be something worse... we'll see what happens. 😕

Now I'm starting to get a little scared too.....
This dull ache... it feels like my entire pelvic area is just throbbing......
Based on some other posts, I'm thinking maybe they're internal hemorrhoids since there's actual pain involved.... But nothing is itching or burning for me.... it's just this constant, unrelenting pain that won't go away....

Good luck tomorrow....

Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and go in myself too..... 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢

Sandra Baker35 said:Elisco... man, I really hope you start feeling better soon. It sucks seeing you deal with all this pain. So, what led you to get surgery, and where did you end up going for it? Hang in there 👍!

Well, I basically decided to pull the trigger on the surgery because any kind of real physical effort would just—boom—leave my pants looking pretty bloody (not even being dramatic here). I actually went to a clinic in Columbus (though I'm originally from Fort Wayne) because I heard they do amazing work over there, and honestly, the staff was super helpful and great to work with. The only thing tripping me up right now is that first bowel movement... it just won't budge 🙂 and I don't even have gas passing through yet.

rapidraven4 said:Oh, also, Elisco... maybe try using one of those suppositories to help things along? You know, like how they prep you before a procedure... it’s nothing bad, it just softens everything up and makes it way easier :9
I don't really have any other advice for you....🤷
Hang in there 👍

I might give that a shot, though I'm not sure what else to do..

I'll let you guys know how the recovery goes. Thanks for the support. Peace out and good luck to everyone.

briskdriver57 said:Honestly, I’m starting to get a little spooked myself...
That dull, nagging ache—it feels like my entire pelvic area is just throbbing at once...
Looking through some of these threads, I’m starting to think it might be internal hemorrhoids since they actually hurt... But there's zero itching and nothing is burning... just this constant, unrelenting pain that won't quit...

Good luck tomorrow everyone...

Looks like I’m gonna have to bite the bullet and finally go for it too... 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢

Thanks... I'm pretty terrified, honestly... but whatever happens, happens.

😠So... I finally dragged myself to my GP and just laid it all out there. She asked if she could take a quick look at 😲, and I was like... yeah, sure, go ahead 🙏.
Anyway, now I’m sitting here totally lost... she basically told me everything looks fine on her end—just noted one tiny, irritated hemorrhoid—and said nothing looked abnormal. She did a quick finger exam 🙄, which didn't even hurt, but now? Now I'm feeling this ache that feels more like vaginal pain... plus, I've got this whole new issue with 😂 (which honestly isn't even funny), but whatever... the point is, everything down there was hurting before, and now I can't even tell where the pain is actually coming from anymore. Who knows what's actually going on with me????😠

Sandra Baker35 said:Well... I went to see my primary care physician and laid everything out for her. She asked if she could perform an exam, and I told her... absolutely, please go ahead.
Anyway, now I am left sitting here wondering what on earth to make of it all... she told me everything seemed fine from her perspective, though she did spot one tiny hemorrhoid that had popped out. She insisted there were no abnormalities; she even performed a quick digital exam 🙄, which didn't cause any pain at the time... but honestly, now I'm feeling this discomfort again, and it feels more like vaginal pain this time. To top it off, I have developed a whole new issue—which isn't funny at all, really—but here we are. Actually, the entire lower region was aching before, and now I can't even be sure which specific part is causing the trouble... who knows what is actually going on with me????

My dear... my own GP told me the exact same thing. 😉

If this continues to plague you and you just want some peace of mind, it might be wise to finally schedule an appointment with a proctologist...
I say this just so you can put your heart at ease and pinpoint the actual source of the trouble...
But listen... yesterday at work, after using the restroom in the afternoon, I felt such a burning sensation back there that I completely panicked. But that’s just how it goes... perhaps things are just a bit inflamed right now, and until they settle down, one simply has to wait it out. In the meantime, just take care of yourself and soothe the area with whatever works...
Did she prescribe anything for you?
Any medications, ointments, creams, or suppositories?

Ugh... if I am being too intrusive, feel free to kick me in the backside. 😂

Oh, that reminds me... the doctor's sister mentioned to me yesterday that she deals with hemorrhoids too, and she swears by drinking tomato juice every single morning; she says it works wonders. She still drinks her coffee, but if she sweetens it, well, it's probably better regardless...
She suggested that when I'm showering, I should try letting a stream of lukewarm water hit the anal area—if you'll excuse my bluntness, I am certainly no medical expert—to help stimulate circulation. Apparently, hemorrhoids are nothing more than blood vessels that have essentially become congested and swollen in that area due to hard stools, and most of us living this frantic, unhealthy American lifestyle struggle with that exact issue... 🤣

She also advised me to eat plenty of fruit... apparently figs and prunes are fantastic for keeping things moving smoothly. So, I'll be heading down to the local farmer's market very soon to stock up. 😁

cosmicdrifter11, are you feeling any better? 😉

I’ve got like five different creams lying around—Factually speaking, I've got some herbal stuff with Linaria, Hemopro, Nevan's... plus some earplugs and stuff, so yeah, I think I’m pretty well stocked 🙄.
My doctor actually put me on Amoxicillin because it feels like I’ve got a mild bladder infection going on—it's hurting down there, vaginally and everything... so I'm gonna knock this stuff back. Honestly, it feels like I'm already feeling a bit better tonight since I took the Amoxicillin. I've been dealing with bladder issues for years, and lately, because of the heat, I've been constantly showering with ice-cold water 😲 (yeah, great idea, right?) and I think everything just got super inflamed... we'll see how it goes, but I definitely need to see my GP, and maybe a proctologist too—we'll see if I go if these problems keep acting up. For instance, whenever I get bad gas 🤣, it ends up burning my butt 😠 afterward, so... things are definitely not okay... but hey, hopefully, it's nothing seriously dangerous 😕!

Hey everyone,
I’m pretty sure I’m dealing with internal issues too because the pain during bowel movements is just brutal, so if anyone has any solid advice on what to do, I'm all ears. What’s actually the best way to treat internal ones? I’ve been using Faktu ointment, but honestly, it hasn't done much for me. 😢 Thanks!

rapidraven4 said:Hmm... I have some Detralex at home. A friend of mine who's a doctor gave them to me since she uses them herself. She swears by taking a full course...😉

Can I get these without a prescription??
...I know they aren't free, but I want to know if I can just walk into a pharmacy and grab them off the shelf.
Whatever, I'll go ask. If they say no, I'll figure out my next move...
What about Pilex?
Anyone here actually used it? 😕

I've been on Pilex for 10 days now. Honestly, the pain has been gone for about 4 days, and the hemorrhoids are finally shrinking😉. Usually, with ointments, the pain doesn't let up for 7 to 10 days, and then it takes forever for them to actually recede (I have external ones). Some people claim Pilex clears everything up in just 7 days, but my progress isn't quite that fast. If they aren't completely gone within 14 days, I'm switching to Detralex. I've declared war on them.😠 Also, you supposedly need to take Detralex for 90 days—three boxes total—to see final results, whereas Pilex is a 14-day thing, after which you should be 👍 good for a year.

Casey Cooper49 said:

And what happens when you take a double dose of Pilex from $200 and it actually triggers bleeding—and then the "effect" of the whole thing just drops straight down to a big, fat zero? No, $200 they aren't coming back. And man, after being symptom-free for an entire year...

Most of the time, it's caused by sitting on cold surfaces or just standing on your feet for too long. The best fix? Soak 5 dried prunes in a small bowl overnight. Eat them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Just prep them the night before and keep it up for a month. It’ll clear right up. I've tried it myself.

Jonathan Long4 said:Hi everyone,
I have a feeling I might be dealing with internal ones too. It’s incredibly painful during bowel movements, so does anyone have any advice on what to do? What’s the most effective way to treat internal hemorrhoids? I tried using Faktu ointment, but it didn't really do much for me. 😢 Thanks

Jonathan Long4, your best bet is to see a proctologist to find out exactly what you're dealing with. 😉

I was in pain for about 3 or 4 months. I went through a mountain of creams and suppositories (the Hadensa stuff from the pharmacy near Pike Place Market worked best because of the cooling effect).

In the end, I just called a private specialist. The doctor told me to use two glycerin suppositories in the evening to clear everything out, and then show up for the exam the next morning.

They use this specific support—not exactly a chair, more like a specialized rest where you stand, pull down your clothes, and lean over it while they perform the rectoscopy. It stung a little bit, but honestly, nothing compared to the pain of actually going to the bathroom.
It was over so fast that the awkwardness wasn't even a major issue. 🙂

I have internal hemorrhoids and three anal fissures—two small ones and one larger one 😢. Those tiny tears were actually causing constant itching, and I mistakenly thought it was just the hemorrhoids.

The doctor suggested surgery if things don't improve within a month. It’s been nearly three months now; I’ve been using St. John's Wort oil, and while it isn't perfect, it is better.

If it doesn't get better, I'll just go ahead with the surgery. There's no other choice; I can't live like this. 🤷

rapidraven4 said:Hmm... I actually have some Detralex at home... a friend of mine who's a doctor gave them to me since she used them herself, and she swears by taking a full course...😉

Can I actually get my hands on these without a prescription?
...I know they aren't free, but I'm wondering if I can just walk into a pharmacy and pick them up off the shelf...
Anyway, I guess I'll head over and ask; if they turn me away, I'll know what my next move has to be...
And what about Pilex?
Does anyone here have any real-world experience with it?😕

Technically speaking, since Detralex is classified as a medication rather than just a supplement, you really should have a doctor's prescription on file. However, in the real world, you can usually walk into almost any pharmacy and buy it over the counter; it’s pretty rare for a pharmacist to actually demand to see paperwork for it.

Besides, there aren't any major contraindications or anything that would make you break out in a cold sweat about taking it without a script.

When dealing with an acute flare-up, the standard routine is three doses twice a day for four days, then twice a day for three days, followed by one dose twice a day just for prevention.

Usually, after just a few days, the bleeding stops and everything starts receding back to normal.

The best part, though—and this is a huge plus—is that you don't have to deal with messy ointments, which, let's face it, isn't exactly convenient or pleasant.

Casey Cooper49 said:I’ve been taking Pilex for ten days now, and I have to be honest—the pain actually subsided about four days ago. On top of that, the hemorrhoids seem to be receding, or at least they're finally starting to shrink.😉In my experience, using just an ointment used to mean I was stuck in a cycle of pain for seven to ten days, followed by even more time waiting for everything to finally subside—and that’s assuming we’re talking about external issues. While I’ve heard stories from certain Pilex users claiming they cleared up their entire situation in a mere week, my own recovery certainly hasn't moved at such a lightning pace. If things haven't completely resolved themselves within fourteen days, I am officially switching over to Detralex; at that point, I’m declaring total war on the problem until it's gone for good.😠To achieve the desired outcome, you really have to commit to the long game with Detralex; you're looking at a ninety-day course, which translates to three full boxes. As for Pilex, that’s more of a short-term fix for fourteen days, though the real trick is maintaining that consistency for an entire year afterward to keep things steady. 👍 Stay calm.

In most cases, Detralex tends to kick in within just a few days—maybe seven at the absolute most. Beyond that initial window, you're really looking at using it more as a preventative measure rather than an immediate fix.

As for Pilex, I wouldn't exactly say you'll be finding much peace and quiet for very long.

Someone has already pointed out that you... $200 They just don't return it.

It seems more prudent to just drop $100 on some Detralex first to see if it actually delivers results; if it proves to be O.K., then I can consider committing further.

graniteorca96 said:Jonathan Long4, honestly, just go see a proctologist and figure out what's actually going on 😉

I was in pain for like 3 or 4 months—just constantly buying up creams and suppositories. (The Hadensa at the pharmacy near Pike Place Market worked best for me because of that cooling sensation).

In the end, I finally called a private specialist. The doctor told me to use two glycerin suppositories in the evening to clear everything out, then show up for the exam the next morning.

They have this special chair—not exactly a chair, more like a recliner thing—where you basically stand there, strip down to nothing, lean over the support, and they do the rectoscope exam. It stung a little bit, but honestly, not even worse than just having a bowel movement.
It was over so fast that I didn't even have time to feel embarrassed.🙂

I've got internal hemorrhoids and three anal fissures. Two small ones and one big one 😢. Those little tears were actually what was itching the whole time, and I just assumed it was all hemorrhoids.

He suggested surgery if things don't improve after a month, and it's been almost three months now. I've been using St. John's Wort oil, and while it's not perfectly O.K., it's definitely better.

If it doesn't get better, I'm going under the knife. What else can I do? I can't live like this.🤷

So where exactly are these anal fissures located? And what kind of symptoms are we talking about... a dull ache or something sharp? For me, it's this constant burning feeling... but my GP told me she doesn't see anything suspicious... just one "prolapsed" hemorrhoid... whatever that's supposed to mean.
The pain isn't nearly as bad as it used to be, but I'm still low-key terrified that it's all going to come rushing back.