Dealing with hemorrhoids

I really just want to offer a little glimmer of hope to anyone who suddenly finds themselves dealing with a massive external hemorrhoid, maybe with a few smaller ones hanging around too, because I know how much it sucks. It feels incredibly painful and uncomfortable, and you honestly start to believe they’re going to haunt you forever, but it turns out they can actually clear up if you just stay on top of things with some decent creams and keeping yourself clean more often—like, every few hours if you can manage it.
For me, this whole ordeal dragged on for about a month and a half to two months, but now? There isn't even a trace left of them, knock on wood, and honestly, I was fully prepared to go through whatever intense surgical procedure was necessary just to make the pain stop.

Even just being part of this thread helped me cope a bit better, mostly because it's pretty obvious how common this is, and there are actually some genuinely solid pieces of advice floating around here.

First time posting on this board.
Internal hemorrhoids are back after three years of peace.
The first time this happened, it was all because of constipation triggered by a heavy dose of Johnson & Johnson I was taking for a UTI. I suffered through two brutal months—lost 17 kg, spent half my life at the doctor's office, and became a regular at the local pharmacy. I tried everything under the sun: diet changes, homeopathy, Preparation H cream, suppositories... you name it. Eventually, I pulled through. My digestion stabilized, and they’d just pop up occasionally, nothing major, just a quick fix with some Preparation H and I was good to go.

Back in mid-January, I had a wisdom tooth pulled, and I was put on Kevin and some other antibiotic (can't remember the name). My digestion went sideways right away—stomach rumbling, looser stools, more frequent trips to the bathroom, but I could manage. Then, I paired that with a lunch of jerky, and things absolutely spiraled out of control. For the first few days, even Preparation H didn't touch it, though it wasn't a total disaster yet. After some digging online and getting advice from the pharmacist, I decided to try FedEx (14 tablets, $200), thinking I'd stop the situation from getting worse. Fat chance. It's been getting worse every single day; the burning is intensifying, and the bleeding is getting heavier. I'm on my seventh tablet now, and honestly, it feels useless. Now, after every bathroom trip, I have to sit in a warm chamomile bath just to cope. I also picked up some Prep H ointment at the pharmacy because some lady there swore it saved her husband's life. I've been applying it for three days (2-3 times daily), but it doesn't seem to be doing squat. To make matters worse, because of the swelling, I can't even finish my business. I feel like I'm almost done, but the pain stops me short. Then, about thirty minutes to an hour later, that pressure comes back and drives me straight back to the toilet, and man, it BOILS!!!!
Someone on here said it once—it feels like you've got a hot coal inside you (or a branding iron, I once grabbed a coal the wrong way once😠).
Since the pain and burning are getting unbearable, I kept searching the web for solutions and stumbled upon Announce (www.anuice.com). I managed to grab some this morning at Apollo (www.apolloina.hr, Washington, D.C. or New York City, costs $66, not too bad if it actually works).
Generally, the reviews for it are great, though I did see some warnings saying you shouldn't overdo the cooling part, because it might weaken the surrounding muscles and lead to incontinence due to muscle dysfunction. I'll be putting this thing in the freezer for about half an hour; the actual cooling process takes about 2 hours. I'm hoping it helps—if not, well... screw me👎.
They say it takes a couple of days to kick in, so I guess I'll just endure it. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to structure a diet?

Karen Wood47 said:What's the harm in seeing a doctor? It’s definitely better than just touching it and hoping for the best.
For me, things started acting up last Wednesday or Tuesday. By Saturday, there was a little pain, but that was it. Now it feels like it's almost gone, but I'm still going to get it checked out just to be safe.

Look, everything I told you stands. You can see I was right—I gave you the full story.😉

Karen Wood47 said:Can anyone suggest a meal plan I should follow?

There isn't really a specific formula to build... just focus on eating whole foods. Think lots of stews, soups, and fresh fruit, while cutting back on processed stuff. Also, try to stay out of the cold, avoid lifting heavy boxes, and don't spend too much time sitting or standing around. That's basically the gist of it.

Alright... I'll try to stick to that—otherwise, I've been eating way too much lately. 😢((

How long am I supposed to be applying this ointment?

Karen Wood47 said:Can anyone suggest a specific diet I should follow?

When it comes to what you eat, the one thing you really ought to steer clear of is spicy food. If your digestion is running smoothly—meaning you’re having regular bowel movements every single day—there isn't much need for any heavy or greasy meals, as those might actually end up making things worse for you, just like they did for me...😁 Another consideration would be if you happen to struggle with constipation.
Basically, just stay away from the heat, and for heaven's sake, don't sit on anything cold!!!

hey everyone

I'm 20, and I've been dealing with hemorrhoids since I was 18—usually pops up 3 or 4 times a year if my diet gets out of whack. It’s always just one external one...

Last time this happened, I tried some honey and St. John's Wort oil, and the swelling went down within 48 hours without any pain—but the actual hemorrhoid is still there, just slowly shrinking...

Here's what's bothering me:

As it shrinks, the itching just gets worse every single day. It's unbearable—it actually woke me up two nights in a row... I couldn't sleep because it's just that bad...

Anyone else deal with these same symptoms? How do you handle them... roughly how many days does the itching last, and is there any way to prevent it...

Karen Adams2 said:Regarding diet, spicy food is really the only thing to avoid. If your digestion is steady—meaning you have regular movements every day—there isn't much need for heavy meals, as they might just make things worse for me.😁 Another factor is if you struggle with constipation.
Mainly, skip the spice and for heaven's sake, don't sit on cold surfaces!!!

Mine is regular; I go every day. I've dealt with hemorrhoids for years, partly due to genetics and partly because my stools can be quite hard (which is 🙂).

Why avoid heavy food if bowel movements are regular?

I have a question. Lately, after using the restroom, if I press a bit harder with the toilet paper—maybe three or four times—a few tiny drops of blood show up. If I just wipe normally, there’s nothing. A few minutes later, the rectal area starts itching too. There is no pain, and I don't feel anything while I'm actually going. Is this just hemorrhoids, or could it be something else?

Exactly. And you have to keep things hygienic. It’s not just about grabbing some paper and calling it a day. You absolutely need to wash up first, then dry off with a paper towel. Just grab some Fact or something similar...

Would it be wise to see a doctor, or should I just try to manage this myself with creams and ointments first?

Taylor Green said:Would it be smart to go to the doctor right away, or is this just the beginning where I can handle it myself using creams and ointments like you suggested?

You don't necessarily need a doctor immediately. Grab a mirror and take a look. Feel the area. If there isn't any pain, then they probably aren't inflamed yet. Try using some Fact or Preparation H, or anything else that has Xylem in the name. Also, watch your diet. Avoid spicy foods. You might get away with a little black pepper since it usually processes through fine, but for heaven's sake, stay far away from hot peppers or chili. If things take a turn for the worse, then head to the doctor to make sure you aren't dealing with internal hemorrhoids. And please, make sure you aren't getting constipated...

Michael Diaz4 said:Look, you don't necessarily need to rush to the doctor right this second. Just grab a mirror and take a good look at what's going on, and feel around to see how things look... if there isn't any pain, then they probably aren't inflamed yet. You could try taking some Fact or Preparation H, or maybe something else that has Xylem in the name... just be really careful about your diet. Avoid anything spicy. A little black pepper might pass through okay, but for heaven's sake, stay far away from hot peppers, chili, or anything like that. And if things start getting worse, please go see a doctor to make sure you don't have internal hemorrhoids. Also, try to make sure you aren't dealing with constipation...

This actually reminds me of that scene in Dumb and Dumber where the mobster eats that sandwich loaded with hot peppers and just loses it...🤣😂

I’ve been monitoring the situation and everything seems fine. There's no pain when I touch it, just an itching sensation after using the restroom that lasts maybe an hour at most. Statistically speaking, you're right about what you said; over the last four months, I've been eating spicy food almost every other day—lots of spicy sausages and deli meats. On top of that, my stools have been quite hard, leading to significant straining. If I stay consistent with applying the ointment and keeping the area clean, how long until this clears up, and can things actually go back to normal?

Taylor Green said:Well, I’ve been checking everything and it looks fine. It doesn't really hurt when I touch it, but I get this itchy feeling after using the restroom—it usually lasts about an hour at most. You actually have a point regarding what you said earlier. Looking back at my stats over the last four months, it turns out I’ve been eating spicy food almost every other day. Lots of spicy sausage and hot deli meats. Plus, my stool has been pretty hard quite often, which meant I was straining. If I stay consistent with the ointment and keeping things clean, how long until this clears up? Can I actually get back to normal?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there isn't a magic pill. You basically have to learn to manage it. Treatments help soothe the symptoms, but they don't make them vanish forever. My advice? Watch your fiber intake. Don't sit there forever when you're on the toilet; if things get hard, you end up straining, and that just aggravates the hemorrhoids. Skip the spicy food. And avoid alcohol too—don't drink when you're flared up, because alcohol dilates your blood vessels, and hemorrhoids are essentially just dilated veins in a very inconvenient spot. Some people will tell you that sitting is the main culprit, but that's not entirely true. It’s mostly about your habits, your diet, and your genetics. When you're feeling a flare-up, try not to sit on hard surfaces; the extra pressure just makes the pain worse.

Much appreciated. I’ll head straight to the pharmacy tomorrow morning. How long will the recovery take at this rate?

Taylor Green said:Thanks so much. I’m heading straight to the drugstore tomorrow. Any idea how long it'll take to heal?

Look, you aren't facing anything massive yet, and it isn't a huge deal right now, but don't let things get out of hand. If you neglect it, you're asking for trouble. First things first: make sure you wash thoroughly and dry off well after every bathroom trip. Use some of those creams, and you should be fine in a day or two. But if you skip the hygiene and don't treat it—especially if you're eating spicy food or dealing with constipation—you could end up in the hospital needing surgery. Just watch out for those specific things. Also, stress is a huge factor; it makes everything so much worse. Just try to stay calm and you'll be okay. Good luck...

There's no other way. I'll just have to deal with it.