Dealing with hemorrhoids

granitebear56 said:I wanted to jump in here too! 😁
I dealt with hemorrhoids about three years ago (heavy bleeding really forced my hand). First, I totally overhauled my diet, applied Hemophill regularly, and made sure to get plenty of walking in. Once things stabilized and my symptoms calmed down (after about 6 months), I slowly started doing my old routine again while keeping a close eye on what specifically triggered them. Nowadays, too much processed meat, greasy food, or hard-boiled eggs really messes with me—and honestly, I’ve always been a bit wary of fast food anyway. Alcohol (whether it's spirits or red wine) and BBQ don't bother me much, but I definitely have to be moderate with everything. In the meantime, I cranked up my physical activity, which makes me feel way better, and added grains back into my diet (I have a grain and milk mix every single morning for breakfast and nothing else).

I highly recommend everyone listen to their body instead of hunting for quick fixes. Hemorrhoids are basically a signal that we've been living a bit too wild and need to fix our habits. People often ignore them until things escalate to the point of needing surgery, but that doesn't fix the root cause—only the symptom—so they often just come right back.

My doctor told me that hard liquor and cigarettes are terrible for hemorrhoids; they leave traces all the way down to the large intestine and cause irritation. I totally agree with the rest, too. Meat also triggers it for me because it leads to hard stools, and then you know exactly what's coming next—that's when you really need to chug fluids. Just like you, I’m still listening to my body, and man, I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but at least I won't repeat them! Too much milk isn't great either; liquid fruit yogurts and lots of water and fruit are better to keep things moving smoothly. If things stay soft, it's manageable, but hard stools? Man, I fear hard stools more than a bullet! 😢 If I ever face surgery again, I know for a fact I’ll be forcing myself to drink water like there's no tomorrow just to avoid that dreaded constipation. That would stop the straining instantly! Even though I love physical labor, I think I’ll scale it back to just enough for basic fitness. I’ve gotta prioritize managing this stuff because I definitely got too relaxed and took it way too lightly before...

Casey Rogers47 said:, they even run ads in the newspapers claiming they can cure hemorrhoids,...

Fortune tellers, fake prophets, and so-called "doctors"—it’s honestly wild how many scammers and frauds seem to pop up everywhere lately. It really makes you wonder about the state of things. My only advice? Ask questions—that's why we have this forum, after all—but also make sure to share your own experiences so others don't fall for the same thing!

Hey everyone, just checking in like I promised! So, I've been dealing with hemorrhoids (that's the actual medical term) for a few years now. It wasn't life-threatening at first, just a constant nuisance you could live with, but in the last few months, things got absolutely brutal. Diagnosis was Stage II-III hemorrhoids. I went with the DG HAL procedure—basically tying off the arteries using Doppler ultrasound. And guess what? A month later, they were gone! They shrunk back down like I was a teenager again. After a few months, I still had this lingering anxiety in the back of my head that something was wrong; I was getting some itching and stinging when cleaning myself, so I panicked and rushed back for a checkup. Turns out, it wasn't the hemorrhoids at all—I was just being way too aggressive with the scrubbing and using soap too often! Honestly, I think beer might have been making it worse too, since I noticed the symptoms flared up after drinking; let's just say me and beer have officially broken up. When I finished my follow-up, I was over the moon! One big takeaway: I realized I never actually drank enough water, only when I felt thirsty. Now I know you have to stay hydrated constantly to keep things moving smoothly. Apparently, you're supposed to drink even if you aren't thirsty—like a glass every hour. Makes total sense, right? That adds up to about 2 liters a day. Even after the surgery, having a hard stool felt pretty gross. A friend told me she also felt a bit weird for a while after her procedure, so I'm just hoping everything stays smooth sailing from here on out. Looking back, I don't regret spending those extra bucks to get rid of this nightmare, because it was becoming impossible to handle.

Oh, one more thing! I’ve noticed a lot of people on here sounding pretty terrified about getting a colonoscopy. Honestly? I’ve had four of them—once before my surgery and three times after—including the deep ones going in 20 cm. It’s definitely uncomfortable, but it isn't exactly excruciating. I will say, that first time and then again seven days post-op felt a bit sharper, probably just because of my hemorrhoids, but it was nothing major. You can totally handle it! Seriously, getting a tooth pulled is a total nightmare compared to this, so I think everyone can breeze through it without an issue. And the last time I went? Barely even felt a thing!

Hi there.

It’s been about a month now since I first noticed this lump near my anus. At first, it just swelled up—it was skin-colored—so I took some antibiotics because my doctor assumed it was just an ingrown hair. After finishing the course, the swelling went down, but it didn't disappear completely. Then, maybe two days after my last dose, the lump flared up again (again, skin-colored), so I headed back to the doctor. He prescribed more antibiotics, and the result was pretty much the same: the lump shrank again, though it hasn't started swelling back up since that last round of meds.
The lump is currently about 2cm in size and has no distinct color; it's just the same color as my skin.
Once I finished all the antibiotics, I went to see a surgeon at the hospital for a consultation. He told me it's just a perianal issue and nothing more serious. He also mentioned that if it starts swelling up again, I should come back to the hospital because they'll have to incise it.
I'm supposed to go back for another checkup tomorrow, as the lump has actually grown slightly over the last four days and feels a bit tender to the touch.
I'm not exactly afraid of surgery, but what really worries me is the possibility of fistulas forming. So, here is my question: do these fistulas develop before the lump appears, or does the lump show up first and then lead to the fistulas?
And what exactly determines whether those fistulas form?
From what I understand, the lump itself isn't the main issue—that gets operated on—and I've heard the recovery process isn't a particularly long one, either.
If anyone happens to know the answers to these questions, I would really appreciate the help.

Hi everyone! Well, after lurking on this thread for quite a while, I finally decided to jump in. As Jessica Grant56 said: "just ask," because that’s what forums are for, so here I am asking you all for some advice.
So, I’ve been dealing with hemorrhoids for about ten years now. I’ve tried every cream and pill my doctor prescribed, plus the ones he didn't mention but that someone suggested might help. Nothing has worked—not even that "miracle" Plex. But I’ve just grown used to it and learned to "carry my cross" (though, honestly, there are plenty of much worse things in life...).
A few months ago, I started getting daily stomach pains, and it was recommended that I go in for a colonoscopy just to be safe. After Googling a bit to see what to expect, I decided I wanted to do it under anesthesia. I'm not exactly a fan of needles or anything, but why suffer unnecessarily if I don't have to? Since I live in a small town, I had to travel to Washington, D.C. to get the anesthesia option. The bowel prep was absolutely brutal—I barely survived the Excedrin suppositories—and my hemorrhoids flared up so badly that my entire life has basically been dictated by how they feel. Luckily, the colonoscopy results were fine, but the doctor who performed it told me I have Stage IV hemorrhoidal disease. He said there's no point in waiting around and that I should schedule surgery as soon as possible.
There’s no reason to keep suffering; I can’t be taking sick days every time things flare up, so I’ve decided to go through with the surgery. My dilemma is that I have no idea where to go, as the information I've found is incredibly confusing. At our local hospital, they perform the procedure using the Morgan-Milligan method under general anesthesia, which requires a two or three-day hospital stay. From what people who have had it say, the recovery is miserable—it can be extremely painful and lasts quite a long time. On the other hand, a private clinic in Washington, D.C. uses the exact same method but performs it as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia (so no overnight stay), and they claim the recovery isn't nearly as terrifying—just take some painkillers for a few days and you're good to go.
I'm totally confused! Is it actually possible for the recovery period to differ that much after the exact same surgery???!!! Because if it doesn't, I see no reason to drive all the way to D.C. to pay for something I can get for free closer to home. Does anyone happen to know someone who has had this surgery at a private clinic? What do you think I should do?
By the way, I'm also looking into the possibility of the DG HAL method, though I'm not sure if it's even applicable for this stage of the disease. But that's a conversation for another time...

Hi everyone! For the longest time, I struggled with hemorrhoids—sometimes due to digestive issues, sometimes for other reasons entirely. Honestly, it felt like I was dealing with this for half my life. I used to rely on standard over-the-counter stuff like FactCheck creams or those little suppositories, but let me tell you, that was just a temporary fix. The problem would always come crawling back. A good friend eventually mentioned Lion-M cream to me, so about three months ago, I decided to give it a shot. I’ll be honest, I wasn't exactly holding my breath with optimism, but since the formula is completely natural, I figured I could use it long-term without worrying too much. During that first month, I actually had one flare-up, though it was significantly milder than what I was used to. Since then? Nothing. Not a single issue. I’m still using it regularly, and I am genuinely happy with the results. Of course, I’m not totally convinced the battle is won yet—I think a bit of skepticism lingers from all those years of bad experiences—but I’m sticking to the instructions and staying consistent. It’s definitely worth being patient if you're looking for a permanent solution.

By the way, if anyone else is looking to try it out, Lion-M has an online shop (it's relatively new) at www.lion-m.com/shop/. Since I've become a regular customer, I managed to get a discount code to use at checkout. If you order three of the large packs, you get 10% off. The code is k067kremavelika. I really hope this helps someone else as much as it has helped me. Best regards!

By the way, if anyone is interested in giving it a shot, Lion-M has a relatively new online shop at www.lion-m.hr/shop/. Since I'm a regular customer there, they actually gave me a discount code to use at checkout. If you order three of the large packs, you get 10% off. The code is k067kremavelika. Just wanted to share—I hope it helps someone out as much as it helped me. Best,

I was scrolling through their site and couldn't find anything specifically mentioning relief for hemorrhoids; did I miss something?😕

Rachel Richardson45 said:Hey everyone! Finally jumping in after lurking here for a while. Since Jessica Grant56 said "just ask," well, here I am asking for some advice!
So, I've been dealing with hemorrhoids for about 10 years now. I've tried every cream and pill my doctor prescribed, plus all those random things people swear by. Nothing worked—not even that "miracle" Plex. Honestly, I just got used to it and figured I'd just deal with the struggle (there are way worse things in life, right?).
A few months ago, my stomach started hurting every single day, so they told me to get a colonoscopy just to be safe. I did a little Googling to see what to expect, and decided I definitely wanted anesthesia. I'm not exactly a fan of needles or anything, but why suffer if I don't have to? I live in a small town, so I actually had to travel to Washington, D.C. to get the anesthesia part handled. The prep was brutal (I barely survived the Excedrin suppositories), and my hemorrhoids flared up so bad that my whole life basically revolves around them now. The colonoscopy results were fine otherwise, but the doctor told me I have stage IV hemorrhoids and shouldn't wait—I need surgery ASAP.
There's no point in suffering anymore; I can't keep taking sick days because of this mess, so I've decided to go through with the surgery. Now my dilemma is where to go, because the info I'm finding is super confusing. At our local hospital, they do the surgery using the Morgan-Milligan method under general anesthesia, and you stay in the hospital for 2-3 days. People who’ve had it say the recovery is awful—really painful and lasts a long time. But, a private clinic in Washington, D.C. uses the exact same method but does it as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia (so no hospital stay!), and they claim the recovery isn't nearly as scary—just take some painkillers for a few days and you're good.
I'm so confused! Is it really possible for the recovery to be that different if it's the same surgery???!!! Because if it's not, there's no reason for me to drive all the way to Washington, D.C. to pay for something I can get for free locally. Do any of you know someone who’s had this done at a private clinic? What should I do?
By the way, I'm also looking into the DG HAL method, but I'm not sure if it works for my stage. But that's a story for another time...

I was checking them out 3 months ago www.arithera.com, give them a call and see

Sam Reed2 said:I was there three months ago www.arithera.com, just hit them up and see for yourself

They only do DG HAL up to stage III... I checked.. Stage IV requires DG HAL RAR but unfortunately nobody in America is doing that yet... supposedly they have it in Pittsburgh, run by a doctor who moved back from Austria and opened a private clinic, and it's half the price compared to what we pay here...

I’ve spent the last few days reaching out to several private clinics that perform DG HAL, and they all confirmed that this method is strictly limited to Stage III cases. That said, one facility did mention I should probably schedule a consultation with their surgeon first; apparently, if I don't have any polyps alongside the hemorrhoids, they might be able to proceed with the surgery. As I mentioned before, I already had my colonoscopy, and nobody flagged any polyps at the time. I tried searching to see if anyone else offers hr DG HAL-RAR, but I could only track down one specific location: www.butterfly-clinic.com. Over the phone, they confirmed they can handle the procedure, though I'll have to wait a bit because, given my current bank balance, the cost is a bit steep (roughly $2667).
"crimsonmarlin2," thanks for the tip about that doctor in Pittsburgh. I’m going to look into that immediately and let you know what I find out. If they really are half the price, I'll be looking into them very soon.

rustyridge272 said:Hey there!
I just got back from having my Barron ligatures applied to my backside.
I'm curious if anyone else has gone through this—how was the recovery process for you? So far, it’s not too bad...
Thanks in advance!

Oh, and one more thing... I have no clue how to prevent them from coming back... at least nothing groundbreaking.
My lifestyle was honestly pretty messy, so I'm hoping these things don't return once I actually fix my habits! (And I plan to.)

How are you feeling after a week? Also, mind sharing where you had the procedure done and what the total cost ended up being?

I basically didn't even need a recovery period 🤷
It doesn't really hurt—I felt a tiny bit of pressure on the first day, but by the second, it was like I hadn't even done anything... though you definitely have to be extra careful about keeping things moving properly through your system!
The only catch is that if you have multiple polyps, they don't go in all at once (at least not with Dr. Lastric) because that would be way too painful!
So, since I had three of them, the whole process takes about two months. First, you get rid of the biggest nuisance, so you actually see progress by the second day! (Of course, those other two still hanging around are a bit annoying)
The best part is that you're functional immediately—you can sit, walk, and honestly, some people head straight back to work 🙂
I ended up taking a day off for myself, which, looking back, I didn't even really need!
Anyway... Dr. Lastric's clinic 🙂
every single piece $117! The doctor says I should be good for another 2-3 years...

Thanks for the reply...
$117! That sounds perfectly reasonable after a few years of peace!

I’ve only been dealing with this recently—maybe a month or so ago. My dentist put me on some antibiotics, which triggered terrible diarrhea, and then, boom, hemorrhoids.
I kept hoping they’d just go away on their own. Maybe they aren't that bad, but I’ve come to terms with it now... especially since I started seeing traces of blood on the toilet paper. Once I mentioned it to my mom, she admitted my dad has dealt with hemorrhoids for thirty years. So, there's no mistake here; the genetics are definitely working against me. 😁

I’ve been reading through this thread and doing some Googling. I agree that they’re most often caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or a poor diet, but it seems like (in most cases) even when you fix your habits, they tend to stick around, whether they're active or not. Honestly, I think it might be best to just go straight for the procedure so I can have some peace. This itching and burning is becoming unbearable. 😢

Honestly, I wouldn't mind if they just stayed tucked away quietly 😁
I spent three grueling months fighting with them—which isn't exactly fun when you can't even pull on a pair of jeans without it becoming a whole dramatic production 🙂Thank God I'm a woman, because at least I can pull off some loose skirts without a fuss! 🤣
But my doctor—after a solid month of battling this—basically told me there was no point in waiting. He said once they move to the next stage, you can't get them to settle down; they just go dormant, then flare up again, then hide, and then pop back up—you just never get a moment of peace! These things are absolute traitors!
I told him, "Look, I'm not ready for surgery or even a procedure just yet. I want another couple of months to stick to my diet, drink herbal teas, and do those soothing sitz baths." But honestly? It hasn't made a lick of difference!
Even the Plex didn't touch it! And as for the Hemophill... nothing.
I'm starting to feel like getting this fixed is necessary, not just for my physical comfort, but for my actual sanity 🙂

crimsonmarlin2 said:They only do DG HAL up to stage III here... I checked... Stage IV requires DG HAL RAR, but unfortunately, nobody in America is doing that yet... Apparently, there's a doctor in Pittsburgh who came back from Austria and opened a private clinic, and it's half the price compared to our places...

Of course I know DG HAL only goes up to stage III—I actually had that surgery! And yeah, I saw all that stuff about DG HAL RAR and stage IV online too.

Does anyone know if I can pick up this ointment in Washington, D.C.?
Eulatin is some kind of extract from the witch hazel plant, and apparently, it works wonders for hemorrhoids.
I've been checking local pharmacies everywhere, but I can't find it anywhere.

Hey everyone. I noticed something unusual near my anus yesterday. It’s visible, so if it’s a hemorrhoid, it's an external one. It isn't hard, it looks reddish, and there's no itching. There is some discomfort, though nothing unbearable. I'm trying to figure out if this is actually a hemorrhoid or something else.😕
I'm 18 years old. If I'm already dealing with this, I might as well give up now.🙂

Jesse Edwards24 said:Hey everyone... I noticed something popping up near my rear yesterday. It’s clearly visible—so if it’s an external hemorrhoid, then that's exactly what it is. It isn't hard, it looks reddish, and there's no itching involved... though it does sting a bit—nothing unbearable, mind you, but it's definitely there. Now, I'm trying to figure out if this is actually a hemorrhoid or something else entirely.😕
I'm eighteen years old—if I actually end up getting him, I might as well just call it quits. 🙂

Ha, maybe... I’ve been dealing with this since before I was 19—now I'm 30. There were stretches where I’d completely forget about them, but for the last year and a half, they’ve been a constant presence. It’ll settle down for a few days, and then—bam—everything goes haywire again. Honestly, the pain is absolutely brutal right up until the moment they finally break. Once they pop, though, the relief is real—it "only" stings a bit instead of that agonizing ache.
A few years back, I developed what looks like a little "tail" near my anus—and let me tell you, this thing just keeps growing bit by bit. It’s been pretty much dormant for a while now, but don't let that fool you; it's definitely larger than when it first showed up.
It’s soft—almost like sunflower petals—and honestly, the area itself isn't what hurts. The real pain kicks in underneath it, specifically once those veins start getting inflamed.
The doctor who performed my colonoscopy told me it’s just a fibrosed hemorrhoidal node—one of those things that's sitting right there on the inside.
Has anyone else dealt with something similar? I was actually considering seeing a proctologist to just have it trimmed away—it’s been on my mind—but the doctor who performed my colonoscopy thinks it isn't necessary at all. I'm just curious if anyone else is dealing with a similar "tail" situation, and more importantly, does anyone have any actual recommendations on how to handle it?
Hey there!

stormypanther55 said:Yeah, mine could be... I started dealing with them before I was 19... now I'm 30... there were periods where I'd forget about them, but for the last year and a half, they've been constant... things settle down for a few days then go crazy again... It hurts like hell until they burst... once they burst, it's fine... it "just" stings rather than throbs...
A few years ago, a little "tail" formed near my anus... and that tail grows bit by bit... well, it's been dormant for a while now, but it's larger than when it first appeared...
It's soft, sunflower yellow... and it doesn't hurt on its own, but it hurts underneath it (when those veins get inflamed)
The doctor (who performed my colonoscopy) told me it's a fibrosed hemorrhoidal node... I have one of those internally too...
Does anyone else have something similar? I thought about seeing a proctologist to have it cut off, but the doctor from the colonoscopy thinks it isn't necessary... I'm just wondering if anyone has a similar "tail" and has any recommendations for it?
Best regards!

My doctor confirmed they are hemorrhoids 😠😠 ...but it doesn't hurt me since I only have one, and there's no stinging. I've stepped up my hygiene, drinking plenty of water daily and using ointment. I'm hoping it clears up in a few days and never comes back 😁
As for your situation, I don't know. It sounds complicated... hang in there, I feel for you...