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I've been battling my first bout with hemorrhoids in the last two weeks...

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D

DanteGhost

Member
... And I don't know what to do anymore. I don't wish this to my worst enemy. The writing was in the wall. It was taking me up to 30 mins to take a shit as I loved taking reading material (gaf/reddit) to the toilet. I would also push the shit out of my body like my life depended on it. I'm also an avid fanatic of fast food (which just happens to be low on fibers) . And for the last 5 years I've found blood on the water of the toilet after taking dumps. And I chose to ignore it, even though on my dad's side of the family, all the adults suffer from chronic hemorrhoids. I spoke to my doctor about it, and everytime I changed the diet as he recommended it would go away, but of course that never lasted long.

Two weeks ago everything changed. I had a flare-up, and the first 5 days were the most miserable I've been in a while. I couldn't laugh, bend or make any type of physical exertion without having agonizing pain. Cleaning my butt has been a nightmare, as I pretty much have to take a shower everytime it happens. I had to completely change my diet, now eating food high in fiber and drinking a LOT of water. Over the counter medication didn't help at all and in some cases made it worse. The only reason I was able to go through my daily routine was due to the support of my wife.

This last week has been so much better, as the flare up has decreased in sized(from the size of a pea to half of it) and doesn't hurt as much. I've read that it takes up to 24 days for it to go away. How true is that? For any gaf members that have been miserable with roids in the past, what should I expect going forward?
 
G

G0523

Member
Sounds like you need to see a doctor.

And maybe don't sit and strain on the toilet for 30 minutes. You need to be on there for 5, 10 minutes maximum.
 
highrider

highrider

Banned
I'm 50 and have never had this issue, and my diet could be better. Your description makes me feel very fortunate op, I hope you get some relief.
 
LOLCats

LOLCats

Banned
I had them when i was younger, they were indeed terrible. Get some gel cold packs. Prep H didnt really help too much for me, but i used it anyway. I didnt read your whole post, but if youre straining on the toilet, maybe try a mild laxative.
 
B

btrboyev

Member
Go see a dr. I have terrible UC and have developed similar issues. I brought it up to my GI and was given a prescription steroid cream. It has helped way more than any over the counter stuff. I still have issues, but it's probably because I back off using the cream when it gets better.
 
H

hockeypuck

Member
Couple standby rules:
1. Don't let a primary care doc or a family medicine doc go anywhere near you with rubber bands. They don't know how to take care of complications. Frankly, I don't even go with the banding route but that's another detailed post.

2. Don't let any surgeon go anywhere near you with a hemorrhoid stapler. That is all.

3. If you need actual operative treatment for hemorrhoids, find a surgeon who can do a good traditional hemorrhoidectomy. Such a better, definitive repair and still the gold standard.
 
Wag

Wag

Member
Get some fiber into your diet immediately- try gentle fiber like Citrucel, which works really well for me (I find Metamucil to gassy). Start adding more whole grains and fruits and vegetables. A lot of water and get some exercise.

And most importantly, stop spending so much time on the toilet!

I had a a hemorrhoid removal surgery when I was younger- it was the worst. They don't even do it anymore. You can turn it around just by doing a few of the things I suggested.
 
N

newdayrocks

Member
DanteGhost said:
... And I don't know what to do anymore. I don't wish this to my worst enemy. The writing was in the wall. It was taking me up to 30 mins to take a shit as I loved taking reading material (gaf/reddit) to the toilet. I would also push the shit out of my body like my life depended on it. I'm also an avid fanatic of fast food (which just happens to be low on fibers) . And for the last 5 years I've found blood on the water of the toilet after taking dumps. And I chose to ignore it, even though on my dad's side of the family, all the adults suffer from chronic hemorrhoids. I spoke to my doctor about it, and everytime I changed the diet as he recommended it would go away, but of course that never lasted long.

Two weeks ago everything changed. I had a flare-up, and the first 5 days were the most miserable I've been in a while. I couldn't laugh, bend or make any type of physical exertion without having agonizing pain. Cleaning my butt has been a nightmare, as I pretty much have to take a shower everytime it happens. I had to completely change my diet, now eating food high in fiber and drinking a LOT of water. Over the counter medication didn't help at all and in some cases made it worse. The only reason I was able to go through my daily routine was due to the support of my wife.

This last week has been so much better, as the flare up has decreased in sized(from the size of a pea to half of it) and doesn't hurt as much. I've read that it takes up to 24 days for it to go away. How true is that? For any gaf members that have been miserable with roids in the past, what should I expect going forward?
Click to expand...
Had to deal with hemorrhoids several years ago, and they were the worst. Ultimately, had surgery to get rid of them, and had immediate relief once the area healed, and they've never been back. There's a chance they'll return, but this was six years ago.

Wag said:
I had a a hemorrhoid removal surgery when I was younger- it was the worst. They don't even do it anymore. You can turn it around just by doing a few of the things I suggested.
Click to expand...
Mmm, this isn't at all true?
 
N

NewGame

Banned
Eat lots of fiber (raw veg, chew them hard) and then go on a fast.

Also this will help

213XEz9y6YL.jpg
 
D

DanteGhost

Member
Wag said:
Get some fiber into your diet immediately- try gentle fiber like Citrucel, which works really well for me (I find Metamucil to gassy). Start adding more whole grains and fruits and vegetables. A lot of water and get some exercise.

And most importantly, stop spending so much time on the toilet!

I had a a hemorrhoid removal surgery when I was younger- it was the worst. They don't even do it anymore. You can turn it around just by doing a few of the things I suggested.
Click to expand...

I've been taking Metamucil, and yes I've been farting like crazy. I don't go past 10 min anymore in the toilet and I've been taking a lot of water. I honestly just want pea size flare up to dissapear from my anus. I've no issues sticking with the current diet I'm on if it means no more flare ups.
 
I

Instro

Member
I have a fair amount of experience with this over the last 6-7 years or so. The first time is usually the worst, at least it was for me. I started having issues after a surgery near the end of college. The meds made me constipated, which eventually led to me getting one. You don't recognize or pay attention to warning signs until it blows up. I've never had anything bigger than the size of a pea, so I can understand where you are at though. Can't imagine what it's like for people who get even more severe versions. You should go to your doctor though, the medicated cream will shrink it faster, and will feel a lot better. They can check to see if there is more severe damage too, the blood in the bowl sounds not so good. I've never had that issue. 3-4 weeks sounds about right for a flare up though, sometimes it can go away quicker or take longer though.

I used to have flareups once or twice a year, but I'm pretty much in a routine with my bowel habits and diet that I rarely have issues anymore. Don't increase your fiber intake too quickly btw, it can cause some issues. Otherwise lots of water, and going forward improve your diet, try not to hold it in when you need to go, and don't force it. Pooping should be a quick deal, never more than a minute or two on the toilet. With the blood thing you should probably take a mild stool softener in the long term to help prevent further damage. Once you have this issue it can reoccur and/or get worse unless you change your ways.
 
E

Ecotic

Member
1. Only go when you have to and it will come out easy.
2. Don't scrub your anus with your hands and soap after taking a shit. You sit beneath the bath tub faucet and let the running water cleanse you. Hemorrhoids are damaged blood vessels, the last thing you want to do are damage them further with rigorous washing. This is the most important thing, your days of toilet paper and manual washing are over, it's gentle water from here on out.

If you do this you can prevent further damage and the blood vessels will relax to a large degree over 1-2 years.
 
A

Admiral Woofington

Member
Only time I had hemorrhoids it was an internal one so luckily it didn't hurt. It was just really scary to go poopers and looking back to make it seem like somebody murdered my chocolate sailship when there is blood all over the damn place.

First time I had to shove anything up my butt. Coincidentally first time I had a doctor, or anybody, shove anything up my butt and it was terrifying. Btw I got mine when I was like 22. If you follow doctor's instructions they do eventually go away or very rarely come back to the point it's a non issue.
 
Mohonky

Mohonky

Member
Had this, dont understand the pain thing. Ive heard people say they are painful but I just found them itchy.

Squeezing out a good fart felt like a good scratch.
 
M

Media

Member
I've carried two pregnancies to term, one almost (shes fine, no worries). The pressure alone caused massive ones, even though I only had labor for the first (emergency c-section, then the other two were as well)

I sometimes bleed, but they never cause me pain, even though I can literally feel one hanging out down there. It only hurts when I get sick with stomach issues or something. But no pain when sitting, etc. And it's always there, there's no flare ups.

I've though about having the surgery to get it fixed, but it sounds like a nightmare compared to what it is now so...
 
K

Kas

Member
Bro

I'm going through this right now. I was at work Friday and it was probably a shit every hour, and when I wiped, it looked like a user scene.

I could barely walk and it's stoll going on, just not as bad as that day.

And my diet is...maybe a granola bar, yogury, and cereal.
 
E

Earthbound64

Banned
DanteGhost said:
It was taking me up to 30 mins to take a shit as I loved taking reading material (gaf/reddit) to the toilet. I would also push the shit out of my body like my life depended on it.
Click to expand...

I don't get it...
You would "push the shit out of [your] body like [your] life depended on it..." and then... sit there reading for like 28 minutes or something?
 
W

Warm Machine

Member
I fucking swear that eating a tablespoon of liquid honey a day for a couple weeks will get rid of them. I had recurring internal ones for almost a year and it was the only thing that fixed them. What do you have to lose?
 
H

Hazaku

Member
Had this during chemo. Felt like someone shoved a whole bunch of doritos and broken glass up my ass.

Ointment I used for it had an applicator that looked like some alien probe device!
 
JetBlackPanda

JetBlackPanda

Gold Member
I had my first real problem with hemroids this year. It just kind of hit me one day when I realized I hadn't taken a shit in like 3-4 days. Then I tried to hard and bam.

I'm a type 1 diabetic that eats low carb so fiber is hard to come by in my diet.

I made it 34 years tho.

Edit: holy shit that Craigslist add slayed me.
 
W

Warm Machine

Member
JetBlackPanda said:
I had my first real problem with hemroids this year. It just kind of hit me one day when I realized I hadn't taken a shit in like 3-4 days. Then I tried to hard and bam.

I'm a type 1 diabetic that eats low carb so fiber is hard to come by in my diet.

I made it 34 years tho.
Click to expand...

I was using benefiber. Didn't help the problem though.
 
S

Saroyan

Member
I can definitely sympathize. I've had hemorrhoid problems since I was 17, I'm 38 now. I just got over a nasty flareup that lasted a couple of weeks. For the first few days I could barely even sit without intense stabbing pain. One day it almost made me nauseous. And I wish the swollen tissue was only pea sized, at there worst mine are more like grapes.

I've had some stretches where I don't get them for over a year, and other times I end up with them 3 or 4 times a year. The only advice my doctor has given is more fiber and less spicy foods, I think I need to see a specialist to do something about it one of these days. I've been eating a fiber one bar every day since the last flareup and its smoothed things out quite a bit at least.

The best thing I've ever done though is stop using toilet paper and start using cottenelle wipes, its so much better and I love them. I even bring some in a little plastic baggie to work if I have to go when I'm there. The tp at work is like fine grit sandpaper.
 
C

cirrhosis

Member
I had a bad case of the roids about five years ago. I was convinced it was bowel cancer. One day I hit the restroom at the end of the day at work and struggled to push the poop out. I had to raise one leg on the side of the stall. The differential in height was exactly what was needed and it came out all at once, really fast, but it was large. The pain was so great that I silently screamed. While driving home I felt some wetness but figured I hadn't wiped fully. When I got out I looked at the car seat and there was blood. A particularly bad roid ruptured and my ass was bleeding bad enough that it soaked through my pants.

I finally went to the doctor. In the end what primarily changed was shitting habits. Now I only sit on the throne to poop. Once it's out I get up. Haven't had a problem since.

I poop once every five days on average.
 
D

DirtyCase

Member
A lot of what people are describing in this thread sounds a lot like perianal abscess'. They are very easy to mistake as hemorrhoids. I suggest for anyone who has what they think are hemorrhoids for longer than a couple weeks to seriously consider consulting a doctor and having it looked at, because if left untreated they cause further complications down the line.
 
P

PyroPaperPlanes

Member
What sucks about this kind of pain is it's difficult to explain it to others without feeling embarrassed or making the person feel uncomfortable. Sympathies to ya.
 
I

itwasTuesday

He wasn't alone.
probably only going to write this because i've had a few drinks. After 5 or so years of cancer and going back and forth between chemo and radiation and other procedures I thought pretty much nothing would embarrass me now. Take in account I used to give speeches in front of 100s of people. I was so timid when I told the nurse I had hemorrhoids. She responded with just get some Tucks wipes. As it was no big deal. WTF. Anyway I got a special pillow and the wipes and pills and lube to make things easier. Must of taken an 80 lb poop after surgery.

I take psyllium fiber now and everything is working smoothly.
 
C

Chumley

Banned
What you described is likely a blood clot hemmroid, the most severe kind you can get. I know because I got one last year during the summer.

You can wait it out, but it'll take many weeks and could easily come back.

What you should do, if able, is see a doctor. They'll confirm if it's a blood clot or not. If it is, they'll cut it out and you'll endure possibly the most pain you've ever experienced after the anesthesia wears off. It'll take a week or two to subside, and then another two weeks to go away completely, but for me it was worth it in the end.

If the pain and discomfort is as bad as it was for me, you won't give a shit about the embarrassment of seeing a doctor about it.
 
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