How long till hemorrhoid heals..?

I'm 45 years old, & have had hem.s as long as I can remember, but not as bad as some posters here. I have them around my period, not every time. I've had colon cancer; & had them after giving birth. My current one is the size of a walnut & quite tender; I can't imagine pushing it in. I moved to Portugal from the U.S., so not able to see my doctor, haven't established med. care here. I'm using Vicks VapoRub, believe it or not which really does give me comfort, along with the ibuprophen a few times a day, & the sits baths. Good thing about Europe, the bedae, where I can easily clean up after bm's & use warm to hot running water if it soothes, as well as a soak. My diet isn't the best, I must confess, & I've been constipated as long as I can remember. Teas, fiber, salad,... nothing seems to help that. I don't eat a lot of meat tho, but I do eat too many carbs & white foods. I have a guide dog, & my husband works about 2 miles away, so if I like it or not, I'm getting plenty of exercise. Right now, tho, lying down often, feels like cats' claws in my butt. BTW, anyone know what 'cat's claw tea' is? Saw that referenced for helping hem.s. Tried a soaked black tea bag, didn't notice much help, but only tried it once. Wonder if an asperin directly on the spot would help?

This forum has really helped calm me down, somewhat, after experiencing my first ever large prolapsed hemorrhoid. Had diarrhea the night before and right away knew something was strange. Tried to ignore it, but the "foreign" feeling around my arse was too much, and the pain - OMG!! So, woke my boyfriend up at 4:30am and he took me to the ER. My blood pressure skyrocketed because I was freaked out so bad and had to put me on an IV drip with a painkiller and wait until the bp levelled off. After close to an hour, IV drip was over and the doc came in with the ol' rubber gloves and proceeded to push it back in. Awful, awful experience. Doc recommended I see a surgeon - which I'm not too keen about. Was glad when it was over, but the damn thing came out again. So, took the day off work, freaked out and stressed, wondering if this was normal. Meanwhile, I know my blood pressure is soaring again because I keep getting stressed about it. The only thing that seems to calm me down is surfing the internet to come across hemorrhoid forums, like this one.

A few questions:

* Is it absolutely necessary to get surgery for a large prolapsed hemorrhoid?

* How long does it take to shrink or disappear?

* What are some tried and true treatments to get rid of these things?

I fly out to England in a week and am not looking forward to the trip, carrying around this thing.

 

So, just to let some of the folks on this site know - read the fibre content of foods before you assume they're high fibre. Most wheat pasta isn't that high in fibre, even whole wheat pasta. You're better off with whole grains (barley, quinoa) and cruciferous veggies. Oatmeal is a great choice though. The lady somewhere who said she started eating wheat thins - might as well be eating cardboard. Super refined foods are rarely high in fiber.

Hi, I had some problemss when I went overseas. Had a great time but there were some problems at my back end. Anyway, all gone now, but it took a while. The only thing that I think helped was a book I got, Don't panic they're just hemorrhoids, I think it was called. Found it on a blog somewhere. Good book.

Bascically told you to get off your butt often, eat better, use ice to bring down the swelling. Things like that. Pretty cheap if you're looking to download it.

Hope I help someone with this, just like I was helped with the blog I read.

Thanks

First hemorrhoid appeared last Tuesday, total time with my new friend so far....4 Days. About the size of pea maybe a bit bigger, hurts so damn bad. I have cut the end of my thumb clean off in a kitchen and had it stitched back on, that doesn't come close to this discomfort, I read about these "walnuts" and think to myself "you must be one *&%$#$* strong person" I just want to eat but I find myself shying away from the kitchen knowing my rear end will suffer for it. Using prep H at the moment and I really hope this guy goes away in about a week or so, anyone ever hear of them getting worse when only small (pea-sized) and with only one apparent external "pea". Last thing my life can handle is what will probably be a week off to only find out its gotten worse instead of better.... 

Reading some of these stories sounds very familiar.  I'm a 45 year old male and have suffered from hemorrhoids for the past 20 years, off and on.  In that time, I've tried various treatments.  I've lifted weights for the past 25 years and fault squats (a leg lift exercise) for my suffering.  Had various doctors and symptoms.  

 

My first symptoms were internal bleeding.  Freaked me out the first few times I had it, but it usually cleared up in a week or so.  Then about 15 years ago, the bleeding got worst, so I visited my doctor about them. Was embarrassed and apprehensive about talking about them and being examined, but looking back I've been violated in every way possible by now so its no longer a big deal.  :-D

 

Years ago, my doctor was concerned about my bleeding, so he referred me for a colonoscopy.  Endured that procedure (the prep sucks!) and had two polyps removed, but no serious issues.  So I then visited my first "butt doctor."  He had a horrible bedside manner, but I was young and didn't realize you could change doctors, so I kept seeing him.  Over the course of 4 years, he banded 3 internals (or maybe the same one 3 times, not sure).  Banding never really hurt, so don't be afraid of the banding procedure.  The banding cleared up my symptoms, but they would eventually come back.  After the 3rd banding procedure, I developed an embarrassing mucous issue after every BM.  I just couldn't keep clean. I'd clean up after a BM, and 30 minutes later I could wipe and there would be mucous back there.  By this time, my hemorrhoid was prolapsing, and I'd have to take a shower and shove it back up, where it would stay until the next BM.  A vicious cycle.

 

I mentioned this to my butt doctor, but I think he was tired of me and my questions/concerns, so he started telling me to get used to it and live with it.  So for the next 7 years, I lived with it.  Too embarrassed to contact my doctor again and too scared to seek out a new doctor, for fear of embarrasing myself with my mucous/shove-it-back-after-BM issue.  BMs took forever, and it felt like I was turning inside-out with every one.  Had to always be near a shower so I could clean the mucus issue and shove my longtime buddy back into his hiding place.

 

Biggest mistake I ever made.  If you get nothing else from this post, remember this:  Its your body and your issues and concerns are real.  You can change doctors if you find one unresponsive.  STAY ON TOP OF YOUR CONDITION AND SEEK TREATMENT!  Don't foolishly just "live with it" like I've done.  I wish I had taken my own advice.

 

After suffering a thrombose last spring, I was referred to a new doctor.  Night and day over the old one. This guy listened and told me I have Grade 4 hemmies (a prolapsed and an external), and that surgery was the best possible permanent fix.  He told me to call him when/if I ever wanted to move forward with a permanent solution.  So I languished about for 6 months, and finally got up the courage to make the call.  

 

Had my surgery 9 days ago, and while its too early to tell if I'm permanently cured, I finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. As far as the surgery goes, don't let the horror stories you read here scare you away from the procedure.  My experience has been relatively painfree, and I'm looking forward to a future without hemorrhoids.  

 

So, seek treatment now and don't take NO for an answer.  Don't be embarrassed; some folks have knee issues, some folks have heart issues.  You have a butt issue.  Its just geography.  Stay on top of your condition, and hopefully you won't ever be lying on a table with a doctor holding a scapel.  

   I noticed some blood on my toilet paper a few times in the last few weeks. I have no idea why I was even looking down, I just think I happened to see red when I went to flush. I didn't think much of it, I figured I strained too hard. Here's where I'm going to say we all need to start listening to our doctors. I hear 100% of what he says, but only follow like 20% of it. My bad. So anyway, the other night we got hit with that blizzard here in CT. Three feet of snow. No one's going anywhere so Friday night I open some wine. Apparently I opened and finished a second bottle, had some vodka, had a headache and took a few Vicodin. REAL smart. I spent all of Saturday throwing up. I must have been drunk still or something because it wasn't till I sat down to go to the bathroom that I noticed my new friend. Two of them, actually (just realized it was two today looking in the mirror: there's an odd thing to do). Saturday I proceeded to push them back in. This actually happened a bunch of times for the last few months but for some reason I thought it was a prolapsed anus, not hemorrhoids. One of my guy friends said the same thing happened to him. Again, weird thing to do: discussing this.

Oh, I just turned 40 in December, look like I'm 30 and have the lifestyle of a 20 year old. I barely have any gray hair even. And I still have all of the hair =) I told my ex-girlfriend aside from the rear I'm a spring chicken. She was like "Yeah, LATE spring". lol, she's 28...

   But, I digress. So I push it back in Saturday and everything I did the night before wears off. Now I can't sit, I can't walk, if I lie down I can't sleep because I feel it trying to claw it's way back out. I'm too afraid to take anything on top of what I did Friday so I toss and turn all night. Sunday rolls around and I go to the bathroom. I feel like a pop. Not the pop you want to feel, that'd be it popping off or breaking open or whatever, no this was the pop of it finally being freed while I go to the bathroom. I always shower after number two, so I jump in the shower. I have to manually push the thing back in and that hurts. Really bad. Afterward, I use A&D. I read about Witch Hazel and Zinc, and Bacitracin and I don't have any of it. I thought to use Hydrocortisone, but figured the A&D would be better. It is. Not the Hemorrhoid, though, that still sucks. I'm still stuck all day because of the snow, and I DO have 4 wheel drive, but three feet is three feet. I wind up taking a hot bath with Epsom salts, which as far as I can tell didn't do much. Sunday I took one of the CVS brand sleeping pills. I finally fell asleep around 4 am.

   Monday rolls around and I decide to try to move my car. After lots of uncomfortable shoveling I manage to free it and head to Stop and Shop. I get Witch Hazel, Preparation-H wipes with Witch Hazel and Aloe, Baby wipes, fiber chewies, cotton balls, saline enema, and a triple antibiotic cream. Oh, and more Epsom salts since I ran out. And cat food, but not for me, my cats were hungry. $55 total. I get back home and thankfully my roommate left at a certain point. I'd already eaten a bunch of the fiber things (2 then 2 more later) and drank a thing of Citrucil. So I do the enema thing and go again. That really sucked because this time the bastards didn't want to go back in. But with the help of my buddy A&D and some careful pushing, I got them back in. After my shower I used the Witch Hazel, and the Prep-H wipes, then the A&D. I had to go two more times today and both times when "they" came out, I had trouble getting them back in.

   I already have an appointment to see my internist for a follow-up Wednesday, but I might try to see him tomorrow if at all possible. I'm working part-time and I can't afford to take any days off so I'm hoping for a rubber band ligation, or the sclerotherapy,  or that thing where they inject them with acid or whatever. As for being embarassed: if it comes down to me telling the doctor about my condition and him doing ANYTHING, including putting needles or knives, EVEN LASERS in there and it makes it go away: FINE. Go for it. It's not as sore to sit right now as two days ago, but every time I go to the bathroom it really sucks after for a while. I can't stay like this. I have a great doctor, hopefully he can fix it or refer me to someone that can...

I was so Happy to find this forum! Although we are suffering, it's nice to know there are people who Really understand how hemorrhoids mess us up physically and mentally! have suffered from hemis since i was a teen - due to constipation from eating too much beef, bread, pasta, pizza, cheese... but i have NEVER suffered This long and it has NEVER been This Painful!!! PrepH had Always worked well and the pain, burning and irritation usually went away in a few days - then, there was the itching as they began to heal. Now that i'm older, they hang on longer and hurt more. i no longer eat beef, too much bread, i'm terrified of cashews (or any nuts), pasta, pizza and cheese at this point. i Never want to have surgery, saw my Uncle go thru it. After reading All of the posts, i find there are persons who are waaaayyy worse than i am! i pray we All find relief. Many have offered several remedies; some were really long and intense! One was like a 'witch's brew' :-D - which proves that we want to Help each other relieve ourselves of this HORRIBLE Condition from Hell.

This is the first time i have had to devise a 'system' and try several things while also using my beluved PrepH. it all began the 1st of 2013 after eating some colossal cashews! everything went downhill from there. i was alternating PrepH Ointment & Creme. i decided to try Rexall Hemorrhoid Cream (Dollar General) - it worked well, i'd begun to heal... even used my Resinol for the itching a few times (can order as an OTC from big pharmacies). But, as my routine has it, i Expect to have a BM Ev-e-ry Morning... and some of them were So HARD that the hemis flared up again from straining . There are small amounts of blood in the BM, even a streak as it passes that enlarged vein, but nothing pourous. i have been in Major pain for over two months this time! Coupled with my husband having brain surgery... only adding to the stress - another reason they won't heal (stress).

i began seriously researching hemorrhoids, cures, products, the whole nine; was led to Walgreen's online where i found 'HemAway' and 'Hyland's Hemorrhoid Tablets'. i've also been taking HOT sitz baths with Witch Hazel, applying witch hazel on cotton to the hemis after the bath for a few minutes; remove it at the first sign of irritation - it should sooth. i use Witch Hazel pads after each BM for a few minutes, apply a hot washcloth for a few minutes, pat dry, then apply the creme. i alternate 'HemAway' & 'Rexall's' - they, like PrepH, have the same analgesic - so you can mix them. However, the 'HemAway' has Lidocaine, which numbs. The Hyland's pills (3 every 4 hrs or sooner) melt under the tongue, homeopathic (natural) with no side effects. i've also done a 360 with my diet. i eat salads, chicken or seafood, plenty of veggies, cream of wheat, various fibrous cereals with half & half topped with evap milk, ACTIVIA (yogurt) DAILY, drink PLENTY of water, and i'm also drinking chocolate Boost or Ensure (for vitamins). i take 3 Colace nightly (stool softner, there are many - find one that works best for you) and the best NSAID i've found to reduce the inflammation is Aleve; Ibuprofen gives me a headache. Just be sure to EAT before you take an NSAID like Aleve (Naproxen Sodium).

During my research, i read somewhere that you should elevate your legs when having a BM - the colo-rectum is at an angle; it truly comes out easier when i put my legs up! After following this regimen for the past week, i am FINALLY feeling better! Hallelujah! Not gone completely yet, but DEFINITELY healing! i won't let my guard down this time. i ordered one other product: Venapro... waiting on them to come (pills and under-the-tongue spray). Will let you know. Hopefully, this will finish off this bout with the condition from hell.

That's awful <:u ... I'm 8 months pregnant right now and have had SOME sort of hemorrhoid for the past 4 months or so. I never had any bleeding, itching, or pain. But today I'm experiencing a looot of discomfort, and before I was able to tuck it back in, but now it won't stay. :c I have no idea what kind I have, and every time I try hinting to the doctor that I have a hemorrhoid and that I need it treated, they brush it off saying things like 'oh haha, yes, those can be unpleasant, can't they?'. And I'm just like "....yyyeah."

:(

I never try to 'tuck it in'; that sounds forceful & painful! As my hemis heal, they go back in by themselves. I'm feeling that change as I heal more. Still doing the things I said n my 1st post (2nd before this one), but waiting on the Venapro to let y'all know how that system works. All I know is, if you're having hemo pain - Do Something! Dont just suffer with it; they Rarely go away if you do Nothing.

Hello everyone! The Venapro seems to be working along with all of the other stuff I'm using. The pills have all of the ingredients that some of my Google research listed for healing. I'm not sure about the spray, I'm using it, but it contains 26% alcohol; they stress putting it Under the tongue. I also like & use Hyland's Hemo pills (walgreen's online). I Do feel better. Will let you know when I'm in the 90% better range. I went from major pain & burning (0%) to only discomfort (about 70%) in 2 weeks! Going to keep using the PrepH ointment, HemAway & Rexall Hemorrhoid Cream; the other things work from the inside out. Remember Aleve or another NSAID to help the pain & shrink the inflammation.

Still dealing with these hemos! But, now I'm in the 'itching' phase. So, they Are healing! Saw my doctor today. He said, "no surgery", does no good in most cases. I'm to keep up the diet changes, use whatever products that work best for Me, and Do NOT Strain during BMs! They will heal & return to normal size. Venepro seems to still work best for me. Best creme for me? Rexall Hemorrhoid Creme (dollar general, $3). HemAway works but I've developed an allergy to the Lidocaine, so be careful; they do warn you. Also great for healing & itching is RESINOL. It's good for lots of things; order online or @ most big pharmacies.

 

Hey everyone!  found this forum after stressing out and searching the web to comfort myself. I'm 25, female, very healthy and active. I developed a hemmorrhoid almost two years ago after severe constipation and forcing myself to go. I changed my whole lifestyle and turned to a fiber rich diet. I've continued this diet as I have IBS and occasionally experience digestion issues. No problems for 2 years. I know it was still there though because it would pop out a little after pooping but would always retract and not be felt or seen. I drank some herbal tea with senna root for digestion aid, and have always diluted it so it wasn't too strong. I made the mistake of drinking too much and as a result experienced a bout of diahrea the next day. Later that evening I was pleasantly surprised to find a large "grape sized" lump sticking out of my butt.

I guess this would be considered a "flare up" and the whole opening of my anus felt sore. The soreness has gone away a little and there is no pain or bleeding or itching at all. Just this swollen lump. It's slightly larger than the first one I had, should I be concerned about that?

 

I do not have insurance so I cannot see a doctor. As I said no bleeding, no pain, no itching and there wasn't any of those symptoms when I had my first one. I'm doing everything I did before... Bath after BM, my diet is still very healthy, I ALWAYS wipe with moist wipes and I exercise a lot.

 

Another question regarding exercise... Should I take a break until the swelling goes down? I run a lot and do lots of squat based exercises and abs. Will this put pressure on it and make it worse?

 

 

 

Going on four months since I had the staple surgery done. Still very uncomfortable after morning BM. Unless I am completely evacuated, I may also have trouble urinating. Frequently take half a Vicodin that is left over from my surgery to ease the discomfort. Anyone else still sore this long out? Went to my surgeon for a follow up two months ago and am surprised there was anyone left in the waiting room from my shouts when he checked me out. Haven't been back, but am afraid I'll have to.

I had same issues for years. The only thing I've done is "stop eating anything spicy!" and i try to use witch hasil after a bowel movement. I still drink like fish and no issues. I'm fixed!