Hemorrhoids

It's ok! I got those when I was preggo with my last baby. I just took sitz baths. Very warm sitz baths. It took about a week of doing it 3-4 times a day, but it worked. BTW, I've found nothing cold really helps me personally. Just a warm bath.

Hi D.,

For hemorrhoids I always use seal oil. It heals the problem overnight by shrinking the beasts. I find seal oil at the healthy alternatives stores. Hope this helps you.

My husband had a bad case of the hems and when I searched on line I found a great herbal remedy that deals with both internal and external. It is a 6 month prescription that cost $160 bucks but he is healing and very comfortable. From what I read it was the better option that what docters give and definately better than uneccesary surgery! It is called Venipro http://www.venapro.com/
I bought him the pill version.

Hemorrhoids are usually caused by some form of straining. Make sure that you are drinking enough WATER for your body so that it's not having to retrieve it from your fecal matter. That will help you. Also, make sure you are eating enough fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Aim for 35 grams. The more the better. Most americans only get 10ish.

Anusol which is not called that anymore... but if you go to your pharmacy you will see it... it will say on the tube the name and used to be Anusol. Good stuff! Eases the pain and makes it go away.

Preparation H. And sometimes they don't go away and only surgery will do the trick. I have a permanent hem. but it doesn't feel like anything. Only looks nasty.

I am a wellness consultant and use thereapeutic grade essential oils, they work and they are NON toxic,Many of the commercial products have questionable ingredients in them, if you are interested pls call me for information. K. ###-###-####
I have a class coming up on just these kind of everyday life situations, Saturday August 16th, here in San Carlos, all are welcome. I will send you an invite if you would like. Thanks :)

HI D., I went to a Hemmroid Doctor(can't remember there real name) but I went to my Primary who gave me a referal to them and they do either burning or rubberband treatments. I use to do 2-3 treatments a year, they don't hurt that much and are done very quick, usually less than 5min. I have less treatments if I just try and eat fiber and keep them away, but these treatments work really good for getting rid of them, if not permantatly, for about 6 months. I haven't had them real bad for about a year now. They come back a little bit when I strain but don't stay for days like they used to. Hope this helps. Make an appt with your primary and go see a speacialist to get them fixed today! They are a pain if they stick around.

Hi D. - I work a sedentary job (sitting all the time typing) - do you have a similar job? If so, or if you have a hobby or activity that is keeping you sitting for long periods, that is definitely contributing. Sometimes it helps to use a "doughnut" pillow - I first got one after I had my first baby while still in hospital. It helps when sitting by not placing any pressure directly onto the affected "area". Also, as they can be related to irregularity and fiber will take care of that. Good luck - all will be well - you can do it! There is no reason it should become a chronic condition. (Did I mention eat TONS of fiber??!!)

In previous years I experienced the dreadful H (especially during pregnancy)!

My routine is to wipe with a baby wipe or tuck's after EACH bowel movement (whether or not I have a hemorroid). When there is an H, tuck it back into the rectum at every opportunity. I prefer Prep H CREAM (NOT Ointment, NOT suppository). After cleansing/wiping with wet wipe, put Prep H Cream on tissue and cover H and tuck it back in. Be diligent about the Cream and the tucking.

Prevention is the key! Eat Fruits and Veggies EVERY Day and DRINK a LOT of WATER Every Day. I drink a liquid vitamin shake with yogurt and fruit every morning. Yogurt is good for bowel movements - even for young children. Regular yogurt is perfectly fine (no need to get sucked into the marketing for digestion yogurts...). The other KEY ingredient is MOVEMENT! Physical Movement is good for the Bowel Movement!

I'm 32 weeks in my 4th pregnancy and I've only battled 2 small H episodes that were short lived and conquered!

Good Luck!

~ Wife of 1 wonderful husband and Mother of 4 wonderful children: 19, 11 1/2, 6 1/2, and baby due 10/1/08.

P.S. Don't eat TONS of fiber WITHOUT drinking TONS of water!

D.,

I'm not sure but I heard kegal exercises help in preventing them.

E.

Been there. Developed a horrible case at the end of my pregnancy. My OB recommended a rectal surgeon when creams and Prep H, and Tucks didn't work. After weeks of the problem I learned I had a fissure. Don't let it get that far. See a specialist so they can determine if you have an internal issue also. Good advice below...don't use stool softeners longer than 2 weeks. My old OB just let me stay on them for weeks. Increae your fiber and lots of water. What really helped for the healing process was Metamucil (Biofiber seems cool also because it is tasteless). You need to soften your bowel movements for a while (I'm probably doing this long term) to heal. Don't let this go to long. When my fissure developed I thought I was giving birth again without an epidural. And despite one persons advice, they have nothing to do with yeast.

I thought I had extremely painful external hemorrs too. I had a group called "cluster hemmorrhoids" becuase they are grouped like a grape cluster! Nothing helped. I saw a doctor who refered me to a surgeon as I was desperate to be done with them. Surgeon checked it out and said that in addition to hemorrs I had an anal fissure which was what was probably causing the pain. I took stool softeners as well as an ointment he prescribed and the pain slowly went away. What a relief!! I have since learned that anal fissures are terribly painful and often overlooked because people, like me, think the pain is due to hemmorhoids. Good luck. Dang I just went to submit this and realized that my name goes with it. I was hoping it would be anonymous!! Well, if it helps you, it's worth it. :)

Dear D.,
I know what you mean about the blushing part, believe me.
This happened to me too. It freaked me out, for one thing. I was miserable. I talked to a friend of mine who had been very open with me about her hemorrhoids. She gave me a couple of suppositories to try. They did actually provide some relief temporarily. I eventually just had to go to the doctor. Strangely enough, which I didn't know, is that I had internal hemorrhoids as well. So, I ended up being sent to a specialist and having a little procedure done.
It was uncomfortable, but I've done great ever since.
My brother-in-law suffered for years because he was too embarrassed to talk about it or go see a doctor. One day, when just he and I were at my sister's house, he confided in me. After all, my sister is the one who drove me for my surgery so I guess he felt he could talk to me about it. I urged him to go to the doctor....to put his pride aside and just do it. And he did.
However, he had let it go so long that he couldn't have the same thing done that I did. He had to have a full anesthesia, in the hospital operation. Now, he says he wishes he'd done it years ago because he is 100% better.
If you keep having flare ups, you definitely want to get checked out.

Best of wishes!

In my home-based business I make a variety of all natural therapeutic products that use essential oils as their active ingredient. I suffer from the same problem (luckily hardly ever now -- and my problem started 30-years ago!). When I feel it coming on I take a soak in a hot tub with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of my Nerve Balm bath salts -- a blend that eases pain, reduces swelling, inflammation and bruising. When the pain and swelling have subsided (usually 15-20 minutes) I follow with a light application of my Nerve Balm oil directly on the 'roid, which completes the calming action. I rarely (usually once a year or less) have a flare-up now, and when I do this settles it down like nothing else.

Let me know if you'd like to try them and I'll send you a small sample of each -- enough for a single treatment. Take a look at my website: www.mccluckfarms.com for more info.

The best thing to do is prevention. Be sure your diet is high in fiber and drink lots of water. The trick is to avoid straining when you have a bowel movement. Also prolonged sitting and standing tends to cause flare ups. You are 50 so if you have not had a colonoscopy yet you should think about that as well. This would allow the doc to see what other hemorrhoids you may have internally as well. Preparation H may help with the pain if you have another external flare up. Hope this helps.

Hi D.!
I can completely empathize. I've had my cauliflower hemoroid(That's what they call a hemoroid cluster)since the birth of my first child 15 years ago (I'm 50,too). Back then, my midwife told me that I could do something about them if they were to become a problem, but I decided not to have them removed until after giving birth to all our children. Well, it's been nearly 8 years since my last child was born and I still haven't had them operated on. Every now and again, they bleed tremendously, but will subside after a day or two. Your letter may be just what I need to get going on this process. I just use Prep H when they bleed or get irritated. It's worked all these years. Please let me know if you do end up getting them removed. I'll need the moral strenth and encouragement to do the same.
Good luck!
D.

I feel for you- I had horrible hemerroids at 5 weeks post partum and even turned to a fissure, a tear of the tissue down there, so painful- first drink lots of water, lots of water to keep you regular, along with fiber. I also used a stool softener like senscal or dolculax to make it easier to go and allow the body to heal, Do not use the softeners for more than 2 weeks otherwise they make the problem worse. I also applied witch hazel and arnica gel to the area to reduce swelling. there are also homeopathic pills to take, you can find arnica and homeopaths at health food stores
good luck, you will heal