Hemorrhoids - When To Worry?

[nvsmom]

This is a bit embaressing but we talk poop enough around here that I'll ask my question...

 

I have had prolapsed hemorrhoids for almost 20 years. I blame celiac disease and hypothyroidism for decades of "C" that caused it; that and years as sitting down while a student.  Anyway, they normally don't bother me. Every few years I'll get a clot and it will become swollen and painful for a few weeks, and in the past it would occassionally bleed or get itchy, but no big deal. It's been bugging me more lately though.

 

About 3 months ago, "C" finally disappeared and changed to soft if not "D" types of stools ("D" is now more common place).  My BMs did a complete 180 degree turn, and increased in frequency from every few days to 2-3 times a day.  At the same time, it started to bleed after, or during, every single BM. It ranges from a small red spot on tissue to a red tint to the toilet, with typical being about an inch size blot of red on tissue. Every few days I need to "pad" the area with tissue to prevent staining my clothes, and it causes irritation from the increased "moisture".

 

So, I'm wondering when to look into treating these things? How common is this type of thing (after a change in BMs) and should I talk to the doctor about it? It's not that painful, mostly just irritating and a bit annoying, so I don't want to do anything invassive to fix it unless I should for some medical reason.

 

Any advice or words of wisdom? Thanks.

[IrishHeart]

Could be an anal fissure from all that straining?

 

My sister (who would kill me if she knew I said this, but she never reads anything I write anyway much less come on here lol) had one and she had bleeding and eventually, it was painful and stinging, she reported.

 

and even though it is not my favorite thing to do either (go to the doc and have them poke around) , you may want to have it looked at?

Sorry, babes.

 

Oh, the treatment was a sitz bath and it resolved.! You could try that. Hope it helps.

 

ppstt... I am still on vacation and you did not see me....  lol

[nvsmom]

Who said that? I saw no one...

 

It could be a fissure but I don't strain anymore. BMs are pretty fast these last few months. the type where you have to find a toilet pretty quick.... I suppose it could still be a fissure... ick.

 

i don't like going to a doctor at the best of times, but a check-up for this? Ewww!  LOL

[IrishHeart]

try the sitz bath anyway....it cleanses, soothes, may even solve the problem without a doc/probe session... and I agree  eww! 

I had a GI doc's NP who was a grouch and she had fat fingers and NO, I do not miss her at all.. I do not even go to that office anymore(shudder)

 

(still not me, still not really here..... ) 

[ravenwoodglass]

Would it be a bit less embarrassing if you talk to your OB/GYN about it? He/she could give you some advice on how to deal with it and let you know if it is something you should see a GI surgeon about.

[nvsmom]

I don't have an OB/GYN - up here they tend not to let you see a specialist until after a GP has seen your problem. At the moment I am without a family doctor... well, I had a family doctor but he was such a dolt I had to walk away to prevent an attempted murder.  I see a new doctor in... October, I think.  Gotta love Canadian helath care!  LOL

[NorthernElf]

I agree it's probably a fissure. My whole journey here started with an extreme virus that 'purged' my body for a week, couldn't keep anything in and it was downhill from there.  Anyway, that lead to hemorrhoid surgery as one prolapsed (don't EVER want to go through that again - prolapse was painful). Since then (10+ years or so) I have a fissure that acts up once in awhile (and couldn't eat gluten). I have had a colonoscopy then & four years ago because blood is always a big warning sign but all is well...it's just a fissure. Most of the time, no problem. I do find certain foods irritate it. Chocolate is a no go for me....and probably most dairy (I avoid it anyway). I don't know how that works but chocolate will bring the fissure 'back'...and the blood. Ok, I know it's sorta always there but it hides ! I don't want to irritate it!

 

Enjoy Life makes dairy free, gluten free 'chocolate' chips - I use those in my gluten-free cookies with no problems. I think chocolate is sorta concentrated dairy (?).

Try diet changes & see if it helps.

[IrishHeart]

I'm with the Elf!

 

Chocolate and cheese...two of my fave foods (after a fresh baked french loaf... back in the old days....sigh).

anyhoo..

 

I love them,  but too much and I am venturing into D land and the straining and the burning and the...well, you guys get it.

  the Enjoy Life chips are less trouble for me, too. 

 

Diet changes, sitz bath, maybe the combo will work, N? 

[nvsmom]

Mmmm, those Enjoy life chocolate chips are EVIL! Addicting... I like to eat them mixed with nuts in the evenings but I haven't had it for most of the summer. I don't eat a lot of chocolate.... I could eat more, but I could eat none.... whimper whimper.

 

I am dairy free except for a couple of splurges into ice cream this summer...I guess I'm dairy light now.  LOL But I don't think the D is from my diet. My guess is that it is from thyroid medicine. As soon as I got my thyroid near to feeling good, soft stools started. Now that I feel good and my thyroid is adequately treated, D is present most bathroom visits. After almost 40 years of constipation, I think my body doesn't know what to do with that.  

 

I don't have much pain with it. A bit of burning sometimes, and ocassionally an itch, but that's it. Luckily I didn't have pain when my hemi prolapsed so many years ago.... I remember going to the doctor and telling her that I either developed a hemorrhoid or grew a tail!  LOL

[IrishHeart]

ooh....a handful of Enjoy life chips mixed with a handful of almonds with sea salt....yeah, baby that's my "I need something sweet and salty" snack sometimes.

(could also explain some of my weight gain  ) lol

[NorthernElf]

Alright, you guys are a bad influence....um, have you tried the Enjoy Life 'Chocolate' chunks ? Mmmmm....,.

[nvsmom]

Alright, you guys are a bad influence....um, have you tried the Enjoy Life 'Chocolate' chunks ? Mmmmm....,.

 

I've seen them but I haven't dared buy them yet. For me, they would be a very bad thing... You shouldn't torment me! 

  LOL

[IrishHeart]

Alright, you guys are a bad influence....um, have you tried the Enjoy Life 'Chocolate' chunks ? Mmmmm....,.

 

 

I confess I have!....in chocolate chip cookies and in my homemade oatmeal/almond flour granola "everything" bars and yes, they were as yummy as you think..

[GF Lover]

Ok Girls, killing me with the "sweet talk".

 

I proclaim to be the resident expert on hemorrhoids.   My hems came on in my teens.  I blame sitting on concrete as I was a swimmer.  Nevertheless they stayed with me my entire life in some shape or form.  Two years ago I hit "my limit".

 

I at that point they had progressed to 5 permanent grapes and numerous inside hiding, the inside ones are usually the ones that bleed.  Any bowel movements irritated the condition.  I saw a general surgeon.  You will find that any doctor you see will refer you to a surgeon.  You already know how to manage them so surgery in the next option.  

 

The consultation visit is enough to send one into seclusion.  Hint, they have a special moving table like contraption for best viewing and examination.  There is some type of rubber band thing they can do for external issues but I needing the full blown surgery.   For me, it was a long 2 month recovery full of a lot of pain and lots of pain meds and the first BM had me screaming and crying.  

 

In my case I would absolutely do it again.  It literally changed my life.  Since you don't sound nearly as severe as my situation, and if you feel it becomes a burden, then maybe look at the rubber band thing.  Just don't let it go so long as to go through what I had too.

 

Ok, gonna make some brownies!!!

 

Good Luck

 

Colleen

[IrishHeart]

Only THIS gang could openly discuss hemis, chocolate chips,  BMs and brownies in the same discussion and feel completely at ease about it.

I love us.

[nvsmom]

Only THIS gang could openly discuss hemis, chocolate chips,  BMs and brownies in the same discussion and feel completely at ease about it.

I love us.

LOL THAT is SO true!!  

 

GFlover - that table sounds ...well, eww.  I don't think I'm as bad as you - I agree. Options for fixing this aren't fun, are they?  

[IrishHeart]

Really, I would try the sitz bath.....possibly while eating a brownie.

[Magister Mundi]

Anucort-HC. No, really - ask your doctor about it (or a derivative). It's a solid suppository, and as a result it takes some getting used to, but once you do get into a pattern it helps so... much...

I'm battling a bacterial overgrowth at the moment, and I'm having terrible IBS symptoms PLUS hemorrhoids. But after a week of these, I feel a whole lot better. More regular BMs (still some D, but that comes from the bacterial overgrowth, probably), a lot less pain, and no blood.