Really embarassing!!!! Help

[OakLeaf]

Hot sitz baths, as hot as you can stand, 10 or 15 minutes three or four times a day.

If you work in a seated job, try to get up and move around as much as possible. Learn to engage the pelvic floor muscles without clenching the anal sphincter. If you lift weights, be sure you're not holding your breath. Make sure you're eating plenty of fiber. Don't force a BM either by straining or by sitting around reading - wait until you have to go even if it's not on your normal "schedule," then go. If you have access to a bidet, use it; if not, wipe only as much as absolutely necessary with toilet paper and do the rest of your cleanup with a soft wet washrag or sitz bath.

What's making you desperate? If they're bleeding, you probably should see a doctor to rule out another cause. If they're thrombosed (clotted, hard and very painful), you probably just need to wait it out, but sitz baths help a lot.

At least some of your friends probably do have them... they're very common especially in women who've had children... I'm surprised your OB or midwife never discussed it with you. Anyway HTH.

[derailed]

baby-wipes are friendlier than roll-paper. Hope you get relief quickly.

[Tuckervill]

I had them after my first child. Oak's advice is right on, especially about not straining. I hit upon the idea of drinking a glass of water before bed and that helped everything along in the morning. Yeah, don't wait, don't force it, don't sit there too long. Preparation H does bring some relief.

Karen

[Biciclista]

I had them after my first child. Oak's advice is right on, especially about not straining. I hit upon the idea of drinking a glass of water before bed and that helped everything along in the morning. Yeah, don't wait, don't force it, don't sit there too long. Preparation H does bring some relief.

Karen

ah, but that long glass of water at bedtime hits the bladder around 3 hours later!


Eat lots of veggies and fruit.

[violette]

I just came back from the pharmacy and the pharmacist suggested Anusol Plus. I don't know if it works but I'll give it a try. I'm going to soak in epsom salt tonight also. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Violette, adding more natural food fiber to your diet will likely help.
More oatmeal, bran, apples, bananas, beans, whole grain bread....
You might want to look into psyllium husk fiber supplements as well (made from the psyllium grain). Psyllium is the main ingredient in Metamusil. It tends to help correct both constipation and diarrhea. It helps normalize you if you eat a diet too low in fiber, which many people do. Too low fiber causes constipation, and many people with constipation wind up with hemorrhoids. It often begins to be a problem during pregnancy and right after.

You should read up online on the causes of hemorhoids, as opposed to just treating the symptoms. Good luck!

[tulip]

And drink lots of water! It's hard enough to remember to drink lots of water, and with taking care of babies, it's even harder. That might be part of the solution.

[ny biker]

I would add that drinking a lot of water is an important companion to increasing the fiber in your diet. Fiber needs water to work.

And I would also add that this is totally a topic of conversation in my family. My sister had major hemorrhoid problems after one of her kids was born. Nonetheless she was back on the bike in a short time, thanks to the sitz baths.

[Tuckervill]

ah, but that long glass of water at bedtime hits the bladder around 3 hours later!


Eat lots of veggies and fruit.

I didn't have that problem when I was a young women (when I had the 'rhoids), but as I've got older, a glass of water before bed DOES become an issue.

Karen