Really embarassing!!!! Help

[violette]

This is a very embarassing subject to talk about, but i'm desparate... How do you heal Hemoroids? Since my daughter was born, I've had problems "down there" but me being naive, never thought that's what it was. I'm panacking because I don't know anyone who has them ( I suppose it's not a topic of discussion with your friends).

[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.

[Grog]

Lots and lots of water.

Lots and lots of fiber.

I've never had to do the hot baths thank god. But I'll remember that one.

[indigoiis]

I gots em. Ouch! Sometimes I don't even want to ride. That and tailbone issues. Nice!

I have been taking 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar (buy it unfiltered - preferably with the mother - at the health food store) mixing with 1/4 cup welch's grape juice, 1/4 cup apple juice, a squeeze of lemon juice, and (gulp) 1/2 cup of prune juice, balance with water every morning now for about a month. It has really worked to reduce the hemerhoids. Also it helped to reduce swelling in my gums (what I originally took it for.) The prune juice is just good fiber. But be careful - start small.

For topical, I use witch hazel straight, or tea tree oil straight, on a cotton ball.

Coat with prep H.

On long rides, I slather on clear, non-irritating girly gel. It helps a lot.

[alpinerabbit]

the diet, avoid pressure, personal hygiene and the cream are a good start.
And if all else fails, there's surgery.

[Miranda]

Yea, having babies does all kinds of not so lovely unexpected things to your body.

You have good suggetions thus far. I can't recall if I saw taking an OTC stool softner. Colace. Not peri-colace. The peri has the stimulant. The Colace will just make things not so much stressing. Which irritates things.

However, I don't know if this is recent discussion with the baby being little, or a later thing brought up??? If an infant that you are breast feeding anything passes through your milk to the baby. If so, make sure you check with your doctor first.

[Lori81295]

I am going thru a "flare-up" now. I have found the medicated wipes help out alot. It seems to calm things down. It is making my spin class really hard.

[polly4711]

This is a very embarassing subject to talk about, but i'm desparate...

It's ok... I'm my young twenties with out any children and already having these problems in addition to anal fissures. (Supposedly I was born with soft anal tissue... how wonderful! )

Witch Hazel works great!!! The metamucial cookies are quite yummy.... so increase that fiber. I've even taken them on a ride with me as a snack because I was all out of animal crackers.


If they continue to hurt, I'm a fan of just estabilishing a base with a doctor so that they know what they look like now, and if it gets worse, then they can judge that. My colo-rectal doc is great.... haha.. I know, but seriously. She wasn't weird about it at all.

Good luck!!!