Advice on my struggles with internal hemorrhoids

Digestive health
1

Hi all. I am 32, male, in US, chronic liver disease patient

I have episodes of hemorrhoids as young as I can remember. When I was less than age 5, my grandparents let me drink coffee. It was a nightmare and I had hemorrhoids since then. I think they were internal as my mom said she had to push them in to clean me after bowel movements.

Fast forward to college years aged 18-22, I had a few major episodes of hemorrhoids. My diet was junk foods, college fast foods and school cafe foods, sweetened drinks like soda and sweet green teas. I recalled self treating with Prep H and wetting toilet papers, then sought medical help from university health center where they gave me kit to examine my stools due to blood. Nothing serious occurred but it was painful sitting in class and being outside with friends. I slept or stayed indoors for a long time.

Last year I had a few episodes of bleeding hemorrhoids. I am very squeamish and has decided not to look at bloody stools while going and due increased fiber and fluids I survived after an acute episode (5-10 days) of bleeding hemorrhoids. I also did not eat the right diet as well as stressed from being at home with guests living with us during summer months. I was working a new job as a bank teller so I was pretty occupied with that and taking my parents to doctors and other offices. My bleeding hemorrhoids were accompanied with abdominal pain so it took a good 10 months later till they gave me an ab/pelvic CT scan and flex sigmoidoscopy (June 21st this year) without bowel prep then one colonoscopy (August 15th last week) with full bowel prep and anathesia. Both times the flex and full scopes the doctors diagnosed me with internal hemorrhoids.

Sorry for making this long, but last week (Monday August 10) I had a one-time episode of bleeding but it was minor drip/streak onto the last stool during bowel movement and on toilet wipes. I immediately worry as I was on a low residue or low fiber diet prior to prep and colonoscopy procedure. I used diaper rash cream and baby wipes 99% water, and even though I went 10 times the night before, there was no blood. After my procedure my bum was very sore. When I had the flex scope in June I made sure to use Miralax 3x dose per day for first 3-4 days. Now I forgot to do it and the first 2 days after my colonoscopy there was no blood; however I was straining and couldn’t pass enough stools or had very low stool volume days 4 and 5.

Today I had a lot of stools from 48 hours of constipation even though I had small urges and bloating. I worry if I made my “small internal hemorrhoids” worse by straining. There was a lot of blood with stools as I couldn’t look directly. I took pictures to see it later when I leave the toilet so I would keep going and passing till I feel empty; I did this because I am afraid of fecal impaction as well as I used to poop about 1-2 times per day with high fiber and on vegan diet.

I am seeking advices.

I have several questions.

1.) Should I go on a liquid or soft food diet till my hemorrhoids heal?

Eating makes me go a lot, I started my vegan diet again starting June 2019 (I was vegetarian and vegan off and on for the last 4 years), and when I started on high fiber again I used to go after each meal 2-3 times a day. Now it’s at least once a day and occasional twice a day. My fluid intake is close to 8 cups or more per day with countless trips to urinate.

2.) What are your suggestions to increase iron intake due to massive bleeding.

I would say my bowel movement I lost up to 4 tablespoons of blood.

3.) Should I seek medical help?

I felt dizzy and felt heated, thought I had a fever. The thermo said otherwise. I also suffer from health anxiety right now but taking Lexapro.

4.) How can I alleviate my hemorrhoids with sitz bath? Do you have a suggestion to put in sitz bath besides Epson Salt.

I am reluctant to try non-cream or oitment. I am taking Miralax 1-2 times or doses (17g x2 ) per day

5.) What are your suggestions for OTC creams or ointments and suppositories? Please no mineral oils, vaseline, jelly petroleum or petrolum, or other toxic compounds like parabens. (Prep H)

The WHO classified mineral oils in Prep H as carcinogen and other toxic compounds.

6.) Do you have other suggestions?, like other laxatives, or lubricant oils (castor oil) and NOT mineral oil..

7.) If you have any other advice please let me know.

Thanks,
-Kev

2

If you have personal stories with internal hemorrhoids, please share them or message me (if you dont want to post public).

How do you live with rhhoids long-term?

3

hi my advices

  1. Try to maintain your fiber at moderate at the same time you have to make sure your stool is soft. drink plenty of water.
    2)4 tablespoon of blood is too much you need to see a doctor.
    3)As no. 2 go see a doctor.
    4)sitz bath with epsom salt is the best 1 to 3 times daily 10 to 15 mins.
    5)For hemorrhoids i suggest proctosedyl.
    6)No laxatives. i suggest metamucil.
    7)My advice is go see a specialist and get the hemorrhoids remove. once and for all.
    I had mine grade 3 internal hemorrhoid removed last month. This surgery entirely change my life. I’m a normal person now. hemorrhoid free and pain free!! best wishes!
4

Hi thatslife,

Thank you for your suggestions! I probably go see my GI doc tomorrow or soon. I was using Benofiber (wheat dextren) but stopped before the colonoscopy. Is psyllium in Metamucil better?

How long did you suffer from your hemorrhoids before your procedure? Was it full surgery or rubber band surgical procedure? Was there a reason you chose one over the other? I heard about more pain involved healing after full surgery.

It’s bad right now but what if I am not ready for surgery; any other natural treatments?

When I didn’t used osmotive laxative like Miralax or PEG, I became constipation and my straining worsens the hemorrhoids. My episodes had been managed with this for last year and a half with cream and ointment. I am scared and my flare is from this.

Thanks for suggestions again!

5

Just have a hemorrhoidectomy then it’s all done .Bit of a mind bending recovery but to see what you are going through you need it sorting . will be the best thing you have done wish you all the best

6

No worries, personally i prefer metamucil. I drink one pkt every night after dinner.
I suffered from internal hemorrhoids for 11 years! worst pain was last year. it got thrombosed every day and i was in excruciating pain all day.
I had the traditional hemorrhoidectomy done last month. I probably got fortunate to had this procedure done by a very good surgeon. pain level was 1/10 only during bowel movement. Mostly discomfort and pressure during my post op for the first week. I went back to work on the 10th day. just tingling pain some times during post op . I’m on my 1 month 10 days today. I’m no longer in pain and have no issue with bowel movement. I would advice to go for it remove it than doing other non invasive treatment. Once and for all no worries anymore.

7

Deep Breath … You are okay

answers:

  1. dont change your diet cause of hemroids just eat smart, make sure you in take includes fiber.
    what grade are your hemroids?
    did you get placed on medication for them?
    Not sure where you live but in Canada you can buy a medication that’s called Vvenixxa worked good for awhile calmed them right down.
  2. massive bleed : dont make this call yourself get your blood work done allow them to test your levels ive always been a bleeder and lose loads of blood but never effected my iron intake.
    make sure you drink electrolytes and do a smart diet I think your nerves are getting the better of you. STOP googling… I use to doesnt help.
  3. if you fell faint yes and nauseated
    but take a few deep breaths in through your nose out through your mouth and tell yourself your okay before you make that decision.
  4. sitz baths hott hott water sit for 20 minutes make sure the water is merky cant just use a handful on epson wont work then.
    use hemroid creams / analsol/ use a cold compress try not to sit on your butt lay on your side