Hey all :) 36 year-old male here. So let me briefly explain what has been happening. In February of 2018, I was very ill and my doctor put me on a several rounds of antibiotics along with high daily doses of IBprofen. During this time, I experienced the worst constipation of my life. I was having bowel movements nearly every day but the stool itself was extremely large and difficult to pass. The amount of straining was monumental and the result was a terrible, ripping pain, bright red bleeding on the toilet paper, sides of the stool, and in the toilet bowl. This lasted for weeks before there was improvement. Since that time, I continue to have problems on and off. Weeks will go by with no pain or bleeding and I believe I have finally put it behind me but then a large or "dry" stool will immediately re-injure the problem area and I will again see blood on the toilet paper, sides of stool, and in the toilet bowl. I talked to my doctor last month during a routine physical about this apparently chronic and reoccurring issue and he has suggested fiber supplements, increased water intake, stool softeners, topical cream, etc. I had tried many of these things already over the last year. So I have been drinking 2+ liters of water a day and taking fiber supplements as well as eating daily helpings of whole grains, black beans, avacados and other food sources of soluble fiber. Over the last few weeks, however, the problem has only seemed to worsen. And then tonight happened. The bowel movement was again particularly large and difficult to pass and very painful. So I looked down there and this is what I saw. I have never seen this before. Are these external hemmorroids? Right after the bowel movement it was extremely inflamed and looked engorged. An hour later, the "lumps" seems less inflamed. Are these "thrombosed?" They were certainly bleeding. I could literally see bright red blood coming from them in very small amounts. My apologies for the graphic nature of the pictures. I thank you all for your patience and assistance. !
