Hemorrhoids

[WifeofAnt]

Well I hope that title caught someone's eye because I need help.

I had them for several years before I got pregnant but its getting more painful (and bloodier...) as time goes on.

Well maybe that sounds misleading. Its a sharp pain whenever I have a bowel movement and for about 10 minutes afterward and the amount of blood is like a deep-ish paper cut (wipe 2-3 times and its gone).

What can I do?! I'm not constipated, I rarely have digestive issues at all besides a bit of nausea so I don't even know why I have this *issue*. I don't even really have to push that hard when I go, the hardest part is just getting through that cutting-my-bum-open feeling.

I'm totally embarrassing myself but I need help! Is this just some wicked twisted way to prepare me for the 'ring of fire' or is there something pregnancy-safe I can do about it?

[lunarlady]

I'm suffering too! My doc reccomended not wiping at all, and instead using a sitz bath after every bowel movement. I just ordered one, so I have no idea if that will help or not. He said that the wiping really irritates them and makes them way worse. He also reccomended witchazel, which I will try soon too. I've found that laying down with my legs up and doing several rounds of kegals (while laying down) seems to make them a bit better when they get really bad.

[BlackSheepPDX]

A couple of suggestions....
1. I had them (never blood, just protrusions) in my first pregnancy, and they started coming back with this one. The pelvic floor muscle release work my wonderful chiro has been doing to treat my urinary incontinence issues has also helped relieve the hemorrhoids. Those muscles can really bind things up and create pressures/restrictions where they shouldn't exist. So suggestion one is pelvic floor treatment.

2. We have a Toto washlet toilet that we put in while building our dream bathroom in the house we moved into right before I got pregnant. OMFG, I don't know how I would have survived without one. It washes you clean, so basically all the wiping you do is to dry yourself. Less expensive alternatives are a peri bottle to rinse clean, or what we do with our DD, a squirt of cetaphil cleanser on some TP to wipe things clean. I DREAD pooping anywhere other than home, because having to wipe with dry TP seems BARBARIC now.

3. I second witch hazel copmresses. I soak some cotton or folded up TP in witch hazel and then press it up against the offended area, and some times just leave it there and go on with my business for a while. Haven't needed to to that this pregnancy (yet? I'm 34 weeks) with the pelvic floor health improvement.

4. Try not to push or strain at all if possible, and just let it happen. Consider a stool softener if things are pretty hard, which they might be, even if you're not "constipated."

[gardenmama76]

I didn't bleed with mine, but it was quite itchy, huge and VERY uncomfortable. The only thing that helped me is the Earth Mama Bottom Balm by Earth Mama Angel Baby. This stuff is a dream! I wouldn't be surprised if it helped to heal yours a bit too so it stopped bleeding. It is so cooling and comforting and it stays on for a long time so you can still feel it long after you apply it. A little goes a long way and it is worth the price. I HIGHLY recommend it! You can buy it online at a number of places. Just google it.... good luck!

[lillymonster]

I used witch hazel, then had to go to prescription meds. I had one burst, yup, they can burst and not be all that painful and you can lose a lot of blood. I had to go to the ER. If they are bad, you may need to see a doctor.

[SteelerMom]

I had a really bad case of diarrhea ?(norovirus) a couple of months ago and I believe I developed or exacerbated hemorrhoids that I didn't know I had from the every 10 minute bathroom visits I was experiencing. The burning was awful. Luckily I founds my old peri bottle and used that then dabbed with baby wipes (which was stil awful) but it got me through. I also put some vaseline on there though I have no idea if that is recommended or contraindicated. Thank goodness that problem disappeared in a day or two.

[miso_soup]

I had this problem during the first trimester, which was surprising (I had always heard they were more common towards the end). Ouch!

Are you taking any pre-natal vitamins? At the time, I was taking some prescribed to me by my OB, and in doing some research, I realized that they were VERY heavy on the iron content (around 30mg). Although 30mg is the current CDC recommendation for pregnant women, I did a little research and discovered that excess iron can cause constipation, which in turn can exacerbate hemorrhoids. So I switched to a generic, over-the-counter pre-natal with 18mg of iron instead, and the constipation soon went away... as did the hemorrhoids! I did also use Colace for a week or so, which helped. I haven't had any problems since.

[Mrs-Mama]

I get bad hemorrhoids during pregnancy Last time, my OBs prescribed a steroid foam to help shrink them. It helped marginally...it's worth a try, though.

[laerhk]

This will help!!!

Originally Posted by WifeofAnt

Its a sharp pain whenever I have a bowel movement and for about 10 minutes afterward and the amount of blood is like a deep-ish paper cut (wipe 2-3 times and its gone).

What can I do?! I'm not constipated, I rarely have digestive issues at all besides a bit of nausea so I don't even know why I have this *issue*. I don't even really have to push that hard when I go, the hardest part is just getting through that cutting-my-bum-open feeling.

I have had the EXACT same issue (on and off) for the past 6 years since my first was born.

Go to luckyvitamins.com and order Avenoc suppositories made by Boiron and Hemorrhoid Relief creme by -Heel BHI. (If you order $100 in product, you get free shipping, so I buy ALL our homeopathic stuff there about twice a year.)

After you poo, use a suppository. Everytime you go to the bathroom, use the cream. Gross factor: you have to put some of the cream around and IN your anus, almost like a lubricant. It's worth the gross factor, though, as the cream is instant relief within 5 minutes. I use the cream as a lubricant for the suppositories, too, which helps using those without pain. The suppository is what really "solves" the problem.

I swear your bum will feel better in 24 hours, and your poos won't hurt/bleed within 48. How long it lasts will depend on many factors that you will have to discover and may/may not be controllable (like hormones). For me, this works for 2-3 months at a time, which I can deal with much better than the idea of possible surgery or other embarrassing procedures involving sitting on a donut, lol.

The good news is this combo works quickly and effectively. It won't completely solve the problem, but it will reduce the hemorrhoids to the point where you only have occasional flare-ups, rather than constant pain, and you won't be afraid to go to the bathroom (which just increases the pain. It's kind of like a bandaid...rip it off slower, and it hurts more. Same for pooping with hemorrhoids!)

Oh, I also always wipe with wet toilet tissue (our toilet is within reach of the sink) or wet wipes in public restrooms when I poo. This helps prevent the return of hemorrhoids for me.