Hemorrhoids- Its really bad!

[kerrybennysmama]

I am mostly a lurker here this pregnancy but really need some help!  I am pregnant with my third child almost 36 weeks pregnant.  I have had hemrrhoids with my other two pregnancies but not this.  I have had a few episodes of of stomach upsets over the past few days and have been using that bathroom about 4 times a day.  It has gotten so painful that at this point I am having trouble walking.  i have been using baths, creams (even prescription), ice and astringent pads.  I think I maybe have taken about 10 baths in the last two days.  I am screaming in pain and trying not to eat so that I dont have to go to the bathroom.  If I could avoid the bathroom for a day or so I think it might get better.  Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel like I cant even leave my house for fear if I have an episode in public I wont be able to function.  Not to mention its not the kind of thing you want to share with your supervisior as to why you need some time off of work.  It feels like I am being ripped in half!

[lillymonster]

Sadly I feel I am an expert because I have gotten roids from both pregnancies due to constipation from medication - I started taking b-6 pills after reading a few places that it might be lack of b-6, I started with 100 mg once a day and now I take 50 mg, that resolves them in about 3 days. I haven't had any at all since about 32 weeks. Also b-6 is supposed to help with anal fissures too.

And you may want to research, but vit c I think helps with healing and zinc, but I stopped the zinc because it gave me stomach upset.

[EllisH]

Zinc cream is always calming and safe to use.

[Breathless Wonder]

Hamamelis Virginiana 9C is recommend for hemorrhoids...

[myk]

SORRY THIS RESPONSE MAY BE WAYYY TMI!

i have the hemorrhoid from hell after a couple bouts with Clostridium difficile infection! if you are still having diarrhea that's going to stop you from effectively treating the hemmy.. not eating can make it worse. you could try the BRAT diet - bananas, rice, applesauce, toast - which helps a whole lot of people. they're all easy to digest and tend to make stool more comfortable to pass.

personally, what i find most helpful is oatmeal. it's high fibre, so it has the opposite effect on some people, but it's primarily soluble fibre. it basically soaks up extra water so instead of explosive liquid, you get a soft, semi-formed stool. and with it comes less cramping, fewer trips to the loo, and basically you get a little bit of a break so that your hemorrhoid isn't being irritated by the acidic liquid stool all the time.

i find Penaten cream (zinc with some other stuff) helpful. it'll coat the skin so that the acidic liquid doesn't irritate as much. regular zinc creams don't work quite as well, either because there's less zinc or maybe it's the other ingredients that make a difference. who knows? i alternate between using penaten and my prescription hemmy ointment, OR i use a combination of penaten externally and a suppository internally.

i hope you feel better soon.

[QuestionGal]

this may be too simplistic but what worked for me:

use newborn sensitive baby wipes instead of toilet paper (carry a pack around in your purse)

the 'roid cream with the attachment that actually goes up inside your heiny to get the cream in the right place

bland food (BRAT diet & oatmeal) NOTHING spicy or greasy 

would soaking in an epsom salt bath help? 

Sit on a pillow or one of those epi pillows.

and most importantly... call your midwife/care provider and tell them what's going on!! Don't minimize. If you're at the point of screaming in pain and avoiding food it's a big problem. 

[HappyMommy2]

I am due in jan too, and those hemi's are horrible!  I am terrified about pushing a baby out if the 'roids are already causing me such pain!! I am envisioning my midwife holding an ice cube on my bum while I push out the baby... yikes!!!

I have found that if I eat Fiber One Oatmeal bread as toast each morning, it makes a huge difference for me.  On the worst days, I have Cryostat, which is like an ice cube you place between your cheeks while you lay down for 20 minutes.  Also - Tronolane cream works better than the prep-H creams for me.  I use the witch-hazel wipes too as necessary (tucks).

I also jump in the shower for a good strong rinse after each poop.  I used to think bidet's were for after sex. Now I think they are made for 'roid sufferers!!  My mw recommends using the peri bottle for a rinse after every potty ... but it doesn't clean like a hand held shower.

I also don't "push" anymore.  I wait until the poo wants to come out on its own really badly, and only then do I head to the potty.  I laugh when I think of a comment by Ina May .... "don't strain when you s#it!".

Good luck mama. 

Wow - this is really TMI .... grossing myself out now!!!!

[kerrybennysmama]

thank you so much ladies! I think I am going to take a good look at what I am eating as well as trying the remedies you mentioned.  I am hoping if I can get my pooping under control it can heal and then i will try to eat stomach friendly foods in attempts of avoiding this problem again.  I hope we all get some relief soon :)

[Treeof3]

More TMI, but desperate times call for desperate measures... :)  You can, ahem, put them back. Its uncomfortable at first, but pushing them back in (sometimes a little lube helps - esp if you lube with roid cream) will get them where they're supposed to be and eliminate the pressure and pain. The main part of the pain is being squeezed by your anus so by putting them back behind it, it will alleviate that squeeze and give them time to go back down before you have to visit the bathroom again. You may need to put them back each time you go, but eventually they'll lessen and it will be less painful.

[spargel]

The things that work for me are acidophilis pills - to get the gut bacteria back in line and using only wipes - never toilet paper.

[dynamicdoula]

I've heard shredded raw potato compresses are tremendously helpful as well. I think you basically have to shred the potato before you go into the bathroom, it's not the type of thing where you can just shred a bunch and keep it in the fridge. Altho, I'd suggest maybe keeping the potato in teh fridge so it's nice and cool on your sore bum. It's not exactly convenient but I've heard really good things about it. You can also make a raw 'french fry' and insert it if you need to to help push them back in and apply the potato internally if you have those type of hemmies.

I hope that helps!

[lillymonster]

Also don't sit on anything hard! As I am sitting here on a barely cushioned computer chair thinking it might aggravate me a little bit. I use a birthing ball as much as I can as a chair.

[myk]

Originally Posted by Treeof3 

More TMI, but desperate times call for desperate measures... :)  You can, ahem, put them back. Its uncomfortable at first, but pushing them back in (sometimes a little lube helps - esp if you lube with roid cream) will get them where they're supposed to be and eliminate the pressure and pain. The main part of the pain is being squeezed by your anus so by putting them back behind it, it will alleviate that squeeze and give them time to go back down before you have to visit the bathroom again. You may need to put them back each time you go, but eventually they'll lessen and it will be less painful.

yes, that definitely helps. it works that way for internal hemorrhoids that have prolapsed (come out beyond the anal sphincter). if you have an external hemorrhoid (one that didn't start out on the inside to begin with), it can't be pushed in. with a combination hemorrhoid (one that is partly internal, partly external to begin with) you won't have as much luck - but those are less common. i recommend getting some Anusol ointment, using it to lubricate the hemorrhoid, and make it easier to slip in. if it's a grade 3 prolapsed hemorrhoid you should be fine. grade 4 hemorrhoids cannot be pushed back in manually - but they're less common.