Addiction to Hemorrhoid pads???

[risen_joy]

Hi mamas...sorry if this is TMI!!

I've had 2 wretched bouts of hem's this pregnancy and not even severe enough to warrant surgery or anything - just annoying as all get out!: I've been using some H pads that the only active ingred is witch hazel...the inactives are alcohol, aloe vera gel, citric acid, and some I can't even pronounce.

So - it's been maybe a week and a half (?) in which I HAVE to use a pad at least 3-4 times a day to take the itching away...are these things addictive? Will I EVER not need them??? : I haven't been constipated for about a week now and been really careful not to push hard during bm's - ARG!!!!

Any thoughts???

[lunabelly]

I think itching usually is a sign that things are healing-- miserable as it is. I've never heard of the pads being addictive. Hang in there!

[Yo Becca]

Try using the pads as a mini-compress after a BM - use one to clean it all up, then fold one in half and use it as a compress (it'll say in place...). Leave it one for at least 15 minutes. THat may reduce the need to continue to use them all day. I have the same situation - mine was really bothering me a few weeks ago. Up until then, I just used a withc hazel pad for post-poop cleanup. But when it got irritated, the compress actually shrank it down to nearly nothing in about a week. But now it's irritated again, and if I don't do the compress once a day, it's uncomfortable all day. I do the compress thing when i put DD down for her nap - then I either lay down too or at least am not too active. Delightful!

[risen_joy]

THANK YOU!!! I'm going to go do that right now - this is MISERABLE!!!!!!!!! : : Definitely something I would LOVE to vote out of the "what you win for being pregger" list!! :