Is it a hemhorroid?

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Normally when I have very watery d, my bumhole will get really swollen and inflamed and painful. I never really thought much of it, just put some calmoseptine on it and it would usually go back to normal in a few hours or a day at most. But yesterday, I just had a little bit of d (not watery either), and now my bumhole is like that again, but it's more painful than it's been in the past and it's been over 24 hours and it hasn't improved or gotten less swollen/painful. The calmoseptine is helping, but I can still feel that it's painful and inflamed even with the calmo.

I had my hubby look at it, and he said he thinks it's a hemhorroid. (He's not a doctor or anything, but he has had hemhorroids before, for whatever that's worth.) So if it is a hemhorroid, what do you guys think? Keep putting calmo on it, or should I get some preparation H (or is there a better hemmie med than that)? I work an office job so I'm sitting at a desk all day and I was kind of miserable sitting on this all day yesterday (part of the problem was that I forgot my calmo at home and didn't have any with me at work). If it keeps getting worse should I see my doctor? Any other hemmie advice you can give me?

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Nobody's responded, but I see people have read this thread, so here's an update on me and some more questions. I've been sitting at my desk all morning and ow! My backside is in pain! I got some prep H and that so far seems to be doing even less than the calmo did. Still in pain! So I ordered one of those donut cushion thingies from amazon, hopefully that will help somewhat because my job requires me to sit on my butt for 40 hours a week.

For those who have had hemmorhoids, did you find preparation H worked for you? If not, what did you use? How long do hemmies usually last?

 

[Astra]

Hiya Cat

glad you posted this cos I was gonna do one too! I have a bit of D, but nowt more than normal.
I'm in agony! and... I haven't got any calmo cos we don't have it here! Penny is mailing me some!
I've been like this since Sunday and my gastro had a look and feel on Monday, but says there's nowt there!
It aches like billio, but feels like it's up the other bit too? and higher up rectum too?
I've been putting Germoloids on which is a hemmie cream like Prep H, but it's not easing it. The only relief I'm getting is in a hot bath!
Sorry, I feel your pain, but don't know the answer!
xxxx

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Joan, sorry to hear you're going through the same thing! Mine doesn't feel like it's up higher too, I think I just have the one external hemmie right now. I wish I could take a hot bath, but it's almost 100 degrees outside here (I had to look it up online but that would be about 38 degrees celsius) and my house doesn't have air conditioning, so I would sweat to death if I took a hot bath. Do you put anything in your bath? I was thinking about buying some supplies to do a sitz bath, but wanted to read more about it before doing that.

That's awful that you don't have calmo there! Good thing Pen can send you some, what a sweetie. I hope it arrives to you soon, it gave me a little more relief than the prep H did. But like you said, nothing's really helping that much. I hope we both feel better soon, and let me know if you do find something that really helps!

 

[Crohns08]

I have hemmies, and they aren't fun! They usually only bother me when I've been having Diarrhea or I've been going a lot, feels like a burning sensation! I usually use softer TP and these charmin wipes! They're a Godsend I tell you! And you can get a nice little box to put them in too and all you have to do is press a button Instant relief I tell you!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Toni: I accidentally purchased too-rough toilet paper this time around, which isn't helping things any. I need to get to the store and buy some softer stuff! But I do have the moist wipes as well, and those have been wonderful. I don't have the fancy little box to put them in, though. I might have to look for one of those when I go to buy softer TP.

Joan: I've given up on prep H for now and am trying the vitamin E treatment for my hemmie. I'm still in some pain but it does seem to be working a bit better than prep H. If you're not familiar with it, here's a link:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2289221_treat-hemorrhoids-home.html

 

[MapleLeafGirl]

A soak in a warm bath with some baking soda helps. Definitely soft toilet paper and wipes as you mentioned. I have also heard witch hazel helps though I haven't tried it myself.

 

[ameslouise]

Can you find a cleansing bottle at your drugstore? I got one at the hosp when I had my son and I still use it when I am not at home and away from my bidet! It helps a lot for cleaning, then you just have to pat dry, instead of having to wipe. Makes things way easier on the bum.

Good luck! - Amy

 

[Debccmhc]

Maybe your doctor will prescribe some steroid cream? Never had any luck with prep H, but love the calmo! I try never to use dry TP, either wet wipes (without alcohol in them!) or a cleanser/lotion called Balneol which is very soothing too. Oh, somethimes aloe jelly is good too.

 

[roundtuit]

OUCH Cat!!!
I have had 3 perirectal abcesses that were all drained surgically in a hospital. I thought the first one was a "roid" but I had never had one before. It had been bleeding a bit so I went to the Dr. and he thought it was a thrombosed roid. When he lanced it he was a little surprised by the lovely abcess yuk.
The only think that ever helped me, before and after the surgeries were lots of baths, wiping as little as possible, and drugs. I also jumped into the shower after every poo, and used a peri bottle to rinse after every pee instead of wiping and wiping and wiping an already sore bottom with what feels like steel wool. ( the bottles are portable too!)
I discovered that lots of 15 minute not-too-hot baths were better than one or two hot ones. Hot water dries things out, which can make for a crack from dry skin, as can harsh soaps. Can you get A&D ointment?
If you suspect a abcess watch your temperature. I was very very sick by the time I went into the surgery for the first time and was told by the surgeon I waited far too long before seeking medical attention.
Gosh...feel better soon.
Joni O

 

[Daisy G]

Hi Cat
Just a note about the 'donut cushion' I've used it previously in fact ongoing prior to been diagnosed with CD due to perianal disease. Anyway, when a nurse seen me with the cushion she said that they don't advise patients to use it because it places to much pressure on the backs of your thighs which is not a good thing. Anyway, so as a temporary measure probably okay but not long term like at work. I found when I used it at work by the end of the day my thighs were kinda sore.
Good luck to you!!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

So yesterday I started trying the vitamin E thing (see the link in my earlier post above). It really seems to be helping! My hemmie hasn't gotten any smaller, but it hurts a lot less than it did yesterday. But somehow I've become constipated and am still having some pain down there, so I'll still try the suggestions everyone has posted.

Kelly: Apparently at some point awhile ago I bought witch hazel, so I'm going to try a soak in a warm bath this evening with a little witch hazel in it. (It's really hot here, and I don't have air conditioning, so it might be a very short warm bath, but I will give it a try). I looked up sitz bath and the one I found had witch hazel and sea salt as ingredients, so I think I will try some sea salt in my bath also.

Amy: I didn't think to look for a cleansing bottle, I will go to the pharmacy on my lunch hour and see if I can find one. And I am jealous that you have a bidet! That's definitely on my wish list when we finally get around to remodelling our bathroom.

Deb: I don't want to go to the doctor right now unless this gets worse, and it seems to be slowly getting better. I've got an endoscopy on Monday and a follow-up appointment with my GI 10 days later, so I will ask him about hemorrhoids and my prescription options at that appointment.

Joni: Yikes, I hope it's not an abcess! That sounds awful. I don't have a temperature, but I'll make sure to keep a close eye on it and if I do start to feel feverish or worse I'll definitely call the doctor. What's A&D ointment, is that prescription or over-the-counter?

Daisy: Thanks for the info, I was planning on sitting on the donut cushion at work. Now I will have to re-think that plan! Although by the time it actually arrives from amazon (I chose the free shipping, which usually takes at least a week), my hemmie will probably be either healed or a lot better. But even if I can't use it for this hemmie, I thought it would be good to have for the next time this happens. Oh well, if it doesn't work out that's okay, it wasn't very expensive and I could still use it for short-term sitting.

 

[roundtuit]

LOL...
A&D... is an OTC diaper rash medicine/preventative and has been in my medicine cabinet for years. It has the texture of vaseline, and is very soothing for sore bottoms(or lips or whatever else you imagine it might help) expecially at bedtime. If I am having a particularly active potty-day I use this to help with the soreness. Here is their ad...

A+D® Original Ointment

For generations, moms have trusted A+D to treat their babies' diaper rash. Research shows that moms who use a diaper rash product like A+D at every diaper change reported that their babies were 5 times less likely to ever experience a diaper rash than babies whose moms who did not.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks, I've never heard of that (I don't have kids so I've never had the need to purchase diaper rash ointment). Have you ever tried Calmoseptine? If so, do you like A&D better than calmo? Calmo works really well at cooling & soothing my backside, but it doesn't seem to be actually healing the hemmie, which is why I'm trying the vitamin E thing now.

 

[ameslouise]

Cat - USA Bidet. http://www.usabidet.com/

It's a bidet attachment for your toilet. Less than $200 and worth every penny. A must have for every Crohnie or hemi sufferer!

 

[roundtuit]

I have never tried Calmo...I am putting it on my " have to try" list though.
Kinda interested in ameslouise's bidet too! Gee...I wonder if it is tax deductable as a medical supply? Hmmm...

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks Amy, I will definitely look into that bidet! I really want to remodel the bathroom soon, but since we only have the one bathroom, we need to put one in our basement first so we'll have a functional bathroom to use while we tear apart the existing bathroom. So it'll be a little while, which in a way is good, because I've been working on a wish list for what I would love to have in my bathroom. Bidet, heated toilet seat, jacuzzi tub, small flat-screen TV on a swivel mount so that I can see it from the toilet or the tub. Oh yeah, it's going to be awesome, assuming I can afford all that.

Joni, you should definitely try Calmo! There's a reason that there's this icon amongst the smileys.
:calmo:
Some drugstores sell it (they usually keep it behind the counter, but it's not prescription). Or you can buy it online, I bought some on amazon. It's wonderful - I've been having some bad d this morning, and my bottom would be in pain if it weren't for the calmo.

 

[debs1983]

I had hemmeroids after my second daughter (before crohns) and it was soooo painful to go toilet, I felt like I was going to split
of course the midwifes advice was lots of fibre so I ate loaves of brown bread and plenty of orange juice, it worked
of course I know it's not something to be done now
Just mainly wanted to say I know how painful they can be

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

So it's been over a week now that I've had this hemorrhoid. It doesn't hurt as much but it's still the same size. Anybody have any idea how long these things normally last? In the past they've only lasted a day or maybe two at the very most and they weren't this big. I don't have any other symptoms like fever or anything else so I don't think it's infected. It's just annoying!