Hemorrhoid Misery!

mrs.cjlange

I'm almost 34 weeks and have been dealing with a really painful hemorrhoid situation for nearly a week. When DD was born, I developed a small hemorrhoid which cleared itself up pretty quickly and was hardly even noticeable. Since getting pregnant, I've had some on and off irritation from it, but nothing major and nothing that lasted more than a day. However, last Tuesday I woke up with some serious discomfort that only got worse as the day progressed. I took it upon myself to investigate with a mirror (I felt something external) and noticed a purple bump about the size of a raisin. I met with the doctor on Thursday who said it was likely a thrombosed external hemorrhoid and gave me some at-home remedies and tactics to employ. Its been nearly a week and this thing has only gotten bigger!! It hasn't gotten more painful, but it has also started to bleed occasionally. I am terrified of giving birth with this thing and of what the strain of pushing will do to what already feels like a massive lump. The doctor says they typically go away after birth once the pressure of the baby is gone and general stress on the area is alleviated. Is there anyone else out there dealing with this?? What have you done?? I cannot imagine 6 more weeks of this discomfort. Ugh!!

spacepotatoes

Ditto the Tucks pads. They are just cloth pads that are soaked in witch hazel and you put them in your underwear (on a pad or liner) to help soothe the area. They're really helpful!

bridetobeJessF

I was dealing with exactly what you are going through. I started drinking Miralax everyday and taking stool softeners. In addition I used Prep H. I've been doing this for about 2 weeks and have seen a big improvement. The external hemorrhoid is much smaller and doesn't hurt nearly as bad. I think a combination of the ointment and pressure relief from the medicine helped. Good luck, I know it's no fun!

spartybride3

I got an external thrombosed in the middle of my honeymoon that was the size of a large grape (romance ended there). It was incredibly painful to do anything. I took warm sitz baths several times a day followed by an ice pack (wet washcloth w/ice) on the area. When I got back to the states my dr gave me a prescription cream that helped. It took a month to go away, but once I got the cream and increased the sitz baths it really helped. I'm sorry...I feel your pain (literally) and I know it sucks.

dogsombrero

I've had them internally then externally starting at 15 weeks. Around 26 week I had one get to walnut size (sexy!) and it was incredibly painful. I found that a combo of a warm sitz bath followed by ice, prep h suppositories and prep h cream helped. Unfortunately it seems that the shrink when they darn well feel like it. Tylenol may help with the pain (it did for me).

darkangel42

I never had them during my last pregnancy but did have issues after and then briefly early on in this pregnancy.

The first was sorted within the week with suppositories from a UK pharmacy (Boots own brand - teal box) that you can't get here - they were a combination of meds to shrink the 'roid and a numbing agent so it tingled rather than hurting.  

I got something similar this time around OTC from a US pharmacy which wasn't as good as the UK stuff but did sort out the problem, again in about a week.

I've never had issues with them externally but my Step-dad used to and got PrepH of some kind- he swore by keeping the cream in the fridge (I wish I was kidding) because the cold helped.

mrs.cjlange

Thanks, ladies!! It is very reassuring to know I am not alone (misery loves company). I've never had an external hemorrhoid before (and certainly not one that is sizable like this one), so I was starting to freak out a little! Hopefully this little monster clears itself up soon.

bewilderingstar

Can I jump in on this thread?

I've had an external one that rears it's ugly head every once in a while on and off for about 6yrs now. It's always been there but is never really been a problem... Think this little bastard is going to get worse once I give birth? Can they surgically remove it? 

I've had my yearly paps/exams and they've never said anything about it so I'm guessing it's just going to stay there.... I just hope it doesn't become an issue once Little Dude is born.

awc1986

1) Witch hazel several times a day.

2) Don't push when you poop

3) Keep it clean. Wash the area with warm water whenever you go to the bathroom. 

I had a really bad one around 28 weeks that bled daily. I couldn't even turn over in bed without it hurting, but i kept doing those things above and it eventually retreated. Good luck!

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Hadynimogen

yip ive got an external one that i have been putting cream on for what feels like forever now. it has shrunk and is less painful but i seriously worried about it not clearing up before i go in to labour.

vszapp

I just popped three the size of large blueberries last weekend. It was awful!!! I have been doing the baths, pads, and prep h and they seem to be shrinking - thank goodness, since I honestly couldn't sit or anything... It is reassuring that we're not alone. I was feeling really bummed about it but I guess it's super common.

cumolly02

They are terrible!! I remember standing in my bedroom after my third baby was born crying about the pain it caused. It was worse than labor for me. I'm a week away from having our fourth and the lovely thing returned about a month ago. I use hemorrhoid wipes after going to the bathroom instead of toilet paper, and got a prescription steroid cream that I use about 3 times a day. Its still there but doesn't cause nearly the discomfort it did, and is definitely smaller. Try eating a high fiber cereal at breakfast, and taking stool softeners daily. Drink tons of water, and try the tucks pads/hemorrhoid wipes. And you can use cortisone cream on the area, or ask for a prescription cream. they are definitely a very unpleasant part of pregnancy!