Conditions
Haemorrhoids
“The grapes of wrath” is both a classic John Steinbeck novel and a name for haemorrhoids, which can be an uncomfortable and often painful condition. Otherwise known as piles, this is when blood vessels in and around the anus become swollen and inflamed, which is both an inconvenient and embarrassing location on the body to be affected. It is, however, a very common condition. Around 50% of people experience the condition at some time in their life, with pregnant women and the elderly most susceptible. Treatment will depend on the severity of the piles, but the symptoms may often disappear on their own after a few days.
Comments
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments are reviewed before they are published.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
Hi
I think I have suffered from piles for a couple of years. I have went to the doctors once and he told me to use cream that you can buy from supermarkets. This did help when I went to the toilet but when it runs out, the ples come back. I just want rid of these things full stop. Also, even when I use the cream the pain may go away but I still notice blood on the toilet paper. Is that normal with piles? Also, I have never been constipated which seems to be a thing with piles. My bum does get itchy if I dont use cream, I have been using it for months but they dont go away. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Hi, i don't know if this is piles, but when i have a poo and i wipe my bum i find a bit of blood on the tissue, as if my bum is cut. When i poo it is sometimes painful, it feels like my skins ripping to allow it to pass out if me. Should i be worried ?
Hi. I think I have internal piles. I have been itching so badly for about 6 months now that I have deep cuts around my anus and now the itching has spread to my labia and vagina. I don't have thrush and have been happily married for 22 years so it isn't an STD. I have tried everything and also take Movicol to help with hard stools. PLEASE can someone help with a cream to stop the itching as it drives me crazy and is ruining my quality of life. I have tried Scheriproct, Preparation H, Fucidin, Oilatum, Vaseline and have salt baths every night. I have also been diagnosed with a grade 1 cystocele and rectocele which I am under investigation for. Are they connected?
Hi, I have what appears to be a tail! It's like a flap of skin that has got longer over years. There is no discomfort from it but I find it annoying and sometimes unhygienic. Have you heard of this before and is there any way of getting rid of it? Thanks.
Hi all, I just wanted to share my experience with piles & if it even helps one person, I'll be happy. I've suffered with piles for many years but the most recent episode was really bad. I went to the doctor & he gave me the scheriproct ointment & suppositories as usual but they did not work. I was using them for over 2 weeks, the pain was so bad that if I went to the bathroom I wud feel like passing out and wud have to get into a bath straight away. I even resorted to going around all day with an ice pack. The burning & itching was so bad, my bum felt like it was red raw. Went back to doctor, prescribed more of the same ointment!! I searched online for anything to help & on another forum a lot of people recommended witch hazel lotion. So I decided to try it, got it in my local health shop, came home, put it on straight away, it burned at first, kinda like when you put deep heat on, but I cudnt believe it, within 5 mins the pain had eased. It was still very painful to go to the bathroom that day but I kept on putting it on and within 2 days I cud really see an improvement. The burning was pretty much gone, the itching stopped & I had my first nights sleep in over 2 weeks. Now if I feel them starting to hurt a bit I put a bit on & they have never got as bad since. However I do know that if I allow myself to get badly constipated they'll be back. If you get them under control dont allow yourself to get constipated, dont strain on the loo and dont stay on the loo too long. Also dont use dry toilet paper, buy the moist toilet wipes cos the dry toilet paper will only irritate them. I hope this helps someone.
hi i am a 19 year old girl and i am very embaressed to say i think i have piles,i have 2 small lumps inside my butt and at first i was very worried but after looking on here i think it must be piles,they do not hurt nor bleed but are constantly on my mind and a while ago i found uncomfortable to sit,they have been there for some time,is this bad? please can someone reply saying what the doctors would do if i visited them as i am too scared to.thank you x
hi, im 17 and i think i have piles. they don't hurt now but i have trouble i try to go to the loo. They are'nt really big or anything just everytime i go to the toilet they appear. How can i get rid of this without surgery?
Hi, i don't know if this is piles, but when i have a poo and i wipe my bum i find blood on the tissue, as if my bum is cut. When i poo it is quite painful, it feels like my skins ripping to allow it to pass out if me. Should i be worried? please hlep, thanks x
hi i think iv got piles they dont hurt but do bleed as i bend down to get the toilet roll i noticed that there was a spert of blood up the wall behind me,this happens at least every couple of months for about five years now!am i in any DANGER ??
Hi my name is Blue is there any way i can get rid of my piles or what is the best cream i can use every time i go to the tolet when i use the tissue to wipe there is blood and before i go i am very itchy i went to doctor and he gave me cream and its still the same
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here
The EB doctors have been looking at your comments and have answered some of the common questions below. Remember that it is always best to check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.