Today I want to talk about the one thing that effects hemorrhoid sufferers as much as blood and pain – and that is embarrassment. The unhappy fact is that many people with serious hemorrhoid symptoms resist medical help at all costs. In a society where we talk about almost everything including sex and death – and do so in uninhibited detail – this seems very strange. What can account for it? It is also odd that women are even worse in this respect than men as fewer present to the physician with symptoms though there is no difference in the proportion of each sex suffering from the condition. Remember the man or women who examines you also has an anus and a 50% chance of a hemorrhoidal abnormality…
I accept that however strongly I point out how irrational this is and that medical advice is vital, an overwhelming number of people will wish to self-treat, at least when the symptoms are not too serious. Now the positive thing about this is piles come and go and for most people it will be no more debilitating than an intensely painful itch and some blood… it is also true that the home treatment of hemorrhoids bought off-the-shelf will often contain similar ingredients than those available on prescription, though in some cases the prescription drug may be stronger. The creams and ointments work well to bring relief, so why not use them?
There will come a time for some people when something beyond home treatment of hemorrhoids will be necessary. If you are in this position I urge you not to hesitate a moment. Take action and do not consider delay. Think positively of a time a few months in the future when you are completely free of symptoms and how much better you will feel. Modern hemorrhoid surgery is far more effective and less unpleasant than in the past and can include laser treatment as well as improved methods of ligation. Also remember that sometimes anal fissures and bleeding hemorrhoids disguise a more serious condition like cancer, and confirmation that this is not the case can be a great relief.
What are the things you have under your direct control at this moment though? First use a hemorrhoidal cream or ointment as soon as the symptoms first appear. If you are overweight then use the condition as a strong incentive to lose weight. Improve your diet to include fruit, vegetables, oats and bran. Try to improve the quality of your stool so it is not so hard as to produce constipation while not so soft as to cause diarrhea. These things really matter. Take appropriate action as soon as you can.
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