Advice for an Older Male

[Erskine0141]

I have had problems with my bum for longer than I care to remember. I am now in my early 60s and first had significant issues when I was mid-30s. I used to climb hills and mountains but had to give this up after around 12 years as that activity was causing me problems with haemorrhoids. I have had them banded twice. First time around 22 years ago. Second time a few years after that.

It was following that that my outings to the mountains had to cease. That second banding caused more problems than it cured. The things increased in size and seemed to multiple. It took many, many months to settle.

I have been vegetarian for around 30 years. Partly because of this problem. I have no problems with my bowels. In fact until very recently, twice a day was regular. But I have tried to reduce this to once. It seems ok like that, although the accumulation of gas is uncomfortable. I drink loads of water.

I initially lost a load of weight in trying to control these things. Mostly because of the high fibre diet and simply avoiding eating in an effort to control digestion.

Now, I have been cycling for years. It replaced the hill climbing. But things are once more pretty unbearable. However, the discomfort and pain is no longer going away after a few days or weeks. It is permanently there. They are not constantly prolapsed, but do make an appearance when going to the toilet. And seem quite large.

Exercise is becoming difficult as are most other 'energetic' activities. I am struggling to work in my garden or on the house. Several weeks ago I had a problems after doing a mixture of garden work and gutter works which required being up a ladder. In fact, I was pretty distressed to find that one side had started to produce a small external haemorrhoid.

So, I have been to the GP who has referred me to a consultant. But what I am looking for is some advice as I am worried that she may make things worse - as happened when I was previously referred.

At my age, is banding likely to improve or deteriorate this condition? Does anyone have any experience of banding at my age? Is it the opinion of those who suffer with this at an older age that it is now something that we need to live with? I really am pretty down about it all. I loved visiting the mountains and lost those. Then I loved cycling and getting out and about, but now I am lucky if I can walk very far at all.

All, opinions welcome. Especially those that offer hope.

[Musbill]

Hello. I have had hemorrhoids for a very long time. First went to a doctor with my mum at about aged 10 and he said it would go away - called them something specific to children. Anyway, they never did. Sometimes they would become very painful and then eventually they would bleed, during a bowel movement. I was always relieved by the bleeding, as it meant they settled for a while. Then they would grow again and the cycle continued. Once they caused a situation where bleeding happened unexpectedly and could have been very embarrassing. When they increased in size I began using a small piece of tissue paper that I would place there as a cautionary thing.
Anyway, eventually I realised a few things. One was that if I did not shower or somehow clean properly after any bowel movement , they would come back and increase in size. But as long as I kept bowel movements before a bath or shower, they didn’t. If I was ever caught out and needed a bowel movement during the day, they came back within hours. So I then used a small piece of tissue after the bowel movement folded up and placed there which somehow stops any irritation and has since prevented any coming back. I haven’t had a problem now for about 10 years, making sure to always use tissue (just one or two sheets folded quite small) placed there (tightly pushed in so it doesn’t fall out) unless I can shower after a movement. Not an ideal solution but it works for me.