Can anyone help me with a hemorrhoid?

[YoungAndOutraged]

I hope the Health forum is the right place for this, but I'm in dire need of some inquiries on hemorrhoids... Two days ago, I woke up to a very unpleasant discovery that I had a hemorrhoid about the size of a grape hanging out of my rear. I've had them for years, although not nearly this big, and they've always gone back inside without any pain. However, this one hasn't gotten any smaller in two whole days, and about ten minutes before I started typing this, the pain went from "I can handle this," to "I'd gladly give an eye to get some relief."

I'm obviously not a doctor, but I'm about 50% certain that I should be in surgery right this minute for this thing. I know it isn't pleasant to discuss, but this thing is enormous and I every time I clear my throat it feels like I've received a knife enema. The problem is I have exactly $14 in my wallet right now, and no insurance of any kind. So my question is, does anyone have any recommendations on what I can do myself, if anything? Anything that would relieve the pain? I'm open to any and all suggestions at this point.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[jimshoes]

1. An emergency room at a hospital

They will treat your condition even knowing they may not get reimbursed. Happens every day.

[elleng]

2. OTC stuff for them,

and whatever you can tolerate to expedite passing #2.

[trotsky]

3. Go to a doctor.

If you attempted anything yourself, you could end up with a terrible infection, leading to sepsis and death. Call a local urgent care to see if they will take you and maybe they have some kind of payment plan.

[Ganja Ninja]

4. Go to the emergency room.

If it's that painful it might be a boil and needs to be lanced.

[FreakinDJ]

5. Only on the Internet..........

[DontTreadOnMe]

6. Your health is always more important than money

Go to emergency room. Any kind of pain is a warning that something is wrong, and might be infected.

[Lochloosa]

7. +1

[Blue Diadem]

8. Do you have a regular Dr? If you do, maybe he will work out a payment plan.

It is something that can be done in the office. I had 3 removed on my visit. They use a local and it only takes a few minutes and you're done.

[vi5]

9. Same thing happened to me a few months back...

..it was excruciatingly painful. And mine started bleeding which worried me even more. I went to the emergency room, but they pretty much told me all that I could do was soak in hot baths, use tucks pads and preparation H and wait it out.

The only thing a surgeon will do is lance it, which is just making it go away sooner. But it's not dangerous, just really, really painful.

I can sympathize. Believe me, I can sympathize. On top of it, I had to fly and then be in meetings for work all day for 3 days straight during the height of the pain and bleeding.

[Orrex]

10. Actually, I know a tried-and-true remedy for hemorrhoids in three easy steps!

Step 1. Go to a doctor or the ER.

Step 2. Do whatever they tell you to do to fix it.

Step 3. Don't heed any other advice that you read on the internets.

[Uben]

11. Ouch!

I had a blood clot in one years ago, which sounds like what you have. Like has been said above, if you go to a doctor, he will just lance it, and you will experience instant relief. I suppose you could do that yourself, but I would be very careful about infection. Make sure you sterilize the instrument you use.
When I went to the doc, he just laid me face down on the table, taped each cheek open to the table, and pop! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! While the initial sting was a little painful, the result was instantaneous relief! It's kinda hard for anyone to do this their self because of the location, but a mirror and a little contortion might do the trick. I would have some anti-bacterial creme or the like handy.
Since then, I haven't had any major problems, but a doc can prescribe some Proctosol 2.5% (hydocortisone)cream that does wonders for shrinking problem hemmorhoids, and some suppositories with hydrocortisone that beat anything you can get OTC. Next time you go to a doc, ask him to prescribe you some Proctosol and some suppositories with hydrocortisone. You will be glad you did!

[Blue Diadem]

14. The sting you felt was the local. Lancing with nothing to numb it is painful.

I was to have 3 shots, one for each and my Dr. forgot to numb one. There is a difference between night and day with the sting from a local and the pain from lancing without a numbing agent.

OP should not attempt a do it yourself procedure.

[Ilsa]

12. Get thee to a clinic. Maybe a doctor, PA, or FNP can take care of you

for less than at an emergency room.

[shraby]

13. My husband had them for years, after he retired, he

started eating more cereal for breakfast and bingo, they went mostly away, to the point that I didn't have to buy prep.H anymore for him.

[snagglepuss]

15. What doctor prescribed for my brother that worked.

Soak in baths with 2 cups of Epsom Salts per bath (Salt shrinks swollen tissues.)

Take pysillium, you don't need anything brand name, probably can buy at bulk food store. What this does is soften stools, enabling them to pass more easily.

One reason hemorrhoids develop is lack of soluable fiber in the diet so start eating oatmeal at breakfast (also if you're on a tight budget, basic rolled oats is a very filling and super cheap breakfast). Soluable fiber is also in fruits and vegetables.

Hemorrhoids are also the result of inactivity, sitting too long. You need to start regular exercise.

My brother had used Anusol which he said alleviated the discomfort but said the prescription (as stated by another poster) was the godsend he needed, it got rid of them. If you can't afford a prescription drug Anusol will help.

[Wickerman]

16. Locking

It is DU policy to not allow threads seeking medical advice. We do understand that medical situations are very personally trying, particularly in these tough economic times, but we also need to protect our members against bad advice, even that delivered with the best intent.

Please seek medical advice from a qualified medical doctor.

Thank you, and we wish you well.

Wickerman
DU Moderator