hemorrhoids?

I've never thought I had a problem with defecation, but recently discovered I have hemorrhoids. I suspect it came from my pregnancy and delivery. When I strain or have bulky stools, I can feel the hemorrhoid. If bowel movement is smooth, nothing happens. In the former situation, the hemorrhoid usually disappears after an hour.

So, now I am thinking that to avoid aggravating the problem, I should try to have smooth bowel movements, and keep the poop small. I get constipated pretty easily, and even eating lots of fat doesn't give me diarrhea as it does to almost everyone I know. I cook everything in coconut oil, tallow, or ghee now, in addition to eating lots of oily fish, fatty cuts of meat, lots of coconut. I still think my bowel movements aren't as smooth as should be. I read online that eating more fiber is supposed to help with hemorrhoids, but doesn't that make poop bulkier? Any suggestions how to deal with hemorrhoids?

My mom has been struggling with it for years. She eats a mostly vegetarian diet with little eggs or meat and has had to resort to surgery and suppositories to ease her symptoms. They've been mostly unchanged, but what seems to help with hard stools seems to be eating a few servings of pineapples and papayas daily.

Prunes probably would not hurt anything. If you can choke them down.

Fiber = no no no no no. Bulking up your poop is going to make it SO MUCH WORSE. So you are saying that the consistency is inconsistent? Some times are better than others? It seems like it would be worth your while to start a food and poop log, as odd as that sounds, so you can identify foods that might be clogging up the works.

I struggle with them thanks to pregnancy. Miralax, prunes, and chocolate are your friend. Tucks/witch hazel wipes, too. Good luck!


[QUOTE=JennGlob;1017974]Prunes probably would not hurt anything. If you can choke them down.[/QUOTE]

choke prunes down? You're joking, right? The ones I get taste like a candy bar. I love em!

Fluid intake is actually the most important part. Your colon is where the majority of water absorption happens, and if you're dehydrated, it will take everything it can from the fecal matter before it gets out, resulting in dry, hard stools. Drink more fluid.

[QUOTE=namelesswonder;1018291]Fiber = no no no no no. Bulking up your poop is going to make it SO MUCH WORSE. So you are saying that the consistency is inconsistent? Some times are better than others? It seems like it would be worth your while to start a food and poop log, as odd as that sounds, so you can identify foods that might be clogging up the works.[/QUOTE]

Yes, the consistency is inconsistency. I started a food log about 3 weeks ago, and noticed I'm more blocked the day after eating more veggies.

[QUOTE=Dr. Bork Bork;1018300]I struggle with them thanks to pregnancy. Miralax, prunes, and chocolate are your friend. Tucks/witch hazel wipes, too. Good luck!

choke prunes down? You're joking, right? The ones I get taste like a candy bar. I love em![/QUOTE]

I remember those pregnancy days. I was always constipated!

And I definitely likes prunes a lot more than papaya...

[QUOTE=EyeOfRound;1018611]Fluid intake is actually the most important part. Your colon is where the majority of water absorption happens, and if you're dehydrated, it will take everything it can from the fecal matter before it gets out, resulting in dry, hard stools. Drink more fluid.[/QUOTE]

I feel like I drink quite a lot of water. Well, drink to where I don't feel thirsty. But I will try to drink more to see if it helps.

I thought of one more thing today (coincidentally while trying to have a giant pregnant man poop). SQUAT! I've found that getting into a deeper position really helps. I like to steal my 4yo's little step stool to help me out a bit. It gets my feet off the floor and a bit more power behind me. Sorry if that's TMI.