My husband has a hemeroid externally the size of a lemon. What can we do to get it to shrink? He is an alcholic who only drinks whiskey. He also drinks a lot of tea or coffee during the day when he is at work. He is in a great deal of pain and refuses to see a doctor. Last night I went to the pharmacy and got some cream recommended by the pharmacist. I also have been having him use ice packs on it when he is at home. I was hoping the ice would help wiht the swelling. Does anyone have any other ideas that might help?
Thanks,
Kim

ahhh no. He needs a doctor. It's too big now and he will be miserable until he gets treatment.

Kim, Typical man, huh? Don't worry...when he gets enough, he will go to doctor. In the meantime....he probably should be on fiber daily such as metamucil or citrucel. Normally, one gets em because of straining....husband had bad case when he was young, ended up having the surgery...yep, he had to get to the point "of having enough" too. Was too mocho to take fiber when first had em. Remember hot sitz baths used to relieve swelling, pain, etc... Just try to assure him that examination or treatment, if necessary, will be performed by medical personnel who are caring and experienced in making you comfortable, and he won't feel "violated" as we all imagine...just had a colonoscopy and amazed as what a "no big deal" it was! Good luck to you Kim...men are usually wimps when they're sick, huh? Cathy

Hi,

Well he drinks for some reason as well.....high anxiety and it helps with avoidance! You could ask him what exactly is the worst part of going to the doctor that he's fearing.

It also may not only be a hemorrhoid....it could also be a prolapsed rectum....

Amazing what some people will endure. He obviously doesn't have to worry about it since you're doing it all for him.

I say ignore him and as CDauthier suggested....when it gets bad enough he'll go.

Bite your tongue for a while and hopefully he'll soften to his (and of course yours) needs.

Best to you both,
quincy

Alcohol is the worst enemy of hemms. Ask him to take sitz baths three to four times a day. For him surgery seems a good option. In a week he will be out of his misery.

:wave:

Just came upon this site....and had to share a story of my (now "ex") husband, who, years ago, let a hemorrhoid "take control", because he was too stubborn to see a doctor. And, then.. suddenly, it grew even larger--and more excrutiating--the night before he had to catch a 5 a.m. flight to the Midwest to be introduced--in a crucial first business meeting--to new clients!!!

So--as a result of his weeklong "I can take it" attitude (so "beloved" by men! LOL!), instead of being treated in the privacy of his own doctor's office...with no one but himself alerted to the medical details (!!)...he was reduced to flying out in great agony...and, then, upon arrival at the airport, begging the clients greeting him, to race him either to a doctor--or an emergency room--at 6:30 in the morning!

Now, THAT'S the way to get a new business relationship off to a impressive start! LOLOLOL!! (But I just never had the heart, afterwards, to tell him "I told you so"....because, in this case I think the punishment very much fit the crime!! :-) Lynn

Lynne,

How true....sheesh! I wonder if he's learned for the "next" time anything equally as needing to be tended to happens to come along? .

Thanks for the laugh!! Ah... nothing like arrogant pride.

quincy