Piles of poo
Question
I've been suffering from piles for three years. In desperation, I have started a routine where I go to toilet at home in the morning and at night but not in the daytime at work.
I told some of my friends about it and they've started to tease me and now I'm really embarrassed. I feel like it's affected every area of my life - my relationships, my career and my ambitions - it's like I'm a completely different person. What can I do?
Answer
This must be a really difficult situation for you to deal with. Piles, also known as haemorrhoids can be a really uncomfortable condition.
Although it must be difficult to ignore the comments from your friends, please remember that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Perhaps they don't understand how much this is affecting your life? Although you find it embarrassing, maybe it would help if you tried to explain the difficulties it is causing.
Have you spoken to your local doctor (GP) about your piles? This is a condition that can be treated successfully by medicine available from your local chemist. If you haven't already, it is well worth a visit to your GP to get some professional advice and to put your mind at rest. It can be difficult or embarrassing to see a doctor about this sort of thing, but remember that they will be used to examining people with this condition and they will treat it as just another bodily ailment.
Getting successful treatment may also help you to get out of the routine you have developed with going to the toilet. It sounds like your embarrassment about the condition has forced you to change your lifestyle quite dramatically. It is perfectly natural and very common to experience psychological problems as a result of a physical condition. If you have these concerns, your doctor will be able to recommend, or refer you to, a professional who is trained in dealing with psychological matters.
Updated: 06/06/2011
Question answered by bss
