How can I help my Mom minimize getting hemorrhoids?

Agfoley: The sitz bath is old school, but still works. Glad you got her to the doc and got the cream. Ur welcome!

I agree with all of the above, especially MaggieM. If your Mom isn't cleaning properly after her BM's, you might have another issue going on than hemorrhoids. Have your Dr check her out. Your interventions of Preparation H are good too, if she has them.

@llamalover47...I did take her to the doctor and he recommended OTC ointments, wipes, etc., but I also want to help her avoid getting them as much as possible. I appreciate everyone's comments! The sitz bath recommendation was enlightening since I had never heard of It! I will definitely get my mom to try it because in my online research, I read so many positives comments about it! Thanks!

The elder is probably straining, thus the hemorrhoids. Why haven't you taken the person to the doc or gotten an OTC med?

Juicing Fresh vegtables will clear hemorrhoids! It works :-). Juicing is very hydrating and shrinks the hemorrhoids.

Agfoley, you may want to confirm with the doctor whether they are internal or external hemorrhoids. There is actually minor surgery that can be done to alleviate the discomfort of protracted hemorrhoids (those that drop). In my situation, I am either standing still or sitting for an extended period of time. I am now finding they are giving me problems with my tail bone when I sit down. Cysts can also develop in this area, so you may want to rule that out.

Make sure she eats greens vegs and fruit drinks juice and has coffee in morning not decaf if she needs them stol sofeners won't hurt do a little chair dancing with her in the morning pay some up beat music and do a lille ligh yoga have her with you at same time rub her lower tummy over intestaints this will help them move drink lots of water any way she likes it tea hot cold flavored plain give her some yogurt helps too. Don't over do cheese or bread good food good poop

Nova Homeopathic Hemorrhoid Complex
You may find this product at HBees

Once u have a hemroid I think u always have one. They just swell and hurt. Senna is not a stole softener its a laxative. Colace is the stool softener.

A lot of women have hemorrhoids due to pregnancy that can get worse as we age and sitting a lot tends to make them more painful. And as someone already mentioned - a lot of the medications we're given tend to bring on constipation.

To prevent constipation - I use Metamucil (ground corn husk) capsules (w/calcium), but they come in tasty little 'wafers' too that are great with a nice cup of tea - and WATER. (They're even safe for older dogs as a stool softener to prevent straining. They have some of the same issues lol and they love the wafers. Dosage varies of course).

To help relieve discomfort - Preparation H has ointment, suppositories and 'wipes' that contain vasoconstrictors for relief. I try to stay away from 'gentle' laxatives as they just add yet another chemical into the mix. Good luck.

As in the note above, make sure she has plenty of fiber in her diet. There is a very good, gentle laxative out there called' Polylethylene Glycol' (generic for Miralax? It's provided by our hospice.) Also encourage her to drink fluids, as these will provide the needed moisture for her bowels.)

Fibre can help with loose stools too, and although constipation is commonly associated with hemorrhoids diarrhea can irritate them too. You could try using baby wipes to help keep her clean if she will remember not to flush them, they are much nicer then the ones meant for adults. An inexpensive sitz bath that fits over the toilet seat might offer some relief if they become irritated.

In addition to everything here, I must share from my own experience and contribute some very helpful tips to help add to prevention. Having low back issues, I can't really walk for either before having to sit down. Therefore, I must sit a lot. What I do as alternate between sitting and laying down, and keep my bottom clean. You may want to try moist wipes that are meant for in the bathroom. That way, your love one can keep clean down there between showers.

AG, I guess we were focusing on constipation because the straining can be a major cause of hemorrhoids.

Can you get her to walk more, even if it's just back and forth in the house, from room to room? Another thought might be to ask her primary care doctor, or a referral doctor if necessary, if there's anything going on that might be contributing to the hemmorhoids.

Thanks for all the advice. My mom is never constipated. In fact she often has loose stools due to her diabetic meds. At this time she will use preparation H ointment and wipes. She does shower daily yet I have noticed she doesn't always wipe herself well. I just want to prevent her from getting them as much as possible.

Best method is to do it naturally with foods - fruits and veggies especially, accompanied by lots of water as Ferris advises.

Older folks frequently have less appetite, so you'll have to create a good balance between the fiber foods and protein.

Fiber, water, more fiber, more water. If they hurt try Desitin (yep, the baby stuff).

I agree with Maggie. When they are on drugs that cause constipation, a stool softener is necessary. And they do work.

MaggieMarshall is right on. Personally I have been using Benefiber to keep stools soft and easy to pass. It is better than metamucil because when you stir it into any drink t just disappears and you don't notice it at all. A generous teaspoonful in his morning coffee has helped my husband keep his hemorrhoids from getting worse.

I'm assuming they've been diagnosed? If not, it's important that you do so before you make that assumption. Personally, I've never heard of hemmorhoids being caused by merely sitting. Usually caused from straining passing stool. Or, as I understand it, from childbirth.

Ask the doc if mom can take a stool softener. We take Senna S in our house. Make sure she's drinking enough water and that her diet includes ample veggies. Easing her bowel movements is the best way to allow hemmorhoids pain to subside.

Ask the doc is PreparationH is okay. Probably is. She may find that ointment or suppository soothing.