Of all the subjects discussed on MC, here's one that I haven't been able to find a thread on: hemorrhoids. For those who may not know, a hemorrhoid is a swollen/inflamed vein either on the anus or inside the rectum. About 30% of the population gets them, and apparently that percentage is MUCH higher in the weight-lifting community, so I'd be willing to bet more than a few members here are dealing with this same issue. For the past few years, I have been dealing with internal hemorrhoids that basically take all the fun out of my morning dump. At first, it was just a little soreness after having a bowel movement, but over the years has progressed into a more extreme soreness that sometimes lasts nearly the entire day. Needless to say, this makes lifting that much more difficult, mainly when training legs. I finally decided to see a doctor about it, which turned into another doctor, then a specialist. They all had the same initial reaction as soon as they saw me: how often do you lift weights? Everyone I saw about this wanted me to take it easy on the heavy lifting, but of course when you have a passion, that's hardly an option. After doing more research, it seems that while intense exercise can exacerbate the situation, lifting weights in and of itself does not permanently make the problem worse.
I'm finally having surgery on them next week in what's supposed to be a less invasive operation (as opposed to cutting them out completely) that involves stapling the veins in question to choke off the blood supply, which will allow them to heal naturally. I'm very much looking forward to being able to shit like a normal human being, but less excited about the 4-6 weeks my surgeon wants me to take off training. After that, I just need to continue a high fiber diet (with fiber supplementation) and really focus on my breathing during heavy lifting.
If anyone has been through this and has any advice, I'd like to hear from you.
I'm finally having surgery on them next week in what's supposed to be a less invasive operation (as opposed to cutting them out completely) that involves stapling the veins in question to choke off the blood supply, which will allow them to heal naturally. I'm very much looking forward to being able to shit like a normal human being, but less excited about the 4-6 weeks my surgeon wants me to take off training. After that, I just need to continue a high fiber diet (with fiber supplementation) and really focus on my breathing during heavy lifting.
If anyone has been through this and has any advice, I'd like to hear from you.
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