There is a treatment for hemorrhoids where they put rubber bands around them and they (apparently) die and fall off. I’m seriously considering this but I’m scared to death.
Has anyone here had it done? Did it hurt? How long does it take? Did insurance cover it? Do your hemorrhoids have to be really, really bad for them to do it? Do they have to be currently inflamed or can they do this to the “skin tags” as well?
I had it done about 15 years ago. It only works with danglers, not fissures. The rubber band looks more like an O ring with a very tiny hole in the center. I got a couple of shots to numb things, the O ring is placed on a tool which opens it up and it is slid over the offending hemi. The doctor told me in about a week I should find the O ring and the atrophied hemi in my shorts. I found the O ring, I never found the roid. The only discomfort started about an hour after the procedure and lasted just a couple hours. The enema beforehand caused more discomfort than the actual procedure.
Danglers = ass grapes, right? (I think Hamadryad called them that…)
I had it done too, a year or so ago. The actual process was uncomfortable more than painful. After a couple days the bleeding totally stopped. I never saw anything in the toilet, but she assured me on my follow-up that everything was ok.
She put a couple of the bands on the bleedy parts. After the procedure the bleeding stopped, so I was happy. No more tp wads in the skivvies for me. 
My insurance covered it. They do not want to do surgery to remove the 'roids themselves, but I don’t know if that’s because of cost or just because it really isn’t preferable.
I really don’t trust any hmo.
Peace,
mangeorge
I can’t even remember when I had it done (or where) but it was an ache for a while, then all that familiar Shitting Razor Blades™ disappeared. The only difference between a roid and a tag is the location, and yes, they can do them at the same time.
Oh yeah… what is the name of this proceedure? I’m assuming it isn’t “ass banding” 
I didn’t know if the left over skin tags still qualified as hemorrhoids or not.
:eek:
elfbabe’s new to-do list:
Buy bran
Buy much larger water bottle
Buy bidet attachment for toilet
Pray
According to this page it’s called a rubber band ligation. (This page itself it more or less work safe, but the links in it contain pictures of actual hemorrhoids, hemorrhoid sugery, and other pics that you may or may not consider work sage.)…(or and VERY TMI)
My dad tells me that’s how he used to neuter bulls on the farm. Ouch!
That, of course, absolutely requires link to Scylla’s immortal Goat Porn thread, for a discussion of, um, caprine testicular rubber band ligation.
No more 'mountain oysters!"
Ok so this is only for internal ones, according to the link. I have both, so I’d still need regular surgery, too. Bleah.
How did you go about getting yours done, those of you who had it? Did you see your regular doctor and they recommended it? Or did you just go to a proctologist on your own initiative? or what?
I was referred by my "regular’ doctor. She had a look first, and said “yep, you got 'roids, and a couple bleeders”. Actually she used the correct name, but who can spell it without looking. At my hmo most everything goes through your primary doctor.
I really didn’t mean to quote you, OpalCat, but this sucky thing says “reply” instead of “quote”. I’m too old for that shit.
If you get it done, eat a lot of ice cream.
Oh wait. That’s for a tonsilectomy, huh? 
I ended up with some very painful hemorrhoids when I had my son. They were the “graping” kind and I thought for sure I was going to need surgery on them. As I explained to the nurse in the hospital - It is pretty sad when you’ve just had a CSection and your butt is causing you more pain than the abdominal surgery.
They gave me some prescription creme and a whole ton of special pads. They are maxi pads with chemical ice packs in them. Just fold to pop the chemical pack and shake vigorously and then you have a perfect ice pack in just the right place.
Whatever they do for you - ask for some of those pads They are wonderful!
More than anything, I think I want the skin tag on the outside removed. It’s like I have an earlobe down there! Gah!