It is said that 50-75% of all above the age 50 will suffer from hemorrhoids.
I just had an attack of them and am worried about my rec. biking in the short term and bike touring in the long term.

Is surgery the best way to handle them?
Any thoughts?

https://cccrs.tripod.com/hemorrhoids.html

I'm pretty sure there is enough diversity in the symptoms and causes of this to warrant a discussion with your physician. I had a bad attack in 2002, keeping me down and really miserable for a day or two... but have had only minor symptoms a few times since. No surgery or anything.

It depends on the type (internal or external), and how bad. I had external thrombosed this past winter brought on by shoveling snow. The colon and rectal surgeon I saw recommend seeing if they would shrink on their own and recommended hot baths or sitz baths several times a day. They were shrinking nicely until the next snow storm which caused more to pop out further down the vain so at that point he (and I) decided to surgically remove them ( hemorrhoidectomy). The procedure was uneventful, but the next two weeks were extremely unpleasant. It was unpleasant enough that if I had it to do over I might give them a better chance to shrink on their own. For internal on the other hand (according to my surgeon) if they are such that they can be removed by the rubber band ligation method it is virtually painless with no recovery time needed (I wouldn't know).

Obviously since mine happened during the worst of winter I wouldn't know how it would have been trying to ride a bike while I had them (I have a trainer now, but didn't last winter), but I do know after the surgery it would have been at least 3 weeks before I would have considered trying. Bottom line is hemorrhoids come in many different types, locations, and severity of attack with many different treatments available and my experience is only related to external that became thrombosed and were removed via hemorrhoidectomy (which I would consider a treatment of last resort).

Don't even wanna think about it.......

I have internal hemmorioids,, which give me no trouble at all. They flared up once and I used some medicated swipes on them and that was the last I felt them, seven or eight years ago. Talk with you doc. Bicycling has no effect on them for me.

I had an external thrombosis a few months ago. At first I toughed it out. I don't think the bicycling bothered it that much, but other factors did. When I finally went to the Dr he recommended staying off the bike for a few days. I took 2 days off and got back on without any problems. But everybody's experience will be different.

I wasn't even aware the external type existed until I got them.
The doc prescribed sitz baths 3 x day, and a prescription of "Proctosol" (2.5% hydrosortisone).
That hydrosortisone is *wonderful* stuff!
Immediate relief!
You can also get it in a 1% concentration in the red labeled "Preparation H".

Pramoxine and hydrocortisone are generic and great to have on rides. Get a tube and put it in your jersey pocket. It can prevent a tough ride from turning into a death march.

You can get a free sample of "Analpram Advanced Kit" if you google it. Unfortunately it's pretty pricey. It's good stuff.

no photos, it didn't happen

sorry - don't mean to be a PITA (I crack myself up at times - LOL)

Actually I have photos........But I'll be really concerned about you if you want to see them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without pics, this thread is........................................tolerable.

More fiber, more fluid, more fruits and vegetables, etc.

Get um cut out and ride forever.

I used to have them regularly and they were often severe until I started a daily dose of fiber. One of the smartest things I ever did. Sorry to be descriptive here but the result is a clean purge same time every morning without fail and so long pains in the a**. Nice. My diet otherwise is awful, the reason I had problems to begin with.

btw, generic Equate brand from Wal Mart is as good or better than Metamucil and much cheaper.

The things we old folks talk about........

Had suffered for years before surgery in 09. It was because of the surgery i started riding again to get ready. Had my whole rear end reconstructed so it took about 2 months before i started to cycle again. Started on an old mountain bike and after going under the knife bought a road bike. Life is so much better with out the pain and bleeding for weeks at a time. Like was stated above, talk to your Doc and do whats best for you.

I never had any of the usual symptoms with mine until they started to prolapse and have bleeding spells.
The bike actually relieved them they never bothered me except movement time.
Got the stapled procedure and was back on the bike in 10 days.
Had one re appear and the rubber band ligation fixed that with only one day off the bike.