Hemorrhoids aren’t just for the older crowd. Fitness influencers like Ajlin and Petra know this all too well, having faced the issue at a young age. Both initially tried "quick fixes" from the pharmacy, but surgery was the only thing that eventually helpe
Ajlin suddenly started feeling pain and pressure in the rectal area when sitting, standing, and even while using the bathroom. It wasn’t pleasant. She thought it wasn't serious, but as soon as she started researching more about it, she got scared and decided to take action.
At that time, Ajlin was a high school student with a sedentary job. This problem really limited her daily activities. Gradually, she became afraid not just of sitting but also of going to the bathroom.
For the first time in her life, she faced a problem that is rarely discussed – hemorrhoids. Many people are embarrassed to talk about it. They avoid medical check-ups, trying creams, suppositories, and "miracle" products from ads first, and often only see a doctor when the issue becomes more serious. “Patients literally come in at the last minute,” confirms Dr. Martin Starzyk for Refresher.
In the article, you’ll learn how Petra and Ajlin handled their situations. A doctor from CHIRURGIA, s.r.o. also explains why hemorrhoids aren’t only a problem for older people and why local medications or creams might temporarily soothe the condition but don’t eliminate the problem itself.
Myth: Only elderly people have hemorrhoids
“It all happened so fast. Within a few days, maybe four. It started with a feeling that something was wrong when visiting the bathroom. A slight pain, a sensation like something was protruding and interfering when wearing underwear. It happened overnight,” a young fitness influencer describes her experience for Refresher.
She didn’t know what it was and began intensely searching for information online. She found a pea-sized, purple lump. Due to the discomfort and pain, she immediately booked an appointment with her general practitioner the next day.
The truth is, the risk increases with age because the tissues that support the vascular cushions in the rectal area gradually weaken. Congenital vascular insufficiency, the inferior quality of vascular walls, increased pressure in the vessels, etc., contribute to this. However, this doesn’t mean that a young person can’t have hemorrhoids. They often do, too.
“I had a cold for a week, mostly laid down. I've had a long-term issue with not drinking enough water, and during that time it was even worse. Between school and work, I sat a lot, then I was sick and didn’t move practically at all.” Along with worsened digestion, alternating constipation, and digestive issues, Ajlin thinks this could have triggered her problem.
Ajlin is active on social media and decided to speak openly about hemorrhoids. She pushed fear and the taboo aside.
“I realized how little this topic is talked about publicly. I acknowledged that if someone had openly discussed their experience earlier, I might have realized that I’m not alone in this, and that it’s far more common than it seems. That's why I decided to share my story and experiences,” she states.
Do genetics and lifestyle influence the onset of hemorrhoids?
A doctor for Refresher explains that, from his experience, genetics is a key factor in the onset of hemorrhoids. Lifestyle significantly influences when the disease manifests, but the primary factor is predisposition.
“Way of life and diet can delay or speed up the onset of the disease, but no single factor causes hemorrhoids,” the expert elaborates. He also emphasizes that lifestyle doesn’t cure the disease or completely prevent it but can only delay it. At this point, his opinion differs from some common medical recommendations.
According to him, constipation, hard stool, or long toilet sessions don’t cause hemorrhoids, as is often mentioned. In his practice, he doesn’t encounter all patients having these issues. He even claims that some established beliefs about fiber and “the more, the better” are exaggerated based on his experience.
“I consider some of these recommendations outdated. I'm aware that many colleagues won’t agree with me,” he openly adds. His view on nutrition is also interesting. He often encounters patients, especially women, who consume large amounts of fiber daily because it was recommended. However, he argues that the extreme of excessive fiber can actually worsen problems.
He also points out stereotypical eating habits, like having the same breakfast every day. Patients are advised to vary their meals, change nutrient sources, and avoid long-term repetition of the same type of diet.
“Humans are omnivores. They should eat anything from sausage to broccoli. No single food component should prevail,” he explains. According to him, sometimes it's better to skip breakfast than to eat the same thing every morning. He also says that any extreme diet can lead to problems in the rectal area.
He recommends a simple principle in practice:
👉 regular exercise, varied diet
👉 adequate but not excessive hydration
👉 With genetic predisposition, these habits can delay the onset of issues by 10 to 15 years.
Painful surgery
When Ajlin was told by her doctor that a procedure was needed because clotted blood formed at the site (the lump was purple), a wave of anxiety, fear, and helplessness hit her. She had tried everything by then – creams, suppositories, tablets, wet wipes, or oak bark tea baths. She adjusted her diet, hydration, and exercise. But at that moment, it was already too late. The next day she was sent to surgery and had the procedure immediately.
“The procedure itself was the worst and most painful experience of my life. When I arrived at the office, I tried to explain that I was scared and wanted to know what was going to happen. I was trembling and crying even before it started,” she describes.
According to her, the medical staff lacked empathy. She felt like her fear made her seem like someone unnecessarily complicating the situation, despite being the patient.
She says the procedure was done without anesthesia. She didn’t receive an injection or local anesthesia. The doctors worked with a scalpel. It lasted about five minutes, but the pain was extreme according to her. After it was over, they just told her to shower more often. Without detailed instructions or further explanation.
This experience leads her today to thoroughly research information before similar procedures. She would read reviews and look into types of surgical methods. “I’d want to know where I’m going and who will operate on me to feel safer and minimize the risk of a traumatizing experience,” she says.
Petra initially walked out of the doctor’s office but ultimately needed surgery
“Having a problem isn’t shameful. In my view, not addressing it is,” says Petra, who also underwent hemorrhoid surgery. Her first symptoms were subtle. She noticed a bit of blood on the tissue after every bowel movement.
Initially, she ignored it. But discomfort, stinging, and slight bleeding eventually pushed her to see a doctor. Her first encounter didn’t go well. “The doctor saw the solution in cutting, without anesthesia, right in the office. I really got scared and ran out.” What followed were months full of uncertainty. The situation peaked when Petra’s hemorrhoid burst. “Blood was everywhere. Seeing the toilet bowl full of blood scared me.”
That same day she saw another doctor. “He examined me that day, sent me for pre-operative tests, and performed the surgery within a week. He explained everything to me. What would happen, how the procedure would go. That was crucial for me.”
Like Ajlin, Petra initially tried quick s.o.s. relief from the pharmacy. Her experience reaffirms that local treatments can temporarily alleviate symptoms, but don’t definitively solve the issue. “I tried suppositories, creams, baths. Everything only helped temporarily. Long-term, the surgery and lifestyle change were what helped me.”
Today she moves more, exercises, and has adjusted her diet. “I eat more fiber. Since the surgery, I try to take better care of my body.”
Doctor: Modern treatment isn’t just surgery
Starzyk explains that today’s hemorrhoid treatment doesn’t automatically mean standard surgery. The modern approach is graded and chosen based on the type of issues – bleeding, prolapse, or pain, and the disease stage.
“The only outdated method I see is the so-called banding, which many doctors still practice and charge ridiculous fees for. Stapler hemorrhoidectomy is also no longer considered modern treatment, even though it's happily performed in some of our hospitals.”
He adds, for these reasons, it’s essential to find a reliable doctor, not decide based on the type of surgery. “The type of operation is chosen by the doctor based on a thoroughly determined diagnosis. A surgeon always operates on what they see in the rectum, so I can never tell a patient in advance without proper examination how I will treat them,” the doctor explains.
Prevention and practice reality
Starzyk tells patients that if rectal issues appear once every six months and subside after short-term treatment with suppositories, baths, or ointments, it’s a condition that can be monitored and adjusted for those difficulties – mainly through lifestyle and diet.
For long-term treatment, he doesn’t recommend any home exercises, specific ointments, suppositories, or baths. “They’re pretty much all the same. One helps one person, another helps someone else. And so on. But the cycle is closed and never 'opens' without surgical treatment. But that's my opinion, and I realize many won’t agree with me. Practice speaks for itself.”
In conclusion, he repeats that no rectal bleeding is normal and deserves proper and timely examination. Treatment is just routine. The most crucial aspect is determining the right diagnosis. Hemorrhoids aren’t the only rectal disease and aren’t the sole cause of bleeding from these areas.
