Hemorrhoids
Hi, I’m coming to you with a slightly embarrassing question. Does anyone who regularly works out at the gym have problems with hemorrhoids?
I’m under 40 and I’ve been training regularly since I was 16. I’ve already had several hemorrhoid removal procedures using rubber band ligation (a tight band is placed around the hemorrhoid, cutting off its blood supply so it eventually dies). Unfortunately, after turning 30, I also developed an anal fissure, which I had surgically treated.
For quite a long time now, I’ve had the feeling that the hemorrhoids keep coming back, but without any painful symptoms. It’s more of a constant feeling of swelling or fullness. No blood, no pain, no constipation — just swelling.
My proctologist, who is an older doctor, insists that I should give up going to the gym, but working out is a huge part of my life. I don’t do barbell squats or deadlifts, I try to control my breathing, and I simply can’t give up bench pressing — it’s my favorite exercise.
I have no problems with constipation, I drink plenty of water, and generally take good care of my diet.
Does anyone have similar problems with recurring hemorrhoids? If so, how do you manage them while continuing to train?