Figuring out how to sleep with hemorrhoids isn’t easy. Embarrassing, uncomfortable, and difficult to manage, piles and hemorrhoids can have a significant impact on your quality of life. The longer you struggle to sleep, the worse the experience can be. Today we give our best tips to sleeping well with piles.
Hemorrhoids are an uncomfortable, but common issue, caused when pressure causes the veins in your anus and rectum to bulge, swell, and stretch. Both internal and external hemorrhoids can cause issues, when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep. They’re notorious for making it impossible to find the perfect sleeping position or drift off for a peaceful rest.
With symptoms like bleeding, swelling, and pain, the first step in managing hemorrhoids is often seeking out support from a doctor. Your medical professional should be able to give you some extra guidance on how to manage your condition until you heal.
Read on to get some helpful steps you can take to improve your chances of a good night’s rest.
What’s the best sleeping position for hemorrhoids?
Finding the right sleeping position is often the most complex part of figuring out how to sleep with hemorrhoids.
While different people will have different preferences for how they sleep, it’s often best to avoid sleeping on your back where possible. Sleeping on your back can create more blood pooling towards the rear of your body, which leads to throbbing and discomfort.
Sleeping on your stomach can take some of the pressure off your back passage, so you have a little more relief during the night. Most doctors and experts also recommend placing a pillow between your legs, and sleeping your side, as this can help to distribute blood flow.
Is bed rest good for hemorrhoids?
Your doctor will be able to advise the right course of action for curing your hemorrhoids as quickly as possible. However, many people find it does help to get as much rest lying down as possible. Standing or sitting for longer periods of time can place extra pressure on your blood vessels, due to gravity.
Laying down reduces the pressure on your back passage, allowing you to minimize some of the swelling and pain. However, it’s often difficult to find a comfortable position for long periods of time.
How should you sleep with hemorrhoids?
Figuring out how to sleep with thrombosed hemorrhoids or other forms of piles often means taking steps to reduce the pain as much as possible, so you’re able to rest comfortably. Most people suffering from hemorrhoids will experience some trouble with getting to sleep and staying asleep when the condition is at its worst.
So, what helps hemorrhoid pain at night?
Start by making sure you take any pain relievers according to your doctor’s instructions. Most doctors will prescribe NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs), which can help to reduce inflammation and minimize pain.
You’re also likely to be given a topical cream and a suppository, which you can obtain at a local pharmacy. These treatment is designed to numb the area, constrict the vessels and soothe discomfort.
Outside of using pain killers and cream, some of the best ways to reduce hemorrhoid pain include:
Pushing the hemorrhoids back in
While it might sound uncomfortable, pushing hemorrhoids back in can be helpful if they’re sticking out of your anus. If you have a bowel movement before bed, pushing the hemorrhoid back in places the vein inside of your rectum. Here it is better-protected and causes less pressure and pain.
Taking a sitz bath
A sitz bath involves sitting in warm, shallow water. Because hemorrhoids have crevasses, it’s easy for stool to get stuck, causing itching and irritation. A small bath will help to clean the area without requiring you to rub at the skin. The warm water can also promote better circulation, relax your muscles, and lower pain. Gently pat the area dry after you’re finished bathing.
Dressing appropriately
After treating your hemorrhoids, make sure you dress appropriately for bed. A pair of clean underwear and some loose pajamas are often the best options in this situation. You may consider using a liner in your underwear to absorb any excess cream you may have applied. Loose pajamas are also ideal for reducing pressure on your abdomen.
Cold Compress
If you have large and painful hemorrhoids, short time use of ice packs or cold compresses, can be an effective relief. Be sure to wrap ice inside a cloth or paper towel, if you don’t a designated ice pack.
Why are my hemorrhoids worse at night?
One of the biggest issues in figuring out how to sleep with hemorrhoids, is many people find their condition getting worse at night. Many patients with this condition experience intense pain by the end of the day, or when they go to sleep.
This is because throughout the day, you’re standing, moving, and sitting as normal, increasing blood flow and pressure the anus and rectum. The more time you spend on your feet, or sitting in front of a desk, the more pressure you’ll exert on the pelvic and anal region.
Combined with regular trips to the bathroom, everyday activity is more likely to create extra discomfort and irritation by the end of the day.
To improve your chances of comfort at night, you can take steps throughout the day to protect yourself. For instance:
- Use your medications consistently according to your doctor’s instructions
- Avoid any tight fitting clothes which might place additional pressure on your body
- Do not move or walk around too much, and rest on your stomach whenever you can
- Avoid lifting any weights which might cause strain on your lower body
- Take sitz baths whenever you have an opportunity to reduce irritation
- Do not touch or scratch the piles site whenever possible
Your doctor may also advise using a temporary stool softener, to reduce the risk of extra strain on your anus, when you’re going to the bathroom.
How to sleep with thrombosed hemorrhoids
If you’re experiencing severe pain, you might have a thrombosed hemorrhoid. It might simply be impossible to get any sleep with this condition. Your doctor may be able to give you relief by gently making a small cut in the clot and remove it.
Dealing with something as uncomfortable as hemorrhoids isn’t easy. You may need to experiment with different strategies to find something suitable for your specific needs.
Aloe vera gel is one of the most common options for treating hemorrhoids and various other skin conditions. Experts believe this substance has anti-inflammatory properties, which could be ideal for reducing irritation. Additionally, this substance is widely considered to be safe for topical use.
Before using aloe vera gel, or any substances with aloe vera included, it’s worth making sure you don’t have any allergies to this substance.
You could also consider exploring witch hazel, however, it’s important to be cautious about how much of this substance you use. Natural solutions like witch hazel are an astringent, which causes tissue narrowing, helping to reduce the inflammation around your back passage. Adding a very small amount to your hemorrhoids might relieve symptoms.
When looking for a product, make sure you avoid any witch hazel diluted with alcohol, as this can cause dryness and irritation. If you’re not sure about using aloe vera or witch hazel, the best option will usually be to stick with sitz baths or a cold compress.
With hemorrhoids, the blood vessels around your rectum and anus swell, which can cause a lot of the pain and discomfort. Switching between cold therapy and baths can help to reduce swelling and provide additional relief. Remember, don’t apply an ice pack directly to the area. Instead, wrap a soft cloth around the cold surface and sit on the ice for a few minutes at a time to relieve the pain.
How to sleep with hemorrhoids: Managing hemorrhoids
Learning how to manage hemorrhoids is one of the best ways to minimize your discomfort. If you suffer from this issue frequently, your doctor will likely recommend making some lifestyle changes. For instance, eating a healthy diet is a good first step.
Constipation is one of the most common causes of hemorrhoids. Adjusting your diet can help to soften stools and make your bowel movements as easy as possible. Including around 20 to 35 grams of fiber in your diet every day will help you to overcome this issue.
You can get more fiber into your diet by consuming plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole-grain breads, pasta, and rice, and a few meals including beans and lentils on a regular basis.
Seeds and nuts are also ideal for increasing your fiber intake as well as improving your slumber. Read here to see which foods both help digestion and sleep.
It’s also helpful to get regular exercise. Exercising frequently, and getting plenty of movement into your daily routine, will help you to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can be a common cause of hemorrhoids, because of the additional pressure on the rectum.
Sleeping with hemorrhoids: Finishing thoughts
Figuring out how to sleep with hemorrhoids comfortably isn’t always easy. The best sleep position for hemorrhoids is usually on your stomach, but it’s worth experimenting to see what works best for you.
It’s also helpful to take various steps to reduce pain before you go to bed, like using ice packs, or making the most of the painkillers provided by your doctor.
Remember, hemorrhoids will usually go away on their own after a couple of weeks. However, if you’re in a lot of pain and you don’t think the issue is improving, the best thing you can do is speak to your doctor for extra guidance.
Siestio. Sleep Matters.
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Medical disclaimer
You must not rely on the information provided on our website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare professionals. For more information read our full disclaimer here.
