It probably is a hemorrhoid.

Yep sounds like a hemm...however you spell that thing.

I have no real clue about those things, if they go away on their own or whatnot. Hope it becomes painless, fast :/

And good luck if you have to go to a doctor. Remember, they've seen more of you than that, and worse conditions in other folks :P

Oh, man! How yucky for you! I hope you get it removed...or whatever it is they do to hemorrhoids. Feel better!

It does sound like like it could be a hemorrhoid. Hmm.. Helen's Hemorrhoid does have a certain ring to it...

You can try going to the chemist or health food shops and see if they have a cream you can apply, plus there are fibre supplements like Metamucil, Konsyl or Citrucel that you can take that help... well, I guess you know what they help. And you can also take Castor Oil (but proper medicinal castor oil) to help things slide out more easily.

Okay, so my big burning (HAHA) question is, will it go away on its own? Do I have to treat it? Am I going to have to have surgery? Guys, I'm really scared. Like freaking out almost in tears scared.

Don't be scared, Helena!

I had them after giviong birth to my daughter and I didn't need surgery, though you have to be vigilant about treating it, so it goes away.

I honestly would attempt to do the whole thing with more fibre, drinking plenty of water (this all helps you not to strain when you need to poo), castor oil if it's hard to poo and you strain too much also helps.

You need to be sitting on one of those rubber rings, no heavy lifting, keeping warm in winter (no sitting on cold surfaces - have you a foldable sittdyna? If not, give me your address and I'll send you one!). Stress is a big factor, too, so hopefully that will abate now you have sorted out some issues here.

You may need to keep the area quite lubricated as well, with something specific like Anusol, but even Vaseline is okay. Anusol has a hydrocortisone component which reduces inflammation.

And when you use the toilet, try and wash the area and reapply the cream.

All of this helps and surgery is really only a last resort after all else has failed and it doesn't get better.

How long do they take to get rid of?? Are we talking months!? And how the hell am I going to explain to the guys why i keep sitting on a rubber thing! OMG.

The rubber ring is not essential - it was just a thought if you are sitting by the computer for a long time each day. You could try and walk around for a few minutes each hour if you prefer.

If you change your diet and eat lots of fiber and drink plenty of water you can speed up the healing process. The ointments are no cure, but more to help with the itching and pain while it lasts.

I think mine disappeared within a few weeks. I've not had trouble with them after that, but I do make sure to eat plenty of rabbit food each day for the fibre :)

Okay, to be clear. There are minor ones which it sounds like you have, which just need the cream and suppositories and fibre. Then there are major ones which are often more likely after you get them for ages or have a baby and they do sometimes need you to not sit on them (hence the ring and sometimes have to be removed) but from what I know that's like 2% of cases! Something protuding and fucking sore is just a normal one that just needs chemist stuff.

The quickest way is a wonderful product called preperationH suppositories. yes thats right...little cream bullets you stick up your ass and they melt and it dissolves the flap of skin which is technically a bulge of under the skin blood vessel.Usually from straining or like your friend said sitting too much. I'm very familiar with this from sitting on a bus all year long. try it and all the above advise. I'm too impatient to change my diet...takes too long. Another wonderful product is Tucks medicated wipes and/or cream soothes while your waiting for it to go away...about 3 days after a daily regime of suppositories. Poor baby...no panic needed its quite common

What she said but minus the castor oil. Here in australia you'd go to the chemist and get a cream to put on it and also some suppositories which do the same job as the castor oil. Do that and then if still probs see a dr. Or just bite the bullet and see a dr. When i've done it they really do reinforce that they see a hell of a lot worse than that...

If Castor Oil was good enough for Princess Lambi, it ought to be good enough for Helena :)

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oooooh no.... no giggling out loud in the sitting room. Sorry housemate!

Don't laugh. I had to get it at great expense from Apoteket as she had a problem after her hysterectomy (I can't believe we are discussing my dog's "lady operation" on the net!) She had an impressive lot of stitching on her tummy and her insides (did I mention she also had vaginal tumours?) and found it a little difficult to do her number twos. A good dose of castor oil fixed that. They made me buy a 200ml bottle and she used maybe 5 ml. But Kirsty's alternative of giving her suppositories makes me want to gag!

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I feel a little better now, mentally not as freaked out. Cant say its not a pain in the ass though (sorry I couldn't resist!). Have to make a trip to the chemist today to get it sorted.