The problem? Lately, going to the bathroom filled Tom with dread. He had been constipated and knew that was causing a strain on his system. But he was experiencing a lot of pain when eliminating. He tried a few laxatives, which seemed to bring some relief.
However, the pain from eliminating wouldn’t go completely away. After a week or so, he started wondering if it might be something serious, particularly when he noticed some blood in his stool and on the toilet paper.
Finally, his problem reached a point where Tom couldn’t take the pain and the sleepless nights worrying about what his condition might be. Embarrassment be damned, it was time to see a doctor.
That’s when he found out the cause of his trouble – hemorrhoids.
The Source of Hemorrhoid Pain
Hemorrhoids are painful, swollen and inflamed veins located in the anus and lower rectum. They may be found in the rectum or can develop under the skin around the anus (a condition known as external hemorrhoids).