Do I have hemorrhoids?

For ~1 week I've had a sharp feeling in my rectum but no other symptoms

I don't feel sick, I am having clean, solid BMs and NO BLOOD or mucous whatsoever.

For background: my last UC flare was in 2014, and I've been taking Asacol HD (6 tabs daily), Rowasa at night, along with VSL#3 and Librax. I've had 4-5 flares in my life since being DX'd 12 years ago and none of the symptoms I've experienced are occurring right now.

That said: I've never had hemorrhoids, so I don't know how they feel. The best way I can describe what I feel is that it's as if there's a sharp object up my anus. It doesn't affect my BM or flatulence from coming out but if I clench, cough, sneeze or do anything in that region I can feel the "sharpness" in my butt.

For those who've experienced hemorrhoids - is that how they feel? I'm speaking to my GI tomorrow but thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance. I pop in and out of this board and hope you're all in remission and/or symptom free

Looks 'normal' (a bit reddish maybe) when I squat over a mirror

Maybe it is internal hemorrhoids?

Ha, no shells. I can only think of popcorn as a culprit as I ate some over a week ago.

This has been going on for about a week, maybe 8 days.

How's your current symptoms (# of bms a day, any blood or urgency)? Severe rectal inflammation can cause what you describe, be a real pain in the butt in both a figurative and literal meaning...

Ask if your doctor can do a rectoscope to take a peak on what exactly is going on up there...

Can anyone confirm/deny whether this is what hemorrhoids feel like? That's what I'd really like to know

I spoke with the GI over the phone today and he thought, because of no blood/mucous/urgency and formed BMs that this is either a fissure or hemorrhoids

He prescribed Dibucaine ointment and said he believes this will provide fast relief, but I'm scheduled to see him in 11 days just in case it doesn't...

Oh it was a perirectal abscess. I made another thread. I had it drained surgically about a week ago, still having complications.

I don't know if there's a difference between local or general anesthesia but I was under the one that involved putting a breathing tube down my throat and intravenous doses of fentanyl, propofol and some other drug I'd never heard of before

They drained the abscess and removed a fistula. It's still a tiny bit sore but the pain from the abscess has mostly gone away. I developed proctitis as a result of staying off my rectal meds (which I knew was a bad idea) and now I'm on a 6 week course of prednisone. My GI doctor won't rule out Crohn's colitis now.

This might be the worst thing I've ever gone through in my life.