RSS Feeds: Hemorrhoids vs. Toilet Paper in the Philippines
I have a single external hemorrhoid and I just remembered it was there. Why? Because I rarely use toilet paper to wipe my anus. I only use it when I don't have any water to wash myself with. Shocked? Don't be. Well over half of the people in the Philippines don't use toilet paper for anything.
Toilet Paper is a Luxury
Americans are spoiled when it comes to using the toilet. Toilet paper is just part of the huge paper industry in the US. Unlike most other tissue made of paper, toilet paper in America is designed to decompose in septic tanks.
Most Filipinos can't afford to waste their money on toilet paper. It's just too expensive compared to the average income. I can afford it, but I choose not to use it. I have a water sprayer attached to my toilet along with a couple of other "accessories" and I'm squeaky clean by the time I leave the bathroom.
We have frequent water outages in Olongapo, so I always keep a roll of toilet paper stashed in the vanity. Otherwise, I'd be like Beavis (of MTV's "Beavis and Butt-Head" animated series of cartoons) and walking around saying stupid stuff like "I am the great Cornholio. I need TP for my bunghole!" while holding it back. I don't buy the cheap local brands either. They may or may not be biodegradable. The last thing I need is a septic tank full of toilet paper that won't dissolve.
Hemorrhoids and Toilet Paper
If you have external hemorrhoids, the worst thing you can do is to irritate them with toilet paper. If you don't use toilet paper, then you don't have to worry about hemorrhoid relief. Modern toilets sold at plumbing supply stores (or places like Home Depot) have a built-in water sprayer attachment (just under the rim of the bowl) making them a combination of bidet and toilet.
Last night I was without water due to an exploding pressure tank and I had no choice but to use toilet paper to sanitize myself. I quickly remembered that I had a single solitary hemorrhoid during the process of wiping because of the blood on the paper. It didn't hurt; it just bled for a few minutes.
I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of Filipinos have external hemorrhoids and don't even know it. If they're used to washing instead of wiping, they may never know.
(Image source: A cropped and shrunken photo by Brandon Blinkenberg)
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I live in America and I use toilet paper all the time. I don't really care about a clogged septic system either, that's more of my landlords problem.
Not sure how I got here as I was researching about guitars, but your post and the following comments were too amusing to pass up on. One gets few opportunities to discuss such a topic, lol.
Thought I'm a local, I've yet to meet anyone who's used leaves/bark/newspaper to clean up, hmm… I, and most people I know, use water (via bidet or any other vessel) to clean up, much much preferably with soap, then pat dry with tp. When you say one uses water, surely that doesn't mean spray then pull up your pants (and I hope no one does that! lol. and ew.). Hygiene-wise, a little tp's still a must to conclude the business. My last option would be to use tp alone. Imagine a clean mirror. Smudge a handful of cooking oil against it. Get a tissue and wipe five times. See the streaks and blur that're left, that my friends, is how clean one's butt is with just tp, times number of hours one's tush is cocooned in undies and pants… ahh warm and toasty.
While we're on the topic, what puzzles me is how, in some other countries, the floor level toilet is preferred. Very strenuous and awkward for me, which are words I don't want in my RESTroom experience. And to tie this all together with your post title, I imagine, those kind of toilets aren't recommended for people with hemorrhoids.
(Nice blog! Will be reading your other posts now….)
No toilet papers in many asian countries is not uncommon.
CG Wells
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Ever since visiting India, I always use water now.
If you got some poo on your hands, you wouldn't just wipe it with some paper. Why should you treat your ass any differently?
Water = clean
Paper = smeared
Hemorrhoids sure do hurt. I know what you mean though. They don't hurt until you actually agitate them such as like you described with the toilet paper. Interesting post!
Toilet paper and hemorrhoids are a definite no-no. A water sprayer is a great method to clean yourself and not cause a hemorrhoid flare up.
My last blog: Thrombosed Hemorrhoid Treatments updated Tue Jun 30 2009 4:21 pm CDT
I moved to Philippines from UK. When I first got here I used paper. Then one day it ran out, so I used 'the dipper'. Now I exclusively use the dipper and feel dirty if I have only wiped with paper.
Interesting article. I would think people would still know if they suffered from pain and itching caused by the hemorrhoids. Anyway, if you are looking for a natural way to get rid of hemorrhoids once and for all, you can find more information at http://www.hemorrhoidshomeremedyinfo.com.