Stand up for hemorrhoids

My name is Robert, and I have hemorrhoids. It’s almost at that A.A. introduction level when hemorrhoids get mentioned (on the few occasions when someone even dares to speak about it). It still carries a lot of embarrassment and stigma, even though around 50% of us have it. Why is that? Maybe because it’s about a place where the sun doesn’t shine. Maybe that’s why people feel it’s a pain in the ass to talk about it. It’s a sore subject. Not speaking about it also leads to misunderstandings. More than once, people have asked me if it’s some kind of venereal disease. That’s what happens when things are treated as taboo, although there’s no real reason for it. Personally, I’ve had it for as long as I can remember. It varies in intensity, but it always tags along like a carry-on bag with gadgets that will never be used. Sometimes I hardly notice it, other times it’s impossible to ignore. I’ve tried a couple of methods to fix it, but it’s like those asswipes don’t give a shit. They always…