What ever happened to hemorrhoids? When I was a kid, it seemed like all adults had problems with their hemorrhoids. In fact, there was a renowned rectal clinic in Grand Rapids, Ferguson’s, that specialized in removing hemorrhoids.

The place became a status symbol and hemorrhoids were in vogue. People would say, “you know, I went to Ferguson’s last year.” and immediately, everyone knew what you were talking about. And along with it would come the testimonials “it was the best thing that I  ever did. Should have done it years ago.”

Both of my parents had their hemorrhoids removed there. So did my uncle and the neighbors and the friends of my parents. It seemed like every one had hemorrhoids removed there. The place was so famous that even Bob Hope had his hemorrhoids removed there.

Growing up, I figured that by the age of 40, I too would be going there. But then one day, the clinic closed and hemorrhoid problems seemed to disappear from the face of the earth.

What happened to hemorrhoids? Had Preparation H been that successful?

My father always blamed vinyl car seats for causing his hemorrhoids. He claimed that they were hot in the summer and cold in the winter so he always sat on a piece of carpet. But, I doubt that Bob Hope had vinyl car seats though I suppose the hot/cold thing would also apply to leather car seats.

Anyway, occasionally I run across someone with hemorrhoid problems but not very often, not like I used to. Maybe it is due to advances in medicine. Maybe it is due to advances in car seats. What ever it is, the clinic closed and hemorrhoids are no longer in vogue. Hemorrhoids have been replaced with ED and enlarged prostates.