Pinworms or Hemorrhoids

Pinworms or Hemorrhoids?
Hello. I had been infected with pinworm for the third time. I am a bad nail biter, but has vowed to stop. The first two times being 4 years ago, but I recently visited a daycare for volunteering 5 weeks ago and a two weeks ago I felt my first symptom of pinworm (anal itching that is more like an intense sensation). The feeling is very distinct, so I forced myself to go to the restroom and the worm appeared on my stool. Immediately, the next morning I bought two bottles of Reese's Pinworm Medicine and had everyone in my family treated, including myself, along with washing all sheets, clothes, and I remained inactive for a few days.

The next night I felt the sensation once more, but a lot lighter than the night before. The first two times I received the parasite, I took the medicine and I was fine, but this time, being older (I'm 18 now), I was more paranoid. Throughout the week my OCD kicked in and along with the medication I ingested around 12 cloves of garlic over a 4 day span, along with taking bowel cleansers and wormwood/black walnut extract in water for 3 days. A week passed after the second night and I felt no more sensations. However, my anus became irritated and I had soft stools and diarrhea. The carried over for the week and I ended up traveling to the North for a family vacation that Friday. The previous friday was when I felt my first symptom.

Up North, I began feeling more irritation, and now itchiness on the sides of my anus opening. This occured throughout the day and tended to go away when I was active, but became noticable when I was resting or relaxing. The itching was not intense, but it was also a different type of itch than the pinworm one. Coupled with the irritation, I felt the constant feeling of having to excrete but I couldn't go when I tried. That next Friday, I took the Pinworm medication again at the 2 week period. I later examined my anus opening and noticed 3 or 4 blue lumps about the size of a pea around my anus, and yellow residue in the inside when examined with a flashlight. I suspected hemorrhoids, and began applying Preparation H. I returned home 10 days after originally leaving, so I'm assuming the pinworm eggs have died and with the second dosage, the monsters won't be returning. The irritation has calmed down slightly, but I still feel a sensation from time to timethroughout the day, as if something is thumping or going in and out of my anus. Being paranoid from my previous 3 pinworm experiences, I can't get a peace of mind.

I search the Internet constantly for different in pinworm itching and hemorrhoid itching, and the Internet fails at answering my question. My 3 experiences with pinworm never resulting in the anal skin itching, just inside the anus itching. What I'm experiencing now is different. So, is there a difference in the types of itching between the two?

Another reason why I've had no peace of mind is that I haven't felt relief in my anal area since my first symptom of the pinworm a few weeks ago. Is it possible that one can be strikin with hemorrhoids immediately after pinworm treatment?

In all honesty, the suspected hemorrhoids do not hurt at all. only itching very minorly occasionally but I do feel like I have to deficate all the time, although I dont. But, I just need a peace of mind, because if I only have hemorrhoids, I'd be extremely happy. I'm very sick and tired of those little demons. I know they are harmless, but after 3 times of dealing with their embarrasment and the OCD issue of knowing there's a creature roaming inside your colon and anus is just too much to live a normal life. I'm very clean, but I've had a problem with nail-biting. I've stopped since the symptom, and vow to stop completely. I get embarrassed around my girlfriend, friends, and I just don't act normal. The Internet doesn't provide much relief.

So please, I would like an intelligent, experienced person to please help clear things up for me and answer my question. My doctor told me to just take the medicine like I did and they should be gone, and hemorrhoids with preparation H, but my biggest fear is that I still have the pinworm. I'm not worried about reinfecting myself with the eggs, I'm very cautious with my hands and mouth. However, I have two younger teenage siblings and a 5 year old sibling, but I had them all take the medicine 2 and a half weeks ago, so I'm suspecting we are in the clear. Except me. Please help me out, it'd be much appreciated. Thanks.
52 minutes ago - 4 days left to answer.

Additional Details
Also: We just got a puppy a few days ago. He's adorable, but a vet examined his poop and found he has hookworms, whipworm, and another worm, which I know can infect humans. Are the chances of infection high? As long as I don't eat his poop my family and I should be fine, right?

[ggreg]

First, go back and see your doctor and explain to him you still have some symptoms like pinworms, and tell him how your puppy had worms.  Also, buy some clear plastic "gloves" that come in a box, put them on whenever you are treating your pinworms.  To clean up doggie poop, we always use two normal grocery plastic bags, put your hand in it, grab up the poo, put it in the toilet and flush, then turn the bags inside out and put in the trash.  Wash your hands with some alcohol and regular soap.

While you wait to see your doctor, get some plain KY jelly (not the flavored kinds), it's in a blue and white tube at the pharmacy, and after each bath or shower, put a pretty good amount on your rear, it will prevent chaffing, which is what I believe you are experiencing now.

The main three things to have normal digestion and thus prevent hemorrhoids from straining with constipation, are these:  Exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, eat enough fiber foods daily (to include oat cereal, whole wheat bread, colorful salads, fresh or frozen vegies cooked).  Also, get Acidophilus milk or Activia yogurt from the grocery, consume for two weeks, it helps keep intestinal flora normal, which helps break down waste.

It is very easy to stop chewing your nails:  There is a product you can buy in a little bottle, you put a few drops on your fingers and it makes them taste horrible.  You can accompany this with getting some beads, like a cheap plastic neclace with round plastic balls on it, and use them as "worry beads" until you quit chewing on them.  You are at the age that you must quit chewing on them.  Get a nice fingernail kit and trim them with clippers, smooth rough edges with a fingernail file, and then wash the equipment and your fingers well when done with your nail care.  

By the way, your OCD symptoms can be controlled by lots of exercise that makes you sweat, it releases tension in the body.  Even just a simple, long walk thru the neighborhood will cause your mind to click into another gear, where you are relaxed and enjoying the outdoors.  Some people will also put a couple rubber bands around their wrists to treat all sorts of "habits," and whenever they get all obsessed about something, they'll snap those bands and that will help you stop worrying about everything.  

Another solution is the moment you realize you are obsessing, redirect your attention to another activity.  It is important for obsessed people to have a creative outlet, because you can focus in a positive way on something, work it right down to the nub, and you'll get your obsession "fix" and be less likely to get all worked up about stuff after you've enjoyed your creative outlet...I like the paint program on PCs, I like Soduku puzzles.  Also, do not do things at a dead run; you instead must live life more slowly, I don't care what schedule you're keeping up with and so forth, you gotta learn to relax with things, cut unnecessary stuff out of your busy day, and for gosh sakes just live.  You can also get treatment from a psychologist group practice or county clinic, they can give you tranquilizers or other medications to help you with it.