My question is not the obvious: do poor bowel movements lead to or cause hemorrhoids. Actuall it is just the opposite. Can hemorrhoids, when they become enflamed and aching during a bowel movement, tend to lead to poor bowel movements? It seems over the last couple of years as my hemorrhoids have worsened (stage 3 or 4 for me) my BMs are just not the same. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm hoping when I get them removed next month things will get back to normal?