Hemorrhoids synomous with good piping?

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to sit at the same table with Mr. Jack Lee one of my favorite pipers in North America and definitely a world class piper with many accolades, and amazingly still going strong as a competitor at the Dan Reid Memorial.  As one of its elder statemen when most pipers have retired from competion, Jack shared a curious insight with me in answer to my question, what issues can slow down a senior piper from competion against younger pipers.

Of course he went through the customary list that one fingers must be limbered up, one must work out harder to stay in good physical shape to stay sharp, and one must be careful to avoid the malady that all long time pipers suffer........hemorrhoids!

I was a bit surprised at this answer, and became kind of curious if indeed the sign of an accomplished and veteran piper is......hemeroids?  One always hears of the pianist suffering meditarcel damage; the drummer can suffer hearing loss; the singer can lose vocal chord tone over time.  But is it true, that our beloved life of piping leaves us with the distinction of having a sore arse?  Have we indeed joined the ranks of other occupational induced hemeroid suffers like Police officers whom sit in their cars all day; truck drivers; or Mr. Michael Bolton whose singing style sounds as if he could really use a few tubes of Preparation H.  

So with that, I asked you, our regular reader to respond to our first ever survey.  I have over welmingly received, or should say have been overwelmed by replies from close to 1,600 of you on this topic.  Suffice it to say, this seems to be a topic near and dear to a piper's heart, er......uh.......I mean....arse.

Result of the last edition of North American Piper's survey:

Question:  If you have been a piper for more than 5 years, do you feel that good piping causes hemorrhoids?

Readers Answers:

• Yes 60%

• No  30%

• Have not piped for at least 5 years & can't tell my  head from arse, but I can play Scots Wa Hae better than any piper ever has  10%