What Type Of Doctor Should I See
Start with your usual general surgeon or family doctor. Because hemorrhoids are so common, most doctors will have a lot of experience discussing your symptoms and possible treatment.
If your situation calls for referral to a hemorrhoid specialist, your regular doctor will refer you to a hemorrhoid doctor, that is, a proctologist or gastroenterologist.
How To Sleep With Thrombosed Hemorrhoids
It depends on your sleeping position, and sometimes it is difficult to get any sleep due to the pain. You should wear loose pajamas and cotton undergarments.
Also, it is best to sleep on your belly to decrease anal pain. Moreover, if you move a lot when asleep, keep a pillow below the hips. This will prevent you from rolling to the side or sleeping on your back.
What Shrinks Hemorrhoids Fast
Home remedies
- Eat high-fiber foods. Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Use topical treatments. Apply an over-the-counter hemorrhoid cream or suppository containing hydrocortisone, or use pads containing witch hazel or a numbing agent.
- Soak regularly in a warm bath or sitz bath.
- Take oral pain relievers.
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Are Bleeding Hemorrhoids Dangerous
For the most part, hemorrhoids are not dangerous. You may not even know you have them unless you see blood or feel a lump or stiffness around your anus.
However, do not take your hemorrhoids for granted, particularly if you have bleeding hemorrhoids. Not everything that causes blood in your stool is harmless, for example, colorectal cancer. You should see a hemorrhoid doctor or general practitioner as soon as possible.
Hemorrhoids do not cause cancer. However, cancer can cause many of the same symptoms as hemorrhoids, including bleeding.
What To Eat When One Is Suffering From Hemorrhoids
Consuming high fiber foods such as whole grains can ease your symptoms of piles like swelling and pain. Also, these foods help to prevent piles by making the stool soft and bulky. Hence you do not need to strain during bowel movements which is one of the causes of piles. Moreover, once you include more high-fiber food, it will also .
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Alabama Colon & Rectal Institute Is Centered Around Treating Diseases Of The Colon Rectum And Anus
Alabama Colon & Rectal Institute has been in practice since 1990 as a free standing, private practice located in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. We are known for our efficiency and patient care, in a more relaxed office-based setting. Our doctors are known regionally for their expertise and are active in teaching surgical residents and other physicians. We are also a major sponsor of The Rumpshaker 5K, a race that promotes awareness about colorectal cancer. Check out our website for more information, or give us a call to make an appointment at 458-5000, or email us at .
How Do Doctors Check For Hemorrhoids
There are many methods for diagnosing hemorrhoids. Your Doctor may be able to tell that you have an external hemorrhoid by simply looking while internal hemorrhoids can be diagnosed by using a few procedures to examine your rectum and anal canal.
One of the ways of checking for internal hemorrhoids is by digital examination .
In this procedure, your doctor will put some medical gloves on and insert a lubricated finger into your rectum.
Your doctor will then proceed to see if there is anything unusual such as lump and growths and the result from this examination will suggest if there is need for further testing.
A visual inspection may be needed in some cases as internal hemorrhoids are often very soft. During a visual exam, an anoscope, sigmidoscope or proctoscope may be used.
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When To See A Doctor About Hemorrhoids
Talking about rectal problems like hemorrhoids can feel embarrassing. But this common problem affects an estimated 3 in 4 Americans sometime during their lifetimes half of them by the time they turn 50.
With hemorrhoids being such a widespread problem, its no surprise that local drugstores have plenty of treatments promising to help. But what if over-the-counter treatments dont help? Can medical care solve your problem and relieve your discomfort?
At Paonessa Colon & Rectal Surgery, we say, Yes. And the good news? Getting medical hemorrhoid treatment doesnt always mean you need surgery. In fact, you can rest easy knowing that most of the time, it doesnt.
Board-certified general surgeon and proctologist Nina J. Paonessa, DO, leads our team. Shes a specialist who is well-known for her medical expertise as well as her passion for making her patients feel comfortable when addressing this sometimes embarrassing condition. Dr. Paonessa is also the only female colorectal surgeon in Ocean and Monmouth counties, New Jersey.
Should I See A Gastroenterologist Or Proctologist For Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids, commonly called piles, are swollen, inflamed veins around the anus or the lower part of the rectum . They may be felt as tiny lumps in and around the anus. Hemorrhoids may often get better on their own within a few days, but some may need medications and even surgery to go away.
Both gastroenterologists and proctologists can provide you treatment for hemorrhoids. Whether you should visit a gastroenterologist or proctologist depends on the type and severity of hemorrhoids you have. Hemorrhoids are of two main types:
- External hemorrhoids: They form under the skin around the anus.
- Internal hemorrhoids: They form in the lining of the anus and lower rectum.
Talk to a general physician to understand which doctor you need for hemorrhoid management.
A gastroenterologist is a doctor trained in the branch of internal medicine that focuses on the disorders of the gut, gallbladder, liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. A gastroenterologist can diagnose hemorrhoids, provide medications, and advise lifestyle modifications. They can also do certain procedures, such as endoscopy and hemorrhoid banding .
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When Do Hemorrhoids Require Medical Intervention
Your hemorrhoids can be an embarrassing topic to discuss with anyone, even your doctor. But hemorrhoids are common and affect 5% of adults in the United States every year, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Its estimated, in fact, that as many as three in four adults will experience problems with hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
Though you can find many treatments for hemorrhoids at your local pharmacy, home remedies dont help everyone. At Rivas Digestive Center, located in Hollywood, Florida, our expert gastroenterologist, Dr. John Rivas, wants you to know when its time to get medical help for your hemorrhoids.
Increasing Your Fibre Intake
You can gradually increase the amount of fibre in your diet by eating foods including:
- fresh fruit and vegetables
- nuts and seeds
- pulses
Commercial fibre supplements are also available and can be useful if you think you are not getting enough of the above foods in your diet.
Make sure you increase your fibre gradually so your digestive system has time to adapt.
Its also important to increase your fluid intake at the same time. This is because fibre in the stools acts like a sponge, absorbing moisture from the body. Try to drink lots of water. Cutting down on sugary drinks will also help you to cut down on calories that cause weight gain.
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The Right Doctor For The Right Procedure
Its also important that you search your insurances website for doctors that are within your network. This will help prevent out-of-network charges and other out-of-pocket fees. When you have a list of doctors, its a good idea to meet with them to determine if they are right for you and your needs.
Its a good idea to ask friends and family if they have had experience with these doctors to get an idea of their experience as well as research the doctors license and any potential complaints against them.
Depending on the severity of the hemorrhoids, the doctor you pick depends on their specialty:
Dietary Changes And Self Care
If constipation is thought to be the cause of your haemorrhoids, you need to keep your stools soft and regular, so that you don’t strain when passing stools.
You can do this by increasing the amount of fibre in your diet. Good sources of fibre include wholegrain bread, cereal, fruit and vegetables.
You should also drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine .
When going to the toilet, you should:
- avoid straining to pass stools, because it may make your haemorrhoids worse
- use moist toilet paper, rather than dry toilet paper, or baby wipes to clean your bottom after passing a stool
- pat the area around your bottom, rather than rubbing it
Read more about preventing constipation.
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Why Do Hemorrhoids Often Itch
Your anus is a very sensitive area, and when something isnt right down there, it can lead to inflammation and itchiness. In the case of hemorrhoids, the internal type can drag mucus from the rectum along if they slip outside your anus.
If the hemorrhoid stays prolapsed it may continue to secrete mucus. Your anus can find the mucus incredibly irritating, and this is what creates that unpleasant itchy sensation. Often the itch is made worse when the mucus and your stools combine as you poop.
Discomfort Itching And Irritation In The Anal Region
Theres really no reason to try and live with your hemorrhoids until the pain becomes severe enough to disrupt your life. Many effective nonsurgical treatments exist that can resolve your hemorrhoids, including:
Infrared coagulation
The highly effective IRC method utilizes infrared light delivered via a small probe to painlessly coagulate the blood vessels supplying your hemorrhoid. As the blood flow is blocked, the enlarged hemorrhoidal tissue shrinks and your symptoms resolve.
Rubber band ligation
This method also blocks blood flow to the hemorrhoidal tissue, which eventually causes the hemorrhoid to wither and die. Its admittedly more painful overall than IRC and may cause bleeding, but it remains an effective, nonsurgical solution for treating hemorrhoids.
You can rely on Dr. Clemens to focus first on diagnosing your condition correctly and then recommending the most conservative and effective hemorrhoid treatment available, including tips that help prevent hemorrhoids from recurring. Schedule your appointment today at Midwest Hemorrhoid Treatment Center.
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If Discomfort From Hemorrhoids Isnt Resolved Within A Week
When youve had persistent discomfort, pain, or itching for a week, its time to talk to a doctor. While some symptoms of hemorrhoids resolve on their own, others do not and can be treated by a doctor, so you dont have to live with the daily symptoms. Your doctor can recommend treatments that range from the conservative, like dietary and behavioral changes, or in-office procedures, such as rubber band ligation, to more invasive approaches like surgery.
Bleeding When You Have A Bowel Movement
There are many underlying causes of rectal bleeding, including hemorrhoids. If you have bleeding from internal hemorrhoids, its usually bright red, occurs with bowel movements, causes no pain, and ranges from mild to moderate in quantity.
But never assume rectal bleeding is due to hemorrhoids. If youve never been diagnosed with hemorrhoids or you have noticed a change in the characteristics of the bleeding youve had with hemorrhoids in the past see us for an accurate diagnosis.
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How Well Do Treatments For Hemorrhoids Work
- Home treatment works for most people.
- Non-surgical procedures are less risky and less painful than surgery. They require less time off from work and other activities.
- Of the non-surgical procedures, rubber band ligation seems to work best. But it also appears to have a higher risk of complications, especially pain.
- Rubber band ligation helps about 8 out of 10 people who have it done. That means it doesn’t help about 2 out of 10.footnote 1
- Infrared photocoagulation has about the same success rate as rubber band ligation. But improvements may not last as long.footnote 2
Personal Stories About Treating Hemorrhoids
These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions.
I have had hemorrhoids for many years, but they have never bothered me much. Once in a while they hurt or bleed, and I know that it’s time to pay more attention to my diet and drink some extra water. My new doctor and I talked about them during my last visit. She asked if I had ever considered having them treated, and we talked about the pros and cons of my options. I decided that since they don’t bother me very much, and because I know what to do if they flare up, I will just keep managing them as I have been. I can always have treatment later if they get worse.
John, age 40
Because I sit all day at work, my hemorrhoids can be a big inconvenience. I get plenty of fibre and water in my diet, but they are still bothering me. My doctor and I agreed that it would be reasonable for me to try the rubber band treatment. I will still have to watch what I eat and drink to keep my stools soft, but I hope that the treatment will take care of most of the pain so I can be more comfortable at work.
Genevieve, age 50
Ricardo, age 38
Barbara, age 47
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Who To See For Hemorrhoids
In most cases, your or primary care physician can help you manage hemorrhoids. However, if your hemorrhoids are severe, you may need to see a doctor, such as a or a . These specialists can provide more advanced hemorrhoid treatment, such as:
- Rubber band ligation: A surgeon places a special medical-grade rubber band round the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off blood circulation. Within a week, the end of the hemorrhoid shrivels and falls off, leaving behind scar tissue.
- : This is an out-patient surgical procedure to remove hemorrhoids.
- stapling: Used primarily for internal hemorrhoids, this procedure uses a stapling tool that removes tissue.
- Sclerotherapy: This involves an injection of a chemical solution directly into the hemorrhoid to shrink it.
- Infrared photocoagulation: Used only for internal hemorrhoids, this procedure directs an infrared light toward the hemorrhoid tissue to cause scars, which block blood flow to the hemorrhoids.
- Electrocoagulation: Similar to infrared photocoagulation, this procedure uses electric current to cause scar tissue.
Some people may be embarrassed to speak with their doctor about hemorrhoids, but the condition is so common that your doctor will not be surprised if you bring it up. Thereâs no need to live with the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids. Prompt treatment will allow you to live your life more comfortably.
About Dr David Heiman
Dr. David R. Heiman is Endoscopy Medical Director and a gastroenterologist at Florida Medical Clinics North Tampa location. He specializes in treating patients with conditions like hemorrhoids, IBS, GERD, and hepatitis, as well as performing endoscopies and colon cancer screenings. Dr. Heiman is dedicated to helping patients find treatment plans that work best for them and that address all of their medical concerns.
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General Surgeon & Colorectal Specialist
A general surgeon and a colorectal specialist can perform surgeries on hemorrhoids if they are severe enough in the form of a hemorrhoidectomy. Hemorrhoids may require surgery when they dont respond to non-surgical treatments or if it prolapses.
These doctors can perform hemorrhoid surgery and send you home that day after a brief observation and discussing aftercare to you and a trusted family member.
Bleeding During Bowel Movements
There are many underlying causes of rectal bleeding, including hemorrhoids. Blood associated with internal hemorrhoids is typically bright red, causes no pain, occurs with bowel movements, and may be mild to moderate in amount.
You cant assume, however, that your symptoms are due to hemorrhoids. If youve never been diagnosed with hemorrhoids or have noted a change in the characteristics of the bleeding youve associated with hemorrhoids, see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
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What Can My Doctor Do For Hemorrhoids
There are many ways that hemorrhoids can be handled and treated. These options vary depending on the condition, severity and location of the hemorrhoids. Below are methods that may be employed to treat your hemorrhoids.
1. Injections
Internal hemorrhoids may be injected with a solution that causes a scar to be formed and close off the hemorrhoids. This procedure will only hurt a little but is usually very effective.
2. Cauterization or Coagulation
This method is a painless method of burning off, removing and sealing the end of the hemorrhoids with an electric probe, infrared light or laser beam.
The Coagulation method allows the hemorrhoid to close and shrink and is most effective for treating prolapsed hemorrhoids.
3. Rubber band ligation
Rubber band ligations are also mostly employed in cases of prolapsed hemorrhoids as well as protruding internal hemorrhoids that have been pushed outside .
In this treatment, the doctor will put a small rubber band around the hemorrhoid to cut off blood supply to the tissues therein.
Rubber band ligations will usually cause the hemorrhoid to dry up, shrink in size and fall due to the unavailability of blood.
4. Surgery or Hemorrhoidectomy
For large internal or external hemorrhoids that keep on worsening and bring excruciating discomfort to the patient, a surgical procedure may be required to remove the hemorrhoids or a newer technique using staples may be applied.
Most of these medical treatments are effective in treating hemorrhoids.