Hemorrhoid Remedies You Can Try On Your Own At Home
There are several steps you can take at home to ease the discomfort caused by hemorrhoids:
- Take a sitz bath two to three times daily for 15 to 20 minutes. Sit in warm water, covering just your hips and buttocks. This can help reduce itching and irritation. You can take a sitz bath in a few inches of warm water in a regular tub, but small tubs that fit over toilet seats are also available for this purpose at pharmacies. Following a sitz bath, gently pat the area dry to avoid further irritation.
- Use ice packs on the area to relieve swelling and pain.
- Dont push too hard or strain while passing a bowel movement.
- Keep the area clean by bathing or showering daily with warm water. After bathing, gently pat the area dry. You can even use a hair dryer to dry the area.
- Sit on cushions rather than hard surfaces to help lessen the swelling of hemorrhoids and keep new ones from forming.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin as needed.
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Choosing A Doctor To Treat Your Hemorrhoids
December 22, 2017 by inx Medical
If you suffer from hemorrhoids, the good news is that lower grade hemorrhoids can resolve on their own with at-home treatments. But what if they get to the point where you need to see a doctor to treat them? How do you choose where to go and what doctor is right for you?
Heres what you should know about finding the right doctor for you:
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:
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Where Can I Go For Hemorrhoid Treatment
An essential initial step is to see your doctor for hemorrhoid treatment. You and your doctor can create a hemorrhoid treatment plan that is appropriate for you and your body.
Making an appointment with your doctor is especially critical if you are experiencing any rectal bleeding.
Bright red blood following a bowel movement is a common symptom of hemorrhoids, but it could be a sign of something more serious. Let your doctor determine if you need additional tests because after all, its better to be safe than sorry.
Many treatment options can be done in your own home. Your local drugstore carries all sorts of ointments, creams, wipes, cushions, supplements, and suppositories that are all designed for hemorrhoid relief.
These over the counter medications are effective in treating hemorrhoids, and for your convenience, can be found at nearly every type of store in your area.
If your family doctor feels it necessary, he or she will recommend or send you to a specialist. Hemorrhoids are easily treatable, but in some cases, our genetics can make this anorectal condition reluctant to respond with basic treatments, and can often produce reoccurring, life-hindering flare-ups.
Cases such as these are better to be dealt with the capable hands of a gastroenterologist or proctologist. At the first sign of hemorrhoids, however, you dont have to worry about going to see one of these specialists right away.
How Is Rectal Bleeding Diagnosed
When you see a doctor for rectal bleeding, youll be asked a series of questions to help identify the cause. These can include when the rectal bleeding began, any foods you ate prior to the onset of symptoms, if you were constipated, and if you were straining during your bowel movement.
Your doctor will also perform a full medical exam and take your medical history.
Tests that may help determine the cause of rectal bleeding include:
- Colonoscopy, in which a long, flexible tube with a tiny camera on its tip is inserted into the rectum. This allows your doctor to view the inside of the entire colon and look for any abnormalities, notes the Mayo Clinic.
- Sigmoidoscopy, in which a healthcare provider uses a sigmoidoscope, a flexible tube with a light and camera, to view the lower part of your colon and rectum. This test can help diagnose bowel disorders and cancer, per the Mayo Clinic.
- Fecal occult blood test, which is a lab test to detect hidden, or occult, blood in stool. The test can be done in a few different ways, either by the patient collecting stool samples and returning them to their doctor or a lab, or using a flushable pad or tissue that changes color when blood is present, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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When Should I Worry About My Hemorrhoids And See A Doctor
You should see a doctor when youre suffering from any of the following symptoms:
- Milder symptoms like itching that dont stop after a week.
- A feeling of being full in your rectum even after youve had a bowel movement.
While hemorrhoids are generally mild, you should see a doctor to at least rule out anything more serious.
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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.
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What Can I Do To Help Prevent Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are prevalent, with up to seventy-five percent of people suffering from a case in their lifetimes. You cant prevent every case of hemorrhoids! But you can take steps to reduce the chances of having hemorrhoids in the first place, and to reduce the severity if you do get them.
There are two main strategies for hemorrhoid prevention: changing your diet and changing your lifestyle.
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Hemorrhoid Care At Allegheny Health Network: Why Choose Us
Our colorectal surgeons successfully treat minor to severe types of hemorrhoids in less-invasive ways. They can treat many hemorrhoid symptoms with an outpatient procedure in our offices, which allows you to be home resting just hours after treatment.
People also choose us for our:
- Extensive colorectal training: Our surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Not every physician who treats hemorrhoids has this certification. It denotes a high level of training and the ability to provide an expert level of care.
- Surgical expertise: Our surgeons use sophisticated robots and techniques to safely treat hemorrhoids in difficult-to-reach locations. These innovations help you experience significant symptom relief for longer.
- Symptom relief sooner: Our expertise coupled with same-day appointments help provide quick diagnoses so you can feel relief sooner â sometimes the same day we evaluate your symptoms.
- Convenience: We offer diagnosis and treatment services at several hospitals and outpatient clinics in the surrounding community. This means you can get comprehensive hemorrhoid care, close to home.
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How Long Does Hemorrhoid Removal Recovery Take
You will likely start to feel discomfort once the anesthesia and pain medication wears off. This may last anywhere from a week to up to two months after the procedure, and you may also notice some bleeding. This is normal. Your doctor will give you pain medication or you may be able to take over-the-counter medication. Your doctor may also give you stool softeners to make your bowel movements easier since you want to avoid straining.
If you have hemorrhoids, you have options to manage them or get them removed. A PACT colorectal surgeon can help you determine whether they can be treated at home or if they will require surgery to remove them.
What Kind Of Doctor Do I Need To See For My Hemorrhoids
A number of medical practitioners and doctors are all experienced and qualified to manage your hemorrhoids.
You may speak to the following types of medical professionals or doctors for hemorrhoids:
- General Practicioner
- General Surgeon
Hemorrhoids during pregnancy can be very difficult to deal with. If you are pregnant with hemorrhoids, worry not, our hemorrhoids during pregnancy guide will help you manage your hemorrhoids in the best possible way.
Depending on the treatment, surgery may or may not be required.
A Colorectal surgeon or Proctologist may be required in severe cases that require operating on your hemorrhoids.
Most of these procedures can be performed in the doctors office to help shrink or remove the hemorrhoids.
Laser hemorrhoid surgery is also an option for your hemorrhoids, and you will want to make sure you choose an experienced hemorrhoid doctor when opting for laser hemorrhoid surgery.
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Continue Learning About Hemorrhoids
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
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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Types Of Hemorrhoid Surgery
Surgeries for hemorrhoids can be divided into simpler, outpatient, and less invasive procedures you can do without anesthesia and more complex, inpatient surgeries.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, and whether you have complications, your doctor will determine whether you need surgery and the type of procedure best for you.
The severity of hemorrhoids is classified by grades as follows:
- Grade 1: no prolapse
- Grade 2: prolapse that goes away by itself
- Grade 3: prolapse that you have to push back in on your own
- Grade 4: prolapse that you cant push in on your own and causes you pain
Related Conditions And Causes Of Hemorrhoids
Gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and diarrhea can lead to or worsen hemorrhoids. The prolonged sitting or straining that may occur when you’re dealing with these issues puts pressure on the hemorrhoidal tissue.
Hemorrhoids also often develop during pregnancy. This is similarly due to greater pressure in the area but can also be due to an increase in blood volume and as a result of hormonal changes that increase the likelihood of swelling. Constipation during pregnancy is a common cause of hemorrhoids.
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When Hemorrhoid Surgery May Be Necessary
Very few people fewer than 10 percent of all adults who see a doctor because of symptomatic hemorrhoids will require a surgical operation.
Surgery to remove hemorrhoids is called a hemorrhoidectomy.
Your doctor may recommend a hemorrhoidectomy if:
- You have large external hemorrhoids
- You have both internal and external hemorrhoids
- An internal hemorrhoid has prolapsed
- You have excessive bleeding
In a hemorrhoidectomy, the doctor makes a small incision to remove the hemorrhoid and surrounding tissue before closing the wound with stitches.
A hemorrhoidectomy is performed in an operating room and can be done under general anesthesia, in which you are unconscious and unable to feel pain.
Hemorrhoidectomy is associated with postoperative pain, but the procedure is successful for 95 percent of cases.
More recently, another option aimed at avoiding the postoperative pain of a hemorrhoidectomy has become available, called a stapled hemorrhoidopexy. A circular stapling device pulls the hemorrhoidal tissue upward and to its normal position, stapling it in place. The staples eventually fall out over time.
According to a study published in the journal Techniques in Coloproctology, in the long term, patient satisfaction, resolution of symptoms, quality of life, and functional outcome appeared similar among patients after stapled hemorrhoidopexy and hemorrhoidectomy. But other sources note that stapling has been associated with a greater risk of recurrence and rectal prolapse.
The Right Doctor Will Listen & Answer Your Questions
A doctor should listen to your questions and concerns and answer them in a way you understand. They will also help you understand your treatment options and feel comfortable discussing the problem.
After treatment, your doctor should thoroughly go over aftercare and how you can treat yourself at home to lessen symptoms and heal.
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Procedure For Prolapse And Hemorrhoids
PPH is also called a stapled hemorrhoidectomy. The doctor will use a stapler-like device to reposition the hemorrhoids and cut off their blood supply. Without blood, they’ll eventually shrivel and die.
This procedure moves the hemorrhoid to where there are fewer nerve endings, so it hurts less than a traditional hemorrhoidectomy. You’ll also recover faster and have less bleeding and itching. And there are generally fewer complications.
Prevention Of Rectal Bleeding
The best way to prevent rectal bleeding is to prevent its chief causes.
People at high risk for colorectal cancer should undergo regular screenings, primarily colonoscopy. Colorectal cancer screenings can detect precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screenings can also identify colorectal cancer early, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
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When To See A Gastroenterologist
In the U.S., it is estimated that by age 50, about half of the population has experienced one or more of the classic symptoms of hemorrhoids. But only about 4.4% seek treatment for the condition at any one time.
It’s fine to start with over-the-counter treatments, says Dr. Dacha.
“There are quite a few over-the-counter treatments that are available for treatment,” says Dr. Dacha. “These include steroids like Preparation H, Proctofoam cream and Perineal Ice Packs. Then there is a sitz bath that can shrink the hemorrhoids. So there are quite a few over-the-counter options available for patients.”
If none of those work, it’s time to see a gastroenterologist. Here are some tell-tale signs:
- Rectal bleeding
What Is The Best Doctor For Hemorrhoid Surgery
While a proctologist is commonly known as the specialist to handle these types of conditions, it is actually a gastroenterologist that treats hemorrhoids.
Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat conditions that affect the digestive tract. This can include the:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Some gastroenterologists perform surgery under anesthesia. In more severe cases, your GI doctor may refer you to a proctologist, or colorectal surgeon.
Most patients who see a colorectal surgeon must see a GI doctor first for a referral.
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Change Your Lifestyle To Decrease Strain On Your Bowels
When you feel the urge to defecate, dont hesitate! The longer stool remains within the body, the more your body draws water from it. However, when youre defecating, dont bear down or strain to push the stool out of your body. If youre straining to move your bowels, its time to get more fluids and fiber in your diet.d
You can also help move your bowels by getting regular exercise. A twenty-minute daily constitutional can provide all kinds of health benefits, including helping your bowels move.
If you can avoid sitting for prolonged periods, it will help keep weight and strain off your bottom!
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Lifestyle Modifications To Minimize The Risk For Hemorrhoids
Healthy bowel habits and lifestyle modifications can significantly lower the risk for hemorrhoids.
- Avoid sitting in the toilet for too long , e.g. reading a book and using mobile phone, as it may increase the pressure on the hemorrhoids.
- Do not hold in stool when the urge comes to hard stool and difficult bowel movements.
- Avoid excessive straining.
- Taking high-fiber diet e.g. fruits and vegetables.
- Drink plenty of water, at least 6-8 cups per day to help keep stools soft.
Recurrent hemorrhoids are considerably common. However, the severity might be varied. Among the several treatment options, the most appropriate approach for each patient will be discussed in detail with the coloproctologist / colorectal surgeon who will definitely take clinical presentations, disease severity and patients overall health conditions and concerns into account.
Laser hemorrhoidoplasty is considered a minimally invasive procedure for hemorrhoid treatment. The procedure allows the patient to achieve the best possible outcomes with minimal discomfort, rapid recovery. The patient will return to daily routine quicker with a good quality of life.
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Research And Statistics: Who Gets Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are very common in both men and women, affecting about 1 in 20 Americans. The most common time to get hemorrhoids is between ages 45 and 65. Hemorrhoids are also common in pregnant women.
By age 50, about half of us have experienced hemorrhoid symptoms, such as itching, bleeding, and rectal pain. At any given time, about 10 million Americans roughly 4 percent of adults have hemorrhoids. Its estimated that 75 percent of Americans will have hemorrhoids at some point in their lives.
How To Find A Hemorrhoids Doctor Near Me
There are many ways to find a hemorrhoid doctor in your area. For starters, your primary care physician is a great place to start.
Not only can they treat your hemorrhoids, they can refer you to a specialist if there is a need.
Because some insurance companies require a referral to cover the expenses associated with specialists, you may be required to see your general practitioner first.
Although hemorrhoids are extremely common, most patients dont like to talk about the fact that they have them.
Close family members you are comfortable with may have suggestions for a hemorrhoid doctor.
If you dont feel comfortable talking to a family member about hemorrhoid treatment, there are many online websites that review medical providers.
Search for hemorrhoid doctors near me online. Online review sites like Yelp and Google can show real reviews from patients who have experience working directly with the provider you are looking at.
Do some research on the provider and their medical practice.
You want to find a hemorrhoid doctor that has both the ability to treat your condition effectively and the experience to give you the confidence in your provider.
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