What Doctor To See If You Have Hemorrhoids

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• Why do I have hemorrhoids?
• Are there any lifestyle changes I can do that can relieve or prevent hemorrhoids?
• I saw blood on toilet paper. Is this serious?
• Are having hemorrhoids a sign of another health condition?
• Will I always have hemorrhoids?
• Is there medicine I can take for hemorrhoids? Are there side effects?

Who To See For Hemorrhoids

In most cases, your or primary care physician can help you manage hemorrhoids. However, if the hemorrhoids are severe, you may need to see a hemorrhoid doctor, such as a or a . These providers 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 the hemorrhoids.

• Hemorrhoid 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 towards the 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 wont be surprised if you bring it up. Theres no need to live with the pain and discomfort of hemorrhoids. Prompt treatment will allow you to live your life more comfortably.

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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Causes And Risk Factors Of Hemorrhoids

You may be more likely to get hemorrhoids if other family members, like your parents, had them.

Pressure building up in your lower rectum can affect blood flow and make the veins there swell. That may happen from:

• Pushing during bowel movements
• Anal sex

People who stand or sit for long stretches of time are at greater risk, too.

You may get them when you have constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t clear up. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting could make them worse.

How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last

How long hemorrhoids last will vary from person to person.

In general, small hemorrhoids can go away on their own in a few days. Larger hemorrhoids, particularly ones that cause a lot of pain, swelling, and itchiness, cant go away on their own and may require treatment from a doctor to heal. Pregnant patients may find that hemorrhoids only go away after they give birth.

Its possible for hemorrhoids to return after theyve been treated. A gastroenterologist can help recommend solutions if you find youre struggling with hemorrhoids that dont go away or keep coming back.

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When To See A Doctor For Hemorrhoids

How long do hemorrhoids last? The answer to this is variable. Treatment for small hemorrhoids may work within a few days, while larger hemorrhoids may last much longer. Most hemorrhoids can be managed at home but if the or bleeding is severe; you are soiling yourself with stool; the hemorrhoids keep returning; or you are experiencing pain, bleeding and itching from the hemorrhoids after a week, consider seeing your doctor for assessment and treatment.

Although not common, if you experience , , or large amounts of bleeding from your rectum, this is an emergency and you should seek medical help immediately.

Hemorrhoid Treatment At Home

Hemorrhoid symptoms can be quite uncomfortable but there are several treatments you can do at home that may help relieve the pain and discomfort.

• Take a warm bath or sitz bath for 10 to 15 minutes after each bowel movement.

• Clean around your anal area gently each day with warm water.

• Do not use alcohol-based or perfumed cleaning wipes around your anus. These cause drying and irritation.

• Moisten toilet tissue before using it to clean after a bowel movement.

• Apply cold compresses to your anus.

• Use stool softeners.

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, including acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

You may help prevent hemorrhoids from forming or from worsening with some lifestyle changes as well. They include:

• Dont while moving your bowels.

• Limit the amount of time sitting on the toilet.

• Increase fiber in your diet. Fiber helps give stool bulk so it can be moved through your intestines, and it also helps water remain in the stool so it doesnt get too dry and difficult to pass.

• Increase fluid intake. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water and other liquids to help keep your stool soft.

• Exercise regularly. This will help regulate and stimulate your bowels.

• Apply topical ointments. Over-the-counter creams and suppositories can help relieve pain and reduce swelling.

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Hemorrhoids Bleeding Could Be Normal Or They Could Be More Serious

Bleeding during bowel movements is a common hemorrhoids symptom. But how do you know if your bleeding hemorrhoids are bad enough that you should see a doctor? Here at CRH, we want to make sure you know the difference between normal hemorrhoid bleeding and something that could potentially be more serious.

Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins within the anus that often rupture. This is why its not uncommon to see a little bit of bright red blood, either on the paper or in the toilet, during bowel movements. However, if you have hemorrhoids and youre experiencing an abnormal amount of bleeding from the rectum, its time to call a doctor. You should also contact a physician if you start to notice that the bleeding is consistent or happening when youre NOT having a bowel movement.

How Long Do Hemorrhoids Take To Heal

For many people, hemorrhoids last and last. Ongoing pain is especially common for people over age 50. For many people, hemorrhoidal pain returns years after treatment, and for many others the condition comes and goes, becoming more common over time.

Do Hemorrhoids Ever Go Away on Their Own?

Sometimes they do. Smaller hemorrhoids are apt to go away in just a few days. Its a good idea during this time to avoid further irritating your rectal area by keeping the area as clean as you can.

How Can You Make Hemorrhoids Go Away?

Tougher cases of hemorrhoids may not go away on their own. After trying home remedies and over-the-counter options without success, you will need to talk to your doctor about other treatment options.

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Is It Internal Or External Hemorrhoids

If your symptoms include internal itching, anal bleeding anda bulge that comes and goes with bowel movements, an internal hemorrhoid is thelikely culprit.

However, some people are more bothered by externalhemorrhoids, which can cause swelling, itching and bleeding, and be unsightly.Visible bumps and tags are common with external hemorrhoids.

How Do You Get A Hemorrhoid To Stop Bleeding

Unfortunately, theres not much you can do to stop internal hemorrhoids from bleeding, you have to let the flare-up run its course.;

However, rectal bleeding should subside fairly quickly, and you shouldnt experience a lot of blood, either.; Often, the bleeding will occur after a bowel movement or if you are straining on the toilet.;

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There Are Two Types Of Hemorrhoids:

• Internal Hemorrhoids
• External Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids develop inside of the anal cavity. It is impossible to see this type of hemorrhoid, unlike external hemorrhoids which are visible in the mirror as they develop outside of the anal sphincter. In some situations, it is possible to feel the presence of an internal hemorrhoid just inside the anal cavity, but you cant always depend on this.

If you have never had hemorrhoids before, then you may have a few questions as to the specifics of the condition. Here is a quick guide to how to determine whether or not you have hemorrhoids with answers to a couple of frequently asked questions.

What Training Does A Proctologist Have

To become a proctologist, you must first become a general surgeon. This includes 5 years of surgical residency after medical school. During their training, the general surgeons learn to perform different types of surgeries, such as hernia surgery, hemorrhoidal surgery, gallbladder surgery, breast surgery, and even vascular surgery. Thereafter, they do an extra year of specialized surgical training in surgeries on the colon, rectum, and anus to practice as a proctologist.

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How To Tell If You Have Internal Hemorrhoids

This article was co-authored by Chris M. Matsko, MD. Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 95,111 times.

Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins that can be found either externally or internally around the anus. They are caused by increased pressure on the pelvic and rectal veins and are related to constipation, diarrhea, and straining to pass a stool. Internal hemorrhoids can be difficult to self diagnose, but there are some signs and symptoms that you can be aware of.

When To Go See A Doctor If You Suspect That You Have Hemorrhoids

Bleeding during bowel movements is the most common sign of hemorrhoids. Rectal bleeding can also be a sign of other serious conditions, so it is important that you see a doctor in order to rule out other conditions and confirm hemorrhoids. A simple physical exam and medical history can help to confirm this.

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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.

What Do Hemorrhoids Look Like

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that develop in the lining of the anal and rectal cavity. External hemorrhoids, being the only type visible to the naked eye, are the easiest to spot. These hemorrhoids look like small bulbs or growths of skin that stick out of the anal sphincter.

The color of hemorrhoids is typically the same as that of your skin, but may be red or blue depending on the severity. The size of the hemorrhoid will also vary depending on the severity.

You will only see an internal hemorrhoid with the help of an endoscopic camera, such as that is used in a colonoscopy. An image of internal hemorrhoids will show small growths sticking out of the lining of the anal cavity.

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What Can My Doctor Do To Fix Hemorrhoids Can They Shrink Them

There are multiple ways a hemorrhoid doctor or general practitioner can treat hemorrhoids if they arent responding to an increase in fiber, fluids, exercise, and over-the-counter treatments. Your doctor can handle many of those treatments during a routine office visit. The doctor uses several different methods to cut off blood flow to the hemorrhoidal area, which stops bleeding and often reduces swelling, shrinking the hemorrhoid without cutting it off.

Methods include:

Noticing An Anal Bulge That Retracts After Passing Stools

When you have internal hemorrhoids, they can prolapse your anal opening during a bowel movement. At first, the tissue may retract on its own, or you can easily push it back inside. But a prolapse can worsen over time and can eventually cause significant irritation, bleeding, itching, and pain as this internal tissue becomes trapped outside of your anus.;

Get early treatment to prevent a prolapse from growing worse.

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Preventing And Treating Haemorrhoids

Haemorrhoid symptoms often;settle down after;a few days, without needing treatment. Haemorrhoids that occur during pregnancy often get better after giving birth.

However, making lifestyle changes to reduce the strain on;the blood vessels in and around your anus is often recommended. These can include:

• gradually;increasing the amount of fibre in your diet good sources of fibre include fruit, vegetables, wholegrain rice, wholewheat pasta and bread, pulses and beans, seeds, nuts and oats
• drinking plenty of fluid; particularly water,;but avoiding or;cutting down on caffeine and alcohol
• not delaying going to the toilet ignoring the urge to empty your bowels can make your stools harder and drier, which can lead to straining when you do go to the toilet
• avoiding medication that causes constipation such as painkillers that contain codeine
• losing weight
• exercising regularly can help prevent constipation, reduce your blood pressure and help you lose weight

These measures can also reduce;the risk of haemorrhoids returning, or even developing;in the first place.

Medication that you apply directly to your back passage or tablets bought from a pharmacy or prescribed by your GP may ease your symptoms and make it easier for you to pass stools.

Surgery carried out under;general anaesthetic is sometimes;used to;remove or shrink;large or external haemorrhoids.

Read more about;treating haemorrhoids;and surgery for haemorrhoids.

Are Hemorrhoids Normal When To See A Doctor

Hemorrhoids are normal and common — and three out of every four adults will have them at some point. While they can be uncomfortable and painful, home remedies, such as hydrocortisone cream, can provide some relief. But if topical creams and other conservative therapies dont help, we can often treat hemorrhoids right in the office.

When your hemorrhoids have got the best of you, come to see us at California Colorectal Surgeons in Beverly Hills, California. Our experienced colon and rectal surgeons do a full evaluation to determine what treatments can be done immediately in the office, or they may discuss the different surgery options, if thats what you need.;

An exam is especially important if youre experiencing any bleeding, because we need to make sure its not the sign of another condition like anal or colorectal cancer.;

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Symptoms Of Internal Hemorrhoids

Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids vary depending on their severity. Even as hemorrhoids worsen, you arent likely to experience pain due to the lack of nerve endings in the lower rectal area. Pain associated with hemorrhoids is typically caused by an associated condition, such as anal fissures or external hemorrhoids.

If you cant feel internal hemorrhoids, then how do you know theyre there?;

In most cases, its because you begin to notice bleeding. You may see blood in your stool or notice it on the toilet paper when you wipe. Because this blood has a short path to travel outside the body, it should be bright red. You may not notice it right away if the bleeding is light.

While bleeding is the most common indicator of internal hemorrhoids, you may experience other symptoms if a hemorrhoid prolapses. This typically happens during a bowel movement, and in many cases, the tissue will go back in on its own. In other cases, you may have to push the tissue back in. In the case of Grade IV hemorrhoids, the tissue will remain prolapsed.

Its important to note that bleeding is also a common symptom of colorectal cancer, as well as internal hemorrhoids. Thats why we recommend you see a physician right away if you are experiencing any rectal bleeding, especially if it is accompanied by other suspect symptoms.;

Only a qualified physician can accurately diagnose internal hemorrhoids.;

How Do I Know If What I Have Is A Hemorrhoid Or Something Else

The way to be absolutely sure is to visit a gastroenterologist who can properly examine your condition. After all, its all too easy to confuse the symptoms of a hemorrhoid with that of an anal fissure or something more serious.

Overall, its worth remembering that the pain of a hemorrhoid is pretty much constant whereas the pain of an anal fissure is at its highest just after passing a stool . A hemorrhoid often involves a lot more swelling around the area. But to absolutely be certain, Id recommend getting it examined by a medical professional.

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