Hemorrhoids, When Should You See A Doctor?

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are varicose veins in the anal canal. They are more common in people over age 50, but they can happen to anyone at any time. Symptoms include pain, itching, and bleeding during bowel movements, as well as feeling like there is something stuck inside of you. 

The symptoms include leakage of mucus around your anus, which causes itching and burning sensations. When these leakages are not cleaned thoroughly, they may cause rashes or sores on the skin around your anus. You should see a doctor if you have them because they can be caused by too much pressure on your pelvic floor muscles—caused by heavy lifting or even pregnancy—which leads to piles.

What are hemorrhoid symptoms?

First of all, they can be identified as bulges outside the anus, and they can itch or bleed. This is an indication that they have grown inside your anal canal. Not only do piles cause bleeding, but you may also feel like you need to go to the bathroom more often than usual and that there is something stuck in your rectum. This feeling usually comes with pain that worsens during bowel movements and sitting for a long time. 

When they become bigger, it makes sense they block regular bowel movements, which leads to constipation, making it difficult for stool to pass through. You may also feel pressure and pain around your piles. If this occurs, blood will accumulate in the rectal tissue, which causes itching and burning sensations.

How to identify hemorrhoids?

During a medical examination, the doctors can identify them by feeling the outside of the anus for bulges. Sometimes bleeding can be seen, but it’s rare for them to cause visible external hemorrhoids. It is normal to get piles, and they usually go away on their own after a few days or weeks without any treatment needed.

You have very painful hemorrhoids that don’t get better with home care; If they last more than two months (despite taking care of yourself); If they come back after treatment; You have hemorrhoids and are pregnant.

When should you see a doctor about your hemorrhoids?

The main reason to call the doctor if you suspect hemorrhoids is when you notice drastic changes in your bowel habits, such as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. It’s also important to call the doctor if your piles aren’t better in two weeks or more, or you see blood in your stool, the leaking mucus already described, or feel like something is sticking out of your anus.

What are treatments for hemorrhoids?

The treatment you receive will depend on your symptoms and how severe your piles are. They can be treated with home care measures like increasing fiber intake (to soften stools) and topical ointments. There are also medical procedures that can be used, depending on the chart.

The most common treatments include:

• Rubber band ligation, which involves placing rubber bands around your piles that cut off their blood supply until they fall off
• Sclerotherapy, which involves injecting a chemical solution into hemorrhoidal veins to cause them to collapse 
• Hemorrhoidectomy (surgical removal of hemorrhoids)
• Infrared coagulation or infrared photocoagulation, which uses laser energy to treat rectal tissue 
• Electrical excision, which requires cutting out rectal tissue with an electrical wire looped through a tube-like instrument; 
• Dilation and curettage involve widening the piles to remove rectal tissue with a balloon-like device known as a dilator.

Is it necessary to get surgery for hemorrhoids?

If they last longer than two months or come back after treatment, you should see your doctor about other possible treatments. In some cases, they may be so painful that your doctor recommends hemorrhoidectomy. The most common reason for hemorrhoidectomy is when other measures haven’t been successful in the past. If this procedure does not treat your symptoms successfully, another one should be done within six months of the first operation.

Types of surgeries for hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoidectomy – Surgical removal of hemorrhoids using a scalpel, electrocautery (burning off rectal tissue), laser, or surgical scissors; Procedures to lift hemorrhoids from beneath the skin – In cases where hemorrhoidectomy is not enough, these procedures can be performed. 

How do you prevent hemorrhoids?

Prevention isn’t always possible because they’re prevalent and sometimes happen. However, if you want to avoid piles, here are some things you can do:

Take care of your bowel habits by going to the bathroom when you feel a need. Do not hold in stool. Eat a high fiber, healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and other complex carbohydrates which add bulk to stool and soften them; Be active – Move around at least 30 minutes per day; Reduce your intake of coffee, tea, and cola drinks that contain caffeine which narrows blood vessels and slows circulation; Avoid constipation.

Ask your doctor about HemWell, an FDA-approved, pain-free treatment that’s permanent. If your provider doesn’t offer HemWell, we can assist you in finding one that does. Please visit our website to learn more about this life-changing treatment. Learn more about hemorrhoids.