Colon Rectal/Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids, are swollen and inflamed veins in your anus and rectum. A sometimes embarrassing topic of discussion, hemorrhoids are common. By age 50, about half of adults deal with the itching, bleeding and pain that often signal the presence of this condition. There are two types of hemorrhoids; internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids don’t typically cause discomfort. You cannot feel or see these hemorrhoids. External hemorrhoids tend to be painful. Sometimes blood may pool in an external hemorrhoid and form a clot (thrombus), causing severe pain.

What are the Signs of Hemorrhoids?

• Bright red blood covering the stool, on the toilet paper, or in the toilet bowl.
• An internal hemorrhoid may protrude through the anus becoming irritated and painful.

• Painful swelling or a hard lump around the anus.
• When irritated they may itch or bleed.

Why Me?

Hemorrhoids usually are not dangerous or life threatening. In most cases, hemorrhoidal symptoms will go away within a few days.

Common causes include:

• Lifting heavy objects
• Aging
• Obesity
• Chronic constipation
• Straining when having a bowel movement
• Diarrhea
• Constant sitting
• Sitting on the toilet for a long time
• Severe coughing
• Anal intercourse
• Child birth/pregnancy

How are Hemorrhoids Treated?

Self Care

• Sitz baths (soaking the rectal area in hot water, in a shallow bath) for 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times/day are a simple and effective treatment for both goals.
• Pain medicine should be used for aching, but burning and itching respond best to surface-acting creams and suppositories.
• To shrink your hemorrhoids back down to normal size, topical medications are again useful.
• Cleanse the entire rectal area with warm water after each bowel movement, and use a bulk fiber laxative to soften stools. This helps eliminate straining with bowel movements.
• Many people use bulk fiber supplements daily to prevent recurrences of hemorrhoids. But remember, bulk fiber may take several days to work. If you have existing hemorrhoids and hard stools are already present, you may want to use an immediate-acting stool softener and laxative to encourage elimination without straining and further aggravating your hemorrhoids.

As a general rule, see your doctor if your hemorrhoids don't improve with self-care, cause pain, or bleed frequently or excessively. But since their bleeding could mask blood from a dangerous source like colorectal cancer, they should be treated.

Treatment

In some cases, hemorrhoids must be treated endoscopically or surgically. These methods are used to shrink and destroy the hemorrhoidal tissue. The doctor will perform the procedure during an office or hospital visit.

A number of methods may be used to remove or reduce the size of hemorrhoids. These techniques include:

• Rubber band ligation. A rubber band is placed around the base of the hemorrhoid inside the rectum. The band cuts off circulation, and the hemorrhoid withers away within a few days.
• Infrared coagulation. A special device is used to burn hemorrhoidal tissue.
• Hemorrhoidectomy. Occasionally, extensive or severe internal or external hemorrhoids may require removal by surgery known as hemorrhoidectomy.

For an appointment call 406-728-0285 or send an email .