How to get rid of Hemorrhoids?
Difficulty in bowel and straining to discharge it can become a major cause of hemorrhoids and the existing hemorrhoids can be triggered to severity by hard feces. Engaging more in fibrous diets is highly recommended to help soften a patient’s stool. A high-fiber diet includes fiber-rich edibles such as grains like wheat, cereals, fresh fruits as well as fresh vegetables. Approximately 20-30 grams of fiber is recommended to be consumed each day while the American diet prescribes less than 15 grams only.
Increased intake of fibers may also be achieved through supplemental fibers. You may also lessen the effect of hemorrhoids by using stool softeners and by increased consumption of water. Anti-motility medication also helps controlling diarrhea, a complication that contributes to hemorrhoid symptoms to aggravate more.
Hemorrhoid can be treated at home most of the time or without the need of medical attention. Changes in your life style can make a lot of difference. But still medical and surgical procedures can be done to treat hemorrhoids if needed.
Medications for hemorrhoids
If you have mild hemorrhoid, over-the-counter medicine can be prescribed by your doctor such as creams, ointment etc. These products may contain ‘witch hazel’ or ‘hydrocortisone’ which can relieve the pain and itch which comes along with hemorrhoids. Unless you are not directed by your doctor, do not use over-the-counter medications for more than a week, as it may cause inflammation, rashes etc.
Minimally invasive procedures for hemorrhoids
If there is any blood clotting in the external hemorrhoid, having a simple incision can be of immediate relief. If the bleeding or the hemorrhoid hurts, counter medications or procedures can be prescribed by your doctor that can be done inside the doctor’s clinic or other outpatient set-up.
Rubber band ligation: The hemorrhoid tissues are cut off by surrounding one or two rubber bands at the base of an internal hemorrhoid which causes it to subside. After a few days the hemorrhoid will disappear. This method is proven to be effective by many. However, one side effect of this method is that this can get a little uncomfortable and you may experience bleeding, which can be in effect for two to four days after the treatment.
*Injection (sclerotherapy): Compared to the other treatments this can be less effective and it involves little or no pain at all. In this procedure the doctor injects a chemical solution into the hemorrhoid tissue to make it smaller.
*Coagulation (infrared, laser or bipolar): This procedure is done using a laser or infrared light. With the use of this technique the internal hardened hemorrhoid is removed. Sometimes this can cause bleeding. But the chance of hemorrhoid to come back is high as compared to the rubber band method.
Surgical Procedures for hemorrhoids
If the above mentioned options fail to cure your problem, you can still take recourse to surgery. You can either be an outpatient or you can even stay in the hospital still the surgery process if completely over.
Hemorrhoidectomy: This procedure is said to be the most effective to remove hemorrhoids. An excessive tissue that causes bleeding is removed with this treatment. Although this method is claimed to be the most effective it is said to have the highest rate of complications. One of these complications is having UTI (Urinary Tract Infections) and difficulty to empty your bladder. Some even experience pain after the procedure, but you can take medicines to relieve the pain. Warm bath also helps to reduce the pain. This can be done under a local anesthetic with sedation, general anesthetic or spinal anesthetic.
Stapling: This treatment is also knows as Stapled hemorrhoidectomy. Through this method, the same excessive tissue is removed in a different way. However, this method causes little pain and helps in early recovery. Stapling has also a high rate of hemorrhoid recurrence and rectal prolapse.