Deal With Hemorrhoids

Many people suffer the irritation and annoyance of hemorrhoids. About 4.4% of Americans will develop hemorrhoids at some point in their lives. Hemorrhoids result from the dilation of the vascular tissue in the anal canal. While they can be painful and uncomfortable, there are some things you can do to deal with them.

Steps

Easing Discomfort

1. Recognize the symptoms. Internal hemorrhoids are usually painless but cause irritation and bleeding, while external hemorrhoids are typically painful and less likely to bleed. Some patients have both. They are more common amongst women who are pregnant, those with increased abdominal pressure due to liver disease, or those who are constipated because of medications, lack of dietary fiber, or lack of water. All of these conditions and situations cause increased straining during defecation, which contributes to the dilatation, engorgement, and prolapse of the hemorrhoidal tissue inside the anus. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include:
   • Mucoid discharge from your anus
   • Bleeding in the anal region
   • Swelling of the anal region
   • Discomfort or pain
   • Poor hygiene due to fecal leakage
   • Anal itching
   • Burning during bowel movements
   • Severe pain from a hemorrhoid that has a blot clot trapped inside
2. Seek medical attention. If you experience more severe symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.There could be a more advanced hemorrhoid or another underlying condition present. You should also seek medical attention if your hemorrhoids:
   • Are accompanied by a change in bowel habits
   • Are accompanied by the passing black, tarry, or maroon stools, which can indicate excessive bleeding in your digestive tract.
   • Cause large amounts of rectal bleeding
   • Cause lightheadedness, faintness, or dizziness
3. Apply over the counter creams. To help relieve the discomfort of hemorrhoids, you can use over the counter creams,which can relieve itching and irritation caused by hemorrhoids. Look for hydrocortisone cream with 1% hydrocortisone for the best results on internal hemorrhoids. Suppositories tend to work better for external hemorrhoids.
   • You can also use pads that have witch hazel or a numbing agent to help irritation.
   • Do not use creams for more than a week without being told to by your doctor. It can cause increased irritation and skin thinning.
4. Try a sitz bath. A sitz bath is a bowl-like device that fits over the toilet and is available in most drugstores. Fill it with plain warm water and sit in it for 10 to 15 minutes. You can repeat four to five times a day to ease pain and irritation.
   • You can also sit in a plain warm bath for 10 to 15 minutes instead.
5. Use an ice pack. Hemorrhoids can cause swelling, which can be irritating and uncomfortable. Use an ice pack to help ease the swelling and irritation. You can use a pre-made ice pack or make your own with ice in a resealable bag. Just make sure you wrap it in a towel so the cold does not have direct contact with your skin.
   • Limit the amount of time you use a cold compress at one time. Leave it on for no more than 20 minutes to avoid frostbite or low blood pressure.
6. Buy wet wipes. Dry toilet paper can irritate your hemorrhoids and cause excessive irritation. Instead of using dry toilet paper, buy wet wipes to use when you go to the restroom. Even when you just urinate, use the wet wipes so the dry toilet does not get rubbed over your irritated anal region at all.
   • If you don't have wet wipes, try using wet toilet paper until you can get some. This may be kind of irritating because wet toilet paper is not nearly as strong.
   • In addition to using wet wipes to keep cleaner and avoid irritation, you should also shower or bath daily to keep your anal region clean. This will help cut down on discomfort and irritation as well as help relieve swelling.
7. Take pain relievers. The pain of your hemorrhoids can be relieved by over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). This will temporarily reduce any pain and discomfort related to your hemorrhoids.
   • Avoid OTC painkillers such as aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), or ibuprofen (Advil) if your hemorrhoids are bleeding or you have GI issues, as they can cause issues with blood clotting.
   • If you are taking any additional medication, ask your doctor about possible interactions.

Relieving Constipation

1. Eat more fiber. Constipation can cause hemorrhoids, which can be relieved with an increase in fiber. You should get at least 30 to 35 grams of fiber a day. You can accomplish eating more food with fiber. You should get at least 30 to 35 grams of fiber a day. Try to incorporate more fiber rich foods into your diet. Foods that are high in fiber are:
   • Baked beans
   • Split peas
   • Lentils
   • Black beans
   • Broccoli
   • Sweet corn
   • Bran muffins
   • Bran flakes
   • Popcorn
   • Apples
   • Raspberries
   • Pears
   • Whole grains
2. Take fiber supplements. If you don’t get enough fiber from your diet, you can take fiber supplements to help as well. Psyllium, which is a fiber supplement found in Metamucil, is the typically recommended, but it can leave some people bloated. You can also try Benefiber, which is a less harsh option.
   • Look at the fiber content in each fiber supplement and make sure you don’t get too much every day. This can lead to diarrhea.
3. Stay hydrated. Another way to cut down on constipation is to stay hydrated. You should drink eight to 12 glasses of water per day. Try to space it out throughout the day so you don’t get overly full of water at one time.
   • You can also drink juice and seltzer water if you don’t like plain water all the time.
4. Exercise. One of the best ways to relieve constipation is to exercise every day. The activity helps keep your digestion regular. In addition to digestion, it will also help you be healthier in general.
   • Try running, jogging, swimming, or walking every day for at least 30 minutes. You can also try yoga, pilates, or other exercise routine. Any activity that keeps you moving will help digestion.
5. Take relief medication. There are many different over the counter medications that you can take to help with constipation. You can take stool softeners such as Dulcolax or laxatives such as Ex Lax. They both can help relieve your constipation and help with discomfort.
   • Never take more than one laxative or stool softener at a time. This can cause serious health problems.
   • Always follow the instructions on each medication. Talk to your doctor if your constipation issues last longer than a few weeks, even with preventative methods.
6. Stop medications that cause constipation. Constipation is a common side effect of many prescription and OTC medications. Speak with your doctor before stopping any medication you take regularly, but ask if she can recommend or prescribe a different drug that might not cause constipation.
   • Constipation is the most common side effect of taking opioids (morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone). These are not good options for treating pain from hemorrhoids, as they will only worsen your condition.

Getting Medical Treatments

1. Get rubber band ligation. For advanced hemorrhoids, which are considered have permanently protruded outside of the rectum without possible retraction, you need to see your doctor. He or she may suggest you have rubber band ligation, which is an outpatient procedure. In rubber band ligation, one or two small rubber bands are placed around the base of the hemorrhoid to cut off the circulation. Because of this, the hemorrhoid loses its blood supply, which causes it to shrink and fall off within a week of the procedure.
   • This procedure can be uncomfortable and can cause bleeding. This generally starts two to four days after the ligation, but it is rarely severe bleeding.
2. Try sclerotherapy. There is a method that can be used to remove your hemorrhoids called sclerotherapy, which is a procedure where a chemical solution is injected into the hemorrhoid tissue in order to shrink it. There is generally very little pain.
   • This procedure is often less effective than rubber band ligation.
3. Get the hemorrhoid incised. Hemorrhoids which are thrombosed, or filled with a blood clot, can be treated with incision. The doctor will incise the hemorrhoid with a scalpel and the clotted blood is removed. Due to the blood loss, the hemorrhoids then heal within three to five days by drying up and falling off.
   • This method is also useful for other, more serious hemorrhoids. Large external hemorrhoid protrusion can be surgically removed if done within 72 hours.
4. Ask about a hemorrhoidectomy. A hemorrhoidectomy is the treatment that is considered a last resort of treatment. It is a procedure performed surgically through an incision that removes the entire hemorrhoid in one piece. The doctor has to proceed with extreme caution to avoid cutting the anal sphincter, as bowel incontinence could result. The area is then sewn closed with dissolving sutures.
   • These wounds rarely get infected due to the rich vascular bed in these muscles, which prevents infection despite the location.

Tips

• If medications are causing your constipation and irritating your hemorrhoids, ask your physician for a stool softener such as Colace to avoid having problems.
• Constipation can also be a secondary symptom to some common diseases, such as hypothyroidism. In these cases, fiber alone may not work. You may need a laxative while your doctor gets your thyroid hormones up to therapeutic levels.
• If you are on water restriction due to a heart, kidney, or liver condition, such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, liver disease, or renal failure, always follow your physician’s orders and limit your water intake.

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