What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are a medical condition that occurs when blood vessels in your rectum (internal hemorrhoids) and around your anus (external hemorrhoids) become swollen and engorged.
You develop hemorrhoids when excessive pressure makes them swell. The pressure might come from straining during bowel movements, sitting on the toilet for a long time, and lifting heavy objects. Women frequently develop hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
What symptoms indicate I need hemorrhoid treatment?
Depending on whether you have internal or external hemorrhoids, you may experience burning, itching, or pain. With internal hemorrhoids, it’s common to have bright red blood on the toilet paper or in the toilet after a bowel movement. External hemorrhoids may develop a blood clot, which is very painful and can cause bleeding.
Will at-home hemorrhoid treatments help?
At-home treatments can relieve the pain of mild hemorrhoids and prevent future flare-ups.
Self-care choices include:
- Following a high-fiber diet
- Drinking plenty of water
- Using hemorrhoid suppositories or creams
- Taking a stool softener
- Sitting in a tub of warm water (sitz bath)
If your hemorrhoids don’t improve within a week or you have pain or bleeding, it’s time to talk with your provider at Advanced Medical GI about procedures to remove your hemorrhoids.
What treatments remove hemorrhoids?
Advanced Medical GI may recommend one of the following procedures:
CRH O’Regan System® (rubber band ligation)
The CRH O’Regan System is the banding treatment preferred by Advanced Medical GI. Traditional banding is done with a metal clamp that grabs the hemorrhoid. CRH O’Regan replaces that with a soft suction device that gently holds the hemorrhoid and reduces the risk of bleeding.
The device slides a rubber band around the base of the hemorrhoid. The rubber band cuts off the blood supply, and before long, the hemorrhoid dies and falls off.
The CRH O’Regan procedure only takes a few minutes to treat one hemorrhoid. If you have several, your provider may schedule separate appointments for each one.
Sclerotherapy
This treatment involves injecting a medication that makes the blood vessels collapse and turn into scar tissue.
Photocoagulation and electrocoagulation
These treatments destroy the hemorrhoid using infrared light and a mild electrical current to cut off the blood supply.
Hemorrhoidectomy
A hemorrhoidectomy is a surgical procedure to cut away the hemorrhoid.
Don’t wait to get help for hemorrhoids. Call Gastrointestinal Medicine Associates today to schedule an appointment and learn which treatment is best for you.
