WHAT ARE HEMORRHOIDS?

Hemorrhoids are swollen or inflamed veins in the rectum. Everybody has these veins. We call them hemorrhoids only when they become swollen and distended and cause symptoms. There are 2 main types of hemorrhoids: internal and external. Internal hemorrhoids reside inside the rectum where there are minimal pain fibers; therefore, they rarely hurt. They tend to cause symptoms of rectal bleeding, itching, and occasionally leakage of stool. External hemorrhoids reside under the skin around your anus, and they can be extremely painful at times.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF HEMORRHOIDS?

Hemorrhoids develop when the veins in and around her rectum stretch and swell under pressure.  Things that make this condition worse are:

• constipation
• straining with bowel movements
• pregnancy
• sitting for long periods on the toilet
• sitting for a long time (bus drivers, people with desk jobs)
• obesity
• low fiber, low fluid diet

WHAT ARE MY TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR HEMORRHOIDS?

There are many treatment options for hemorrhoids in San Antonio, TX.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

The first thing to try is diet and lifestyle modifications. This consists of increasing the fiber and fluids in your diet and avoiding prolonged sitting or prolonged straining. The next option is topical medications. These come in creams, ointments, and suppositories, some over-the-counter and some by prescription. When those options fail, the next step is to proceed to non-surgical treatments.

HEMORRHOID BANDING

Hemorrhoid Banding is a non-surgical procedure in which small rubber bands are placed on the vessels that supply blood to the hemorrhoids. The rubber band cuts off the hemorrhoid’s blood supply, causing it to shrink and fall off within 3–10 days.

This is a quick and painless procedure performed in the clinic. After a banding procedure, you can return to regular activities immediately.

You can visit the webpage on this procedure to learn more about hemorrhoid banding.

HEMWELL PROCEDURE

The HemWell is a non-surgical procedure that removes hemorrhoids by shrinking and eliminating them using a specialized electrical current, which reduces blood flow to the affected hemorrhoids. When the blood flow is decreased, the hemorrhoids gradually shrink and eventually disappear.

This procedure is performed during a colonoscopy, so the patient does not need a separate procedure with anesthesia.

You can visit the webpage on this procedure to learn more about the HemWell procedure.

SURGERY

The last option is the removal of the hemorrhoids with things like laser ablation or hemorrhoid surgery. Surgery is often considered when other treatments have failed or the hemorrhoids are causing significant problems.

If you are having problems with hemorrhoids, please get in touch with our office, and we will discuss treatment options. This digestive condition is not something you should have to continue to suffer with.