You’ve decided that it’s finally time to visit your physician so that you can talk about the dreaded “h” word – hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are a problem that plagues millions of Americans every year, but most of them don’t want to go to their doctors about the problem because they feel embarrassed. They often only choose to see a physician when a spot of blood appears on the toilet paper when they wipe and they become scared that the blood means that something serious is wrong with them. While it is a good idea to get checked whenever you have blood coming from your anus, the majority of the time the only thing that is needed to cure the problem is the proper hemorrhoid treatment.
What Your Physician Will Do
When you visit your doctor to discuss your hemorrhoid problems, he will first need to check the area. You may be asked to get into a gown so that he can look at the situation. If he can’t see any external hemorrhoids, he may need to look for internal hemorrhoids, which requires a quick examination that may be slightly unpleasant. Once your doctor knows what type of hemorrhoids you have, he will be able to figure out what type of hemorrhoid treatment option would be the best for you.
Hemorrhoid Treatments
If your hemorrhoids are not complicated, you may be able to solve the problem simply by sitting in sitz baths for a time. This will help to soften up the tissue and will make it feel much better. You can also use a cold compress on the area for 10 to 15 minutes a day to get rid of the symptoms, just make sure that you wrap it in cloth or a towel so that you don’t have to worry about freezing the skin itself.
There are also hemorrhoid creams that you can purchase when you have the condition. These creams are usually over the counter and aren’t very expensive. Some work to bring relief, but they will not cure the problem – only time can help with that.
If your hemorrhoids are severe, the physician may recommend surgery. This surgery is called a hemorrhoidectomy and is performed by a surgeon. The surgeon will cut away the hemorrhoids so that you are not only relieved of symptoms of but of the hemorrhoids themselves. This treatment option, however, can be painful and is usually only used in severe circumstances.
If you have hemorrhoids, don’t be afraid to see your doctor. They can offer you a variety of hemorrhoid treatment options that you’ll be able to select from, making it simple to find the treatment that will work for you.