Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anus, we all have them, but in some cases, when not properly taken care of, they can become a serious problem. If you experience the symptoms and do not properly take care of them, they can start to bleed heavily and cause a lot of pain. In this case, medical attention and surgery may be the only way.
There are several natural aids available to avoid hemorrhoid surgery and treat them from home. The key is holistic approach combined with natural treatment. This will help you to change your thinking and heal your hemorrhoids for life. Read the complete guide to holistic hemorrhoid treatment.
First and most important is to change your lifestyle. Eat more fiber-rich foods and drink enough water. Move and avoid sitting for long periods. Go out and exercise - walking or running every day for at least 30 minutes is very important. Keep your body fit as being overweight is one of the risk factors for hemorrhoids.
Also strengthening the core muscles and the anal area may be the savior. We have listed Kegel exercises here, to help you to do so.
If you fail to take proper action or all attempts to apply natural treatment fail medical attention may be inevitable. In that case, you will need to use hemorrhoid surgery, also known as hemorrhoidectomy.
Although, if not followed up with lifestyle changes hemorrhoids may still come back. Therefore it is important to understand the root causes and apply proper lifestyle changes and hemorrhoid treatment.
Hemorrhoid surgery can be done in your healthcare provider's office or in the hospital operating room. In most cases, you can go home the same day. The type of surgery you have depends on your symptoms and the location and size of your hemorrhoids.
Before the surgery, your doctor will numb the area so you can stay awake, but not feel anything. For some types of surgery, you may be given general anesthesia. This means you will be given medicine in your vein that puts you to sleep and keeps you pain-free during surgery.
Main cases you can manage small hemorrhoids by:
When these actions do not work and you still are having bleeding and pain in anus area, your healthcare provider may recommend hemorrhoid surgery.
When you have:
Hemorrhoid surgery is a serious act with your body, so several days before surgery, you may be asked to stop taking medicines that make it hard for your blood to clot. These medicines include:
Usually, you may go home the same day after the surgery. Be sure you arrange to have someone drive you home. You may have a lot of pain after surgery as the area tightens and relaxes.
Diet includes:
low-fat or fat-free milk and other dairy products; cooked, canned, or frozen vegetables; fruit juices and vegetable juices, but avoid citrus; bread, crackers, and pasta; poultry, whitefish, and shellfish that are steamed, baked, or grilled with no added fat; peanut butter; pudding and custard; eggs; tofu; soup broth; bland tea.
Foods to avoid:
fatty dairy foods, such as whipped cream or high-fat ice cream; strong cheeses; raw vegetables; vegetables that make you gassy, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, green peppers, and corn; seedy fruits such as berries or figs; dried fruits; whole-grain or bran cereals; whole-grain breads, crackers, or pasta; pickles, sauerkraut, and similar foods; spices, such as hot pepper and garlic; foods with a lot of sugar in them; seeds and nuts; highly seasoned, cured or smoked meats and fish; fried foods; alcoholic beverages and drinks with caffeine in them.
Eating tips:
eat small meals, and eat more often during the day; chew your food slowly, and chew it well; stop smoking cigarettes, if you smoke; don’t eat within 2 hours of your bedtime; don’t eat foods that are on the "foods to avoid" list, especially if you do not feel well after eating them; drink fluids slowly.
Most people do very well after hemorrhoid surgery. You should recover fully in a few weeks, depending on how involved the surgery was. You will need to continue with diet and lifestyle changes to help prevent the hemorrhoids from coming back.
Surgery usually removes the hemorrhoids problem. But the long-term success for staying hemorrhoids free will need a complete approach which may include several lifetime changes. Therefore read this four step holistic treatment process to relieve and treat your hemorrhoids for life.
References
Chaudhry V, Abcarian H. Hemorrhoids. In: Cameron JL, Cameron AM, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 53.
Hall JF. Hemorrhoids and hemorrhoidectomy. In: Delaney CP, ed. Netter's Surgical Anatomy and Approaches. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 26.
Review Date 4/5/2015 Updated by: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, general surgery practice specializing in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Thompson M, Noel MB. Nutrition and family medicine. In: Rakel RE, Rakel D, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 37.