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What Is The Cause And Treatment For Hemorrhoids?
Posted on
Sun, 7 Dec 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 7 Dec 2014
Answered on
Wed, 24 Dec 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : Ever since I had my son 4 years ago (via c-section), I've dealt with fissures. I started drinking a lot of extra water and my stool softened and came out very easily, which helped heal my fissure. Recently, I've unfortunately started drinking soda again -- and more than I should. I still drink water, but not as much as I use to. I was also diagnosed with stress-related IBS and given Bentyl to help with IBS episodes. I was also given glycerin suppositories a few years ago for fissures and possibly hemorrhoids.
Last night, I got the urge to defecate and went to the bathroom. I passed a little gas and felt like my stool was so big and hard that it couldn't come out! Sorry for the gross TMI, but I got toilet paper and tried to relieve a little pressure around my anus while pushing in hopes everything could come out. I was pretty freaked out because it felt like I was pushing my insides out and my anus area felt hard and bulging. I was also bleeding -- bright red and it would slowly drip when I pushed. I went to bed and felt like I didn't evacuate; I awoke with the same feeling. I tried to go again and the same thing happened, but a very small ball of stool did come out. My anus feels kind of sore and a weird pressure feeling when I sit down. Of course when looking up symptoms, I have cancer. I have no family history of colon cancer and I am only 29. I am a bit too embarrassed to go to my doctor for an anal exam. I can definitely say that I have not been eating enough vegetables, fruit, or fiber lately; nor have I been drinking much water. What can I do to help get things to move -- and what can be done about the bleeding and potential hemorrhoids?
Last night, I got the urge to defecate and went to the bathroom. I passed a little gas and felt like my stool was so big and hard that it couldn't come out! Sorry for the gross TMI, but I got toilet paper and tried to relieve a little pressure around my anus while pushing in hopes everything could come out. I was pretty freaked out because it felt like I was pushing my insides out and my anus area felt hard and bulging. I was also bleeding -- bright red and it would slowly drip when I pushed. I went to bed and felt like I didn't evacuate; I awoke with the same feeling. I tried to go again and the same thing happened, but a very small ball of stool did come out. My anus feels kind of sore and a weird pressure feeling when I sit down. Of course when looking up symptoms, I have cancer. I have no family history of colon cancer and I am only 29. I am a bit too embarrassed to go to my doctor for an anal exam. I can definitely say that I have not been eating enough vegetables, fruit, or fiber lately; nor have I been drinking much water. What can I do to help get things to move -- and what can be done about the bleeding and potential hemorrhoids?
Brief Answer:
Lifestyle change is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Please note that stool passage can be affected by many factors. Water is just a little part of it.
In general we can say that anus condition shows how you are eating and living. If you do not eat healthy, have some problems with constipation, do not have physical activity, hemorrhoids and fistulas will be present.
That is why you should radically change your eating habits. As a result you will see anus condition improvement.
Here is what you should do:
- increase fiber rich products, you may also add fiber as a supplement
- start probiotic intake
- drink plenty of mineral water (please note that too much of mineral rich water can cause constipation)
- do not push hard on stool
- have sitz baths with Oak Bark twice a day for 7 days
- use OTC suppositories for hemorrhoids
- wash your anus after every stool
- start some physical activity
- do not weight heavy objects
This should help with both fistula and hemorrhoids.
If its about colon cancer, you are way to young to have it. But if you wont change your lifestyle, you may be prone for one over the age of 50.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Lifestyle change is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Please note that stool passage can be affected by many factors. Water is just a little part of it.
In general we can say that anus condition shows how you are eating and living. If you do not eat healthy, have some problems with constipation, do not have physical activity, hemorrhoids and fistulas will be present.
That is why you should radically change your eating habits. As a result you will see anus condition improvement.
Here is what you should do:
- increase fiber rich products, you may also add fiber as a supplement
- start probiotic intake
- drink plenty of mineral water (please note that too much of mineral rich water can cause constipation)
- do not push hard on stool
- have sitz baths with Oak Bark twice a day for 7 days
- use OTC suppositories for hemorrhoids
- wash your anus after every stool
- start some physical activity
- do not weight heavy objects
This should help with both fistula and hemorrhoids.
If its about colon cancer, you are way to young to have it. But if you wont change your lifestyle, you may be prone for one over the age of 50.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you for your reply!
I was able to have a bowel movement, but afterwards my anus was swollen. I'm not sure if it's internal or external hemorrhoids, but (pardon my for being gross) it was so swollen it actually felt like I had something stuck between my butt cheeks! I took a hot bath with epsom salt and lavender oil and it helped with the swelling and discomfort, but there is still a small lump (firm, smaller than a pea-size, and it isn't 'hanging' or discolored. I do feel like I have a fissure, as well.
Is this something that can be cleared up with proper diet and exercise..or will it need to be taken care of by a doctor? I Googled hemorrhoids and it was frankly terrifying to think I could end up like that!
I was able to have a bowel movement, but afterwards my anus was swollen. I'm not sure if it's internal or external hemorrhoids, but (pardon my for being gross) it was so swollen it actually felt like I had something stuck between my butt cheeks! I took a hot bath with epsom salt and lavender oil and it helped with the swelling and discomfort, but there is still a small lump (firm, smaller than a pea-size, and it isn't 'hanging' or discolored. I do feel like I have a fissure, as well.
Is this something that can be cleared up with proper diet and exercise..or will it need to be taken care of by a doctor? I Googled hemorrhoids and it was frankly terrifying to think I could end up like that!
Brief Answer:
It can be improved with diet and exercises.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Do not google for answers. Every case is different. And you will catch always the worst possibility.
Here are the facts. Once a hemorrhoid appears, it can not be healed completely with medicines and other non-surgical methods. Hemorrhoid is a kind of enlarged vein. It wont disappear. However swollen and painful hemorrhoid can be improved with mentioned methods and kept in the hidden phase for a long time (it will be hidden inside the anus so you wont have any discomfort). So the surgery can be postponed for a long time.
Fissure can be healed completely as long as it does not last long (longer than few months).
So for now, no need to consult a specialist. Please try mentioned above methods. If this wont help, you will have to consult a surgeon and consider surgery.
Regards.
It can be improved with diet and exercises.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Do not google for answers. Every case is different. And you will catch always the worst possibility.
Here are the facts. Once a hemorrhoid appears, it can not be healed completely with medicines and other non-surgical methods. Hemorrhoid is a kind of enlarged vein. It wont disappear. However swollen and painful hemorrhoid can be improved with mentioned methods and kept in the hidden phase for a long time (it will be hidden inside the anus so you wont have any discomfort). So the surgery can be postponed for a long time.
Fissure can be healed completely as long as it does not last long (longer than few months).
So for now, no need to consult a specialist. Please try mentioned above methods. If this wont help, you will have to consult a surgeon and consider surgery.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Is it normal to smell with hemorrhoids!?!? My anus is still a little weird feeling, but it seems like it is moist and super smelly now! Almost a fishy smell -- it is really freaking me out as I have never dealt with this before. I've applied witch XXXXXXX and actually folded up a piece of toilet paper to wedge in between my cheeks to help with the wetness. Is this weird smell normal with hemorrhoids or is this symptomatic of it being infected?
Brief Answer:
Fishy smell is usually a sign of an infection.
Detailed Answer:
Fishy smell is usually an indication of an infection. Local infection can be present with fistula as this is a wound and the stool contains bacteria. Moist is a mucus which is also characteristic for both issues.
So please continue mentioned treatment and see if this will help. Even with local infection, no antibiotic is necessary. Just wash it after every stool and have sitz baths.
If the symptoms wont go away withing a week, stool test and rectal examination might be necessary to rule other possible reasons of such smell (including inflammatory bowels disease).
Regards.
Fishy smell is usually a sign of an infection.
Detailed Answer:
Fishy smell is usually an indication of an infection. Local infection can be present with fistula as this is a wound and the stool contains bacteria. Moist is a mucus which is also characteristic for both issues.
So please continue mentioned treatment and see if this will help. Even with local infection, no antibiotic is necessary. Just wash it after every stool and have sitz baths.
If the symptoms wont go away withing a week, stool test and rectal examination might be necessary to rule other possible reasons of such smell (including inflammatory bowels disease).
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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