Those nasty hemorrhoids! They hurt, they bleed, they itch, they burn, they "fall out"...
and this is on their good days! Whatever can you do to regain some control over your life and end the misery of hemorrhoids? First of all, let's do a quick review of what we're dealing with.
Hemorrhoids are swollen, twisted veins inside your rectum (internal) or around the anus (external).
Internal hemorrhoids may bulge outside the anus (prolapse) and may need your help by gently pushing them back in.
Hemorrhoids are a result of increased pressure inside the abdomen from conditions such as pregnancy or obesity.
However, the most common cause is constipation with starts one to begin straining and pushing.
This is very bad for hemorrhoids! If your doctor has confirmed that the symptoms of pain and bleeding are in fact caused by hemorrhoids and not by something more serious, there are several things you can do to make yourself more comfortable when you're having a flare-up: Take sitz baths...
all this means is that you soak your hemorrhoids in warm water.
You can do this in the bathtub or you can purchase a large "bowl" designed for this purpose.
The sitz bath will relieve pain and itching and inflammation.
It will also clear out fecal debris that may be stuck in the skin around the hemorrhoids.
This is important to prevent a condition called pruritis ani...
an infection of the skin around the anus.
Use warm, moist packs around the anus if you are unable to do a sitz bath.
Soak pads in witch hazel (available at any drug store) and apply directly to the anus.
Use ice packs to the anal area 2-3 times per day to relieve inflammation and swelling.
This can be alternated with your sitz bath.
Use OTC (over-the-counter) products for hemorrhoid symptoms.
They come in the form of suppositories, creams, and ointments.
Take OTC pain relievers.
(Be careful to follow the directions carefully so as to not take more than you need.
Even over-the-counter pain relievers can cause bleeding (aspirin) or liver damage (tylenol).
Follow the directions and you should be safe.
When the symptoms are bad, lie down on your side to relieve pressure.
If you need to sit for long periods of time, get up and stretch and at least walk around the room every 90 minutes or so.
If you simply cannot get up and move around, shift your weight from one buttocks to another frequently.
Do not strain or push with bowel movements.
Take stool softeners if you need to.
Pat, do not rub, yourself after a bowel movement.
Rubbing and harsh wiping with toilet paper can make your hemorrhoids worse.
Avoid wipes that are perfumed or scented...
they can be irritating to the inflamed tissue.
If your symptoms do not subside within a couple of days, call your doctor.
He may need to check for complications or he may prescribe a stronger pain reliever to get you through the crisis.
Once the flare-up has passed, lose weight if necessary, drink more water on a daily basis, and increase the fiber content of your diet (fruits, vegetables, bran, whole grain breads and cereals).
Your hemorrhoids have probably taken on a life of their own...
they can do that.
You can regain control, often by a few simple measures and other times by a major overhaul of lifestyle.
Whatever is necessary will be worth the effort it takes.
Life is too short to have hemorrhoids! Until next time.
and this is on their good days! Whatever can you do to regain some control over your life and end the misery of hemorrhoids? First of all, let's do a quick review of what we're dealing with.
Hemorrhoids are swollen, twisted veins inside your rectum (internal) or around the anus (external).
Internal hemorrhoids may bulge outside the anus (prolapse) and may need your help by gently pushing them back in.
Hemorrhoids are a result of increased pressure inside the abdomen from conditions such as pregnancy or obesity.
However, the most common cause is constipation with starts one to begin straining and pushing.
This is very bad for hemorrhoids! If your doctor has confirmed that the symptoms of pain and bleeding are in fact caused by hemorrhoids and not by something more serious, there are several things you can do to make yourself more comfortable when you're having a flare-up: Take sitz baths...
all this means is that you soak your hemorrhoids in warm water.
You can do this in the bathtub or you can purchase a large "bowl" designed for this purpose.
The sitz bath will relieve pain and itching and inflammation.
It will also clear out fecal debris that may be stuck in the skin around the hemorrhoids.
This is important to prevent a condition called pruritis ani...
an infection of the skin around the anus.
Use warm, moist packs around the anus if you are unable to do a sitz bath.
Soak pads in witch hazel (available at any drug store) and apply directly to the anus.
Use ice packs to the anal area 2-3 times per day to relieve inflammation and swelling.
This can be alternated with your sitz bath.
Use OTC (over-the-counter) products for hemorrhoid symptoms.
They come in the form of suppositories, creams, and ointments.
Take OTC pain relievers.
(Be careful to follow the directions carefully so as to not take more than you need.
Even over-the-counter pain relievers can cause bleeding (aspirin) or liver damage (tylenol).
Follow the directions and you should be safe.
When the symptoms are bad, lie down on your side to relieve pressure.
If you need to sit for long periods of time, get up and stretch and at least walk around the room every 90 minutes or so.
If you simply cannot get up and move around, shift your weight from one buttocks to another frequently.
Do not strain or push with bowel movements.
Take stool softeners if you need to.
Pat, do not rub, yourself after a bowel movement.
Rubbing and harsh wiping with toilet paper can make your hemorrhoids worse.
Avoid wipes that are perfumed or scented...
they can be irritating to the inflamed tissue.
If your symptoms do not subside within a couple of days, call your doctor.
He may need to check for complications or he may prescribe a stronger pain reliever to get you through the crisis.
Once the flare-up has passed, lose weight if necessary, drink more water on a daily basis, and increase the fiber content of your diet (fruits, vegetables, bran, whole grain breads and cereals).
Your hemorrhoids have probably taken on a life of their own...
they can do that.
You can regain control, often by a few simple measures and other times by a major overhaul of lifestyle.
Whatever is necessary will be worth the effort it takes.
Life is too short to have hemorrhoids! Until next time.