[MERGED] Hemorrhoids

[sourcreme]

A member of the family first observed traces. Now the amount seems to be increasing. What do you advise, doc?

[batang uliran]

Blood in the stools warrants a thorough medical evaluation and the source of the bleeding needs to be identified. Among the possible sources are: superficial blood vessels, a benign mass in the intestine such as a large polyp eroding a blood vessel, a cancerous tumor in the intestine, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease. Hemorrhoids can sometimes be identified without fancy tests especially if it is grossly visible. Sometimes an anoscopy may be required to identify internal hemorrhoids. A test called the colonoscopy is often the most useful to identify the other sources of bleeding I mentioned. A colonoscope is an instrument that will enable the gastroenterologist to visualize the lining of the intestine and take a biopsy if necessary. I do urge your family member to have a medical evaluation as soon as possible, if only to avoid any more blood loss and anemia.

[sourcreme]

Many thanx, BU...

[Matinding Katy]

Hi, Doc Ira! Tanong lang po. Kasi tong friend ko natatakot po kasi pag jumejebs siya, may kasamang dugo. Sabi niya parang may sugat siya sa wetpaks niya na nadaanan ng jebs kaya dumdugo. Pero natatakot din siya kasi medyo may karamihan yung dugo, a spoonful or two raw. Pero yung dugo po parang may mix na na iba, so hindi na siya tipong fresh. Ayaw naman po niyang pumuntang doktor kasi nahihiya siya. Ano sa tingin mo, Doc? Tsaka besides that wala naman siyang ibang reklam sa body niya.

[Ira]

Your friend probably has either hemorrhoids or anal fissures. With the scant history you gave it's pretty hard to tell which. Tell her to see her family physician so she can be properly examined and given the right diagnosis and treatment. There's no reason to be ashamed about going to a physician. Every doctor has regularly dealt with this kind of problem and has seen patients' private parts. It's no big deal and it's just part of the job.

[kabise]

barium enema anyone?

Is it better for the Docs to examine a patient if she/he empty her/his bowel before going to the clinic?

[Ira]

Unless the patient has diarrhea or can't control his bowel movements, it doesn't matter either way.

[Matinding Katy]

Anop po yung hemorrhoids and anal fissures?

[kabise]

Originally posted by Ira
Unless the patient has diarrhea or can't control his bowel movements, it doesn't matter either way.

exactly doc, this Er doc innocently stuck her finger to this pt's rear and when she pulled out her finger it's start squirting like crazy on doc's face and body.

eeeewwwwwwwww!!!!!

[Ira]

Hazards of the job, alas.

Hemorrhoids=almuranas; fissures= mucosal tears in the lining of the rectum/anus.

[Bea_]

Dr. Ira, isnt it a sign of an "almuranas"? i mean the blood

[Ira]

I already mentioned that.

[dizzyr]

Originally posted by Matinding Katy
Anop po yung hemorrhoids and anal fissures?

its the "disease of irony": it bothers you now but its all behind you.

[deng2001]

bat nila sinasabi na if you eat spicy food magkakaalmoranas daw.
is there any truth in this? and what's the connection?

[Ira]

Spicy food is not a major cause for someone to develop hemorrhoids, especially if that person isn't congenitally prone to develop them. It may aggravate a preexisting hemorrhoid problem though, because spicy food (particularly, the pepper's ingredient capsaicin) can cause rectal veins to swell up and become painful.

[dokden]

no connection... hemmorhoids, internal or external are swollen veins due to some form of pressure like straining or a pregnant uterus that is making some ipit to your venous system down there.... spicy foods?? nope...

[walachu]

if you have them, will they ever go away on their own?

is surgery the only way to get rid of them?

[Ira]

Not all types of hemorrhoids end up being operated on. Depending on the degree of severity, hemorrhoids can be treated conservatively (i.e., no surgery needed). When the hemorroids protrude and you have to manually push it back in for it to return to the normal state, or when it doesn't go back to the normal state even when you push it back in, then surgical correction is warranted. Otherwise, if the hemorrhoids spontaneously go back to the normal state, you don't need surgery. In mild/moderate cases of hemorrhoids which don't need surgery, treatment would include stool softeners, hemorrhoidal ointment, and hot bath soaks.

[walachu]

okay.

if you've had it for a coupld of months, is it time to see a doctor?

what kind of doctor? surgeon? gastroenterologist?

is a sigmoidoscopy really necessary?

[Ira]

If you've had if for a couple of months and you're experiencing some symptoms like pain and itching, you should see a general surgeon. A sigmoidoscopy is not automatically necessary, depending on the type of hemorrhoids and its severity. Most hemorrhoids sufferers don't undergo sigmoidoscopy.