I'm Embarrassed By My Hemorrhoids

There are parts of the body we don’t like to discuss with others, even if something bothers us and we don’t know what to do about it. Often, this means dealing with conditions in parts of your pelvic region, like your genitals or anus. Even when you’re hurting in this area, most of us are embarrassed and hesitant to broach the subject, much less seek help for whatever’s happening.

This condition is true of hemorrhoids (also called piles), a condition that affects the inside or outside of your rectum, and can lead to a lot of discomfort. Let’s get you past the embarrassment of getting help by examining what hemorrhoids are, the common signs of this condition, and what options you have to get treatment.

Dr. Rajesh Mehta and his skilled medical staff at LoneStar Gastroenterology can help if you live in the Austin, Texas area, and struggle with hemorrhoids or other embarrassing digestive issues.

Understanding hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids is the term for inflamed veins at the end of your digestive tract, specifically the rectum or anus. They may or may not be visible because they can present in one of three ways:

• Internal: these occur at the end of the lower point of the intestines, leading to veins bulging out of the rectal lining

• External: this happens outside of the anus, near it, or on the surrounding skin

• Thrombosed: the result of a blood clot that forms in a hemorrhoid inside or outside of the rectum

The internal type of hemorrhoids are often not painful but can prolapse, meaning they dangle out of the anus due to weakened muscle or tissue. Regardless of type, these happen for several reasons, like pushing or straining when you defecate, sitting on the toilet for extended periods, constipation, diarrhea, low-fiber diets, pregnancy, strain from heavy lifting, and obesity. Age can also play a role when the tissue in the rectum or anus weakens.

Common symptoms

This condition doesn’t always present with symptoms; however, when it does, you can experience blood after a bowel movement, skin protruding out from the anus (both typical of internal hemorrhoids), anal itching, swelling, lumps, aches and pain (typical of external hemorrhoids). 

Thrombosed and prolapsed hemorrhoids can be extremely painful, but neither are life-threatening. Even though mild hemorrhoids can go away on their own, get medical attention as soon as possible when you see bleeding while defecating or your stool is black.

Management and treatment options

While this condition can clear up on its own, if it doesn’t, there are things you can do at home to manage it, as well as medications and treatments to remedy the problem. Over-the-counter medicines like lidocaine, hydrocortisone, witch hazel, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and inflammation, and you can also drink more water, eat more fiber, take a sitz bath, and use stool-softening laxatives. 

Treatment options for this problem include rubber band ligation, electrocoagulation, infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, hemorrhoidectomy, and hemorrhoid stapling.

Hemorrhoids are uncomfortable, both to endure and to discuss, but the best way to get help is to seek medical professionals to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with it. When you’re ready to remove this awkward and painful problem, make an appointment with Dr. Mehta and LoneStar Gastroenterology.