6 Foods to Avoid with Ulcerative Colitis
Set down your coffee cup and step away from those fries. Once you know how food and drink affect your ulcerative colitis symptoms, you can regain control of your life.
Can I Treat My Hemorrhoids on My Own?
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in and around your anus, but we understand if you don’t really want to talk about your anus, and the thought of a doctor examining your anus is a bit uncomfortable.
Fortunately, there are ways to deal with hemorrhoids at home, and Dr. Darrien Gaston at Metropolitan Gastroenterology Consultants is here to explain when and how to take hemorrhoid matters into your own hands.
If these remedies don’t work for you, rest assured that Dr. Gaston can help you resolve the condition quickly and completely, preserving your dignity in the process.
The best at-home hemorrhoid treatments
Hemorrhoids can pop up internally or externally. You may not even notice the ones you can’t see, but when they bulge out at the opening of your anus, they look like a cluster of grapes or a single, bulbous lump.
The classic hemorrhoid symptoms include pain, itching, burning, and general discomfort, and it may be tough to focus on anything other than getting rid of them. But if you’re like most people, you’d rather take care of the problem on your own, rather than baring your bum in a doctor’s office — we get it.
The good news is that there are several effective at-home treatments that can reduce the inflammation of minor hemorrhoids. Here are a few you can try.
OTC hemorrhoid creams
There are several brands of hemorrhoid creams, ointments, and suppositories you can use to reduce the inflammation and tame your hemorrhoids. In fact, Dr. Gaston often recommends them as a first course of treatment.
Sitz baths
A shallow bath (filled with only a few inches of water) that gently bathes your anal area can be soothing, cleansing, and healing. Do this 2-3 times a day, and add some Epsom salts for an even greater relaxing effect. If you don’t have a bathtub, you can purchase a sitz bath that fits over your toilet seat.
Ice
Ice reduces pain and inflammation, whether you have a sprained ankle or a case of hemorrhoids.
NSAIDs
You can tackle the pain and inflammation from the inside out by taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal pain relievers (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Make it easier to “go”
Pressure during a bowel movement, especially if your stool is hard, can cause hemorrhoids and exacerbate them, so take steps to soften your stool and limit the amount of pressure you put on your anal blood vessels.
- Don’t linger on the toilet (do your business and get off)
- Use moistened towelettes to cleanse
- Pat, don’t wipe
- Go when you feel the urge; don’t hold it
- Use a low step or some stacked books to elevate your feet when you go
- Drink plenty of fluids
Eating a high-fiber diet and exercising regularly can also keep your bowels working smoothly and help you get past a hemorrhoid flare-up.
The best in-office hemorrhoid treatment
If your efforts at home haven’t worked, or if your hemorrhoids are too deep or too large, you may need professional help.
Dr. Gaston offers discreet treatment here in our office that gets rid of hemorrhoids quickly and painlessly. Using the CRH O’Regan System®, he removes the hemorrhoids to eliminate the problem altogether. The device uses gentle suction to isolate your hemorrhoids and bands them at the base to cut off their blood supply so they die and fall off.
The treatment is quick and painless and nearly 100% effective. No incisions, no fasting, no sedation, and no down time are necessary.
To find out if the CRH O’Regan System can get rid of your hemorrhoids for good, book an appointment online or call us today.
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