Posts Tagged ‘Anus’

Anal Itching

This is one of the symptoms of hemorrhoids and yet is often made worse by the ointments and creams that are liberally put around the area to improve them! More is not always better.

Causes of Anal Itching

The area around your anus is very sensitive and the inflammation can be due to a variety of reasons such as not having cleaned the anus after passing a stool (faeces/poo).

Sometimes mucous from the anal canal can cause the irritation as the anal sphincter is not as effective and the leakage causes irritation on the skin surface.

It can also be made worse by constant washing with perfumed soaps, washing after having your bowels open is a good idea if you have hemorrhoids; but just be aware it may be the soap which is causing the irritation. If you would like another option baby wipes are very gently and do not contain any harsh cleansers so may well be gentler on your bottom.

The irritation may also be due to a fungal infection called Candida Albicans / thrush which can be easily treated with an anti fungal cream.

Your bottom may be sore and itchy due to excess perspiration; this can be due to the climate or your work environment. A doctor will be able to determine which is the cause of your discomfort and may well be able to offer a more appropriate form of treatment.

Hemorrhoid Banding

Banding / Baron Ligation Technique

This is a treatment which is very popular as it is 80% effective and the procedure can be performed without a general anaesthetic. It is more effective than any of the other hemorrhoid treatments.

The hemorrhoid banding procedure

The doctor who is performing the procedure will explain what they are going to do, and will ask for your permission to perform the procedure.
This procedure is performed on grade2-3 hemorrhoid
If you are happy that you understand both what procedure you are going to have done and have been told of the risks involved with the procedure then you can sign the relevant document.
You will be asked to take your clothes off and put on a gown and placed in the correct position for the procedure.
You will be positioned either on a couch with stirrups for your feet to go in or on you side on a couch with your knees drawn up to your chest it will depend on the location of the hemorrhoid. ( it will seem all a bit undignified but you will have either a sheet or blanket covering you until the procedure begins
An instrument called a proctoscope or anoscope will be gently placed in your anus so the doctor will be able to have a good view the hemorrhoid.
The doctor may use some local anaesthetic around the base of the hemorrhoid to numb the area.
The hemorrhoid will be grasped gently with a forceps and the hemorrhoid fed through a ringed instrument.
The small elastic band will then be released at the base of the hemorrhoid which will cut off its blood supply.
You will usually have only one or two hemorrhoids treated in this way at a time. Further treatment will be done at 4- weeks’ interval to allow for healing.

Post procedure pain after hemorrhoid banding

You may feel faint or sick after the procedure
You will usually experience pain for anything between 24- 48 hours after the procedure
You may feel as if you want to have your bowels open

Special precautions

Ensure you have adequate pain relief available to you.
Make sure you have someone available to help you should you need it for at least he next twelve hours
Make sure you are able to urinate easily after the procedure(go for a wee)
Do not use aspirin for pain relief post procedure as it may encourage bleeding
Drink plenty of fluids
Try and do some gentle exercise
Eat plenty of fibre rich foods so you do not become constipated
Do not do any heavy lifting for at least two weeks

Healing / recovery time after hemorrhoid banding

In one – two weeks the bands will fall off as the hemorrhoid has been strangled as there is no blood supply to it. The hemorrhoid withers and falls off and is expelled when you have a bowel movement. A scar will be left behind which should prevent a further hemorrhoid occurring.

Complications and risks of hemorrhoid banding

You may experience problems passing urine (going for a wee) after the procedure
You may experience pain during the procedure
There is a risk of infection
Your hemorrhoid may return
You may have severe bleeding

Sclerotherapy for Hemorrhoids

This is an old treatment of hemorrhoids and rarely used these days due to it not being as effective as banding, as people require repeated injections. People do not want to go through having a doctor rummaging around in their bottoms once let alone repeatedly.

It is a quick treatment involving the injection of Oily Phenol Injection BP 5%w/v into the base of the hemorrhoid causing the soft tissues to harden and scar, the hemorrhoid will then wither and fall off.

The Sclerotherapy Treatment Procedure

The doctor who is performing the procedure will explain what they are going to do, and will ask for your permission to perform the procedure.
This procedure is performed on grade1-2 hemorrhoids
If you are happy that you understand both what procedure you are going to have done and have been told of the risks involved with the procedure then you can sign the relevant document.
You will be asked to take your clothes off and put on a gown and placed in the correct position for the procedure/ or just to remove your lower garments
You will be positioned either on a couch with stirrups for your feet to go in or on you side on a couch with your knees drawn up to your chest it will depend on the location of the hemorrhoid. ( it will seem all a bit undignified but you will have either a sheet or blanket covering you until the procedure begins
An instrument called a proctoscope or anoscope will be gently placed in your anus so the doctor will be able to have a good view the hemorrhoid.
The doctor will then inject the base of the hemorrhoid with the oily phenol.

Post procedure pain

The procedure itself is usually not too uncomfortable and you may experience pain for the next 24 – 48 hours. Regular paracetamol should keep you comfortable.

Special precautions

Make sure you inform your doctor if you have any nut allergies as you will not be able to have this procedure
Ensure you inform you doctor prior to the procedure if you think you may be pregnant or are breast feeding
Ensure you have adequate pain relief available to you.
Make sure you have someone available to help you should you need it for at least the next twelve hours
Make sure you are able to urinate easily after the procedure(go for a wee)
Do not use aspirin for pain relief post procedure as it may encourage bleeding
Drink plenty of fluids
Try and do some gentle exercise
Eat plenty of fibre rich foods so you do not become constipated
Do not do any heavy lifting for at least two weeks

Healing / recovery time

In two weeks the scar will have blocked off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid and it will have withered and been passed with your stools

Complications and risks

Your Doctor can inject 2-3mls of oily phenol at one time and it can be injected at the base of different hemorrhoids around the anal canal but the total used must not exceed 10mls or else you may suffer from a toxic reaction.
Dizziness
You may have an allergic reaction to the almond carrier oil
Discomfort – the phenol is supposed to cause numbing of the nerves but it may not be effective causing pain.
The area treated may form an ulcer or abscess possibly leading to Necrotising fasciitus
Urinary incontinence
The phenol may be injected incorrectly and enter the blood stream causing Hepatitis
Prostatitis (a painful inflammation of the prostate in men) or Impotency due to the phenol
Bleeding after the procedure

Prolapsed Hemorrhoids Treatment

This type of hemorrhoid is one which has originated from above the dentate line in the anal canal this has no nerve therefore are often painless. Below the line which has nerves are called external Hemorrhoids. This is why it can be a bit of a shock when you feel a piece of tissue outside your body which should be inside. This piece of tissue will not feel painful unless it has become strangulated or thrombosed that is to say that the hemorrhoid has become stuck outside the anus and you cannot push it back inside. If the tissue has become strangulated it will become painful and inflamed and you will need to seek medical help urgently.

Treatment for Prolapsed Hemorrhoids

If you have suffered with prolapsed hemorrhoids this will mean that when you visit your Doctor you will referred to a Consultant at a hospital in your area. The surgeon will discuss your options with you when you go for your initial consultation and will usually suggest surgery of a Hemorrhoidectomy or Hemorrhoidopexy.

Bleeding Hemorrhoids Treatment

It is important to state that if you have blood coming from your rectum it is not necessarily hemorrhoids. Bleeding of unknown origin needs to be investigated by a qualified healthcare worker.

If you treat your bleeding hemorrhoids prior to diagnosis from your doctor you could be missing a more serious condition.

The anal veins supply the cushions of the anal canal and it is these cushions which have swollen and become hemorrhoids. Bleeding usually occurs when hard stools (faeces/poo) and straining have caused the thinned walls of the hemorrhoid to bleed. The bleeding can vary from just noticing red blood on the toilet paper after wiping your bottom, to blood dripping into the toilet from perhaps a prolapsed hemorrhoid. It is very alarming the first time this happens and can be the incentive you need to get you along to see the doctor.

If you have small amounts of blood on the toilet paper after you wipe you bottom this will stop fairly rapidly it may well be internal hemorrhoids which will stop bleeding quite quickly.

If you are bleeding from hemorrhoids near to the anus and they are itching as well as bleeding it is important to treat this with care, you will need to wash carefully after your bowel motion so your bottom is clean. Do not use perfumed soap as this will aggravate and sting. If you use baby wet wipes these are very gentle as well as cooling. If bleeding persists use a clean piece of toilet paper wet it with cold water and hold it against the bleeding area firmly for a couple of minutes it can take up to five. This can seem an awfully long time to put pressure on the hemorrhoid but if you keep dabbing at the wound it will continue to bleed. If you have been prescribed cream for use after you have had a bowel motion, wait until the bleeding has stopped prior to application.

Piles Treatment

Piles is another term for Hemorrhoids or Haemorrhoids (depending on where you live in the world). They are an extremely common medical condition affecting almost half of us by the time we reach 50. Unless you are suffering an extreme case, Piles will sometimes either go away by themselves and be a one off if you are lucky. It is important however that if you suspect you have piles that you are correctly diagnosed by your doctor. Any anal bleeding should be thoroughly investigated prior to any treatment commencing.

Piles look like swollen tissue and can be found either externally around the anus or interally within the anal passage. They are cushions of tissue well supplied with blood vessels.

Some examples of why people suffer from Piles can be through a build up of pressure due to pregnancy or obesity, suffering from regular constipation, straining whilst going to the lavatory or having anal intercourse.

One of the main symptoms of Piles is a sharp shooting pain when you go to the lavatoryto have your bowels open. You may also discover blood on your toilet tissue paper and experience swelling, itchiness and irritation around the anus.

A Piles Treatment can be used initially to alleviate the symptoms and this will be the first course of treatment recommended this can vary from natural or home treatments. If it is warrented you may needto have surgery to have your Piles removed there are a variety of different operations available and explained in other pages of the site. Some natural examples of Piles Treatments are explained in the site but the basics remain the same:

If you drink more water this helps to reduce the possibility of suffering from constipation and softens the stools. This then helps to reduce the amount of straining when you go to the lavatory.
Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet will improve the motility of the bowel
Taking regular exercise will also help towards improving your digestive system.

There are Piles Treatments that you can buy such as stool softeners. These products can contain Coloxyl and Senna. Coloxyl is a stool softener which will help passing your stools when you go to the lavatory and Senna is a natural stimulant laxative . As always, make sure that you follow the instructions provided with these products prior to application, making sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.

Other Piles Treatments are creams or suppositories whichhave a local anaesthetic included which numbs the anal passage and makes it easier to pass stools when going to the lavatory, Aloe Vera and Pile Wort, which you may find at your health shop have been found useful.

Please Note: Never take any medical products without reading the instructions first and if you have any doubts always consult a doctor.

Hemorrhoid Treatments

Relief from Hemorrhoids

The following treatments have been popular in past years but do not appear to date to have been thoroughly researched therefore the effectiveness of the treatments require further research

Stiz baths Treatment for Hemorrhoids

These seem to have been popular for quite some time for relief from hemorrhoids with some people advocating sitting in these water baths for up to 8 times a day – I am not sure of anyone at work who has the facilities to do this and there does not seem to be any firm agreement on;-

The temperature of the water – if it is too warm it has the potential of burning the skin or increasing the blood flow to the hemorrhoids therefore increasing the pain. In addition for women if the anus and vagina are submerged in warm sitz baths there is the potential for faecal fluid to contaminate the water and possibly cause vaginal problems.
The question of the sanitation of these toilet baths as a form of contamination needs to be considered
The research regarding the herbal potions/salts which are added to these baths and the effects on the hemorrhoids have not been researched
The length of time you are expected to sit in the sitz bath – there does not appear to be any researched specified length of time or frequency with any measurable benefits
This form of treatment needs to be clinically trialled to confirm the benefits for people. Currently it may used either as a soothing option or to encourage hygiene.

Flavanoid Treatment for Hemorrhoids

Flavanoids have been used recently to as a relief from hemorrhoids as they are purported to have anti – inflammatory and cell enhancing properties. The benefits of these are in the process of being researched in clinical trials but as this site goes to print in UK the licensed use of these is not recommended.

Glyceryl Trinitrate Ointment Treatment for Hemorrhoids

This cream is not licensed in the UK for use with Hemorrhoids it is used for the relief of pain with chronic anal fissure. One of the side effects of this treatment is headaches and low blood pressure. Research has been undertaken in Australia and further research is expected.

Internal Rectal Examination

This will involve the doctor doing what’s called a rectal examination, you will be asked to remove your underwear in privacy and lie on your side on the doctor’s couch. The doctor will ask you to lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest with your bottom towards the doctor. The doctor will gentle part your buttocks and look at your external anus to see if you have external hemorrhoids or any rash or skin tags. You may be asked to push gently as if you were going to have a bowel motion. The doctor will then lubricate the gloved finger which will be gently inserted into your anus. The doctor will be able to feel around inside the rectum to feel how your anal sphincter functions (which is the tight band around your anus which relaxes when you excrete your stool). The doctor will feel to check if you have internal hemorrhoids.

Occasionally your Doctor may wish to examine your rectum with a proctoscope this is a usually a disposable plastic conical shaped instrument with a rounded end which can be removed so that the doctor can see into the rectum they may have a separate light which they will place in position to help with the visibility. Once the procedure is complete they will either wipe off the excess lubricant or offer you tissues to do this yourself in privacy with the curtains around you. You will then be able to get dressed the doctor will then discuss their findings with you. This is not usually done during the procedure as you will have you mind on other thoughts.

If the doctor is completely satisfied that you have hemorrhoids they will offer you advice on how to treat them. If they feel that a surgeon should take a look and /or an endoscopy is appropriate for further investigations this will be arranged and you will be sent an appointment.