Piles or hemorrhoids can be a serious concern and it demands timely treatment. The condition of piles is marked by swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus. Although the condition sounds funny, and there are hundreds of jokes made about the disease, the reality is not always so.
Piles can be painful, cause discomfort, and put regular life to a halt. When the pain feels too heavy to bear, see a doctor. Nobody can guarantee how long piles symptoms last. Smaller size piles can be treated with home remedies. But if the piles symptoms are severe, keep recurring, there's blood dripping from your anus when you sit on the toilet seat, you need to consider consulting a specialist doctor for treatment.
Suffering from Piles Pain? Go, talk to a doctor
Most people are ashamed of talking about piles. But keeping silent and delaying the treatment could stand in your way of getting relief from the pain. Piles is a common concern, and the miseries of the disease can hit anyone. Any patient suffering from piles needs to understand that the condition does not make them any different from others.
No doctor would mind discussing the condition, and hence no patients should be bothered either. The repercussions of piles could be much more serious than what one can imagine. Hence, it is best that you get your piles checked out as early as possible, and protect your health as well as your peace of mind.
"Doctors have seen and heard everything in a patient. So, you do not have to feel embarrassed about your condition. You are not alone in this, there are thousands of people fighting anorectal diseases and similar conditions every day. With every passing day that you delay your treatment, your condition could be getting worse. And nobody wants to face that," says Dr. Pankaj Sareen, Proctologist at Pristyn Care.
Who to consult for piles?
In most cases, the condition of piles can be diagnosed and managed by a general physician. But, if the symptoms are severe, you may need to consult with a proctologist, a colorectal surgeon, or a gastroenterologist. If the primary remedies fail to provide relief from the symptoms, the specialised doctors can provide advanced hemorrhoid treatment such as:
Laser surgery - Laser surgery for piles is an advanced and preferred method of piles treatment for both patients and physicians. Since the procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, more and more people have started opting for it in recent times. In this process, a laser is focused on the affected area, which seals the blood vessels and the nerves. The treatment is non-intrusive and does not exert any pressure and pain in the patient.
Rubber band ligation - The surgeon in this process places a special medical-grade rubber band at the base of the piles which cuts off the blood flow. This shrinks off the piles and allows it to fall off automatically without leaving behind any scar tissue.
Hemorrhoid stapling - This treatment process is used primarily for internal hemorrhoids. The surgeons remove the piles tissue using a stapling tool.
Symptoms that warrant you to see a doctor for piles
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms related to your piles condition, you should make an appointment with a specialized doctor:
â- If the pain and discomfort in the anal area persist for too long.
â- If you see bright red blood in the toilet paper.
â- If over-the-counter medications fail to provide any relief to the symptoms.
â- If your stool appears tar-like in color.
â- If you feel dizzy every time while passing a bowel movement.
Can piles be treated without seeing a doctor?
Although not permanently treated, piles symptoms can be managed to an extent with home remedies. However, this works only if your piles are in a very initial stage. If you do not want to visit a doctor, and try managing the condition at home, here are a few ways that may help you relieve the pain:
â- Take a sitz bath for 10-15 minutes every day.
â- Be gentle with your anal area; keep them clean.
â- Do not wipe your anal area with any form of chemical-based products
â- Use stool softeners.
The pain and symptoms can be managed by following lifestyle habits as well.
â- Do not strain while making bowel movements.
â- Limit the intake of caffeine and alcohol.
â- Increase the intake of fiber in your diet.
â- Drink 6-8 glasses of water every day.
â- Apply topical ointments as soon as you witness swelling in your anal area.
There's no need to bear piles of pain and discomfort. With prompt treatment from the right doctor, you can live a comfortable life.
"There's a treatment for every disease if you approach it at the right time. And piles is no exception," adds Dr. Sareen.
Disclaimer: No Asian Age journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.
