Internal hemorrhoids
What should I do if internal hemorrhoids have been bleeding for several days?
If internal hemorrhoids have been bleeding continuously for several days, and the bleeding is substantial, it is advisable to promptly undertake active hemostasis treatment. Common treatments for bleeding internal hemorrhoids mainly include taking oral hemostatic medication, or using suppositories and ointments for hemorrhoids to actively stop the bleeding. However, conservative treatment can only provide temporary relief of symptoms. If after treatment, the patient does not pay attention to a light diet or good bowel habits, there may also be a recurrence of hemorrhoid bleeding. If the bleeding is already severe, and there is a possibility of serious anemia, it is advised to perform a local internal hemorrhoid ligation surgery as soon as possible to prevent anemia or exacerbate the severity of the disease. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can internal hemorrhoids cause constipation?
When internal hemorrhoids flare up, if their size increases and obstructs the anal opening, it can prevent normal defecation or make it difficult, potentially causing symptoms of constipation such as difficulty in defecating or poor bowel movements. Prolonged and recurrent difficulty in defecating can also lead to overly dry stools within the intestinal lumen, further exacerbating symptoms of constipation. Therefore, constipation is one of the most common clinical complications of hemorrhoids. To treat constipation, one can initially choose oral medications that lubricate the intestines and facilitate bowel movements. At the same time, it is essential to actively treat hemorrhoids, reduce the size of the hemorrhoidal tissue, or directly remove both internal and external hemorrhoids, to enable normal expulsion of stool.
How long does it take to recover from internal hemorrhoidectomy surgery?
The recovery time after internal hemorrhoidectomy mainly depends on the severity of the condition before the surgery. Most internal hemorrhoidectomies, specifically referring to internal hemorrhoid ligation surgeries combined with sclerotherapy injections, generally require a recovery period of about 2-3 weeks. If the internal hemorrhoids were significantly prolapsed before the surgery or if there were multiple prolapsed hemorrhoids, the recovery time might be relatively longer. If the procedure involved only localized ligation or sclerotherapy injections and there are no external wounds around the anus, the recovery time is approximately one week. During the recovery period, patients need to maintain a light diet, avoid dry stools and excessive straining during bowel movements, which could lead to pain or bleeding at the surgical site.
The Difference between Mixed Hemorrhoids and Internal Hemorrhoids
Mixed hemorrhoids and internal hemorrhoids are both clinical types of hemorrhoids. Generally speaking, mixed hemorrhoids mainly occur simultaneously with both internal and external hemorrhoids, while internal hemorrhoids are mainly local mucosal bulges near the dentate line in the anal canal. Both mixed and internal hemorrhoids belong to hemorrhoids, so there are many similarities in treatment. However, since mixed hemorrhoids generally involve both internal and external hemorrhoids acting together, they are generally more severe than internal hemorrhoids alone. Treatment for both mixed and internal hemorrhoids can involve conservative medication, primarily focusing on topical applications; for mixed hemorrhoids, local anal suppositories and hemorrhoidal ointment applications are commonly used, while treatment for internal hemorrhoids primarily involves hemorrhoidal suppositories. If both mixed and internal hemorrhoids meet certain surgical criteria, surgical treatment can be chosen. The surgical approach for mixed hemorrhoids mainly includes excision and ligation, while the surgical approach for internal hemorrhoids mainly involves hemorrhoid ligation or hemorrhoid banding. (Note: This answer is for reference only, use medication under the guidance of a professional physician, do not self-medicate.)
Do internal hemorrhoids require surgery?
Surgical indications for internal hemorrhoids include bleeding and prolapse of anal masses. These symptoms necessitate surgical treatment. Secondly, if scheduling surgery is not possible due to being busy, conservative treatment like applying ointment to the anus or taking medication can be used initially to alleviate the symptoms. If conservative treatment fails, it is still not too late to opt for surgery. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
How is internal hemorrhoids treated? Is there a way?
There are many treatment methods for internal hemorrhoids, the most common being medication. If the internal hemorrhoids repeatedly prolapse or bleed significantly, direct surgical removal can also be considered. Conservative treatments primarily involve the local use of hemorrhoid suppositories, combined with oral hemostatic and anti-swelling traditional Chinese medicine. If surgical criteria are met, direct surgical removal can be performed. Surgical methods mainly include injection of sclerosing agents into the mucosa of internal hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoid banding, and internal hemorrhoid ligation and excision. To prevent recurrence after surgery, patients should maintain good dietary and bowel habits postoperatively, avoid overly spicy and stimulating foods, and try to keep bowel movements under ten minutes without straining excessively.
Do internal hemorrhoids need treatment?
Internal hemorrhoids require active treatment. If not actively treated, internal hemorrhoids may prolapse and worsen, or bleeding may intensify. This can lead to severe local symptoms and potentially develop from early-stage symptoms that are mild, into more severe cases that may only be significantly improved through surgery. The treatment methods for internal hemorrhoids primarily involve the use of topical and oral medications. When prolapse or severe swelling occurs, patients can take oral medications that clear heat, cool the blood, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain, specifically for hemorrhoids. These should be combined with local anal suppositories for symptomatic treatment. For cases accompanied by bleeding, oral hemostatic medications can be administered. If the prolapse is substantial, or if the internal hemorrhoids cannot retract back into the anus, surgical removal is recommended. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can you drink beer if you have internal hemorrhoids bleeding?
During the bleeding phase of internal hemorrhoids, patients should not drink beer or other alcoholic beverages, nor eat spicy and stimulating foods such as chili peppers and seafood. This is because both drinking alcohol and consuming spicy, stimulating foods can cause the mucous membrane in the anal area to become congested. If there are any bleeding spots locally, the likelihood and volume of bleeding will be greater than normal. Therefore, further hemostatic treatment is necessary during the bleeding period. If alcohol is consumed, the volume of bleeding will increase and the severity of the bleeding condition will become worse. It is recommended that patients use external hemorrhoid creams for hemostasis, or take oral hemostatic drugs for symptomatic treatment. If the bleeding is substantial or the condition is not under control, further surgical treatment may be needed. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Is the bleeding from internal hemorrhoids bright red?
The majority of internal hemorrhoid bleeding is bright red, but if there is a significant amount of bleeding, blood may accumulate within the anal canal and form clots, resulting in darker colored blood in the stool. To identify and diagnose whether it is bleeding from internal hemorrhoids, it is recommended that patients undergo an anoscopic examination. If obvious bleeding points are found near the mucosa around the dentate line, it is mostly due to internal hemorrhoids. To treat bleeding from internal hemorrhoids, it is first necessary to take oral or topical hemostatic medications for symptomatic treatment. If the internal hemorrhoid bleeding has been prolonged, or in cases of chronic blood loss, further surgical ligation may be necessary to stop the bleeding and prevent anemia due to excessive blood loss. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
The difference between rectal prolapse and internal hemorrhoids prolapse
Rectal prolapse primarily refers to the prolapse of the rectal mucosa or part of the sigmoid colon mucosa, partially or completely falling out of the anus. Generally, there is a ring-shaped or cylindrical mucosa protrusion outside the anus. Internal hemorrhoid prolapse involves the partial prolapse of the mucosa near the dentate line, typically appearing as small lumps or accompanied by local venous thrombosis and varicose clusters, with rectal prolapse being more severe than internal hemorrhoid prolapse. The treatment of rectal prolapse mainly involves surgery, while early stages of internal hemorrhoid prolapse can be treated with medications. This involves using topical hemorrhoid creams or suppositories to alleviate symptoms. If there are recurrent prolapses or accompanying bleeding during bowel movements, surgical treatment may also be considered. Surgical methods for rectal prolapse primarily involve local mucosal ring excision, whereas surgeries for internal hemorrhoids mainly include hemorrhoid ligation or banding procedures.