Who Else Got Hemorrhoids?

The earliest recording of hemorrhoids dates back to 2250 BC when the Code of Hammurabi described its symptoms. The Egyptians also have old recordings about its treatment that dates back as early as 1700 BC. This means this disease is not a new one and has been around since the beginning of human civilization! This disease chooses no victim in terms of race or even age. In the United States alone, it is prevalent among 8.5 million  People in 1996 with 1 million new cases every year.

Statistics reveal that 50% of Americans over the age of 50 suffer from hemorrhoids. Among them is President Jimmy Carter, undergoing surgery in 1982 to get rid of them. At 27, George Brett, star player of the Kansas City Royals, missed parts of the 1980 World Series because of hemorrhoids. Even sports figures are not immune!

The Truth About Hemorrhoids

The word hemorrhoid came from two Greek words "haimo", for blood, and "rhein", for flow. In anatomy, hemorrhoids refer to cushions of tissue filled with a network of blood vessels located in the lower rectum and anal canal. The veins in this area of the body are quite flexible and stretchable to support the bowel during defecation - the process by which humans eliminate solid or semisolid waste material from the digestive tract. 

This is the only vein capable of stretching that much and that big when pressurized with blood. Since the blood vessels are akin to veins, they can also end up as a varicose just like those common with the veins on the legs. These swollen hemorrhoids are simply referred to as hemorrhoids in USA, haemorrhoids in UK, hemroids or emerods. The most popular reference slang to them is "piles". The veins are located at varying locations near the opening of the rectum and along the anal canal. This means, swollen veins can occur at different locations, too. Because of this variety of hemorrhoids, medical experts have classified them into two types: external and

internal. External hemorrhoids is a condition that occurs due to increased pressure on the hemorrhoid veins outside the anus.  These external hemorrhoids are prone to thrombosis, a condition wherein the swollen

vein is ruptured and blood clots form. If the engorged vein is inside the rectum, within the last two inches, it is referred to as an internal hemorrhoid. An internal hemorrhoid that hangs outside, enough for the swollen vein to be visible is classified as a prolapsed hemorrhoid. These prolapsed hemorrhoids may protrude during bowel movement and retract afterwards either naturally or manually. External hemorrhoids may bleed due to hard stool or wiping too hard that may cause scratching.

Why Patients Are Afraid Of Hemorrhoidectomy ?

Anticipation of severe pain in the postoperative period is the most important reason why patients try to avoid hemorrhoidectomy asmuch as possible. It is well known that hemorrhoidectomy and tonsillectomy, surgical procedures on opposite sides of the gastrointestinal tract, are considered to be among the most painful. Complete elimination of pain after the hemorrhoidectomy is not realistic. Overly aggressive use of opioid narcotics may cause respiratory depression and decreased bowel function. Although some degree ofpain is inevitable after hemorrhoidectomy, it is important to remember that severe pain out of proportion to findings on

physical examination could be a sign of other sequelae. Sitz baths, as described above, are helpful in controlling pain. We favor oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet1, Endo Pharmaceuticals) as analgesia to be used at the patient’s discretion.

Bleeding After Hemorrhoidectomy - A Postoperative Complication

A small amount of bleeding can occur after any type of hemorrhoidectomy, regardless if it was open or closed. It is very important to mention this during the preoperative counseling. Although six days was an average time period in our study, delayed bleeding can occur up to two weeks postoperatively. It is difficult to determine the exact amount of bleeding based on patients’ observations via telephone. In these cases, it may become necessary to make arrangements to see the patient immediately in the office or the emergency room. Vital signs and hemoglobin levels should be obtained. Any symptoms of hypovolemia will require admission to the

hospital for intravenous hydration and serial hemoglobin measurements.

Most cases of postoperative bleeding can be controlled in the office or emergency room. A Gelfoam1 (Pfizer, Inc.) 100 pack, rolled as a tampon and wrapped with Surgicel1 (Ethicon, Inc.) is introduced in the anal canal through an anoscope, only after the blood in the ampulla and the sigmoid colon is evacuated via a sigmoidscope, before insertion of the anoscope. Only very rarely is a trip to the operating room necessary, in order to identify and control the bleeding site by suture ligation. Excisional hemorrhoidectomy, dreaded over the years, can be

performed safely and with controlled pain, if designed with appropriate preoperative counseling and postoperative management.

HemClear Review ($24.95 Loss)

HemClear Review: ($24.95 Loss)

I have brought HemClear and used it as it was prescribed in its leaflet. After using around half, I started symptoms of itching and pain. I have to rush to the doctor and this added $80 in my expenses. Hem Clear guys says it contains Witch Hazel, I think it contain bitch's piss. Witch hazel works wonders for external hemorrhoids–especially ones that bleed–Witch hazel–a tincture of the leaves and bark of the native North American witch hazel. I will probably use Witch Hazel manually rather than using this HemClear.