What To Expect With Hemorrhoid Surgery

Overview

You do not have to go for hemorrhoid surgery unless you absolutely require it. In most cases the symptoms of hemorrhoids can be reduced by improving your lifestyle. This can be done by incorporating more fiber in your diet, drinking lots of water, and making exercise a part of your daily routine. The initial stage of hemorrhoids can be combated by these changes in your eating and activity levels. The last resort is to get the hemorrhoids removed by surgery.

Hemorrhoidectomy is an invasive treatment available for removal of hemorrhoids. It is better to look for other options such as rubber band ligation, BICAP coagulation, sclerotherapy or other hemorrhoid cures available today, along with the changes in your dietary and exercise regimes.

Hemorrhoid Surgery Done As a Last Resort

Try the available hemorrhoid treatments available these days first before you think of opting for hemorrhoid surgery. There are some cases, however (less than 1% percent of all hemorrhoid cases) that required hemorrhoid surgery to provide relief to the patients.

Hemorrhoids are ranked from stage 1 to 4, depending on the level of severity. This classification is applicable both for internal and external hemorrhoids. Only hemorrhoids that fall in to the categories 3 and 4 are chosen for hemorrhoid surgery.

Hemorrhoid Surgery Procedure

Routine blood and urine test are before you are taken for hemorrhoid surgery. The procedure requires that you not eat anything 8-12 hours before the surgery. A laxative is also given before the surgery to make sure that your rectum and anus is cleared of all fecal matter. A local or spinal anesthesia numbs your lower body so that you don’t feel any pain during the hemorrhoid surgery. Although general anesthesia is not given during this procedure, ask your doctor for this option if you uncomfortable with local anesthesia. Ask the doctor about both options and select one that you find most convenient.

The next step is to clean and disinfect the rectal and anal area and prepare for hemorrhoid surgery. The doctor may use a scalpel, cautery pencil or laser to make the incision in the anal area. The main aim of hemorrhoid surgery is to remove the affected region from the anal and rectal canal. After the hemorrhoid surgery, the open area is stitched to close it and left open to heal. A small cotton pad is placed on the posterior at the site of the surgery to make sure it absorbs the draining from the incision.

Hemorrhoid Surgery using Lasers

Laser hemorrhoid surgery offers painless options that heal faster. This is the reason why it is being recommended over other hemorrhoid surgery. Laser hemorrhoid surgery is however more expensive than the traditional ones. The other drawbacks are that the laser hemorrhoid surgery has to be performed multiple times to be effective and this may lead to more internal tissue damage.

Recovering from Hemorrhoid Surgery

The time you take to recover from hemorrhoid surgery depends on your health and severity of your condition and usually varies from 3 to 10 days. This is followed by additional rest at home which may last from 1 to 4 weeks.

Alternatives to Hemorrhoid Surgery

Hemorrhoid surgery is not the only option for curing hemorrhoids. There are several alternatives such as herbal and plant products that have been proven to produce good results and this natural method do no require recovery time. Some of these natural products also prevent recurrence of hemorrhoids.  However, the efficacy of these natural products may vary from person to person and remove the pain and itchy symptoms. Thus, you don’t always have to choose the option of hemorrhoid surgery.