Are you struggling with hemorrhoids? If so, you’re intimately familiar with the symptoms: blood in the stool, itching (oh, the itching!) and pain around the anus, and swelling or lumps around the anal opening. None of that is fun, and talking about it is even less fun – we understand. Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we also want your hemorrhoid struggles to be over.
So, let’s take a look at how to get rid of hemorrhoids and answer a couple of common questions: do hemorrhoids go away on their own and how long do hemorrhoids last?
How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids at Home
Do hemorrhoids go away on their own? Generally speaking, true hemorrhoids will resolve on their own. You can assist your body during this healing process with a few pointers. To read more about these tips, check out 6 Holistic Remedies For Hemorrhoids You Can Try At Home.
Use a sitz bath after every bowel movement or at least once per day.
Get more fiber into your diet (psyllium husk is a great option)
Use an Epsom salt and glycerin solution on a gauze pad
Wear loose clothing made of cotton to wick away moisture
Use a cold compress to relieve pain (or take pain meds)
Use medicated wipes or cool wet cotton swabs to clean the area rather than dry, abrasive toilet paper. Some people find that witch hazel is helpful on hemorrhoids.
What NOT to Do at Home:
First and foremost, never pop hemorrhoids at home! This can very easily lead to infection and serious issues for your whole body. Leave your hemorrhoids alone as much as possible and do not itch them. You should also not strain during bowel movements or sit for long periods of time when you are trying to heal your hemorrhoids.
How Long Do Hemorrhoids Last?
A bout of hemorrhoids shouldn’t last more than one to two weeks. The human body is fairly good at resolving these issues quickly – though it may seem like forever to you. If your hemorrhoid symptoms don’t resolve within two weeks, talk to your doctor. During this one to two weeks, make sure you take notes about what you’ve tried, what worked, and what didn’t work. This information will be invaluable to your doctor.
What Happens During a Doctor Visit About Hemorrhoids?
If you go into an office with concerns about hemorrhoids, your doctor’s main concern will be looking at and feeling the area. He or she may need to insert a finger into the anal opening – this is to check to see if your hemorrhoids are internal or external. We know that this can be an uncomfortable process for most patients, but it’s necessary so that your doctor can understand what’s going on. After the exam, your doctor will discuss your options with you.
What Happens to Untreated Hemorrhoids?
For some people, hemorrhoids keep returning… and returning. This can be extremely frustrating – and painful. If you fall into this category, untreated hemorrhoids are becoming a problem. While it’s unlikely that something else is going on (polyps or cancer), we’d like to rule those things out for you and see if we can get your hemorrhoids under control.
When Should I See a Doctor About Hemorrhoids?
If you are incredibly uncomfortable or bleeding from your hemorrhoids a lot, it’s probably time to see the doctor. Open wounds can become infected easily in that area, so make sure to contact your doctor if you start to feel ill overall, too. Fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting (especially pain-induced vomiting) combined with worsening hemorrhoids are all causes for concern and should warrant a trip to the ER.
Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we don’t want you to get to that point. If your hemorrhoids don’t resolve on their own – or show improvement of any kind – after a week, contact your doctor for a specialist referral to our office. You can also call us directly to get in touch.