If you’ve never had this condition before, you may be surprised how itchy, stingingly painful, and inconvenient having hemorrhoids is. Sitting is difficult, and anxiety creeps in every time you feel a bowel movement coming.
Sound familiar? Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, hemorrhoids are a very common topic during visits with our patients. We can help you address your condition and make sure things don’t escalate, causing more problems. Let’s take a look at what happens when you don’t treat hemorrhoids, and when it’s time to call a doctor about them!
What Are Hemorrhoids?
First and foremost, hemorrhoids are a common occurrence, and you needn’t be embarrassed about making a trip to see your doctor for them. Hemorrhoids range from mildly itchy to extremely painful, and there’s no reason you need to suffer in silence; doctors deal with issues like these all the time, so don’t hesitate to give your doctor a call.
Hemorrhoids are essentially swollen blood vessels inside and around the anal opening. This can lead to clots, anal bleeding, itching, burning, and more. While hemorrhoids aren’t a serious condition on their own, leaving them untreated can be extremely uncomfortable and, if ignored for long enough, they could lead to infection and blood loss.
What Happens To Untreated Hemorrhoids?
So will hemorrhoids go away on their own? The answer: usually (but not always).
While hemorrhoids do normally dissipate on their own, it can take several days for them to heal without treatment. (Though there are a few ways you can ease the pain at home.) Furthermore, some swollen blood vessels may be a little bit more stubborn, requiring removal in order to heal properly without infection. The bottom line is this: let your doctor know if you have hemorrhoids. At the very least, they can tell you what kinds of over-the-counter treatments to try and when to come back if they do not resolve within a certain time frame.
When Should I Worry About My Hemorrhoids?
Generally speaking, hemorrhoids that last longer than a week or up to two weeks should be looked at by a doctor or specialist. You should also visit your doctor if you have recurring hemorrhoids that heal and return, despite attempts to prevent them (common prevention techniques include less straining during bowel movements, more fiber intake, less time spent stationary during the day). You should also contact your doctor about hemorrhoids right away if you experience any of the following in addition to your normal hemorrhoid symptoms:
Fever or chills
Feeling dizzy or faint
Excessive bleeding from your anus
Discharge from your anus that is not blood
A large, hard lump in or around your anus
Lastly, it’s important to either let hemorrhoids do their thing and heal on their own, or to consult a professional before trying any drastic at-home treatments. For example, what you don’t want to do is “pop” a hemorrhoid. (Trust us, it won’t end well.)
Hemorrhoid Treatment In Tampa Bay
Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we have hemorrhoid symptom specialists available to help get you a diagnosis and plan for treatment. Furthermore, if it turns out that your hemorrhoid symptoms are part of a larger, more serious problem, our team of colorectal experts can help with that, too.