If you’ve gotten screened for colorectal cancer, whether it was because of symptoms or regular screening, your doctor may find something called a colon polyp. While polyps are common and oftentimes don’t become cancer, they will still usually need to be removed. Below, we will discuss what colon polyps are, what causes colon polyps, and how to treat colon polyps.
If you’re one of many individuals wondering “how do I know if I have Crohn’s disease,” you’ve come to the right place. Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we specialize in colorectal issues like this. In this post, we’ll help you understand what causes Crohn’s disease and answer a question you might have about your own health: how do you rule out Crohn’s disease?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome tends to affect some patients differently than others. Those with chronic diarrhea may be at higher risk of dehydration, a dangerous place to be in while pregnant. Due to dehydration, IBS during pregnancy can lead to decreased amniotic fluids, urinary tract infections, Braxton Hicks contractions, and even preterm labor.
If you are experiencing symptoms or discomfort in areas related to the lower digestive tract, including your colon, rectum, or anus, your primary care doctor or gastroenterologist may refer you to a colorectal specialist. That’s all well and good, but you may find yourself wondering what is a colorectal specialist? Below, we’ll discuss what makes a colorectal specialist different from other doctors in the field, what they treat, what makes a good colorectal specialist, and more.
Hemorrhoids are an uncomfortable condition in which blood vessels around the anal opening become swollen. Sometimes, internal hemorrhoids can slip out of the anus, causing extreme pain when sitting or standing for long periods of time. In this post, we’ll take a look at some common questions: how do you help someone with hemorrhoids, how do you calm a hemorrhoid flare-up, and how do you comfort someone with hemorrhoids?
Some women have gastrointestinal issues that worsen and become more prominent during pregnancy. This may be due to increased hormone levels, but it may also be a result of the decreasing space in the body cavity for all of the internal organs. In this post, we’ll take a look at some common pregnancy woes - specifically gastrointestinal ones. We’ll also answer some common questions you might have: can pregnancy cause IBS symptoms, what does pregnancy gastritis feel like, and what helps digestive problems during pregnancy?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that affects between 25 and 45 million Americans, making it a common disease. If you suffer from IBS, you’ll know that patients with this condition go through recurring phases of abdominal discomfort, and sometimes severe pain, that appears with other symptoms. These symptoms vary from patient to patient, and tend to be most disruptive during an “attack.”
Affecting more than 1.6 million Americans, inflammatory bowel diseases cause painful symptoms that make living life difficult sometimes. Of these IBDs, Crohn’s disease may be the worst. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some common patient questions: what is the life expectancy of someone with Crohn’s disease, what are the worst symptoms of Crohn's disease, and does Crohn’s get worse with age?
Hemorrhoids are an annoying condition to deal with, characterized by painful bowel movements, anal itching, anal pain, and difficulty sitting without pain. This condition certainly isn’t fun, and many of our patients come to us with the burning question: “why do I always have hemorrhoids?” In order to answer this question effectively, we’ll take a look at what hemorrhoids are and answer additional questions like “how do hemorrhoids go away” and “what is the main cause of hemorrhoids?”
Hands down, the biggest cause of hemorrhoids is increased pressure on the pelvis - through weight gain, pregnancy, sitting too much, straining during bowel movements, weightlifting, or lifting heavy objects improperly. It’s important to not put too much pressure on the sensitive tissue around the anus. You can reduce this pressure in the following ways:
During bowel movements, only sit when you are ready to go. Do not push or strain, and get up as soon as you are finished. Keep the phone in another room to remove the urge to sit idly.
If you have a highly sedentary job, make an effort to get up and stretch at regular intervals. Take a short walk or request and use a standing desk if you are at an office.
During pregnancy, the same tips will apply. You may find that it’s more difficult to stay consistent with precautionary measures - but try to do your best.
Try to avoid lifting heavy objects with a wide stance. If you are prone to hemorrhoids, see if you can get someone to help you move or adjust furniture.
If you have noticed that your increased hemorrhoids coincide with weight gain, take a look at your diet and lifestyle: it may be in your best interest to make some changes there and lose some weight - especially if you did not have hemorrhoids at all beforehand.
To understand why hemorrhoids come and go, we must first take a look at what a hemorrhoid is. Hemorrhoids are small, inflamed blood vessels in and around the anus. These pockets of inflammation can come and go, just like any type of inflammation, but are usually caused by increased pressure on the anus, as we mentioned above. Hemorrhoids usually resolve on their own, either through intentional lifestyle changes that resolve the inflammation or other mechanisms.
We understand your woes, and we hear this complaint all the time here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay. If you find yourself asking “why do I always have hemorrhoids,” it may be time for you to talk to a colorectal specialist. Sometimes, it can feel like you have tried everything - at this point, it’s good to talk to a specialist and see if there’s anything you might be missing. If you have worked through all of the main causes of hemorrhoids above and are still struggling, schedule a consultation with one of our colorectal specialists.
If you have hemorrhoids that have not subsided after about a week, get in touch with your doctor or colorectal specialist; your doctor will need to rule out more serious conditions that can look like hemorrhoids. Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, we can help you determine the reason you keep getting hemorrhoids and help you develop a game plan to reduce their frequency and eliminate them.
Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, one of the most common conditions we treat patients for is colorectal cancer or colon cancer. In this post, we’ll take a look at what colorectal cancer is, the symptoms of colorectal cancer, the causes of colorectal cancer, the early signs of colon cancer, and answer some common patient questions: how do you detect colorectal cancer, how is colon cancer treated, and what is the prognosis for colon cancer?
Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that is characterized by chronic inflammation in the colon and rectum. UC’s sister IBD is Crohn’s, and the two diseases are quite similar. Unlike Crohn’s, however, patients with UC develop ulcers inside the colon - this can be quite uncomfortable and painful for patients, especially when trigger foods are not avoided.
Healthcare services span many realms so that every area of the body can be cared for separately and with the utmost care. Even though the lower digestive system isn’t the most exciting specialty to most people, colorectal doctors have spent their lives studying and focusing on this area. These doctors are highly important, as their talents can help patients with uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous conditions. Let’s take a look at some common questions, including “what does colorectal mean,” and “what does a colorectal surgeon do?
When it comes to external conditions, few are as painful and difficult to deal with as pilonidal cysts. While men may be at higher risk of developing these cysts than women, anyone that spends a lot of time sitting is at risk of dealing with one at some point in their life. What are pilonidal cysts? Let’s take a look at the answer to this question, pilonidal cyst symptoms, and pilonidal cyst treatment. The team at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay would like to remind you to, if you think you may be dealing with this condition, get in touch with your doctor right away.
