Banding Hemorrhoids
Top 5 Things You Need to Know about Banding of Hemorrhoids
Banding of hemorrhoids is an option for those suffering from painful or bleeding hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are the enlarged or bulging blood vessels in the rectal area and anus and these can be sometimes extremely painful and can rupture and cause bleeding. One of the ways to deal with such cases is to band the hemorrhoids.
A doctor may also recommend this procedure in cases where a patient has:
Thrombosed hemorrhoid – a hemorrhoid with a blood clot
Prolapsed hemorrhoids – this is a case where the hemorrhoids may start protruding through the anus
It is best to educate yourself about the process to make it least stressful for yourself. Before the procedure your doctor will likely conduct a physical exam, especially a rectal exam. Depending on the case and the variations, an anoscopy and sigmoidoscopy may also be conducted. The first is the use of a short tube called an anoscope to conduct a visual examination of the anus and this is to help keep the sphincter open. The latter is visual examination of the anus, rectum and lower intestine and is conducted with a special endoscope. These examinations allow the doctor to conduct the procedure with confidence that they have a clear idea of the areas that they will be dealing with during the banding of the hemorrhoids. By and large general anesthesia is not used for the banding. Local anesthesia may be used to numb the immediate area.
In the actual procedure, the doctor will look inside the rectum locate the hemorrhoids and use a special tool to place a small rubber band around the hemorrhoid. This causes the blood flow to be cut off and leads to the hemorrhoid falling off in a matter of weeks. The procedure can be conducted on more than one hemorrhoid at a time and as the band falls off with the hemorrhoid it is a relatively low impact process. The length of the procedure depends on the extent of the hemorrhoid problem and on relative ease of access. Some discomfort and pain are naturally to be expected during the process but patients should let their doctors know if they feel any sharp or sudden pain. A pain reliever of medium strength may be prescribed to deal with the soreness expected after the procedure.
After the procedure be prepared for a time of healing and do not expect your body to be back to normal the next day. For patients, some sensitivity during bowel movements or even while passing gas is normal. There are some things that a doctor is likely to recommend to aid the recovery process:
Use the restroom as soon as you feel the urge and do not try to hold anything.
On the flip side, do not strain and push to cause a bowel movement. Applying pressure or breathing down hard is also not advisable.
It is best to not sit at the toilet for long stretches of time.
It is a good idea to use stool softeners and eat high fiber foods to avoid constipation and to have easy bowel movement. Light exercise and plenty of fluid intake can also be helpful in this regard.
Doctors may prescribe pr recommend some topical creams to soothe the area and it is best to follow doctor’s directions on their usage.
One other way to provide some topical relief is to use a Sitz bath. This is a way of sitting with your bottom in warm water for 15-20 minutes. After the bath make sure that you do not rub the area dry but instead gently pat the wetness off. Sitz bath devices are available which can be placed on top of the toilet. These are also used by new mothers immediately after delivery. Hemorrhoid patients can use these every four to five hours or after bowel movements.
It is best to avoid any vigorous physical activity or severe lifting for a few weeks after the banding to avoid any ruptures.
If everything progresses normally, you should schedule a follow-up visit with your doctor to ensure that the healing is complete. Some bleeding is to be expected when the hemorrhoids fall off but if there is excessive bleeding it is important to contact your doctor immediately.