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Treating haemorrhoids can be easier than you think with the Rafaelo procedure.
Have you been feeling nonstop discomfort due to haemorrhoids? Don’t wait to treat them. Fortunately, treating haemorrhoids can be a simple and quick procedure.
Haemorrhoids, also known as piles, are soft fleshy lumps just inside your back passage (anus). They have a rich blood supply and bleed easily, usually causing fresh bright-red bleeding when you have had a bowel movement. They do not usually cause pain but can cause itching around your anus.
Moreover, when large, they can pass through your anus (prolapsed pile), feeling like a lump when you clean yourself. They are often associated with constipation, particularly if you need to strain to open your bowels. Unfortunately, they can be made worse by pregnancy.
Nowadays, we are fortunate that a quick surgery can remove the haemorrhoids; this will rapidly take away the discomfort and any symptoms that haemorrhoids can cause.
Drinking plenty of fluid and increasing the amount of fibre in your diet usually improves the way your bowels work. If these simple measures are unsuccessful, the haemorrhoids can usually be treated in a clinic. Local treatments aimed at shrinking the haemorrhoids include ‘banding’ or ‘injecting’ the haemorrhoids.
The operation is usually performed under a general anaesthetic, but various anaesthetic techniques are possible. The operation usually takes about 20 minutes. Your surgeon will examine your back passage and lower bowel. They will usually remove the haemorrhoids by cutting them away or using a staple gun.
Please bear in mind that there may be some general complications that your doctor will discuss with you at some point before your procedure.
If you have been scheduled to have a haemorrhoid operation, there are a few complications that you should bear in mind. However, feel free to discuss these potential problems with your doctor.
You should be able to go home the same day, especially if your haemorrhoids were treated using a staple gun. Drink plenty of fluid and increase the amount of fibre in your diet to avoid constipation. The wounds often take several weeks to heal completely, and you may need to wear pads until then. There are no open wounds with the stapled technique.
You should be able to return to work within 3 to 4 weeks, depending on your type of work. Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, ask the healthcare team or your GP for advice. You should make a full recovery and the symptoms should clear completely. However, haemorrhoids can come back.
Wisdom teeth can sometimes cause serious problems, which is why it’s best to get your teeth checked out as soon as possible. Overall, removing a wisdom tooth is usually a safe and effective way to prevent your symptoms from coming back.
Author: Mr Jonathan Lund DM FRCS (Gen. Surg.)
Illustrator: Medical Illustration Copyright © Medical-Artist.com
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
FRCS, MRCS, MBChB
The Priory Hospital
Consultant Colorectal and Intestinal Surgeon
BSc(Hons) MBBS FRCS(Gen Surg) MS
The Clementine Churchill Hospital
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon
MBBS, Masters in Surgery, MD, FRCS, FRCS (General Surgery)
The Alexandra Hospital
Consultant Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon
MBBS, MRCS, MS, DNB, FRCSEd, FRCSEng, FRCS (General Surgery)
The Blackheath Hospital 2 more Chelsfield Park Hospital The Sloane Hospital
Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon
MBBS, FRCS, PhD
Albyn Hospital
Consultant General & Colorectal Surgeon
BSc(Hons), MB BS, PhD, FRCS
The Priory Hospital 1 more The Edgbaston Hospital