Hemorrhoids Specialist

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins that form inside your rectum or in the skin around your anus. They’re often itchy and painful as a result of their location. Often, at-home treatments like lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter ointments provide relief but do not permanently fix the problem. If your hemorrhoids continue to cause discomfort, bleeding, and problems make an appointment with Dr. Lamb.

What are the symptoms of hemorrhoids?

Symptoms of hemorrhoids include:

• Itching or burning in your anal region
• Pain or discomfort
• Bleeding or blood on the toilet paper after bowel movements
• Swelling around your anus
• Inflammation
• A hard lump near your anus
• Flare up of symptoms when sitting for extended periods of time

When should I see a surgeon about hemorrhoids?

Make an appointment with Dr. Lamb if you experience bleeding after bowel movements, or you try at-home treatments and your symptoms don’t improve. Rectal bleeding isn’t always a sign of hemorrhoids; sometimes, it points to more serious underlying conditions, so it’s important to get checked out right away.

What causes hemorrhoids?

The veins in your anus and rectum bulge and swell because of regular pressure. Other factors that can cause hemorrhoids to form include:

• Being pregnant
• Having chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Sitting for long periods on the toilet
• Straining during bowel movements

You’re also more likely to experience hemorrhoids if your job regularly requires you to lift heavy objects.

How are hemorrhoids diagnosed?

To diagnose hemorrhoids, Dr. Lamb reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms. Then, she has you remove your pants and underwear and lie face down on an exam table. Dr. Lamb carefully inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to feel for anything unusual, like growths or masses.

Since internal hemorrhoids are too soft to feel, she might also use a tool, like an anoscope, to view your colon and rectum. If you have hemorrhoids, Dr. Lamb develops a custom treatment plan.

How are hemorrhoids treated?

Dr. Lamb can treat hemorrhoids in multiple ways including, surgical removal, hemorrhoids,with hemorrhoid banding, an outpatient procedure that’s quick and pain-free, and sometimes with simple dietary changes alone.

For surgical excision, anesthesia is used and the enlarged hemorrhoid is excised. This is an outpatient procedure. 

For banding, sometimes anesthesia is used and sometimes it is not needed.

Once you’re comfortable, she carefully inserts a tool called an anoscope into your anus. The anoscope has a camera and a light on the end, allowing Dr. Lamb to see your hemorrhoids.

After determining the location of each hemorrhoid, Dr. Lamb inserts a tool called a ligator into the anoscope. Then, she uses the ligator to wrap a rubber band around the base of each hemorrhoid. The rubber bands cut off blood flow to the hemorrhoids, causing them to shrivel up and die. Over time, the hemorrhoids fall off and exit your body along with stool. 

To receive treatment for hemorrhoids, make an appointment at the practice of Dr. Melinda Nicole Lamb MD by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.