Hemorrhoids

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels inside your rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or on your anus (external hemorrhoids). Sometimes a hemorrhoid may prolapse, which means it extends out of your anus. Signs and symptoms may include anal bleeding, pain, bulging tissue, inflammation, discharge, and itching.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Hemorrhoid topical medicine: This is medicine you apply on your skin. It may come as pads, creams, ointments, or lotions. This medicine helps decrease pain and swelling. It may also help prevent infection. Sometimes, this medicine may contain steroids. Steroids decrease swelling but can weaken the skin around your anus. Ask your caregiver how long you should use medicine with steroids.
  
  
• Stool softeners: This medicine makes it easier for you to have a bowel movement. You may need this medicine to treat or prevent constipation.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take away or decrease pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine will help fight or prevent an infection. Take your antibiotics until they are gone, even if you feel better.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits.

Follow up with your primary healthcare provider as directed:

Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

Drinking liquids:

Adults should drink about 9 to 13 cups of liquid each day. One cup is 8 ounces. Good choices of liquids for most people include water, juice, and milk. Coffee, soup, and fruit may be counted in your daily liquid amount. Ask your caregiver how much liquid you should drink each day.

Ice:

Your caregiver may tell you to put ice on your hemorrhoids to decrease pain and swelling. Ask your caregiver about the correct way to apply ice.

Sitz bath:

Your caregiver may ask you to soak in a warm tub or take a sitz bath. A sitz bath is a pan that fits on the toilet bowl with warm water in it. This helps decrease pain and swelling. You may need to do this more than once each day. Ask your caregiver how to use a sitz bath and how often you should bathe.

Contact your primary healthcare provider if:

• You have frequent and painful bowel movements.
  
  
• You see blood in the toilet bowl or on the toilet paper after a bowel movement.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Return to the emergency department if:

• You have severe pain in your rectum or around your anus.
  
  
• You have bleeding from your anus that does not stop.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Hemorrhoids (Aftercare Instructions)