Not Sure if Your symptoms are Hemorrhoids? Come See us for a Consultation

We understand that anal discomfort and hemorrhoids aren’t exactly topics suited for the dinner table or office, but these are legitimate medical issues that could use a little expertise.

Here at Midwest Hemorrhoid Treatment Center, headed up Dr. Betsy Clemens, we provide a safe oasis where you can address this uncomfortable problem. Whether or not your symptoms are caused by hemorrhoids, we offer experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable consultation services that provide you with the answers you need.

If you’re tired of dealing with anal discomfort, here’s how we can help.

Hemorrhoids 101

To get started, it’s helpful to quickly review what hemorrhoids are so that you have a better grasp of this medical condition. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in your anus and rectum, and believe it or not, three out of four Americans are affected by hemorrhoids during the course of their lives.

While hemorrhoids aren’t necessarily dangerous, they can cause great discomfort, especially when you’re sitting or during bowel movements.

Hemorrhoids can develop both internally or externally, and they form for any number of reasons, including:

• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Being overweight or obese
• Straining during bowel movements
• Spending long periods of time sitting on the toilet
• Anal intercourse

Hemorrhoids are also more of a threat as you age because the muscles and tissue that support the veins around your anus and rectum begin to naturally weaken.

Know the signs

The most common symptoms of hemorrhoids, which can present themselves in varying degrees of severity, are:

• Itching around the anus
• Anal bleeding (without any pain)
• Swelling around your anus
• A lump in your anal region
• Pain in the anal area

While these symptoms are most often associated with hemorrhoids, they can also stem from other conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

There are also two fairly common conditions that are often mistaken for hemorrhoids: 1) An anal fissure, which is a small tear in your anus, or 2) pruritus ani, which is a form of dermatitis that causes intense itching around your anus.

Expert advice

Since there are many issues that share the same symptoms as hemorrhoids, a simple consultation with us can clear up the issue and get you on the road to relief more quickly. Our consultation is simply that — a chance for us to review your symptoms and take a look to see what’s causing your anal discomfort.

From there, and depending upon our diagnosis, we can discuss your next steps. There are many simple and easy treatments for the conditions listed above, and employing them sooner rather than later will prevent your problem from getting worse.

If you’re worried about surgery, you may be getting ahead of yourself. While we do offer several surgical solutions for treatment-resistant cases or severe hemorrhoids, we also offer innovative procedures, such as infrared coagulation (IRC). With IRC, we direct infrared energy into the vein, causing it to shrink and clot, thereby cutting off the supply of blood to the vessel. We perform this noninvasive procedure in our office, and there’s no downtime afterward, which means you’re free to get on with your day.

Ultimately, we want to emphasize that if you’re unsure about whom to turn to when you’re experiencing anal discomfort or pain, we can provide you with the care and expertise you need. And all it takes is a simple phone call to set up a consultation. Or you can use the online “request a callback” button and we’ll contact you.