Haemorrhoids - band or hydrocortisone cream?
Posted , 5 users are following.
I have grade 2 haemorrhoids that are giving me minor problems. They flared up a bit a month ago and I did a 2 week course of anusol (hydrocortisone cream) and they improved but not completely. I would say they are about 70-80% better and just mild discomfort when moving through different positions.
I have had banding done in the past with success and debating whether to have the banding done again for the mild issues I am having. I have had CRH O'Regan banding done which I felt to be milder in both discomfort and effect than traditional banding. I have had the milder banding done around 10 times total several years ago and had the haemorrhoids shrunken from grade 3 to 2 and haven't had any side effects other then mild/moderate discomfort for a few days.
Part of me thinks I should do the banding and and another part thinks about trying anusol again. I did 2 suppositories per day but read it can be done at 3 per day. Any advice or suggestions will be appreciated!
Dave
0 likes, 6 replies
Arok675 adamsdp
Posted
you probably learned from the past that they get worse overtime, obviously that banding procedure is a temporary fix, seek a colon rectal specialist and have a Hemmerectomy and be done once and for all...
I can honestly say its life changing...
Lis000 Arok675
Posted
Please could you tell me, how long ago did you have the procedure? was it under GA and did you stay in?
was it painful and if so for how long? how long did you need off work?
I have grade 3, painful when it swells and a fissure too....
Arok675 Lis000
Posted
I live in the U.S. it was a out patient procedure, recovery honestly about 3 months but tolerable after about 6 weeks, still feel symptoms of surgery for longer... If your suffering from a fissure pain just as bad as a bad flare up.. so much easier for someone who has experienced alot of pain down there...I highly recommend you get it done..You can return to work after a month with discomfort...You will be so glad you did it...
adamsdp
Posted
Thank you for the response and good to hear about your successful surgery. I was told a long time ago by my gi doctor that if the haemorrhoids aren't bothering you don't bother them which has stuck in my mind. I have done what I can to avoid surgery and have been very hesitant to seriously consider it given the feedback of some on this list. Sounds like it can be terribly painful during recovery. It would be nice to be done with them once and for all though.
monkeyboy84 adamsdp
Posted
Hi Dave,
I recommend seeing a colorectal surgeon. I'm 35 and have had minor hemorrhoid issues since I was in my 20s. About a year ago, I started getting flare ups that were more uncomfortable and more frequent. No pain as such, no bleeding...just uncomfortable and preyed on my mind all the time. I finally went to see my colorectal surgeon last month and learned a ton that I simply did not know before.
From what I have learned, prescribed creams (such as proctosol) are only temporary solutions especially if it's a first-time occurrence that goes away after application. If the problems are ongoing, traditional banding is recommended because hemorrhoids don't stay static or get better over time...the opposite in fact.
I asked a lot of questions about the O'Reagan technique and he told me that while it can work, it doesn't always "suck up" enough of the hemorrhoid which is why he, and other colorectal surgeons, favor the traditional banding method. Apparently, GI doctors are usually the ones that use O'Reagan (why, I don't know) but he said you won't typically find colorectal surgeons using anything other than traditional banding. He also said that he's often had to use traditional banding for people that have come to him from somewhere else that used O'Reagan and that didn't solve their problems.
I guess ultimately, you have to trust the person you go to see and do research on them. But I do recommend seeing a colorectal surgeon. You might find better answers to your questions.
adamsdp
Posted
Thank you for the information you received from your surgeon, it is very helpful. It makes sense with the CRH O'Regan banding that it may not suck up enough tissue to be effective for some. It took around 8 bandings for my haemorrhoids to go from grade 3 to grade 2. I am motivated to make an appointment with a surgeon after reading you reply.