hemorrhoids from biking

Top Reasons To Schedule A Visit To The Proctologist

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Who would have ever thought that seeing a proctologist would become a part of a yearly routine?  What is a proctologist anyway?

What Is A Proctologist?  

A proctologist specializes in diagnosing and treating maladies of the rectum or anus.  Ordinarily, we pay little attention to our colon, our rectum or our anus.  But, guess what?  With age comes things like constipation, hemorrhoids or anal pain.

What Does The Proctologist Do? Proctology anatomy of colon and intestines   

Few of us know much about these symptoms. That’s where the proctologist comes in. At the physician’s office, you will interviewed by your doctor in a quiet and confidential setting.  Following this, your proctologist will gently examine you.  You may have a digital exam, whereby the doctor uses a gloved finger to examine the inside of your anal canal and rectum.  This is a painless exam.  Your proctologist may also examine your anal area with a small scope called an anoscope. A proctoscope may be used to look slightly deeper into your rectum.  Finally, your stool will be checked for any microscopic blood.But why would you ever need to see a proctologist?

The list of top reasons to visit a proctologist:

  1. An external anal lump, most likely a hemorrhoid, is seen or felt.
  2. A painful, red swelling on the buttocks which may be an abscess (a collection of pus).
  3. Rectal bleeding
  4. A change in bowel habits, or change in the size of excretion.
  5. You have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and wish to find options to manage your disease.
  6. The catch-all category called OTHER.  There are so many other relevant reasons related to your anus that would require you to see a proctologist.

Where To Find A Proctologist.

At Mountain Streams Medical Center you will become fully educated in all aspects of your problem. You will have a chance to ask questions of the doctor.  Rather than being frightened, become educated and participate in your diagnosis and care.  Mountain Streams Medical Center is your center of excellence in non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment. Please call us and get help for your condition today!

proctologist visit

Embarrassed By Your Hemorrhoids?

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A quick online search turns up many people suffering from painful and annoying anal itching and burning, all looking for assurance their hemorrhoid symptoms will go away on their own instead of having to face a doctor. We get it – hemorrhoids are embarrassing.

As it turns out, most people feel the same way you do. It’s important to understand why seeing a doctor is critical when you experience symptoms of piles, especially rectal bleeding.

Understanding the Embarrassment

People don’t talk about problems “back there” in polite conversation. You’ve probably never discussed your hemorrhoids with your friends. Why would you want a stranger, your doctor, to have a look “down there”?  It’s a common concern, and a reason people suffer through painful and distracting symptoms for so long.

There are several reasons to overcome your embarrassment and see a doctor specializing in non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment.

It Might Not Be Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids share symptoms with many other conditions and problems. This includes everything from anal fissures to rectal cancer. Getting a correct diagnosis is important, especially to rule out more sinister conditions.

Your Doctor Can Provide Quick Relief

non-surgical hemorrhoid banding treatment

If you are reading this, you probably know far more than you want to about the painful itching and burning of hemorrhoids, as well as other symptoms. Using over the counter products is only temporary relief. Your doctor can offer almost instant relief with in-office non-surgical hemorrhoid treatments.

Serious Complications Can Occur

In some cases, hemorrhoids can cause serious complications. Thrombosed hemorrhoids, anal pain or bleeding, require immediate medical attention. Getting the care you need quickly allows your doctor to treat them in a minimally invasive way, getting you relief faster.

Your Doctor Has Seen It Before

Your doctor has had years of experience, education and training, and is an expert at handling your embarrassing situation in a discreet and caring way. Because of federal law, your doctor cannot tell anyone outside of the clinic about your condition without your approval. A well-trained doctor will also be able to put you at-ease before and during your exam, and most people find that they have nothing to worry about.

Your doctor works with hemorrhoids all day every day. Piles are the most common medical complaint in our practice.  Our proctologist sees hundreds of cases every month.

Knowing What to Expect Can Make It Easier

In some cases, just knowing what to expect can make it easier. Your doctor will want to know how long you’ve had symptoms, and how much they interfere with your daily activities. The doctor will likely have a good idea of whether you have hemorrhoids based on this conversation, but they will still need to conduct an exam. This may include:

  • For external hemorrhoids, this will likely include an external visual exam.
  • To visualize internal hemorrhoids, your doctor will likely insert a small anoscope that allows them to see the tissue just inside the anus. This should be painless and takes only a few seconds.

Make the Appointment and See Your Doctor

The best way to get an accurate diagnosis and the relief you need for your hemorrhoid symptoms is to see your doctor. We understand this is not an appointment you will look forward to, but seeing a doctor is the best option for your health. Dr. Scott Woody of Mountain Streams Medical Center is a specialist who offers compassionate and discreet care, and can help you get relief as soon as possible.

Post procedure hemorrhoid wound care

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Post Procedure Care

Mountain Streams Medical uses the gold standard for non-surgical hemorrhoid treatment. The procedure is easy, fast, and painless. You’ll be amazed at how simple it is…and how great you feel. Dr. Woody and his staff are friendly, discreet, and kind. Immediate appointments available – book now

A Denver Hemorrhoid Doctor helping man

What Are the Treatments for Hemorrhoids?

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Treatments for Hemorrhoids:

Hemorrhoids can appear at any time during our life and can be quite burdensome, painful and down right embarrassing!  With such a large number of people suffering from hemorrhoids, most primary care physicians (PCP) have only a small variety of treatment options before recommending you see a surgeon.  Due to this situation, most patients leave their PCP’s office with one of two options:  fill another prescription or consider a visit to see a surgeon.

Either way, the pains of the hemorrhoid flare-up are magnified in this situation because neither option is really a good option.  So once in this position, what usually happens?  The flare-up starts to calm down a bit and the patient puts off correcting the underlying issue until it finally becomes much worse.  Severity slowly increases and time between flare-ups decreases.

Many times, this leaves surgery as the only option.  Hemorrhoid surgery can lead to 2-4 weeks of missed work and using up all of your vacations days, sick days, and increases in paperwork for FMLA or other short-term disability claims.  All because of procrastination or simply not knowing about all available types of hemorrhoid treatment:

1.  Over the Counter (OTC) –  this includes Prep H ointment and various creams as well as suppositories and wipes.  The use of these modalities is designed to be short-term.  Many cause vasoconstriction of the vessels and lubrication of the tissue to aid in passage of stool more easily and decrease the abrasions from harder stools inside or ease the injury of over-wiping of the external anus and tissues.  Long term use becomes a problem as the tissues of the area start to have rebound swelling once the topicals are discontinued.  This keeps patients buying more and more without fixing anything.

2.  Prescription Products – originally designed as the next option beyond OTC use, these products are slightly more effective yet have systemic risks that many prescribers fail to recognize.  Cortisone products may not only degrade the tissues with prolonged use past a few weeks time, they also may disrupt blood sugar control and adrenal gland steroid production.

3- Non-surgical Treatments – often times these are the unknown or overlooked solutions to internal or external hemorrhoids.  These treatments include:  infrared coagulation (IRC) often referred to laser treatment, rubber band ligation (RBL) or “banding,” and sclero-injection or “sclero” for problem internal hemorrhoids.  External hemorrhoid treatment includes:  incision and drainage (I&D) for external blood clots or thrombosis, minor excisions for some types of skin tags and rubber band ligation (RBL) if the external tissue is actually a grade 4 prolapsing internal hemorrhoid.

4- Surgery – this includes the traditional surgical excision as well as some alterations in the approach to include stapled excisions and removal of the arterial supply vessels.  These surgeries are performed in hospitals and surgical centers.  Costs are tremendous and recovery times can be weeks to a month or sometimes longer.  Pain is the most common complicating factor as surgeons and patients alike tend to refrain from this approach unless absolutely necessary.

Many surgeons have been known to tell patients, “you really don’t want to have your hemorrhoids cut on,” or “use whatever you can find to help with your hemorrhoids because surgery is going to hurt like hell,” and “please don’t come back for 20 years or until the hemorrhoids are so bad you can’t take it anymore and then we’ll do your surgery.”  So, do you want to wait on treatment now?

Non-surgical solutions can be a life saver and money saver!  Usually performed in the physician’s office, but not always, so be sure to ask before you treat.  If done in a hospital procedure room or endoscopy suite, you can spend thousands of dollars more due to “facility fees” with no real added benefit to the patient.

Of all the hemorrhoid patients typically seen in the office setting, well over 95% are candidates for treatment with non-surgical methods.  Of all the patients seen by a surgeon, around half can be treated by surgery.  If you ask surgeons to fix your problem, the vast majority will give you surgical options that involve cutting.  That is what they do… surgery!  So if over 95% can be treated with non-surgical options, why would you not want to start with the easiest and least complicated option?  That is where we can help.

At Mountain Streams Medical Center, your center of excellence in hemorrhoid treatment, we strive to quickly and effectively treat you.  We want you to avoid the pain, down time and tremendous costs of surgery.  We have specially equipped our locations to be both your diagnostic and treatment center.  We are equipped to handle all non-surgical hemorrhoid treatments right here!  Most times, your treatment can begin the very same day.  Check out some of our in office before & after hemorrhoid removal photos.

We can eliminate the need to visit your PCP only get a referral to a surgeon or be told to try yet another prescription.  No more visits to urgent care or the ER to just be given a pain pill and a cream and told “there is really nothing we can do.  Here is the card for a surgeon.  You can call his office on Monday.”  Instead, call us now to start your path to better health and the elimination of your hemorrhoid problems.  In the Denver Metro or northern Colorado areas call 303 469-7300 or in Colorado Springs or southern Colorado dial 719 634-6700.  We look forward to your call!