Piles removal in Singapore: What you need to know

Experiencing itchiness, pain, and bleeding whenever you go to the loo to do number two are possible indications that you have external piles or haemorrhoids. This incident should already raise the red flag to consult with a medical doctor that specialises in treating this kind of condition as leaving to address it another time can make it more severe. 

Pile removal (https://gastrohealth.com.sg/condition/piles-haemorrhoids/) in Singapore can be done in various ways. For conditions that are minor, there are home treatments and lifestyle adjustments that can be done to remove them. Here are some examples:

• Apply topical medications. Topical creams or ointments that are infused with hydrocortisone can be applied to ease the itchiness or pain brought about by the external piles. 
• Consume foods that are high in fibre. Gradually adding more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your daily diet will help make your stool soft. You will not need to exert too much effort when releasing waste, reducing the symptoms of any haemorrhoids present. 
• Take oral medications for pain relief. Piles can be really painful. Some over-the-counter medications can bring temporary pain relief, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen.
• Sit and soak in a sitz bath regularly. A sitz bath is a shallow and warm bath used to clean the area between the rectum and scrotum or vulva. Aside from cleansing, a sitz bath can bring relief from any discomfort or pain in the area surrounding the genitals. Do this at least two or three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes to minimise the symptoms in the anal area.

If these treatments do little to improve your piles situation, then set an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible to discuss other pile removal procedures. The table below shows the other treatments to remove piles.

Procedure	How it is done
Electrocoagulation	Uses electric current heat to cut off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid by creating a scar tissue.
Infrared photocoagulation	Uses an infrared light heat that is directed on a hemorrhoid to create a scar tissue that stops the flow of blood to the hemorrhoid.
Hemorrhoidectomy	A surgical procedure that removes large haemorrhoids located outside the anal area or prolapsed internal haemorrhoids.
Hemorrhoid stapling	Uses a medical tool that staples and removes internal haemorrhoids. It may also be used for pulling prolapsed internal haemorrhoids back into the inner area of the anus.
Rubber band ligation	Uses a small rubber band that is wound over the base of an internal hemorrhoid in order to obstruct the blood flow and shrink the haemorrhoids. Successful administration causes the band and haemorrhoids to fall off within a week.
Sclerotherapy	Uses an injectable substance that stops the blood flow into the haemorrhoids, therefore shrinking them. This procedure needs to be repeated until the haemorrhoids are completely gone.

Diagnosing piles or haemorrhoids

Your doctor needs to accurately diagnose the type of piles that you have to be able to recommend the best pile removal procedure to address it. Piles or haemorrhoids are categorised into three types:

• External haemorrhoids – Hard lumps that develop beneath the skin and bleed around the outer area of the anus. 
• Internal haemorrhoids – Lumps inside the rectum that are usually painless, but have the tendency to bleed.
• Prolapsed haemorrhoids – Considered as a severe form of haemorrhoids, these are internal haemorrhoids which hang outside the anal area after having been pushed through the anus. These cause pain when the ring of muscle controlling the opening and closing of the anus apply pressure and strangle the vein, leaving them to remain outside of the body.

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will subject you to a physical exam and additional tests based on the symptoms you exhibit:

• Anoscopy – This procedure uses a medical tool, called an anoscope, which is inserted into the anal canal to view the inside of the rectum.  
• Digital rectal exam – In this procedure, the doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated fingering the rectum to check and feel any presence of lumps or swollen veins.
• Sigmoidoscopy – This procedure uses a thin, lighted tube and a tiny camera that is inserted into the lower part of the colon and rectum, allowing the doctor to examine its condition. 

Your doctor may also require a colonoscopy procedure to be done to rule out other diseases with symptoms that are similar to haemorrhoids. Rectal bleeding is one hemorrhoid-type symptom that can also be indicative of these gastrointestinal conditions or disorders:

• Cancer of the colon

• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis

Piles or haemorrhoids usually do not progress into any major disease, but in very rare situations, they can cause complications like:

• Anaemia

• Blood clots

• Infection
• Skin tags

Immediately get medical attention if you have piles or haemorrhoids and experience the following:

• Chills
• Fever
• Pain in the abdominal area
• Persistent constipation or diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Severe pain and bleeding in the rectum

Factors that cause piles or haemorrhoids

Here is a checklist to know your risk of developing piles or haemorrhoids is high:

• Age – Piles or haemorrhoids can be developed at any age, but the risks are higher as you become older.
• Genetics – If anyone in your family has or had this condition, then your risk of developing piles or haemorrhoids doubles.
• Low fibre diet – A diet that is low in fibre can cause hard stools, which can cause constipation and affect the flow of blood in the rectal area and cause the blood in the veins to pool, resulting in piles or haemorrhoids. 
• Obesity – The heavy pressure placed on the pelvis and anal area can cause the veins to grow large and swollen.
• Pregnancy – The heavy pressure of the uterus can cause piles or haemorrhoids to develop, but these can go away after birth.

Conclusion

With the right pile removal procedure, your symptoms can be alleviated immediately with treatments done in the doctor’s clinic or within a week for treatments administered at home. To have more in depth knowledge about the different pile removal procedures available in Singapore, contact Gastrohealth Clinic.

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Gastrohealth Clinic – Dr Bhavesh Doshi | Gastroenterologist | Colonoscopy Singapore

6A Napier Rd, #03-370 Gleneagles Hospital Annexe Block, Singapore 258500

+65 6355 5773

[email protected]

https://gastrohealth.com.sg/