Category Archives: Easy Hemorrhoid Care

This Was Minnesota’s Most Googled Health Condition of 2018 | Minnesota

November 25, 2018 admin

When you think of medical conditions or illnesses related to Minnesotans, you may assume something along the lines of frostbite, pneumonia, dry skin, or just anything related to the state’s extremely cold winters. However, a study of the most frequently Googled health condition in every US state in the past year revealed that the Land of 10,000 Lakes is most concerned about…hemorrhoids.

According to Patch, Medicare Health Plans first tapped Google Trends to identify the most-searched medical terms overall, then added conditions for a second search to find out which states had the highest search volume for each medical condition.

Despite hemorrhoids coming in number one for Minnesota, it doesn’t necessarily indicate a high prevalence of hemorrhoids amongst Minnesotans. A higher search rate for a specific condition may simply show “what people in a specific area are most concerned about regarding their health or the health of a loved one.” For example, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was the most Googled condition in nine states, but this doesn’t signify that ADHD is vastly prevalent in all nine states.

But it’s clear that Minnesotans ARE concerned about hemorrhoid care and hemorrhoid prevention. At Procedure Clinic, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to each patient’s needs.

Posted in Anorectal Care, Anorectal Diseases, Easy Hemorrhoid Care, External Hemorrhoid, Hemorrhoid, Hemorrhoid Care, hemorrhoid clinic, hemorrhoid doctor, Hemorrhoid prevention, Hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids | Tagged Tagged Hemorrhoid Minneapolis, Hemorrhoid MN, Hemorrhoid St. Paul, Hemorrhoids Minneapolis, hemorrhoids Twin Cities, Infrared coagulation, internal hemorrhoids

Here’s What to Expect After Undergoing Rubber Band Ligation | Minnesota

August 24, 2018 admin

Rubber band ligation (RBL) is a common treatment method for hemorrhoids, especially prolapsed hemorrhoids, in Minnesota. This office procedure is almost never appropriate for grade 1 or mild grade 2 hemorrhoids (which are treated with IRC) or more severe grade 4 hemorrhoids (which are treated with surgery). RBL involves a doctor inserting a scope into the anus and clamping onto the prolapsed hemorrhoid to place a rubber band around its base, cutting off the blood flow to the hemorrhoid and causing it to shrink and die off. The procedure only takes a few minutes but is usually limited to one hemorrhoid per office visit. RBL downgrades hemorrhoids to grades 1 or 2, and any remaining hemorrhoids are typically treated with infrared coaguation (IRC).

What Happens After the Procedure?

After rubber band ligation, you’ll typically experience a bit of pain and a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen, as well as an urge to have a bowel movement. These sensations are totally normal and usually subside within a few days. You may also experience small amounts of anal/rectal bleeding for about 7 days after procedure due to the hemorrhoid falling off. It’s encouraged to avoid physically intense activities that strain the body for at least 2-3 weeks. While some patients are able to return to regular activities immediately, others may need a couple days of downtime and bed rest.

Below are a few guidelines for navigating your post-rubber band ligation recovery process:

Avoid any strenuous exercises, such as biking/cycling, jogging, weight lifting, and aerobics, for 2-3 weeks or until your doctor gives you the green light.

Avoid lifting heavy objects for 2-3 weeks, including groceries, backpacks/briefcases, dog food, children, etc.

If you previously took any medications or blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin, your doctor will let you know when it’s okay to restart your meds.

Take your post-surgery pain medications exactly as directed, but do not take two or more types of pain meds at the same time unless instructed to.

Take showers/baths as usual, but make sure to thoroughly dry the anal area dry.

Drink plenty of fluids, and eat lots of high-fiber foods to aid your bowel movements.

Take stool softener such as Colace to keep stool soft.

Try to avoid straining during bowel movements.

To speed up your recovery process, take a sitz bath (sit in 2-3 inches of warm water for 15-20 minutes) three times daily AND after bowel movements. Remember to pat the anal area dry afterward.

Call your doctor immediately if you cannot pass stools or gas, see bright red blood soaking through the bandage, or see signs of infection (increased pain, swelling, redness, pus draining from the area, fever).

Posted in Easy Hemorrhoid Care, Hemorrhoid, hemorrhoid banding, Hemorrhoid Care, hemorrhoid clinic, hemorrhoid doctor, Hemorrhoid treatment, Hemorrhoid treatments, Hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids | Tagged Tagged Hemorrhoid Minneapolis, Hemorrhoid MN, Hemorrhoid St. Paul, Hemorrhoids Minneapolis, hemorrhoids Twin Cities, Infrared coagulation, internal hemorrhoids

Infrared coagulation (IRC) is a fast and effective non-surgical solution for hemorrhoid treatment!

December 9, 2017 admin

A hemorrhoid is a common illness that numerous Minnesotans suffer from. Approximately three out of four people will develop hemorrhoids at some time in their lives. While many people associate hemorrhoid treatments with painful surgery, only a small percentage of hemorrhoid patients actually require hemorrhoidectomy. A fast and simple non-surgical office procedure has taken the fear out of hemorrhoid treatments. The majority of hemorrhoid patients in Minnesota are good candidates for non-surgical Infrared coagulation (IRC) treatments.

What is Infrared Coagulation (IRC)?
IRC is a FDA approved office procedure that uses infrared light to treat symptomatic internal hemorrhoids, and it takes just a couple of minutes for each treatment. IRC is a safe, fast, and effective solution for hemorrhoids. Therefore, IRC has quickly become the most widely used office procedure for hemorrhoid clinics and is preferred over other methods because it is fast, effective, well-tolerated by patients, and rarely has complications.

A small light probe contacts the area above the hemorrhoid complex under direct view, exposing the tissue to a burst of infrared light for about 1.5 second. This coagulates the veins above the hemorrhoid, causing it to shrink.
With IRC, hemorrhoid doctor can effectively coagulate the insensitive area right above the hemorrhoids and destroy these small veins. In this way, the sensitive and painful area is avoided, and IRC becomes a very tolerable treatment.

IRC offers major advantages to patients over previous hemorrhoid treatment methods:

• Fast, simple, and safe solution
• No anesthesia required
• No special preparation needed
• No recovery time after treatment
• Clinically proven results
• Covered by all major insurance companies

Who are the Best Candidates for Infrared Coagulation (IRC)?
Infrared coagulation can be used to treat the early stages of hemorrhoids, and it is most effective in grade 1-2 hemorrhoids.

How is Infrared Coagulation Procedure Performed?
Before IRC procedure is performed, Dr. Shu gently inserts the anoscope (a very short, 3-4 inch rigid metal tube), then uses a handheld device that creates an intense beam of infrared light to touch the mucosa above the hemorrhoids, exposing the hemorrhoid tissue to a quick pulse of infrared light. The heat from the infrared light burns 4-5 spots in the targeted area, coagulating the vein above the hemorrhoids.

The resulting scar tissue cuts off the blood supply to the hemorrhoid venous complex. This causes the hemorrhoid complex to shrink and die. It may take a few weeks for all the hemorrhoids to shrink completely. Moreover, the scar tissue acts to hold nearby hemorrhoid veins in place so they don’t bulge into the anal canal easily and become hemorrhoids as you age.

Each IRC treatment only takes a couple of minutes. You may need as many as four separate treatment sessions every two weeks to cover all the areas where hemorrhoids appear, but this depends on each individual case and how extensive your hemorrhoids are.

What is the Recovery Time of Infrared Coagulation Procedure?
After the IRC procedure, you may feel mild discomfort in the anus and the urge to have a bowel movement sometimes. You are able to resume normal everyday activities immediately afterward. Typically, there are no post-treatment effects. However, there may be slight spot bleeding a few days later, but heavy rectal bleeding is extremely rare. Avoid heavy straining, lifting, and aspirin. If you notice significant rectal bleeding, you should call your doctor’s office.

You may use Tylenol as needed and take a warm sitz bath daily to relieve discomfort. A stool softener, fiber, and water will help ease your bowel movement while you heal.

Posted in Easy Hemorrhoid Care, Hemorrhoid, Hemorrhoid Care, hemorrhoid clinic, hemorrhoid doctor, Hemorrhoid treatment, Hemorrhoid treatments, Hemorrhoids, internal hemorrhoids | Tagged Tagged Anal itching, Hemorrhoid Minneapolis, Hemorrhoid MN, Hemorrhoid St. Paul, Hemorrhoids Minneapolis, hemorrhoids Twin Cities, Rectal Bleeding, Rectal lump, Rectal Pain