DEAR Dr. Fritz,
Good day to you and the entire Sun.Star family. My concern is about my internal hemorrhoids. My doctor told me that I could have surgery to help me out. But, I am anxious of the procedure. Anyway, I think my condition is not that serious enough yet. So, I am thinking to try some home remedies at this time. I hope you can get me some remedies that I could use in the convenience of my home. By the way, is there any way to prevent them? I hope you can help me with this.
Thank you very much and more power.
Naval Base
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Dear Naval Base,
These internal hemorrhoids are usually far enough inside your rectum that you can’t see or feel them. The good thing is, they don’t usually hurt because there are only few nerves in the rectum that could sense pain. The only sign that you have them is the bleeding. However, these internal hemorrhoids would sometimes prolapse, or enlarge and they would protrude outside your anus. If this happens, this is the time that you may be able to see or feel them. They are moist and they are pink and pinker than its surrounding areas. The problem is – if they prolapse because you would feel pain at this time because your anus is filled with nerves that could feel the pain. Sometimes, they just get back to where they come from and they get back inside your rectum. But, if they don’t, then, they need a little help from you. You need to push them back into place.
Of course, there are home remedies for your problem. You can try them. But, if they don’t work, then, you might have to get that slice. Well, I hope these tips will work with you.
1. Don’t sit too long. Please take some breaks. Do this once every hour. You have to get up and move around for at least five minutes. You can also get some help with a doughnut shaped cushion to make you sit more comfortably and ease that pressure in your hemorrhoids and get those pains away.
2. To make your bowel movements less painful, try inserting some petroleum jelly just inside the anus.
3. When you feel your hemorrhoids are really irritated, you can try dabbing some witch hazel to reduce those pains and itchings.
But, I think we are losing some space here for now, so, bear with me and let me continue this in my next issue. Until then!
Dr. Fritz
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(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sun.Star-Davao Publishing Inc., Ebro-Pelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City, (former Department of Foreign Affairs office), across Ateneo de Davao University and beside Holy Child School of Davao, or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)