How To Tell If You Have Hemorrhoids

You probably can't tell yourself whether or not you have hemorrhoids, but you can go to the doctor and be examined to see if you do. Doctors or surgeons specializing in the rectum or colon can certainly find out whether or not you have hemorrhoids, as can most family practitioners. If you have complaints that you may have hemorrhoids, though, it's a procedure you're probably going to dread. You may undergo several rectal examinations and anoscopies, which can be extremely unpleasant especially if the person examining you is not experienced in doing so. Therefore, if you're going to undergo such an examination, make sure you talk with your doctor and have your fears addressed before you undergo such an examination in order to get results from it.

When examining the patient, he should be in left lateral decubitus or Sims position as this is better tolerated, more at ease and less humiliating than the prone jackknife or lithotomy position. Also when utilizing this position, it is important to position the patient appropriately in order to get hold of a good view of the anal area to be examined.
Cure for Hemorrhoids - Hemorrhoids

In order that the patient is more on his belly than lying on his back, he should be positioned with the left side down with the buttocks a little bit off the edge of the examining table with the right shoulder rolled forward and the left shoulder back. Note also that both knees should be flexed up towards the chest and the feet forwarded away from the anal area.

This gives good exposure for the anal area to be examined by a practitioner, with as little discomfort as possible to you, the patient. The doctor will gently spread your buttocks apart and will examine the external perineal area for any abnormal findings, such as lesions that are eczematous or for any rashes, et cetera. The examiner will probably also ask you to contract your external sphincter to see if normal function is okay.

After this is complete, you'll generally be asked to push or bear down as though you were going to have a bowel movement; simultaneously, the examiner will insert a lubricated finger gently into the anus for what is called the digital examination. This examination should only take a minute or two, and is typically not painful, just uncomfortable.

Anoscopy is usually done after the digital examination is complete. This is done so that the examiner can visually confirm that you do have hemorrhoids using an anoscope, which is a device that looks like a hollow tube with a light attached at the end, attached to a machine that lets the examiner view the air yet clearly. Side viewing anoscopes are used for these examinations instead of end viewing anoscopes because side view anoscopes lead the examiner look at the anal canal and not just the rectum.

When the anoscope is inserted, it should be positioned such that the open portion is in the right anterior, after which it's placed in the right posterior, and lastly in the left lateral positions so that hemorrhoidal bundles can be observed. As the doctor examines, a pathologist is also going to observe and see whether dilated vascular spaces exist that may inhibit recanalization or thrombosis.

In some cases, you may also be required to undergo a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy if the examiner needs more detail. If any prolapses have occurred with hemorrhoids, you may be requested to again bear down or strain after the procedure is complete. Anal outlet bleeding does happen with hemorrhoids but it can also be a sign of colorectal cancer, which is a concern. Therefore, if you have rectal bleeding, you will need to be examined further to make sure only hemorrhoids and no other diseases are present.