Hemorrhoids treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, you can. A doctor from Maple will want to discuss your medical history, as well as any symptoms or signs of hemorrhoids that you're currently experiencing.
If your symptoms are persistent or severe, the doctor may suggest a physical examination before offering a hemorrhoids diagnosis.
Less commonly, the doctor may suggest additional testing to further examine your digestive system before providing hemorrhoid treatment options.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe hemorrhoids medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for hemorrhoids, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Hemorrhoids, also known as "piles", are clusters of veins that form beneath the mucous membranes in the lower rectum and anus. These appear when your veins become distended and swollen, similar to the way varicose veins occur in the legs.

This condition is extremely common. Nearly three out of four adults will experience hemorrhoids from time to time.

There are two types of hemorrhoids:

• External - under the skin around the anus
• Internal - inside the rectum

Internal hemorrhoids rarely cause discomfort, and can't be seen or felt. Therefore, there aren't many signs of internal hemorrhoids. However, irritation or straining during a bowel movement can result in:

• Pain and irritation (due to protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoids pushing through the anal opening)
• Bleeding from the rectum while passing stool with minimal or no pain

External hemorrhoids have signs that are far more noticeable and more commonly recognized. External hemorrhoid symptoms include:

• Bleeding from around the anus
• Pain or discomfort (particularly while having a bowel movement or due to wiping)
• Swelling around the anus
  Irritation or itching around the anus

In rare cases, blood can form a clot and pool in external hemorrhoids causing symptoms that are more severe. These include:

• Inflammation or swelling
• Severe pain or irritation
• A hard lump under the skin around your anus

Anytime your hemorrhoid symptoms become severe, you should talk to your doctor. You may require prescription hemorrhoid medications or a referral to a specialist for further management to ease your symptoms.

As we age, our risk of hemorrhoids increases. Some people even believe that hemorrhoids are a natural result of blood vessels fighting gravity, because human beings stand upright.

The most direct cause of hemorrhoids is bulging or swelling veins. These tend to stretch under pressure, which means that hemorrhoids can develop due to increased pressure in the lower rectum. This can be the result of a number of different catalysts, such as:

• Low-fibre diets
• Dehydration
• Pregnancy (sometimes caused by the uterus pressing on veins)
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Frequent heavy lifting
• Straining during bowel movements
• Sitting for long periods of time (especially on the toilet)
• Obesity
• Anal intercourse

It's also believed that genetics could be a cause of hemorrhoids in some people, especially if there is a family history of the condition.

Due to the wide range of hemorrhoid causes, the doctor will want to evaluate your current condition, and your personal and family medical histories. This is important to help identify the need to screen for certain types of rectal and colon cancers.

They'll also want to talk to you about your current symptoms and signs of hemorrhoids, before providing a hemorrhoid diagnosis. Depending on the severity of your condition, the doctor may also suggest a visual inspection or digital examination at a medical facility.

Less commonly, if the doctor believes your hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding could be signs of another condition, they may suggest a colonoscopy. They could also suggest a sigmoidoscopy or a barium X-ray, in order to do a more detailed examination of your colon.

Most of the time, if you've only just started experiencing signs of hemorrhoids, the doctor will suggest trying over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications.

There are a number of home-remedies that are also good for soothing signs of hemorrhoids, such as:

• Cold compress on the affected area
• Ointments for soothing symptoms
• Warm bath or sitz bath
• Witch hazel on the affected area
• Wearing loose clothing
• Eating high-fibre foods
• Soothing wipes
• Stool softeners
• Staying hydrated

If your hemorrhoid symptoms are chronic or severe, the doctor may suggest hemorrhoid treatments involving prescription hemorrhoid medications or additional procedures.

There are a variety of procedures that the doctor could suggest as hemorrhoid treatments, but their effectiveness would depend on the individual case being addressed. Some possible hemorrhoid treatment procedures include:

• Hemorrhoid removal
• Rubber band ligation
• Sclerotherapy (injections to shrink the hemorrhoid)
• Coagulation (laser, infrared or bipolar)
• Hemorrhoid stapling

If you've tried over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications, home-remedies and your hemorrhoid symptoms are still severe or chronic, it's a good idea to talk to a doctor.

The doctor will be able to do a thorough evaluation of your condition and offer a clear hemorrhoid diagnosis. If they believe you could have an underlying condition causing your hemorrhoids, they can arrange for additional testing to provide a clear hemorrhoid diagnosis.

If you have chronic or severe hemorrhoid symptoms, Maple can help you find hemorrhoid treatments that will work for you.

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A visit works a lot like an in-person appointment. A doctor or nurse practitioner will ask about your symptoms, review your health history and recommend a treatment plan that's right for you. Sometimes, you might need to see someone in person. When that happens, we'll help you figure out what comes next.

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• Daily visits: one visit a day with a doctor or nurse practitioner for each family member in your household
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• Specialists: see a specialist in days, not months. No referral necessary.
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Membership can't be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. A Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) may cover your membership fees. Check with your HSA provider for details.

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