Can Gastroenterologist Treat Piles? Here’s What to Know about Piles Treatment

Gastroenterologists are specialist doctors whose primary focus is the health of your digestive system, otherwise known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They can diagnose and treat most GI diseases in men and women.

To diagnose the conditions affecting the GI tract, your gastroenterologist in Singapore will use specialized instruments in viewing your gastrointestinal tract so that they can get an accurate diagnosis.

Here’s a quick rundown of the parts that make up your GI tract in no particular order; the mouth, stomach, pancreas, pharynx, gallbladder, esophagus, epiglottis, small intestine, liver, tongue, anus, large intestine, rectum, salivary glands. Do note that even though your mouth is also part of the GI system, you do not need to see your gastroenterologist in Singapore for services or care of the mouth. Instead, you will need dental or oral care specialists to help you with such conditions.

Should you see a Gastroenterologist for Piles Treatment?

Piles refer to inflamed tissue collection in the anal canal. They are also known as hemorrhoids, and they’re made up of blood vessels, elastic fiber, support tissues, and muscles that get inflamed and swollen.

Piles do not have a standard size and may significantly vary in size depending on your condition’s severity. They can also be found in the inside or outside of your anus, and to be diagnosed, you will need an in-depth medical examination.

As andrea-digestive-clinic.com warns, you can get piles if you frequently lift heavy weights, you struggle with chronic constipation or diarrhea if you strain when passing stool or if you’re pregnant. After your diagnosis, your gastroenterologist in Singapore will classify your piles on any grade between I-IV. If yours is classified at grades III or IV, the doctor may recommend surgery to remove the piles.

In most cases, you can always get help from your family physician or GP if you experience piles of symptoms. However, if your symptoms come with complications, the GP may refer you to a specialist like a gastroenterologist or even a proctologist.

A gastroenterologist in Singapore can help you manage piles through non-invasive or non-surgical treatments. Since the non-surgical treatments would be performed above your dentate line, you will not need an anesthetic treatment but just numbing treatment around the area to minimize possible discomfort.

The non-surgical procedures that your gastroenterologist will offer here work by interrupting blood flow and shrink the piles or make them drop off. Here are some of the most common non-surgical treatments your gastroenterologist may recommend and when they may be necessary.

Sclerotherapy

This is the oldest non-surgical approach in managing piles. If the gastroenterologist in Singapore recommends this treatment, you will be given a sclerosant injection on the piles to shrink it.

It may be recommended for 2nd and 3rd-degree piles. Sclerotherapy has some good success rates, with cure rates reported to be around 90 percent. Perhaps the most limiting factor that may come with this piles treatment is significant pain, which may vary depending on the sclerosant used for your treatment and the technique that was adopted during your treatment.

Bipolar Diathermy, (HET Bipolar Medtronic), Infrared Photo-coagulation, and Direct Current Electropathy treatments

These treatments may be offered individually to coagulate, occlude and damage the piles to cut blood supply and make the area of the tissue fall off your skin. Your gastroenterologist may recommend any of these treatments if you’re dealing with grades I, II, or III piles.

With success rates ranging from 88 percent to 100 percent, Bipolar Diathermy is one of the most common non-surgical piles treatments your gastroenterologist in Singapore may recommend. The only concern that puts direct electrotherapy out of favor is the lengthy treatment that comes with it.

Your doctor will need around 10 minutes to obtain coagulation though it has similar success rates to Bipolar Diathermy in managing grades I, II, and III piles. Infrared coagulation has a success rate that ranges from 67 percent to 96 percent in managing grades I, and II piles. It can be used in treating multiple piles, but the foremost concern that puts it out of favor among the three coagulant treatments is the bleeding and pain, which often occur but rarely.

Ligation

This treatment involves using a rubber band to encircle the piles to make it slough completely. With the success rates averaging 80 percent to 90 percent, it is one of the most effective non-surgical treatments alongside infrared coagulation. It may also be recommended for grades I, II, and III piles.

Some of the complications that may come up after this treatment include minor bleeding. Some patients may experience severe bleeding or pelvic sepsis in extreme cases though these complications are also pretty rare. Importantly, if you experience increased perianal pain, fever symptoms, or onset of urinary retention after your rubber band litigation treatment, be sure to seek urgent medical care.

Aftercare

With each of the treatments explained above, you must take good care of yourself to avoid post-treatment complications. Ideally, you can expect a bit of anal and rectal pain after any of these piles treatments. Your gastroenterologist may recommend painkillers to help you manage the pain.

• Here are a few more aftercare tips that may make your recovery after piles treatment swifter.
• Use stool softener when you visit the toilet, so you don’t have to strain when relieving yourself
• Stick to a high-fiber diet to minimize risks of constipation and to soften your stool
• Drink an average of 8 to 10 glasses of water each day to keep you hydrated
• You may also consider sitz baths to ease your post-treatment discomfort

It will also help if you keep off any activities that would force you to lift heavy objects. When you recover, you may need to consider losing weight, exercising regularly, staying hydrated, and making sure that your diet is rich in fiber to minimize risks of piles reoccurrence.

The Final Word

A gastroenterologist can also treat piles. If you experience recurrent piles, or if you get piles that come with other complications like pus, schedule your appointment with us today. We’ll examine your condition and recommend an appropriate treatment that will help you recover quickly and reduce the reoccurrence of the piles.