Review of haemorrhoid treatment with a laser – Elena Alexandrovna

Before my second birth, I did not know such a problem as haemorrhoids. She even grinned and switched ads to this topic. Probably because talking about this disease is considered shameful. But this is until it gets really bad, and you are already running to the doctor, you are not thinking about whether proctologist surgeon is a man or a woman, what will happen at the appointment and what kind of examination is ahead.

How do haemorrhoids appear in young women?

As my attending physician explained to me, haemorrhoids appear in women under 30 years of age almost always due to pregnancy and childbirth. The reason lies in the heavy load on the circulatory system, especially in the pelvic area. Problems with digestion and, as a result, stool increase the chances of getting haemorrhoids after pregnancy.
If I didn’t notice haemorrhoids during pregnancy, then immediately after giving birth, I discovered external haemorrhoids that had appeared. They caused a lot of trouble in the first days, but I had no time for them, and I decided to focus on the child.
Within a month, I realized that there was still a problem and it needed to be solved. I didn’t go to the doctor, and as it turns out, many people do this and worsen their condition.
I started reading various information on the Internet. Is it possible to cure haemorrhoids and never think about them again? There was a lot of advice there, the very first and most true one was that at the slightest sign of illness, you should immediately consult a doctor and start taking action. Without timely treatment, the pathology can be complicated by thrombosis or paraproctitis.

My path to laser surgery

Haemorrhoids can be easily removed with pills, ointments, diets – these are the most harmful and stupid advice.
At the first signs of haemorrhoids (blood discharge, sharp tingling in the anus, discomfort), people most often begin home treatment. At an early stage of the disease, this can help, provided that the stage is minimal, and only a doctor can decide this.
Traditional methods did not help me.

Medicine therapy

I came to the doctor already with unpleasant sensations and even periodic pain bothered me. Having prescribed an examination, the doctor recommended taking pills, using suppositories and ointments, which can relieve inflammation and reduce pain. Treatment with pharmaceutical drugs plays a big role. To get rid of haemorrhoids forever, you need a comprehensive approach. Only in combination with the surgical method can they give a good effect – these were the words of the doctor to whom I turned for help. The list of medications for haemorrhoids is quite wide. Their timely and regular use will help relieve even severe pain.
Then I started taking tests to decide on further treatment tactics.

Examinations that helped determine the extent of the disease

At the first appointment, the doctor examined me and advised me to have a colonoscopy, do a complete blood count, biochemistry, and a stool test for the presence of blood. I was also told that a few days before the surgery, I must check my blood sugar, do an ECG, a chest X-ray, and have an anoscopy (they check the condition of the anus, the presence of damage, cracks). I was also prescribed a diet called “Table No. 5.” It excludes all fatty, fried, spicy foods; vegetables should only be eaten cooked; cabbage is completely forbidden; and of course, no alcohol.

Choosing a method for the operation

First, the doctor explained to me all the methods that could be applied, their consequences, contraindications, and the rehabilitation process. I have a complicated chronic form that is difficult to treat; not all surgical methods can effectively address haemorrhoids in my case.
I was offered:

1. Laser therapy.

2. Radio wave therapy.
3. Node dearterialization.
4. Vein thrombectomy.
5. Node sclerotherapy.

I have a small child, and I urgently needed to get back to work. So I immediately ruled out options involving long rehabilitation. The doctor suggested choosing laser therapy. He said that recovery is fast, with no blood, cuts, stitches, or other unpleasant issues. After the procedure, I will have to take pills, use suppositories, and visit the proctologist once every two weeks to monitor the condition. These were the conditions communicated to me by the attending physician.
Laser haemorrhoid removal is considered the most painless and simple method. The procedure takes 7 to 15 minutes for each inflamed vein. When the laser is applied to the nodes, a very thin infrared beam is directed. Under its thermal effect, the cells begin to shrink, and blood supply is disrupted. The lump dries up and falls off. It is possible to treat haemorrhoids permanently by completely cutting off the blood flow to the haemorrhoid site.

How the laser surgery took place

On the day of the surgery, I was given instructions on how to perform an enema. In my case, the doctor suggested two options – to cleanse the intestines at home or do it at the clinic. I chose the first option, as it was more convenient and comfortable for me.
Next, I arrived at the clinic, and I was immediately sent to change into sterile clothing and then straight to the operating room. The entire surgery is performed under local anesthesia and takes about forty minutes. The anesthesia is administered by injection, but before the injection, the area where the drug will be administered is treated with lidocaine cream. I was warned that lidocaine can cause an allergic reaction, and it was explained to me that in case of a negative reaction to the drug, the surgery would be performed under general anesthesia.
Hospitalization is not required, meaning they performed the surgery and I was discharged home just an hour after it.

The operation is not performed in a normal position, the doctor also told me about this, and I was a little embarrassed, but health is more important. Laser surgery takes place in the knee-elbow position. Then I found out that other clinics use a gynecological chair, which is more comfortable to be in. But for me the main thing is the result.
After the anesthesia has taken effect, the area that will be cauterized is treated with an antiseptic, then the doctor uses a laser to begin removing the nodes, burning them out. What I liked is that the operation does not cause any discomfort. Everything goes quickly, without blood. When the anesthesia wears off, there is no pain. There is a little discomfort, but nothing more.
After the operation, the doctor told me to eat more liquid foods and not eat foods that can cause bloating, fermentation and other discomfort in the stomach.
It is worth remembering that once the walls of the anus are damaged, they will never fully get stronger if the disease is left to chance. Only high-quality treatment will help put the integumentary epithelium in order and heal completely. If the disease is advanced, only surgery can help. In the arsenal of modern medicine there are a lot of intervention methods that do not require hospitalization and allow you to remove haemorrhoids in just one hour.