We asked Professor John Monson, an expert in colorectal surgery at the University of Hull Academic Surgical Unit, what questions you should ask your surgeon.
How do I know if I need to get my piles treated?
If your piles are small and in the early stages, they may get better by themselves. But if they have been protruding into your anus for a long time, you'll need treatment if you wish to get rid of them.
What will happen if I leave them alone?
Piles aren’t life threatening, but if you don’t do anything about them they can get worse. During an investigation you can be checked for other conditions that are sometimes confused with haemorrhoids. These include colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, polyps and bowel cancer.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
If you’ve been diagnosed with haemorrhoids that aren’t causing you a huge amount of distress, I would always advise that you try alternatives before deciding on treatment such as injections or surgery. Over-the-counter medicines might help with inflammation and swelling, and painkillers such as paracetamol may help with the pain. You can also ask your pharmacist or GP for supplements such as Fybogel or lactulose syrup if your high fibre diet doesn’t work well enough for you.
Is there anything I can do to improve my condition?
Change to a high fibre diet. Even if your haemorrhoids are quite bad, you might find that after around six months on this diet you will have less pain, irritation and swelling. Your haemorrhoids may even go away after this stage or you may decide you can live with them if they stop causing discomfort. It is essential to view this as a lifestyle change and stay on a high fibre diet for the rest of your life.
How will changing my diet help my haemorrhoids?
A high fibre diet works by preventing constipation and the need to strain on the toilet. You should also drink the equivalent of six to eight tall glasses of fluid every day to help prevent your stools getting hard.
