The difference between gastroenterology and gastroenterologist is gastroenterolgy is the study of and treatment of the digestive organs as a full.
The gastroenterologist is the medical doctor that specializes in the treatment of the gastrointestinal conditions.
Gastroenterologist's also have distinctive qualifications to be able to properly determine and treat problems within your GI tract and also conduct medical procedures like lower GI endoscopy's.
The difference between a proctologist and a gastroenterologist is that a gastroenterologist performs diagnostic procedures on gastrointestinal issues and a Proctologist also deals with gastrointestinal issues but also performs surgery.
You should see a proctologist when you have health issues such as rectal bleeding, lump found around your anus, anal leakage or anal discharge or other digestive tract issues.
If you have a condition that affects your lower digestive tract, your primary care doctor may give you a referral to a proctologist.
Common conditions treated by a proctologist include: Cancer.
A growth of abnormal cells may affect the health of your colon, rectum, or anus.
Proctologists are still a thing although today proctologists are most often called colorectal surgeons or colon and rectal surgeons.
A proctologist also works closely with gastrointestinal or GI specialists known as a Gastroenterologist that provide complete care for disorders that affect a persons digestive system.
A proctologist diagnoses and treats disorders of a persons color, anus and rectum and they are also a surgical specialist in the colon, anus and rectum.
Most times a person will see a proctologist for complex lower digestive tract issues or when surgery is needed for treatment.
Some of the most common disorders which your primary care provider may refer you to a proctologist include: Anal leakage or discharge. Rectal bleeding. Lump found around the anus.
A rectal examination is where a doctor or nurse uses their finger to check for any problems inside your bottom (rectum).
It's usually very quick and you should not feel any pain.
To prepare for a proctologist appointment you will take a Rectal Enema using sodium phosphate or saline and the rectal enema should be done at least 2 hours prior to showing up to the clinic before your exam.
You should also eat a regular breakfast or lunch the day of your proctologist appointment.
A proctoscopy does not hurt although there may be some slight discomfort.
The proctoscopy takes around 10 minutes and uses a proctoscope.
Depending on your case, you might be asked to stop eating up to 24 hours before your procedures and switch to a liquid-only diet.
Some doctors might prescribe laxatives to empty your bowels.
Others might ask you to clean your rectum using an enema before you come in for your appointment.
Hot baths can make hemorrhoids worse if the water is too hot.
It's better to soak in a warm bath but not a hot bath to avoid making the hemorrhoids worse.
Soaking in hot water and warm water does help hemorrhoids as doctors recommend people with hemorrhoids to soak in or sit in warm water for 15 minutes at a time several times per day.
Just don't sit in too hot of a bath as the hot water when it's too hot could make the hemorrhoids worse.
Actual hemorrhoids look like red lumps or bumps that are swollen and they come out of your anus.
Sometimes it's possible to see the actual hemorrhoids if you use a mirror.
During a hemorrhoid exam you will lay down on an exam table and you'll either be asked to lay on your side or kneel on the table with your rear end raised in the air.
The doctor will then examine you for hemorrhoids by gently inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into your anus to check for any fissures or hemorrhoids or other problems.
Hemorrhoid surgery is a serious surgery and carries some risks but most hemorrhoidectomies are successful.
There are some potential complications with having hemorrhoid surgery which include fecal incontinence, anal stricture, wound breakdown, infection, fecal impaction, urinary tract infection, urinary retention, pain and delayed bleeding.
To apply hemorrhoid cream squeeze the tube of hemorrhoid cream and apply a small amount of the hemorrhoid cream to your finger then using your finger apply the hemorrhoid cream around the outside of your anus.
To mask the smell of hemorrhoids use some witch hazel and hemorrhoid creams or baby powder.
Also take warm shows or warm baths often and drink plenty of water and eat a high fiber diet to be sure your poop is not too hard.
To know if you have hemorrhoids or something more serious you should get checked by a doctor.
However some symptoms you can look out for to know that it could be hemorrhoids are small amounts of bleeding during or after a bowel movement, itching or burning around your anus and pain during a bowel movement.
If you think you have hemorrhoids you should see a doctor to make sure it's nothing more serious.
If your hemorrhoid keeps popping out it's most often because the tissue that holds the hemorrhoid in place weakens which can be caused by straining to have bowel movements.
Hemorrhoids become an emergency and require emergency care and treatment when they burst as when hemorrhoids burst they can cause serious complications such as hypotension, shock and faintness, dizziness and blood loss.
Rectal bleeding can also be a sign of colorectal cancer or anal canal cancer as well.
Hemorrhoids do go away by themselves in most cases of small hemorrhoids.
larger hemorrhoids may not go away and require surgery to remove them but for small hemorrhoids those typically go away within a couple of days.
Hemorrhoids don't cause stomach pain, or back pain although hemorrhoids can cause anus pain.
A gastroenterologist or a proctologist surgeon will be the type of doctor that removes the hemorrhoids although a primary care physician can diagnose the hemorrhoids.
It does hurt to poop after hemorrhoid surgery and your anal area and anus will be painful and ache for at least 2 to 4 weeks following the hemorrhoid surgery.
It is also normal and common to experience some slight bleeding and clear or yellow fluid from your anus.
Hemorrhoids can and do sometimes come back after hemorrhoid surgery and around 5 out of 100 people have hemorrhoids that come back after surgery.
The size of hemorrhoids that need surgery are grade 3 and grade 4 hemorrhoids which is when doctors recommend surgery to remove the hemorrhoid.
After the hemorrhoid surgery you'll stay in the hospital for a few days and stay off work for awhile as well.
A stage 3 hemorrhoid is a hemorrhoid that protrudes outside your anal canal and usually requires manual reduction.
Although grade 3 hemorrhoids are not the most severe type of internal hemorrhoid, a grade 3 hemorrhoid diagnosis can indicate a serious problem that requires medical treatment.
In fact, your doctor will most often recommend that you undergo a surgical procedure to correct the problem.
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum, similar to varicose veins.
Hemorrhoids can develop inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids).
Nearly three out of four adults will have hemorrhoids from time to time.
Small hemorrhoids can go away on their own in a few days.