The Journey of Piles

How does it feel when you regularly have complaints while defecation? You cant concentrate on your
routine job nor can you have a happy day. This is the same story of hundreds and thousands of people
suffering from constipation & piles. What exactly happens when you are constipated?? To understand
constipation, it helps to know how the colon, or large intestine, works. As food moves through the colon,
the colon absorbs water from the food while it forms waste products, or stool. Muscle contractions in the
colon then push the stool toward the rectum. By the time stool reaches the rectum it is solid, because most
of the water has been absorbed.

Constipation occurs when the colon absorbs too much water or if the colon’s muscle contractions are slow
or sluggish, causing the stool to move through the colon too slowly. As a result, stools can become hard
and dry. Chronic constipation for a long time eventually leads to PILES.

Piles (hemorrhoids) is basically a swelling in and around the anal region. Increased likelihood of piles
occurs if you:

• Strain to push stools through the anal passage
• Lack fiber in you diet
• Suffer prolonged cases of diarrhea
• Are pregnant (this is due to increased weight and pressure)

There are many patients who fear to express this problem which eventually causes complications later.
Hence its necessary to know that prevention is better than cure. Piles present with 4 grades in which grade
1 is mere swelling of the piles vessels that can be cured with medications and diet. Diet includes a high
fibre diet like fruits, green leafy vegetables and plenty of water. Grade 2 to 4 require surgical intervention
called STAPLER surgery.

It’s a surgery in which the piles are stapled to the wall of the anal canal, which reduces their blood supply
and makes them smaller. The surgery is performed in the painless area through the natural route without
any cut outside. Hence there is no question of stitches or dressings later. The patient can go home within
24 hours and can join duty from the 3rd day.

A mere after care and followup with the doctor can ease you of your daily distress. Hence this journey
from constipation to piles can be prevented if treated at its early stage….

Similarly chronic constipation can be relieved using a combination of diet, exercise and medication.
If these approaches don’t relieve your constipation you should discuss treatment options with a
proctosurgeon as you maybe suffering from a type of chronic constipation known as Obstructed
Defecation Syndrome (ODS) that affects thousands of people in India – primarily women where one of
the following symptoms might show up.

Multiple trips to the bathroom, prolonged straining, incomplete elimination, routine use of laxatives/
enemas or the need to press around your genitals or anus for bowel movement.

Thus if medications don’t work, there is now hope for cure with an innovative procedure called STARR
surgery which is performed through the anus, requires no external incisions and leaves no visible scars.

Dr Ashwin Porwal is renowned proctosurgeon from Poona Hospital & Research Centre & is among
very few surgeons across the country to perform STARR for Piles, prolapse & constipation.Consultant
Anorectal Surgeon at Ruby Hall Clinic & Inamdar Hospital [Fatimanagar].

Helpline: 8888288884

www.healinghandsclinic.co.in