COLORECTAL SURGERY BLOG

Many people avoid talking about their hemorrhoid symptoms, even with their doctor. Hemorrhoids can be extremely uncomfortable, but they can also be embarrassing. This prevents many sufferers from mentioning their concerns with their health care provider, despite the fact that hemorrhoids are actually very common. In fact, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive andREAD MORE >

When painful hemorrhoids do not respond to less-invasive treatments, surgery may be necessary to allow healing and help you return to your previous quality of life. This procedure, called a hemorrhoidectomy, typically involves a colon and rectal surgeon removing the affected tissue with a scalpel or other specialized tools. This procedure can be extremely painful,READ MORE >

Can eating a cup of yogurt a day keep you from developing diarrhea after taking antibiotics? There is a good chance the answer may be “yes.”   We prescribe antibiotics to kill harmful bacteria that make you sick. However, what about the good bacteria and other microbes that live in your gastrointestinal system and keepREAD MORE >

You’ve probably seen dozens of options for probiotic-enriched foods, other probiotic sources and probiotic supplements in your local supermarket. But do you know what probiotics can and cannot do? While probiotics are not a one-size-fits all solution or even a stand-alone treatment for gastrointestinal ailments, they do aid digestion and can help prevent some colonREAD MORE >

Get the PDF version of this article Only our microbiome knows for sure. Priobiotics: what are they and where do they reside? Probiotics have been enjoying a surge in popularity due to studies that looked at the gut-brain axis and the gut’s influence on the immune system. Probiotics are touted to provide health benefits throughREAD MORE >

With the proper care and a little luck, the healing time after a pilonidal cyst excision can be minimized. If there is an infection or other complications, however, it could take as long as six months to heal completely. This means that making every effort to prevent these complications is vital to a quick recovery.READ MORE >

While most people think of hemorrhoids as something you “get,” in reality everyone has hemorrhoidal tissue. This tissue is a normal part of the anatomy, and lies around the anus. In some people, though, this tissue becomes inflamed. This leads to the symptoms we think of as being caused by hemorrhoids.   Hemorrhoid symptoms areREAD MORE >

Lipomas are one of the most common benign lesions that occur in the colon and are found during colonoscopies. Only polyps are discovered more often.   Once a diagnosis of lipoma is confirmed, only observation is required. In some cases, however, endoscopic, laparoscopic or surgical removal is necessary.   What is a Lipoma? Lipomas areREAD MORE >

Pilonidal cysts are infected abscesses that most frequently occur in the midline between the sides of the buttocks, near the top of the crease. Because of their location, these cysts often become a chronic condition. If conservative treatment or less invasive procedures cannot reliably eliminate the infection, surgery may be required. When is Incision andREAD MORE >

As many as 75 out of every hundred people will be affected by hemorrhoids during their lifetime, and half of all people over the age of of 50 have felt the burning, itching and pain brought by the condition, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.   While many people canREAD MORE >