Hemorrhoids may not be something that's discussed frequently, but they are a very common problem for both men and women.

For five long years Victoria Lint was suffering silently. "I never went through something so horrible, I was very embarrassed to talk about and it took Dr. Choudhury to finally tell me what was going on."

What was going on was that Victoria had a hemorrhoid, which is common and unfortunately it's also common for some people suffer in silence because they are afraid to discuss hemorrhoid treatment with their doctor.

"They have don't have to suffer. They have all different ways of dealing with the hemorrhoids."  Gastroenterologist Asif Choudhury says that in some cases, hemorrhoids can be successfully treated through diet, proper hygiene, and topical ointments. However  in extreme cases,surgery may be required for long term relief. "Ten percent of the time or 20% of time they need surgery. And those surgeries we can mostly endoscopically we can do."

It's only been 10 days since her surgery, but Victoria is pleased with the outcome. she hopes that by sharing this personal story, others will get help. "I haven't had any pain, any trouble since. So, I'm really happy with it."

You can also try to prevent hemorrhoids by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eat a fiber-rich diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; drink plenty of water; and exercise regularly.

Ten million people in the United States have hemorrhoids, with only a third of those people seeking medical treatment.