Anal skin tag surgery. Frightened. Any experience?

[Minime85]

I'm due to have a large skin tag removed in October. It has been making me miserable for about a year. When it's swollen it feels like I'm sitting on a golf ball! It's large enough to pull the inside out sorry TMI. It's more worse than it isn't if that makes sense. But the surgeon told me how bad the recovery is and I'm really worried about it being so painful afterwards and maybe creating other problems. I already suffer with IBS so last thing I need is to make things worse. Has anyone had this op done? Thank you

[iwantgin]

Ah I had this.

Suffered for quite some time with a collection of mid sized tags, finally getting them removed 18 months ago.

It was all fine, day surgery home that eve. But on days 3 onwards was painful recovery.

I was extremely focused on eating fruit. And more fruit to keep my bowel movements loose. Plus drinking loads of water. Had some Solpadol as pain relief from pre surgery timed, but it caused contlstipation which is not desirable.

By the end of the week I was quite comfortable though. With one awkward stitch that hadn't dissolved and was irritating me. I popped to the GP and the nurse removed it.

At a check up afterwards it was noticed that there was a small one left behind, so u was booked in for that removing too.

Recovery for that was a doddle. I was pretty much fine the day after.

I believe that the recovery first time was because there were five or six tags removed. Hence a lot of stitching and raw skin. If you only have one, then it may not be too bad at all.

Good luck. Try not to worry about it. It will be worth it.

[Minime85]

Iwantgin thank you for your reply that's reassuring. I've been told I won't have any stitches because of where it is. Everyone seems to do it differently don't they. I think I will have it done but I'm just worried I have lots of things going on in October and November and don't want to have to cancel them. Thanks again.

[iwantgin]

My second op didn't involve stitches - maybe that's why the healing was so much quicker.

Book yourself off work for a week - i bet you'll be fine before the week is out.

[Minime85]

Bump as its growing every closer and just don't know what today. Any more helpful experiences good or bad? Thank you xx

[Violetcloud]

I had one removed a couple of years back and the recovery was absolutely fine

Was scared of the surgery, then amazed at how quick it was and spent the whole day on a kind of relieved high!

Make sure to eat loads of fruit as gin mentioned, and try not to worry too much! From what I remember I was a little sore for a day or two, and quite paranoid about keeping it clean, but quickly forgot about it.

[twilight81]

I had this done at the beginning of the year after putting it off for years.. Like you I was so worried and had read awful stories of recovery online in my quest for reassurance.

I had around 4 large fleshy ones removed that half went up inside.. Actually to me looked like my insides were hanging out lol.. Anyway was Left over skin from hemorroids Many years ago. I have ulcerative colitis so was concerned about this as well.

Surgeon said it would be painful but very worth it, I actually cancelled 3 times I was so worried.

Surgery was quick and had no really pain upon awakening or the first night.. Just a bit sore. Had a lot of discharge and bleeding as the wounds were left open and upon investigation (as you do) with a mirror there was a lot of bruising.

The painful part is when you come to need to toilet, they gave me lactulose with helped but I moved to movical after a few days and that was even better.
It will hurt when you go, I think as my wounds went up inside it may have been a bit worse but I have a very helpful tip.. Have a warm salted bath ready so the minute you finish you can hop in.. It really helps with the pain. I had many baths the first week if I felt at all uncomfortable and that always calmed it right down.
Overall it most def was not as bad as I imagined it would be, I only wish I had it done sooner, would have saved years of discomfort.

I had a week off work and that was plenty.

[Groovee]

I had this done. I kept saying yes yes to the pain, they kept telling me about.

Whatever you do do not get constipated. It was hellish! I nearly passed out with my body unable to cope.

It will be extremely painful but it's so nice to wipe my bum properly!

[FinglesMcStingles]

Seconding "do not get constipated". Seriously, don't do it. Especially don't then end up fighting your own urges because you're too scared of how much it's going hurt, because that only makes it worse in the long run. It was worse than childbirth.

[Minime85]

Thanks everyone. Twilight I have already postponed once too. I'm so nervous. I've bought a sitz bath to use as I'm hoping that will help. I think I have to go through with it as timing this time allows for best recovery without running after children as they will be away. It drives me to insanity when it's bad and I want to cut it off myself and I just need to remind myself of that. I don't have a high pain threshold I know that. Which doesn't help. Thanks again everyone who has posted.

[Minime85]

Can I ask if people had it done under local or general? I'm having to have a general and no stitches. I've rung a private clinic who do it under local and do stitch. I'm so confused.

[FinglesMcStingles]

General for me, they said it had to be due to the location. Made sense to me, I wouldn't particularly have wanted to be aware of what was going on.

[Groovee]

General, was in and out in 15 minutes.

[twilight81]

General I would not want to be awake.. The wounds being open actually isn't as bad as it sounds. Because of the area they kind of pull themselves together.

[Minime85]

Yeah I think I agree about not wanting to know what's going on. Thanks I will give myself a talking to and take all your advice on board and just get it done. Better get down the fruit shop too thank you very much all

[iwantgin]

A general for me also(both times).

I wouldn't have wanted to be awake anyway. Much nicer to just nod off to sleep and wake up all done.

It'll be fine and so worth it.

Good luck OP

[Itsonlymeruth]

Hello. I hope someone is still reading these threads... I'm not a mum but stumbled across this forum on Google so had to join (sorry!).

Four weeks ago I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy, banded piles and two external skin tags removed. I was in quite a bit of pain for the first two weeks, then it settled down to a dull throb which I attributed to a swelling on the outside. Gone back for my check up with my specialist today to find out I've not got an inflamed external skin tag (it's about the size of a kidney bean maybe) that needs cutting off, the area around it cutting and then stitching back together, oh and there's a chance the stitches may split when I have a BM. Excellent.

Have any of your posters had your surgery as yet and was it anything like what I am having? Part of my thinks 'it can't be as bad as the last lot' but last time he simply whizzed the AST off, and this time I think he's planning to go deeper #scared!

Any reassurance greatly welcome! Xx

[AliceLucy]

Can anyone recommend a good surgeon to remove anal skin tags? The guy at St Marks seemed to think it could leave me with long term issues but they’ve got worse and I’m in so much pain.

[Cll011]

I had 3 anal skin tags removed. When can I expect to be able to wash that area? Its day 5, and I have lost all stitches. I have some itching but no pain. My doctor said I could use a and d ointment for the itching but didn't really say when I will be able to clean the area. Does anyone have suggestions?

[Ldss89]

Hi all,
I had AST removal 2 days ago. So far so good - pain has been bearable, just feel very sore. Sore when I walk, sore when I Move, sore when I sit down...still haven’t managed to open my bowels yet and I’m getting anxious about it as I’ve read online that this can be very painful . I’ve been taking laxido but isn’t working. When I go toilet (for a wee) I use wet cotton wool to wipe my bum also just to make sure I’m keeping the area clean. I’ve noticed that I now have a bit of a weird smell. Smells like I’ve done a poo and not cleaned (sorry TMI!!!). Anyone else notice this?!? Am I doing something wrong? Should I stop using the wet cotton wool? I’ve also been sitting in the bath about twice a day to help with the soreness and I’m drying down there with a flannel when I get out. Any tips would be great!!

[Koolblue]

I'm a guy and I came across this forum recently. I have an external hemorrhoid and a skin tag attached to a painful area, so I've been booked in for surgery under GA. It's been giving me grief for over a year now and being a typical guy, I delayed getting medical advise. The pain I've endured at times has been really bad, so after reading the comments here and the advise given, I'm glad I'm going in for my op, as it'll really make me feel my life will be great again after.

[Ginge83]

Hi, just wondering where you got your anal skin tag removal and if it had to be done privately, I’ve had one following childbirth and complications after my son is almost 2 now and I think about it all the time and would like it removed. When I went to the doctor she said to leave it, “no one looks down there” and she said it could cause me long term problems if I had it removed.

But it must be possible? Any advice?

[Groovee]

I got mine through my GP referring me to a rectal specialist on the NHS. Due to a back log the procedure was nhs but done at the private hospital with the same surgeon.

[NK12]

hi, i wonder how you are feeling now. Its been more then a month after your surgery. I had mine 3 days ago and i stumbled upon this blog..
For how long did your swellness last? And what about blood and other liquid discharge. Did you also have that? My GP said i cant take any bath. I dont even apply any creams! Here in Holland it seems to be different. I feel super uncomfortable. And mostly swollen stitched area is bothering me.. (i had 4 stitches)..