To be worried what I thought was a pile/hemarrhoid actually isn't?

[FairTurtle]

SORRY FOR TMI

I have this squishy lump outside my anus which can't be pushed back in. Sometimes, when straining etc, it bleeds a bit.

But everything I've read about piles seems to indicate these are normally internal, and can be pushed back in? Mine definitely can't, it just stays there. I apply cream etc but it doesn't make it disappear.

AIBY to be worried? Could it be something more sinister?

They often sit outside, so don't worry!

They can also be hard if engorged with blood! Ice it to reduce size and push it back in.

Ugh, it seems like the only option to remove external hemarrhoids is surgery, which seems to be horrific based on people's experiences

If it's not sore and is flesh coloured it may be a skin tag. These do occasionally flare up but usually just sit there not causing pain but being a nuisance for other reasons such as hygiene.

Hi all. Mine is external, maybe skin tags. Read about surgery, takes time to heal and recover. Can't find any natural remedies or will it eventually go away? Is it long term.. I'm not sure. There are creams for piles but nothing for anal skin tags.

I have awful piles and a bloody skin tag. I hate it. I’m too embarrassed to see a doctor.

I've had monster piles and they can indeed hang outside. They can get sore and easily bleed. I've had both internal and external. Cream never did much to shrink mine- I had them removed thank goodness.

GP told me it is skin tag and gave me nothing. Sometimes feel uncomfortable, no cream works.

Went for surgery? Is it painful? Hope find ways to get rid of them, can be irritating..

No not really painful- just a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't the big open haemorroidectomy, it was something where they put something with an electric current into your bottom and it kills them off. It was 2016 and they haven't come back.
I was anaemic due to the blood loss before the op.
I had a general anaesthetic and was in hospital for a day.

Don't be! They see bums all the time, you won't be made to feel embarrassed. I dreaded going but I was so glad I did.

Go to the doctor. Staring intently at embarrassing bits is literally their job, how they pay the mortgage, what they had a calling and years of training to do.

Weird. Anyway.

Practice what you're going to say. Also the receptionist will want to know what it's for when you call so practice that.

And don't be fobbed off with a phone call. Insist on a face to ... face ... appointment.

They've seen it ALL before.

I saw a specialist at hospital whose job title was colorectal surgeon. That was literally all he did. No need for surgery in my case and all well.

Definitely go

Does anyone else find their hemarrhoid sort of swell after a bowel movement, and the area feels totally hard to touch? This seems to happen to be even with normal, soft bowel movements (Sorry TMI!!!).

@FairTurtle
Yes, really hard, as though it was full of blood and could burst. It was very sore.