Bum woes - TMI

[bumwoes22]

Posting for traffic. Before anyone says see my GP, I have many times over the years although not now for at least two years but I will book an appt again soon. For now I’m just looking for people who’ve experienced similar.

My arse is a mess! Looks like a literal flower and has done for a long time. I’ve had piles in the past and I think they left skin tags - GP said this can happen when piles shrink and leave the skin stretched permanently. Can’t tell if what’s there now is piles or skin tags. Doesn’t cause me horrendous pain but is irritating. Stinging, itching and soreness in the area on/off. Plus bleeding from time to time. Doctors have given me cream and suppositories in the past but they don’t do a lot to solve the overall problem. I don’t think the pain is severe enough at this stage for me to consider surgery but I do worry that there is more going on down there. Never had any biopsies, just visual/digital (vom) examinations. Has anyone else got this? Any tips or reassurance?

I can recommend trimovate cream for the itching. I had piles and very sore itchy skin, it worked wonders.

Since a GP has already said piles/skin tags do I just have to accept it? Or do I push for more tests?

You can be referred to colorectal surgeons to have them removed. Long wait on the NHS but they will see you.

I don’t think the discomfort I feel at the moment warrants surgery. It’s irritating but not unbearable iyswim. My main worry is that it’s something more sinister - like I said I’ve never had any biopsies or anything done. Is it just assumed than any lump in that area is ‘just’ piles? Gah I don’t know. I don’t want to keep going back to GP, it’s embarrassing and I don’t want them to think I’m neurotic. Equally whenever pain or irritation or bleeding flares up in the area I keep worrying about rectal cancer or something.

Have it biopsied and lazered off.

Seriously. It’s causing you pain and interfering with your life. Just deal with it and make an appointment with a private surgeon.

If you are worried something else is going on you need to see the GP and ask for an examination - not fun but nothing else you can do?

Just a heads up I've had a hemmerhoidectomy and if it's not causing you pain or affecting your life (mine had started to) I'd really consider whether you want to do it. My surgeon said I'd hate him for 3 weeks. He was wrong I hated him for 3 months. Brutal 🤣

I don’t know if these are logical concerns given that they’ve been seen and assessed before. I do have health anxiety and I have a bad habit of googling stuff which inevitably always leads back to ‘this could be cancer and you’re going to die.’

I have seen the GP about this at least two or three times in the past decade. I also had a colonoscopy in 2019 for unrelated bowel issues (but surely they would have seen the bum issues then and looked at them if they were of concern). So I’m not sure if I’m being rational here. Hence why I’m worried about going back to GP again and looking stupid.

Last time I went to the GP she said it was piles and skin tags and gave me cream and suppositories. I am no better off but I don’t know if this is just what I have to live with unless I opt for surgery which I don’t want. I would absolutely go back if the bleeding or pain got worse but it hasn’t, just maintained in it’s on/off fashion.

It probably is piles. It would be helpful to see a colorectal surgeon for assessment and some clarity about what can be done to manage symptoms and when or why surgery might be an option. You may not be getting optimal advice to manage the symptoms. You may have to pay.

DH had some piles dealt with, cauterised I think. It was done under local and he went to work afterwards. He did not complain but was complaining beforehand about discomfort which is why her went to the doctor, becauase eI was sick of the whinging when he did nothing to deal with the cause.

I am a GP. If this problem has been present for a decade, it’s not cancer (without being rude, you would be dead if it was). I would also not want haemorrhoid surgery if I didnt have to, it seems to be extremely miserable post-op and from what I see there’s often complications like infection/bleeding.

Whereas mine really wasn't that bad. It was sore, but nothing I couldn't manage with rest and pills.

OP, ask for a colorectal referral.

Thank you for this. In your professional opinion is it worth going back? Or will it just be more of the same - creams, suppositories and get on with it (unless you want surgery - which I don’t).

You are correct that it would be creams/suppositories etc but also very important to keep your poo soft (drink enough, sensible food choices, stool softening laxatives from the pharmacy).

It sounds like you’re dead set against surgical treatment - but I suppose a referral to a surgeon could give the opportunity to discuss further and get their advice on the likely complication rate in your position (I wouldn’t know whether certain features of piles make a procedure more invasive or more likely to have complications sheared a surgeon would). This link seems useful www.royaldevon.nhs.uk/media/r5ffefvw/patient-information-leaflet-haemorrhoids-and-haemorrhoidal-surgery-rde-17-028-002.pdf

@bumwoes22 I'm guessing the 19% who have said YABU have never had a pile in their lives!! 😂

I have similar, and it drives me crazy. Particularly at night time when it itches or throbs. It's like a fold of skin left over where I had a pile. I HATE it. I also got fobbed off by a doctor but got told to change me diet to make sure I am never constipated nor have diarrhoea. Basically you need to poop without straining and not have to wipe gently more than once!

I've not tried the Trimovate cream mentioned above but it must be worth a try. An online pharmacist can prescribe it.

All of this except I have more than one. It’s unsightly down there!

I had similar and had an itchy bum for 20 years, I kid you not. Long story short, I ate kimchi and sauerkraut and it stopped itching. Yes the tags/piles are still there but who’s looking. And frankly who cares when the itch is gone. It’s been incredible relief. And if I go a few days without some fermented food it starts up a bit so I take that as proof it was that (had tried all the lotions, couldn’t be using steroid all the time).

It makes sense to me as that area is the end of the digestive tract so bacterial life could make a difference. This is as well as keeping v clean and dry of course.

It sounds mad but if possible have a bath after having a motion and also use a barrier cream. I was also recommended Bepanthem which is for babies.

Baths do help but they don’t get rid of the irritation and pain completely. It’s weird because it can be ok for a while and then it’ll start again for no obvious reason. Usually after a poo. But not a difficult poo if you get me (sorry tmi!)

Kimichi suggestion has blown my mind a little but I’ll try anything at this point. I’m just so sick of it. I’m not even 40 yet. I know this will probably get worse as I age and I think I got my first pile in my twenties so I guess it’s just something I need to live with and stop letting my anxiety over anal/rectal cancer overwhelm me.

No issues with the people voting unreasonable. They are probably blissfully ignorant about piles and I know some people don’t like genuine conversations about real bodily issues here. Sorry not sorry.

If you aren't yet 40, why are you so opposed to surgery? If you are young, fit and well, surgery could buy you twenty or more pain and irritation free years.

If baths help, would a bidet be helpful?

It is miserable. Maybe seek a second opinion? Sending a hug.

Because there are so many horror stories about the recovery time and pain. I have young dc and don’t have the time to be incapacitated for that long. I don’t get to rest and the pain it’s causing me at the moment isn’t severe. If it became that way I might have to consider it.

Hi Ip, have you ever tried a toilet like this. They are game changers.

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwipg6jYkbGQAxUtmVAGHcOSMYUYACICCAEQIBoCZGc&co=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwmNLHBhA4EiwA3ts3mYGMGgrkRvR5MFJAxmaKGCHFMptyR0np1juH76zOXJ-sDPhvgQexKxoCl9oQAvD_BwE&sph=&cce=2&sig=AOD64_3FovCeh-7c3foedVE5Z1DTu9ev3Q&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwihmKPYkbGQAxUEQUEAHSuGFUMQwg8oAHoECAoQDQ&adurl=

If you get constipated at all then it will keep aggravating it. Laxatives are your friend!

You may have a fissure. Harmless but can be itchy/ painful.

If you're uncomfortable get a second opinion. A few years ago after childbirth my GP said it was piles - twice - I went private as I thought I'd need them removed as cream wasn't helping but consultant said I had fissures. A different cream and all was healed just weeks later!!