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

@Bosgirl77 how are you doing now? is it looking much better or you didn't notice any difference? Are you bleeding? I would really like to know

I'm so concerned I have external hemorrhoid that I can't think these days. Sometimes I think I have this hemorrhoid and sometimes I think it's a skin tag. Have anyone of you experienced external hemorrhoid? Or have any of you have skin tag from external hemorrhoid?

@Gabby555 I haven't been to a doctor yet to confirm it, but I think I got my anal skin tag after I got constipated while traveling once. Are you in pain? Anal skin tags are usually only a aesthetic problem, few people suffer with it

@girlgirl It swells a lot. Sometimes it is not visible at all. After squating it just pops up. I'm not if it cause me pain cause I also have coccydynia wich is pain in tailbone and near muscels. Also after squating it is more red/violet. I'm sure it is not prolapsed internal hemorrhoid. I'm scared it is external hemorrhoid.

@Gabby555 I am not sure exactly what caused mine except I first noticed them after having my son so I assume developed during pregnancy or giving birth. My son is almost 20, I never liked having the tags but they didn't cause any problems until about a year ago when they became itchy, sore and I had some tearing and bleeding.

I'm going to doc this week, I need to know what is that. Last time he said I don't have hemorrhoids but still my bum doesn't look normal and I don't think it's just a skin tag. Skin tags don't swell so much. I want to get rid of whatever it is.

@Gabby555 that's good, at least you will have made a start and can find out what you are actually dealing with. I hope it goes well for you x

@N172C Thanks for the support. That might sound weird but I'm hoping it is internal hemorrhoid and not external because you can't really get rid of external hemorroids. Also I'm very young and I'm afraid that doc won't agree to remove whatever it is.

@Gabby555 try not to worry too much before you go, it is difficult I know as it is worrying when you don't know what you are dealing with x

Just a random question here, has anyone had any experience of long term bleeding after surgery? Slightly concerned about this if I’m offered removal. Although it doesn’t matter as much because I seem to bleed when wiping most of the time anyways! Nerves are kicking in for my appointment tomorrow, something about getting my bottom out for the first person to see it being a doctor is extremely scary!!!!

@AnonymousX7 not had experience of the bleeding but just want to day please please don't be worried about ur appointment n people seeing ur butt!! Its not worth the worry trust me!! Ul be fine!!!! I told myself there are doctors that specialise in butt holes so they have seen a million before and its nothing to them!!! Please don't be anxious ots absolutely fine!!!

@H226 ahh okay that’s good then. Thank you for the support. I appreciate it more than ever honestly! Trying to prepare my questions for the gp tomorrow, if the doctor seems reluctant to do help or says the nhs wouldn’t warrant it would I ask her for a private referral? I’m not actually too sure how it all works but I feel motivated now more than ever to sort myself out properly even if that means having to go private. I just guess I wouldn’t know where to look as I’ve never really been elsewhere but my local nhs doctors surgery.

@AnonymousX7 I agree with @H226 once you have got over the first time it will not seem so bad. I had my post op appointment today and it never crossed my mind letting him have a look I just wanted some answers to questions I had. I shouldn't think you would have long term bleeding after surgery as surely it should correct whatever problem you have. I am not a doctor though but it would seem a bit odd if you did. Good luck with the appointment. I have had 2 children you eventually get used to all and sundry having a look but it is not easy the first time and when you are young. Let us know how you get on. I am sure you will be fine x

@N172C Thankyou, I appreciate the support. I agree long term bleeding shouldn’t happen but my area seems naturally weak and prone to bleeding ever since I got the damn tags anyways! The amount of blood that came out a couple of months back was terrifying so anything is probably better than this. How did your appointment go? Are you feeling any better? I’ll let you know how it goes! X

@AnonymousX7 my appointment went well thank you, he said the healing is progressing as he would expect and may take a few more weeks to completely heal so pleased that it all looks as it should x

@N172C that is brilliant news! I’m really happy for you, and are you feeling happier in yourself now that you know it’s healing well and you have had it done?

@AnonymousX7 yes I feel better now I know it is doing what it should and pleased I had it done as the tags were so itchy and sore. This is still sore but at least I know it will get better now and I should have a fully functioning bum in a few more weeks!!

@AnonymousX7 yeah I would just ask gow u go about a private referral if she says you wouldn't get it on NHS
Good luck!

@N172C that’s great to hear you’re doing better! I hope that the soreness goes soon for you.

@H226 thank you very much! I will update later!

Just had my appointment! Flashed my hole to the doctor and it actually went well. She was extremely understanding and helpful. She told me that my tags aren’t actually that bad at the moment but asked if this is then at their best because I told her how I’ve been using cream and everything else to reduce pain. She said that as a doctor she has seen worse so I shouldn’t worry but she said everything I’m doing now to reduce my symptoms seemed well and asked me what I wanted to do. She offered referral to the hospital to have the specialists look and I said yes because preferably I would like the excess skin as she described off because in the long run I know they will just cause me issues. I told her how I feel it’s affected me not only physically but my confidence and things like that. I also mentioned that if unable to get help on the NHS I would be willing to go private and made it clear I’m determined to get it sorted. After she looked at my bottom she actually took my weight and asked me some questions because she said if I do need surgery this is what they monitor to make you an eligible candidate. So good signs that she seemed to consider me for surgery before we even discussed it! She has referred me and I should be expecting a call to book an appointment.

@AnonymousX7 that's great!!! I bet u feel so much better taking that first step!! The docs are so nice and understanding aren't they!! X

@H226 they really are! I worried over nothing like you said it was fine. Eager to get it all sorted now. Hope you are doing well too!

@AnonymousX7 You see it is not as bad as you think. Pleased you have had a good appointment and I hope the one with the consultant goes well too x

Hey I just wanted to jump on this thread to see if I can get some reassurance. I had one anal skin tag removed about 3.5 weeks ago the pain and healing has been completely fine. I had a really hard lump for the first two weeks but it’s seems to have gone down but now I just feel like a have another flap of skin (sorry if tmi) I just wanted to see if anyone else feels like they look the same after surgery & did it all eventually smoothe out over time freaking out cause I feel I went through the procedure for nothing thanks for reading

@Bethany34567 Hi, I had my surgery 8 weeks ago today. Earlier this week I had my post op check up. I asked about the lumpy skin / tag I have now and he said it is not a tag and will take about another 6 weeks to get to where it is going to end up. It looks like quite a big lump to me but he said it isn't and is smaller than what he removed. To be honest I do think it is shrinking but some days feels bigger than others so prob swells a bit and then goes down. Hopefully it will shrink more in the next 5 weeks or so and yours will too. My surgeon said it takes about 3 months on average to completely heal. I hope this helps. I can't comment on being totally healed as i am not quite there yet.