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

[Sophia987]

I am thinking about having my anal skin tag (1.5 cm) removed, but fear of the risk of infection and potential long term problems the operation may cause. When you doctor talks about potential long term problems, what are they?

Which type of operation may come with lower infection risk, or they are similar? Incision, freeze with liquid nitrogen, or laser?

Do anal skin tag grow bigger over time?

Thanks in advance for any information!

[Evvi]

Just had mine removed a week ago, it’s still hurting. Two large ones but honestly I still can’t see any difference down there. I am hoping it is swelling. The other night the pain was pretty high after a bowel movement. After closer inspection later that night my bum seemed to be strangling the stub with the stitches. I don’t know what is supposed to be in and what’s supposed to be out. I gently pushed the stub back in and felt great relief and was able to sleep. But today it’s back and I am afraid incase this is normal and just still swollen, should I not try pushing anything anywhere. I am just wondering if anyone experienced the same thing. Sorry for the confusing message

Words of advise definitely use movical, I was so worried to use it as I hate the urgent feeling of a laxative but it’s nice and mild just loosens everything and lots of fruit and water. Gentle shower head after the bathroom and sitting in the bath a few times a day. Although I have no patience so they are two minute baths [

NK12 do you still have any blood or discharge? How are you feeling now? I would love to hear

[Huxley1234]

I’m the same as yourself evvi. I had anal tags but they were to close together to do them all so only two were cut cut and stitched. It was only then that the surgeon realised that the piles inside the Amy’s were too large to be banded so this was abandoned. It’s been 3 weeks now and I’ve been on antibiotics for 2 eeeks as the stitches were infected. The swelling is awful. I have a douche spray fitted next to toilet so I spray every time I have a bowel movement and also use a site bath. I have to see my gp for the 3rd time tomorrow. I also feel a very hard stump amid the swelling in the outside so I understand what you mean. I’m hoping this is all going to get better.

[Zulu32]

Hi all,
I’ve read all your posts but looking for someone who is FULLY recovered from their operation.
I would’ve had my skin tags removed 3 weeks ago. Under GA, no stitches and I had 1 large one and 2 small ones.
Recovery after wasn’t so bad, I alternated between paracetamol and ibuprofen and the pain subsided. I used water based wet wipes after bowel movement and jumped in the shower to clean myself.
I took a week off work and I’m fully back to work now. It sometimes gets itchy (which I’m guessing is a sign of healing) but all seems to good HOWEVER...when I check down there, there seems to be read lumps there like piles! It’s like I haven’t had anything done! My sister had the same operation as me last year and she said this is normal as it’s swelling and that it can take up to 6 months to be fully back to normal, but I just don’t know.
Does anyone else have these lumps post op? I don’t know whether to go back to the drs! I’m so conscious of this 😔😔 I just want it to be back to normal!
Any thoughts would be great.

Also to anyone’s reply about the discharge and smell, I had this. I wear sanitary pads every day. The smell does eventually go and the discharge stops

[Malvern91]

I had 3 skin tags removed 3 days ago, one large and two small.
The large one needed stiches and so did one of the smaller ones.
I'm now in a situation where it looks as though I've got a big purple painful pile sticking out which wont go inside.

I'm not sure if this is normal, the Dr didn't mention this happening, in fact he said I could go to work the next day (LIE) I've had to take two week off.

On another note if you have internal haemorrhoids I would suggest getting Rafoleo procedure done, I had that done privately cost about £2000, but was pain free, literally had 3 internal haemorrhoids removed with no fuss, all though it is a lot of money.

I had my skin tags removed privately too and each tag cost £300.

[Groovee]

@Zulu32 I had the surgery in 2011 with no issues now. Have developed piles once since but quickly treated and no lasting effects.

[School84]

I had suffered from a few anal skin tags for years. They caused me a lot of irritation, bleeding and were difficult to keep clean. I met with my general practitioner and gynecologist who suggested that I have them removed. I was then referred to a colorectal surgeon.
My first visit to the surgeon was completed by his physician assistant. She told me that they were skin tags and that they were nothing to worry about. She recommended that I did not receive surgery and she gave me some cream that serve as a moisture barrier. The physician’s assistant told me that surgery would be extremely painful and that out of 300 people they would see with tags or hemorrhoids, only one would have surgery.
I left there and spent the next couple of months thinking about the information I was given and weighing out the pros and cons of having the surgery. I decided that I could not accept my condition and did not want to live the rest of my life this way. That is when I went back to actually meet with the surgeon. He was under the understanding that the anal tags were not bothering me. (I have no idea why he would have thought that). Anyways, he tried to persuade me not to have the procedure but finally agreed to do it.
For the couple months leading up to the surgery date, I did a lot of reading and worrying of course. I did not postphone or cancel. I went through my preop tests and then got clearance from my general doctor.

My surgery was scheduled for April 22, 2019 at the local hospital. I met with my team and of course my surgeon was late! Anyways, the team gave me an IV and brought me down to surgery. It lasted 25 minutes but I was fully out and intubated. I woke up pretty quickly and was sent home with 3 presciptions: oxycodone, tylenol and colace. I also purchased a sitz bath.

The recovery has been kind of a rollercoaster ride the following 7 days. I have been quite tired and very sore. Going to the bathroom has been absolutely brutal since but has gotten a bit better. It was hard to urinate at first because bearing down made everything “fire up” but then after a couple of days, I could urinate easily. Bowel movements continue to take my breath away and cause my eyes to well up. I immediately uses a sitz bath and then have to lay down.
I have looked at the site and am happy with the way it looks. No more skin tags! However, tomorrow will make a week post op and I am not ready to return to work. I am 48 years old and have an active job. Bringing my sitz bath to work and laying down would just not be possible. Instead, I think that I will call the surgeon or his physician’s assistant to see if they can take out the remaining dissolvable stitches as I think they are probably why I am continuing to have pain. Anyways, I wanted to share my experience because it is important to know that this is a serious surgery which results in a temporary amount of severe pain. Each person needs to weigh it out whether it makes sense for them to do this. For me it did, but it should be seriously considered. Good luck to you all!

[libelullegirl]

@Malvern91 how are you doing now? I had rafaelo for three internal ones which I agree was fab. But now I've got a skin tag at the base of which is a thrombosis. The thrombosis came up post op, causing the tag to form, but I hadn't dissolved (since end of feb).

It's causing me a lot of discomfort and often pain, & surgeon said I should give it a few months yet to see how I go. Otherwise it's a case of excising it and dealing with the thrombosis.

I'm so terrified of surgery though!

[School84]

I have been off from work for 2 weeks now. My days are becoming better although my stamina is decreased and I still have pain (not severe) when taking a bowel movement. I have a lot of swelling and am still taking Aleve (naproxen) for pain. I am still a fanatic at keeping the area clean with sitz baths and showering. I am returning to work tomorrow and will take donut cushion if I need it. I see the doctor for my post op appt tomorrow.

[School84]

As for you, Malvern91, if you can manage the pain, you should probably wait and see if the swelling goes down. Maybe there are some other options to try before surgery. I hope that I don’t have any problems once my swelling decreases. Good luck with your recovery!

[School84]

It has been 3 weeks since my surgery. I am back at work and doing a lot better. When I went for my post op appointment, the nurse practitioner told me that not only did I have the skin tags removed but also had a hemorrhoidectomy. I still have bleeding and am taking Advil for pain when needed. My pain is much less and I am still working on improving my stamina.

[LeilaE]

Hi I had a couple of ast removed 2 days ago and I have some really bad swelling can anyone tell me if this is normal. The wounds were left open so I imagine it is but I'm getting a bit worried as it's getting bigger and really quite painful would appreciate any advice. Thanks

[Bingbong1]

Hey. I recently had a skin tag removed 4 days ago and I also have a stump or something sticking out almost like I didn’t even get the tag removed. I am also having light bleeding everyday. Can someone please tell me if this was normal for them? I’ve been driving myself mad with the hand mirror. Thank u

[School84]

I had something like that too. My doctor kept telling me to put hydrocortisone cream on it which will help decrease the swelling. You can also ice it.

[Bingbong1]

Hey. Ok well I do have some cream so I can start with that. You said you “had” something similar. Does that mean it went away? I’m not 7 days post surgery. Thank you again.

[Bingbong1]

Update please? Weird new hard thing in bumhole 8 days post op. I’m losing my mind. Anyone???

[School84]

I am almost 9 weeks post op and am doing well. I really don’t have any pain and most of the swelling is gone. Keep making sure you are staying very clean. Applying calmoseptine which is silver oxide. It really helps with the pain and protects the skin. I wish you speedy healing!

[Bingbong1]

Ok I will pick some up. Definitely staying clean. I get some bleeding and discharge after bowel movements still. Had a follow up with the doctor and he says it’s swelling and will “likely” go away.

[miftyfresh]

@Bingbong1 did it go away? I have the same thing - multiple bumps 2 days post-up, looks like hemorrhoids. Any update from you?

[Bingbong1]

Yes but it too just about two weeks. It’s mostly swelling. There was a thing poking out but it’s mostly subsided. Scheduled for July 24 for second one removed.

[angbrown]

So glad I found this thread. I had 3 tags removed 6 days ago and,under GA with no stitches, as soon as I needed to poo on day 2 it became very painful and I then became terrified to poo, which then lead to me getting anxious hence needing to poo more :( I've been taking metamucil, and things seem soft, although every movement feels like it's pushing, but I'm not sure if this is just because everything is so sensitive. I still have quite a bit of bleeding but putting this down to the lack of stiches. I like some others have small lump which horrifyingly feel like 'roids, though I am too scared to look. I thought I would be feeling much better by now...don't want to go to the dr yet as I'd feel like a bit of a malingerer. Just wondering if anyone else had the swelling like this or developed 'roids again during recovery? I'll be so peeved off if I have gone through this onle for them to come back @miftyfresh how is your lump situ now?

[miftyfresh]

@angbrown lump still there 7 days post op :( It's absolutely massive and causing so much discomfort. I feel as though it's gotten better until I look at it and its still absolutely huge! I was unable to walk for 4-5 days, now I can walk around slowly but its sooooo uncomfortable, itchy and painful. I'm going on holidays in 3 days so really just upset over it. Keep me posted! Knowing that I'm not alone defo helps to an extent, and hopefully it is a sign of healing, though doesn't appear to have done much by just looking at it!

[Gem38]

Hi ,
So glad I came across this thread putting my mind at ease. I had a skin tag removed and BOTOX injected inside to help fix a tear 2 days ago - which was causing me so much pain I could hardly move and going to the toilet was a struggle I no longer get the pain I was getting before the operation so has worked well just slight stinging and discomfort . I have opened my bowels for the first time today and blood in the toilet and feels aggravated and sore, now is the bleeding normal ?? I have jumped in the bath straight after it have a fear about it getting infected ! Any advice would be appreciated 😊 xx

[miftyfresh]

Hey @gem38 I bled for the first 2 days going to the loo, for me I believe it was like a tearing from the wound as it literally felt as though to go to the loo, I had to rip my bum apart - aaaghhh.

It was so so painful for the first few days but it's still quite sore post-toilet now 9 days post-op, so I think the soreness is normal, and the blood for the first few days.

Once it's not a lot of blood, I'm sure it's perfectly fine. Keep an eye on it and if it's not resolved after maybe 4 days or so double check with your doc I reckon. Mind me asking how your swelling is? Mine is atrocious!

[Gem38]

Hi @miftyfresh , thank you. Glad just not me and your recovery is going well. I am on day 5 now and have little pain now found that I sit for a while and walk around for 10 minutes has really helped ! Think I had a bit too many laxatives yesterday tho 😊 . Not so much bleeding but a bit of a funny smell down there at times. I am hoping to be alright next week as going abroad and worried about being uncomfortable so fingers crossed be ok.
Thank you for the response and wishing u a full recovery xxx