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

@N172C ahhh okay, I originally thought it could be reducing inflammation but I actually haven’t had much inflammation over the past week. I’ve been focusing more on eating properly cooked meals and not straining at all, taking more time. Alongside religiously using anusol every morning night and now I’ve started after every bowel movement after I have cleaned myself. And surprisingly it seems to have gotten smaller which I’m shocked by. My skin tag, the larger and smaller one if I may add aren’t like attached through a thin piece of skin if that makes sense as people assume skin tags are. They are very much extra skin from my bottom which I don’t know if that makes any difference to the possibility of having them removed? And now I’ve inspected them recently they aren’t large at the moment but still there which isn’t nice to look at as you can imagine. I’ve read so many methods from burning them off, to cutting them off, to even freezing them off and I also read about injecting them with something that makes them shrink? I feel on the NHS it is very limited if they do remove them to one method. How is your recovery going? Are you looking and feeling any better?

@AnonymousX7 no it doesn't work as its skin and not a vein. The only way to get rid completely is surgery was what I was told.

@AnonymousX7 I don't know whether this information will help but my skin tag change sizes throughout the day. It is little larger after I sit long and when I lay down it is smaller.

@H226 ahhh yeah that is understandable, I’m extremely afraid of the possibility of surgery and the stories. I’m also afraid of it looking worse off than before through what others have said. How is your recovery going any better?

@Gabby555 that is so strange, but yeah mine seems to change and especially after many bowel movements it becomes worse off. Have you decided anything regarding surgery? Are you in the U.K. with the NHS? I’m in a similar situation with being young and afraid of surgery affecting my life. In particular my relationships, but saying that I haven’t had no previous relationships and a big reason for that is due to my embarrassment if I were to be intimate but I’m really speaking to someone now and I’m afraid to get intimate so I’m afraid it may ruin something good through my insecurity. Although it seems cosmetic it has affected my mental health and life a lot. Giving me such low self esteem and I’m finally trying to sort it. I’m also sick of the pain of wiping and trying to get clean without causing myself to bleed or hurt. I’m pretty sure I suffer with IBS, many of my family have had similar issues and anxiety doesn’t help either but I’ve been really focusing on my diet and not rushing lately which has helped me.

@AnonymousX7 I'm still having pain when I go to the loo which is annoying!

@H226 oh no, how’s thing looking? Do they look still swollen or as though they are healing? I guess it’s a case of just trying to maintain your diet and hoping that as time goes a long it will get better. Have you got any follow up appointments with your doctors to check how healing is?

@AnonymousX7 it actually looks absolutely fine. I think there is a bit of swelling still. Ye defo diet plays a major role. No I didn't get any follow ups which I thought was strange!

@AnonymousX7 my tags sound a bit like yours more excess skin than anything hanging down from a thread. I am just over 6 weeks post op now and it has been a slow recovery for me. My bottom looks better but I am still a bit lumpy, it still hurts to go to the toilet and feels quite sore at times. I am back to see the surgeon a week today and have plenty of questions to ask about my recovery (like how much longer will it take!).

@H226 I’m glad to hear it’s looking better. Yeah that does sound strange regarding follow ups, do you think that it could be due to the pandemic with stress on the NHS? I know that a member of my family had an operation due to bowel cancer and has only just gotten a follow up appointment to check which is quite shocking. It seems my family has such an extensive history of bowel issues, do you think this could possibly play a part in the NHS making a decision for surgery for me if needed?

@N172C my larger tag is I’d say 6 o’clock area and a smaller one at 12 o clock. Definitely excessive skin that comes from my bottom rather than hanging on. If it was hanging on I wouldn’t be as worried for removing it. I’m glad your bottom looks better, I assume recovery is dependant upon the person, location, size and post op diet and lots of other stuff. I hope you get the right answers at your appointment. If you don’t mind me asking, what was the rough price for skin tag removal as I saw you had to go private, if I have to I don’t have a clue where to look to go private. Would my gp be able to refer me to a private clinic? I’m just trying to explore all avenues to get it done as soon as possible if needs be otherwise I will get myself into a whirl of overthinking and put it off! I feel that my larger tag moving causes a tear in my bottom when I wipe which is painful. Ringing the docs up tomorrow and hopefully getting my first step in being sorted!

@AnonymousX7 it could be but he never even mentioned seeing me again when I spoke to him after my op. Gosh that is shocking especially when it's been something like cancer. I'm not really sure to be honest I think it woukd just be down to what they think is best for u. My family is the same with bowel issues but that wasn't brought up at my consultation.

@AnonymousX7 mine were similar position to yours. You are younger than me so might have a better time of it. I am 49, it cost just under £2,000. I have private health ins that my husband pays for so got the initial consultation through that with a referral from my gp but then, as I think I posted before, they wouldn't pay for the removal as they considered it cosmetic.

@H226 We haven’t been blessed with the best history of bowels by the sounds! I’m really surprised there hasn’t been a follow up to check your healing process, maybe they will send for you in a couple of months possibly?

@N172C ahh okay thank you. I have some rainy day savings which I’m hoping could cover the cost if needs be and like you I would ask the gp for private referral if they can’t help me. I don’t have private healthcare insurance though. I’ve read some clinics charge depending on how many people have and the size.

@AnonymousX7 yeah I know! I think I would have heard by now to be honest

@AnonymousX7 I think we have very much in common. My skin tak its 12 o clock and it is not hanging, it is just little excessive skin. I don't live in UK and in my country I go to private doc. I'm not sure what to do with that skin tag. I'm afraid of recovery time but also I want it gone as soon as possible. My worst fear is that it is going to grow and I will be so embarrased. I'm also worried about little blue vein at bottom of this skin tag.

Do your skin tags cause you physical disscomfort? Do you feel them while walking?

@Gabby555 I understand what you mean. I’m extremely embarrassed of mine and it looks a mess down there. If I was you and you have fears of the future but also recovery I would consider going ahead with it. The sooner you make that choice, the sooner it is done and you can heal and look forward to having everything back to normal. Then after you can focus on your diet and other factors to keep it healthy.

Mine doesn’t cause me discomfort when walking really but everytime I wipe even with wet wipes now it causes me a level of discomfort. I feel because I’ve put up with it for so many years I’m sort of numbed more to the pain it actually is causing? I also have two, one at the top and the other at the bottom. Although they don’t seem to just hang they are away from my bottom and make it look rather unsightly.

@H226 I hope you hear back from them but I’m sure if you need to you will go back and ask for a follow up.

I’ve rung the doctors earlier, I’m getting a phone call later on which I assume is to ask me about it and determine if I need to go in for an examination. I’m really nervous and embarrassed but I can’t live with this any longer. I dread going to the toilet and I dread looking at it, so I know I need to get it fixed.

@AnonymousX7 ye I will, il see hiw it goes. Aw good luck, don't be embarrassed, remember they look at butt holes all the time!! Ur doing the right thing!

@AnonymousX7 Do your anal skin tags grow? If yes then what cause them to grow? Do alcohol affect them in any way?

@H226 thank you, I really appreciate your support. Spoke to the doctor over the phone and she’s booked me in to take a look next week! She seemed very helpful and willing to help me get treatment either way due to the discomfort they are causing me.

@Gabby555 I’m not sure if they grow. I notice they become inflamed after bowel movements even the softer movements. I don’t really drink alcohol so I’m not too sure about that sorry.

@AnonymousX7 Thanks for answer, I'm glad you're visting doc, I'm sure she's going to help you. How long do you have this skin tags?

@AnonymousX7 aw thats great!

@Gabby555 no problem, it’s so nice to speak to so many understanding and helpful people who have the same struggles. I’ve had mine for as long as I can remember, dare I say I began with severe constipation around 12 years old or younger. I assume from frequent straining throughout my constipation phases I believe I developed piles which eventually went away but left the excess skin. I’ve had this issue for a while but pushed it to the back of my mind and endured the pain out of embarrassment. I’ve avoided nudity and relationships at all cost and I’m at my wits end now. A big wake up call to me too was when around a month back I had A LOT of blood suddenly come out from a tear right where my skin tag extends and it scared me. I realised through that and meeting someone I see potential with and confiding in a close friend that I can’t go on like this suffering being so young or at any age if I can get help. It’s not normal and no one should put up with it if it causes issues or even is just unsightly to some people. It’s not a nice thing, and I’m finding it seems to be more common than I thought just not spoken about a lot until I found this thread which has given me a boost of confidence and determination to sort myself out.

@AnonymousX7 I'm so sorry to hear that you suffer for so long. I think the removal is going to relieve your stress and I'm going to be on this forum for long time even if I don't decide to remove my skin tag this summer so I'm always here to talk. I don't know wheater I should wait with this decision till I end my collage wich would be in 2025 or should I remove it now. I think the sooner the better but I'm afraid of potential consequences. I can endure pain but I'm afraid of long-term bleeding.

@AnonymousX7 good that you have taken the first step. I hope it goes well when you see the doctor.

@Gabby555 I hope so, regardless of anything whether it is surgery or some magical procedure. I know that there is light at the end of the darkness. I know many people might not think it’s major but when it’s on you and in such a private area I feel it becomes a huge thing and a blow to your life. I appreciate that, I’d say take your time with your decision. Consider the pros and cons but not just short term think long term too, whilst you’re young you’re likely to heal better too I assume. I don’t think there is long term bleeding once it heals up but then again for me I bleed anyways and it can bleed a lot sometimes so I guess it is different. Like I said I’m here if you need to chat, take your time and do what’s right for you in the long term.

@N172C thank you I hope so too, regardless I’m happy I’m facing the problem rather than ignoring it because of my fears. I hope things are going well with you! Always here to chat!