Bum surgery- is it really worth it?

[oberst]

I'm not sure what else to call it, it could be a haemorroidectomy but not sure as doctor has said it's more like a skin tag now.

I have had this pile (dw I won't upload a photo 🫠) for 12 years. It inflates and flares up then deflates like a balloon.

When it flares up, it can be itchy and sore; especially with a bowel movement but it's not AGONISING. It's just 'there' and annoying and uncomfortable. This happens every couple of months. I've done creams and suppositories.

My main reason for removal though is because it doesn't look very nice. I don't like my partner going down there, and I get all on edge when we are intimate. I don't want to feel like this every time, I love sex and intimacy but this just puts me off. I hate it.

I went to see my consultant yesterday, he said it was more like a skin tag than anything. He has seen the photos of when it is flared up. It's probably the size of a blueberry but deflated. Then it gets swollen when flared up.

I have heard and read that the recovery for this is excruciating. Because they just slice it off and that's it. No sutures etc.

The consultant said they'd give me laxatives and pain relief. But the horror stories out there are making me so anxious.

Because it's not internal and it's just one, will it still be just as bad?

The position of it is basically the nearest to my vagina, if that makes sense.

Do I go ahead and just put up with the pain?

It's set for the 17th July. I go on holiday for two weeks on the 9th August and get married in October. Will it be worth it? It is bloody annoying when it flares up and it is unsightly.

Anyone out there who's had the procedure? Any advice?

Thank you!

Having had the surgery - yes I would in your shoes 100%. It’ll be a painful recovery but your life will be immeasurably better afterwards so for me it would feel like it’s worth it. I didn’t have half your problems and I’m glad I had it done - I just feel like people should know what they’re in for after and the things that will help them cope. Anaesthetic gel, haemorrhoid cream, laxatives, a sitz bath for the toilet and no childcare responsibilities will all really help

Greetings and thanks for this thread. I am struggling with issues - pain, irritation, itchiness “down below” though after hospital sigmoidectomy it’s still not clear what the problem is, it’s all very vague. It’s very tough, very stressful 😣 and nobody knows what to do. I might post separately one day….

Okay I've had my op today and thought I'd document my experience.
I've had a removal of anal tag, haemmeroid banding and flexible sigoscopy. I went down just before 3pm and was awake by 3:35.

I'm comfortable mostly but ive had paracetamol, propfol and buscopan. I do feel like I need to go to the toilet but that's physically impossible right now, there's nothing in me but apparently the sensation is common.

I've had a little something to eat and should be going home about 6pm

Ohhh wow! I hope all recovery goes smooth for you. Let me know! My pre op is next week.

Okay morning two
I slept, but I'm a side sleeper so I wasn't so comfortable. I woke with a lot of stomach cramping and remembered they gave me buscopan in theatre and I use that for IBS so I had one. I've got a hot water bottle and I'm quite gassy but I'm okay.

I had massive padding between my "cheeks" which was uncomfortable and getting wet when I went to the toilet. Turns out there's packing under the packing so I've removed that stuff because it was making me feel like I have incontinence and must be what babies with a full nappy feels like! So that helped my comfort levels. The smaller padding will come away itself when ready.

I bought laxatives on their advice which I will take one tonight.

So far so good

Hi OP and ZZGirl!

I have mine scheduled for the 26th of July. Also due to a thrombosed pile which looks like a giant skin tag (I "affectionately" call it my ballbag as it does look a bit like a little scrotum). My main reasons for proceeding with the surgery are:

A. I'm 38 and not living with balls for the rest of my life
B. Makes me feel like shit (no pun intended). But it has ruined my self esteem and impacted my sex life (no thank you!)
C. Flares up occasionally but not since I've got the internal ones banded, which has stopped the pain/bleeding mostly but every so often there still is a bit
D. Keeping "clean" down there is a nightmare and my toilet paper/baby wipe usage is single handedly killing the planet as I use more wipes than my 1 year old.

Looking forward to following your journeys and recoveries and wishing you all the good vibes! 😊

I'm going to post daily because I think it'll help.
So my short surgery had 3 parts, removal of anal tag (as a result of an old haemorrhoid), flexible sigmoidoscopy and banding of haemorrhoid. I'll be as honest as I can throughout.

Since my update this morning, my cramps have passed and I'm really gassy. The hospital gave me a courtesy call and that meant I could ask my questions about showering, the padding and when to use my laxatives which he said to take now because obviously what goes in must come out.

Thank you so much, your story seems very similar to mine. I had a colonoscopy and banding of x 3 internal haemmeroids a few weeks ago where I had a lot of cramping afterwards and it was just "uncomfortable" and gassy. But not overly painful after BM's etc

I'm getting my skin tag removed next and as it's just an external I'm hopeful that it hopefully won't be TOO bad but seriously, horror stories just left right and centre!

I've still got padding against my skin tag removal which they've said will just fall off in the toilet when it's ready, I presume when i finally go to the toilet 🤷‍♀️

How are you feeling @ZZGirl ? Was this nhs or private? X

It was private as my NHS consultation kept being delayed so we used our health insurance.

Honestly, I'm doing good. I'm a little uncomfortable with the padding at the healing site and I can't tell if I need to fart or open my bowels lol but otherwise I'm good. I am a little nervous of going to the toilet the first time but yeah, so far, so good

I had bum surgery 10 years ago - very pleased I did and only regretted that I had put up with it for the previous 10 years because someone told me it would be painful- it was but absolutely worth it!

Exactly, it took me 13 years

We have toilet time! And tbh probably thanks to the laxative, it was pain free.

Feeling a bit tender but nothing like what I was expecting. I am planning on taking a laxative tomorrow too.

Which laxative are you taking if you don’t mind me asking?

I’ve been advised to have mine removed because it’s just so painful, but everyone I’ve spoken to have only given me horror stories. It’s nice to hear some more positive ones.

Dulcolax

That's why I've started documenting here. Because even on this thread there's some horror

I had this done nearly 4 weeks ago privately as it took me forever to get clean, had constant itching, made me feel so gross and my sex life is extremely poor through me being self conscious about it. I expected severe pain but really hoped it would be improved by now. I did make the grave mistake of getting constipated and this has tore the wound further and more inside my bum if that makes sense so it now feels sorer than ever. I have to bite down on a towel for every bowel movement and am nearly vomiting with the pain. I have a 2 year old to look after so just nees to get on with it and did go on holiday after 2 weeks but it wasnt enjoyable. I probably shouldnt have went swimming etc as i dont know if it has impaired healing or something but all I know is 4 weeks down the line and it is worse than ever. I felt so good the first day and actually did look at the wound and felt so happy to see a wound and not the skin tag but i am just praying it heals and I dont end up with a long term fissure or another skin tag from poor healing so all the pain was for nothing.

Have you had a follow up appointment?

I have one booked in 2 weeks. Thought about phoning and asking for it to be brought forward but I dont know if I need to rive it the full 6 weeks they quoted to me

My follow up is Monday, like 7 days after my op. You really should get seen.

New advice
When laxative box tells you to take at night. Pay attention to it. I took them about 10am and bloody hell my stomach hurts

How are you today?