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Bum surgery- is it really worth it?

154 replies

oberst · 11/06/2024 11:22

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!

OP posts:
ZZGirl · 26/06/2024 10:06

oberst · 26/06/2024 09:45

How are you today?

Better! I'm sore which is to be expected and I'm tired but my painkillers have kicked in :)

phoebetinkerbelle · 26/06/2024 10:08

ZZGirl · 26/06/2024 10:06

Better! I'm sore which is to be expected and I'm tired but my painkillers have kicked in :)

Do you mind if I ask you what you were prescribed? I forgot to ask my doctor and will ask in my pre-op appointment but just curious as in the US people are prescribed pretty serious painkillers and i'm terrified of being sent home with just ibuprofen and paracetamol!

So glad it's going well for you so far!

Dolls1973 · 26/06/2024 10:22

Hi all, so I'm now 15 days post surgery after having 3 internal hems banded, the removal of a large external skin tags and banding of an external stage 3 hem which kept thrombosing. I see posts of those who only experienced mild pain or who who able to return to work within a few days and I was insanely jealous!
For all those who are experiencing severe pain to the point of fainting, vomiting and wanting to throw yourself down the stairs etc, I've been there and it's real, but...I took it one day at a time telling myself it'll all be worth it and it really, really is. I drove yesterday for the first time in 2 weeks and the happiness I felt that for the first time I didn't have that continuous throbbing deep pain (literally) in the bum made me sooo happy 😀 I am being scrupulous with my hygiene, but at least now after a BM I only need to shower rather than sit on the bath for an hour is definitely progress, I've been using proctosedysl? ointment which has been so relieving as well as pant liners. I didn't need laxatives in the end as my body decided it wanted to do its own thing daily since that first painful BM on day 4. I'm still bleeding after each one but it's getting less each day. Had a slight setback a few days ago as I ended up having a bad ibs attack and 3 lots of diarrhoea which was horrible but not as painful as I expected. I've had no follow-up from the hosp so I booked into my drs for a wound check and everything looked OK. The swelling is definitely going down but it will take another month I'm told. To all who are at the first early stages of recovery or awaiting surgery, don't be put off by horror stories. Be aware of what to expect, ask as many questions as you need to, educate yourself but know that any pain and yuckiness, however horrible, will eventually pass. And be proud of yourself, it's a bloody tough thing to experience but it's worth it in the long term!

ZZGirl · 26/06/2024 11:00

phoebetinkerbelle · 26/06/2024 10:08

Do you mind if I ask you what you were prescribed? I forgot to ask my doctor and will ask in my pre-op appointment but just curious as in the US people are prescribed pretty serious painkillers and i'm terrified of being sent home with just ibuprofen and paracetamol!

So glad it's going well for you so far!

I wasn't prescribed anything. They said I should be fine with just paracetamol and I have been! They advise against codeine as it can cause constipation

phoebetinkerbelle · 26/06/2024 13:16

ZZGirl · 26/06/2024 11:00

I wasn't prescribed anything. They said I should be fine with just paracetamol and I have been! They advise against codeine as it can cause constipation

Seriously??? This has properly terrified me now eeek! Obvs if it's not painful I won't mind but what if it is?? I know about codeine and constipation but I thought they may have alternatives. Obviously don't want to be off my face as my mum will be here to help me mind the kids as my husband works FT and can't take any AL but I'll still be minding a 4 and 1 year old, but thought they would have offered something stronger to take in case and start on paracetamol if you know what I mean?

ZZGirl · 26/06/2024 15:16

phoebetinkerbelle · 26/06/2024 13:16

Seriously??? This has properly terrified me now eeek! Obvs if it's not painful I won't mind but what if it is?? I know about codeine and constipation but I thought they may have alternatives. Obviously don't want to be off my face as my mum will be here to help me mind the kids as my husband works FT and can't take any AL but I'll still be minding a 4 and 1 year old, but thought they would have offered something stronger to take in case and start on paracetamol if you know what I mean?

I've honestly not needed it. I've used buscopan, paracetamol and ibuprofen. They said anything more can cause constipation but I can use those 2 together which I don't use ibuprofen usually as I'm an IBS sufferer but today they've been really good as I felt very tender this morning. Your doctor might be different

oberst · 26/06/2024 15:48

I really don't know if I should go ahead or not :(

Pre op is next week. Op is pencilled in for 17th July. Holiday is 9th August-24th august. Wedding in October!

I want it done but I don't want the excruciating pain!

OP posts:
ZZGirl · 26/06/2024 15:58

oberst · 26/06/2024 15:48

I really don't know if I should go ahead or not :(

Pre op is next week. Op is pencilled in for 17th July. Holiday is 9th August-24th august. Wedding in October!

I want it done but I don't want the excruciating pain!

I haven't had excruciating pain.
My advice when it's time to open your bowels is put your feet on a stool or something. It opens you up more and apparently how we should all be going.
Go to your pre op and ask all the questions you can think of.

Disturbia81 · 27/06/2024 09:23

oberst · 26/06/2024 15:48

I really don't know if I should go ahead or not :(

Pre op is next week. Op is pencilled in for 17th July. Holiday is 9th August-24th august. Wedding in October!

I want it done but I don't want the excruciating pain!

Sometimes OP we have to go through some pain to get to a MUCH better place. If I think of the 3 ops I've had, yes there was pain after, but you deal with it each day as it comes and after a few weeks when you start feeling the benefits it makes it so worth it.
It won't be easy but there's some amazing tips on here to deal with it all. Otherwise you'll spend the rest of your one life on earth in the same situation you're in now.

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 16:02

3 days post op, I've taken no painkillers and I'm dying to leave the house.

phoebetinkerbelle · 27/06/2024 17:24

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 16:02

3 days post op, I've taken no painkillers and I'm dying to leave the house.

Oh Wow! This gives me such hope!!

How are BM's if you don't mind me asking?

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 18:56

phoebetinkerbelle · 27/06/2024 17:24

Oh Wow! This gives me such hope!!

How are BM's if you don't mind me asking?

It's been fine! I was nervous the first time but it really helps that I've just listened to my body, not strained and propped my feet up on a stool. I definitely recommend

phoebetinkerbelle · 27/06/2024 19:23

Thanks for the tip! I have stools in both our bathrooms for our 4yo to use when he goes so will use them too!! Do you do the sitz bath thing?

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 19:34

phoebetinkerbelle · 27/06/2024 19:23

Thanks for the tip! I have stools in both our bathrooms for our 4yo to use when he goes so will use them too!! Do you do the sitz bath thing?

I haven't done. I think other than my tag removal, everything else was internal. I didn't even buy a sitz bath but I hear they're good

oberst · 27/06/2024 19:50

I know this is going to sound awful; but I have no clue. Could your amazing recovery be due to the fact you have gone private? Or would it have been the exact same procedure/how they'd of done it on NHS?

OP posts:
ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 20:34

oberst · 27/06/2024 19:50

I know this is going to sound awful; but I have no clue. Could your amazing recovery be due to the fact you have gone private? Or would it have been the exact same procedure/how they'd of done it on NHS?

I can see why you'd say that but I don't think so as I know my surgeon operates within the NHS as well.
I've honestly not done anything all week. I've rested, listened to my body and just done as I was told.

Though this evening I've got a belly ache and the wound site itches

Nightmarenewbornnostalgia1 · 27/06/2024 20:37

I have also went private and had excruciating pain so I dont think there is ever going to be one size fits all. To be fair I did not follow advice, went on holiday, went swimming, got myself constipated ate rubbish so I am probably to blame for some of that but didnt have the ideal outcome that zzgirl had even before I did all that and I only had a skin tag removal whereas other people have had a lot more and been fine. It probably all comes down to the I individual, pain tolerance etc. I naively thought I had quite a high pain tolerance but have honestly found this horrific. I like you read all the horror stories and knew what to expect but still went ahead. At present even with all the pain etc I still dont regret it but may change my mind if the prolonged healing time means I end up with another skin tag etc.
You're experience will be u unique to you and you might be like zz girl and be absolutely fine and like many others who dont see what all the fuss is about. Obviously important to get all peoples viewpoints but ultimately still wont be able to know how you will recover. You have had loads of great advice though so have a better chance than others going through it and just need to evaluate how miserable it makes you just now

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 22:45

I've been in a bit of discomfort tonight, I can feel that I must be understandably a bit swollen, but only taken buscopan and had another shower.

oberst · 27/06/2024 22:58

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 22:45

I've been in a bit of discomfort tonight, I can feel that I must be understandably a bit swollen, but only taken buscopan and had another shower.

Have you taken a look yet 👀

OP posts:
ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 23:03

oberst · 27/06/2024 22:58

Have you taken a look yet 👀

I've got questionable photos on my phone 😂

Tbh I'm not sure how it should look and the nurse said my surgeon uses like a gel for the wound so I think that's what I can see. I know I'm a little swollen because of going to the toilet but even though I'm healing, I'm tag free and looks better than it has in about 13 years!

phoebetinkerbelle · 29/06/2024 21:03

ZZGirl · 27/06/2024 23:03

I've got questionable photos on my phone 😂

Tbh I'm not sure how it should look and the nurse said my surgeon uses like a gel for the wound so I think that's what I can see. I know I'm a little swollen because of going to the toilet but even though I'm healing, I'm tag free and looks better than it has in about 13 years!

How's the recovery going ZZGirl?? Hope all is going smoothly for you! :)

ZZGirl · 29/06/2024 21:50

phoebetinkerbelle · 29/06/2024 21:03

How's the recovery going ZZGirl?? Hope all is going smoothly for you! :)

Hiya! So far so good!
I had another look today and I'm a bit sore/swollen but all looking fine. I've been a bit more sore today because I've had a little IBS flare up. I went out for a bit today though which is great. Looking forward to my follow up appointment

phoebetinkerbelle · 01/07/2024 12:12

ZZGirl · 29/06/2024 21:50

Hiya! So far so good!
I had another look today and I'm a bit sore/swollen but all looking fine. I've been a bit more sore today because I've had a little IBS flare up. I went out for a bit today though which is great. Looking forward to my follow up appointment

Have you had your follow up appointment yet? Hoping it's all going smoothly for you still!

ZZGirl · 01/07/2024 14:05

phoebetinkerbelle · 01/07/2024 12:12

Have you had your follow up appointment yet? Hoping it's all going smoothly for you still!

I had my check up this morning and he said its all looking as it should. He said it might be feeling a bit strange/lumpy for a while as it heals but that's okay
I've been on the go today and back at work this afternoon so I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable now

oberst · 01/07/2024 14:06

Ahh. I have my pre op on Wednesday. I'm going to go anyway, and see what they say. I'll tell them about the horror stories 😂 and that I am very apprehensive

OP posts: