Anal skin tag removal - time off work?

[Gertieblue]

Hello, sorry for the unpleasant topic. I'm having a large anal skin tag removed under general anaesthetic soon. I'm not really sure what to expect - will I need any days off work afterwards, or will I be fine to carry on an normal?

I've read quite a few contradictory accounts - some people saying the pain was intense and some saying it's just a minor inconvenience almost.

I found it ok but going for a poo was a pain. I took stool softeners and so it didn’t hurt really but I couldn’t bare to use toilet roll and so I used a bottle to clean myself and then sat in a sitz bath and you can’t rush going either.
So that was my only worry at work.

I had a sick note for a week but I didn’t need it all.

Make sure you get antibiotics.

My gp told me not to get it done due to infection and I went and did it privately. I had antibiotics and did everything as advised but I still got it infected and my god it was horrible!

It’s all healed now but my scar lump is way larger than my skin tag was and so I’m really hoping that that goes down soon else it was all for nothing.

@cucy you’ve bumped an old thread!

Oops I didn’t realise it was old!!
Thanks x

I’ve also read quite contradictory accounts. How was your experience? @Gertieblue

It was absolutely fine! I was given a sick note for two weeks in hospital, then went home and waited for the anaesthetic to wear off and the pain to kick in. It never did! A tiny bit of discomfort for a few days, and I went back to work after a week because I felt like a fraud. I could have gone back earlier probably.

I hope it's the same for you if you're having it done

Thanks for sharing, you’ve provided me with a lot of reassurance there. I had initially put off the surgery for a year and a half because I was terrified of all the stories. I re-referred myself about 7 months ago, but was still on the fence. I feel a lot better about it now. When you had yours, was it done with no stitches?

Yes, general anesthetic and no stitches. It really was nothing like I was expecting, genuinely. The worst pain I had was in my leg muscles because they put your legs in stirrups and I'm not very flexible 🤣.

I was worried like you, and it was honestly absolutely fine. I'm so glad it's done.

When my dog had bum problems, the vet told me that certain foods produce much less poo, so we had him on scrambled eggs for a few days. Probably something to Google and start a day or two before.

Hi! I have a very large skin tag, which has grown during pregnancy. Personal question. How big was yours to have removed on the NHS please? Mine has become sore now.

I'm not exactly sure - it felt big to me, but I couldn't see it of course. Maybe an inch long? It was like a long thing stalk rather than a bump (sorry TMI). I think it must have been quite big because the GP said straight away that it could be removed, and I wasn't really expecting them to offer that on the NHS.

Also, I had to have a colonoscopy first to check everything was ok, and when the scanner saw it, she was a bit taken aback and told me that I had "quite a big anal skin tag"! No kidding, as if I hadn't noticed!

Thank you! Mine is long aswell! Ive had it for years but its probably got 3x bigger in pregnancy! And im aware of it all the time, as i can feel it. I will have baby (overdue currently haha) and see what they say. Worse case I will have to go private.

I’m not very flexible either so I’d probably have the same troubles 😆😆

Seriously though, thank you so much, you’ve really put my mind at ease and made me feel a lot better about the whole thing. Just can’t wait for it to be over and done with now!