Cleaning after anal skin tag removal

[Anon5260]

Evening everyone,

Yesterday, I had an operation to remove an anal skin tag and also had rubber band ligation for haemorrhoids on the NHS. I was sent home without any instructions for hygiene and, as such, am unsure what to do. I haven’t passed stool yet. Also, when I woke up from the surgery yesterday, I had a pad taped onto my backside which I still haven’t removed. Please can anyone who’s had this surgery share their surgeon’s post-op care advice with me as I wasn’t given any? Should I clean the area daily even though I haven’t been to the toilet yet? Should I remove the pad? Should I clean with just water or also soap? I genuinely have no idea what to do to optimise my healing and minimise the risk of infection, to be honest. I had hoped I would have been told all of this. Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

It is very unusual for patients not to be sent out with detailed instructions on what to do. I am sure if you Google it then the leaflets that other hospitals send out with their patients will appear.
Or you could ring the consultant's secretary or the ward and ask for advice.
It is important you get this right.
When I had thrombosed piles knifed I had no dressing, but used to hose the area with a shower several times a day to keep it clean and bring relief from the pain.
But you do need proper advice.
I could never quite understand why it did not get infected when I passed a motion as rubbing crap in an open wound is not to be advised normally ... but it didn't.
Good luck.

Morning,

I have just passed stool for the first time. I will follow what you did - rinse the just water via the shower hose. Did you pat dry with toilet paper after? There was a lot of blood, but I take it that’s normal/expected.

Many thanks.

I am not sure what is to be expected after the actual procedure that you have had and would strongly advise you to ring the hospital ward where it was done to get some proper advice.