am sooo sorry about the tmi....

[sosorryfortmi]

i am a regular here, but have namechanged as i am so embarrassed..

Basically, i have a pain in my butt It is around my anus, just above. When i feel there, it feels like a huge (well, to me it is huge) lump, probably at least 1cm ish. It is so painful, each time i stand up, or any movement which involves moving my buttocks, i get shooting pains. As for going to the toilet - it is agony as it is so tender - i cant even wipe myself properly

I dont think i am constipated, as i am on medication which can actually cause the opposite, and the lump is not actually 'in' my bum IYSWIM. I was wondering if it could be piles - as i have never had them before - but i really dont know, and am so emabrrassed to ask my GP. This has been going on for about 4 days now.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what it could be?

Is it actually on your skin? Like a large cyst type of pain? Wondering about pilonidal sinus - which my dh had once. V V painful but easily sorted with surgery.

here

probably a haemorrhoid. Have you had a look at it with a mirror ?

I know it is an embarrassing thing to ask/do but if you can at least get a gander at it then you can have an idea of what it is.

Pain is not good. Nor is the soiling and lack of ability to clean yourself properly. I know it is uncomfortble and embarrassing but please visit your GP. They have honestly seen it all before, they won't be fazed by it and can get you sorted, either with treatment there and then or with a colorectal referral. Don't put it off. Please. 10 mins of embarrassment in front of a medical professional is nothing compared to the possiblility of this pain getting worse and the possible risk of public soiling if you continue to put it off.

pilonidal sinus is more of a hole than a lump though.

Does it discharge anything ? Pus etc ?

Oh dear, that must be very worrying for you, but you really must get to the GP you know, it's the only sensible thing to do. I can't give any suggestions on what it might be, but problems or changes in that area should never ever be ignored. Don't worry about the embarrassment, as the GP will really have seen it all before. I had to have a finger exam once, when I had suspected appendicits, and although not at all fun, it's nothing terrible. Please call them tomorrow

Oh it sounds like a haemorroid.

They are awful, I am an expert ,please go the docs, they have their hands up people's bums and fanjos all the time.

is it between your anus and your vagina or above your anus? does that make sense, i had a lump between the two, oh it was agony really hard e.t.c i think it took about 5 days and lots of warm baths but in the end it burst so i assume something got a little bit of an infection down there. I also have a cream called triple anibiotic which helped heal it.

thanks egypt - i think! I am well and truly freaked out now - i fit at least 3 of the risk factors It seems to be in the place they are talking about - and i do think the lump has been there for a while - it has only recently become painful.

I am seeing my nurse tomorrow for a different reason - i am wondering whether i should mention this? I can't belive i am even thinking of asking her - showing my butt to someone

I dont actually know what it looks like, as there is only my DD here with me, and i dont want to traumatise her by getting her to check

IF it's a pilonidal sinus, then I truly, truly sympathise. Had one once, about 25 years ago. Was vile, and very painful. Needed surgery to clear, and weeks of dressing by district nurse initially, followed by practice nurse several times a week.
You must see a GP. Soon.

But haemm piles are nearly as bad. But clear up quicker.

Please go to your GP asap. Mine turned out to be cancer. I can reassure you that it is extremely unusual in women under fifty.

soory for the x-post - and thanks for your replies - i will try and work through them

sausage - there is no soiling - i just meant it hurts to wipe myself after i go to the toilet - movements are fine No discharge.

cookie - above anus, and i hope you are all sorted now.

If you can't wipe yourself properly then there is a personal care issue, whether you are accidentally soiling or not (in your cse not) which is obviously not good from an infection point of view.

Well done for coming on here and talking about it though. Even anonymously . It's a start

Well, you do need to see your GP. If it is a PS, it won't get better by itself I'm afraid. The longer it's left the worse it gets as the deeper it gets. It might burst soon, but won't go away. Sorry

Don't worry though. x

thingone.... i hope you are doing ok now

i have had a look, it is kind of pinky coloured, and looks like a little sausage about to burst

I have had a quick look on google images (there's something i never thought i would be looking for a picture of) and i think it looks like piles - should i self medicate with OTC creams, or still mention it to nurse? The only thing that puts me off it being piles is that there has been no blood

you could try OTC piles stuff whilst you work up the courage to get youself to the quack

IrritableGrizzly - I was trying to fingure out why you'd need your finger examined for suspected appendicitis! LOL [ditz emoticon required]

thanks sausage. I think i will mention it to nurse, and say that i was thinking of OTC stuff - hopefully she wont want a look

Thanks so much guys, i was so embarrassed and so uncomfortable, but as non of you have seemd to bat an eyelid - it has relaxed me a little

I work for a General Surgeon who also dabbles in a bit of colorectal too so I'm used to alsorts coming in and seeing all kinds

(muccccccccccccccch worse than the odd little delicate pile. lol)

Well, she flippin' well ought to take a look, if she's doing her job properly!

So, you go in there and say "I've got a very painful lump at the base of my spine" (euphemism for "down there" ), what sort of medic would say, "oh, probably nothing. Take paracetamol and go away?"

But, if it looks how you say it does, then I would say it's less likely to be a pilonidal sinus. They, apparently (as I never actually saw mine, not being a contortionist), look like large, purple boils.
But I'm no doctor. See what they say at the surgery.

most of the colorectal specialist nurses I know are gagging to get a look at these sort of things. The jucier the better!!!

In fact, your practice nurse is probably desperate for a look at something other than baby jabs and dressing changes. Go on, make her professional day (in a good way).

And, whilst we're on TMI, is probably easiest to take a look by lying on the bed as if about to do a backward roll with your legs over your head. Then use a mirror.

Or something like that.

sosorryfortmi, all is better for me, i hope you get better and pain free soon.

Have you tried squeezing it? Could just be a zit...