by AF3 » 04 Jun 2023, 03:19
Hi Hazey123,
Yes I mean swelling. The tags existed above the fissure and my CRS explained to me that as the fissure healed, the tag would form. Prior to the Botox, the tag was there but it didn't swell - post Botox was when the swelling started, right after a BM. I thought somehow that the Botox caused it to swell up and that the swelling would subside with the Botox, but that's not happening. I was on Diltiazem, which I can tolerate, which the CRS told me to stop about 2 weeks ago. I was asked to continue with a barrier cream - I was using coconut oil but CRS suggested Metanium - when the skin tag started to hurt two days ago, I thought maybe Metanium was irritating it but I'm now not sure I've got the causality correct. I think what caused the tag to swell and stay swollen (and be sensitive unlike earlier) was that the fissure may have re-opened slightly. I increased my protein intake (and fibre) and think it wasn't the best decision as maybe the stool was too bulky!!
As I'm writing this, I'm laughing because this one unusual Sunday summer morning topic :-D
My CRS says there is no point in getting rid of tags as they are very likely to cause fissures - and unfortunately that seems to have been your experience.
Botox did help me, as the fissure healed during that time (CRS confirmed). However I have struggled with relaxing in general and have had a poor habit of consciously tensing up during a BM thinking I shouldn't let it all come out at full speed (apologies for the detail, but its necessary....) and that process was going counter to the sphincters opening up. So due to that poor decision (driven mainly by fear but turning out to be counter-productive), the fissure opened up slightly again (that was a month+ ago; I had Botox in Feb2023 and it lasted until mid-May). It did not cause any extra pain, my biggest fear around it was the lack of ability to control the urge and having to run to a toilet. I have IBS as well so that did NOT help!!! If anything, the Botox caused more stress because of the IBS but I got past it.
I realized through that process that yes the Botox helps, but 'bad' habits need to be corrected first or alongside, else the Botox will not help as what happened to me. And the most important thing is relaxation and handling of stress. If that can become a big part of your life, I believe you can be healed of this fissure. There will always be setbacks like mine above - a little too much fibre and boom. The trick is however to get back on the healing path.
From what you say (and what I've read over a few days), the tags seem to swell up for people post BM. I am seeing them as a litmus test of how the fissure healing is progressing. And live in the hope that one day soon, the tag will have gone away completely or be so small that it's really only a tiny bit of excess skin and no longer a signal that the fissure is still active.