I decided to write everything down as my intro to this group, please bear with me:
Long story short, last March I developed a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. Went to Emergency, they gave me cream, made appointment for me with specialist to have my bottom looked at. Appointment wasn't for two months, that's fine, I figured the hemorrhoid would go away and I'd be able to see specialist for the first time with a clean slate so to speak. I've always assumed I've had internal hemorrhoids, no bleeding, but well sometimes you just know right.
The hemorrhoid only shrunk a bit, and stayed external, by the time I saw the Dr. Most unusual as I'd never had a hemorrhoid last more than a week before. I believe one of the other internal hemorrhoids basically made this one pop out. It turns out I had 4 internal hemorrhoids, plus the external one. The Dr used scleropathy on the 4 with one month wait between each. I believe he also used scleropathy on the external hemorrhoid as well (although I'm not sure about that, will ask him this week.)
I had NO idea the scleropathy would leave skin tags. You would think a Dr would mention this? Anyhow, internal hemorrhoids gone, now I have tags. The Dr did mention that the tags should not hurt. I find that while they do swell throughout the day, especially if I sit at the computer there isn't (much) discomfort.
After the 4th internal hemorrhoid was shot in early November I began to feel more relaxed with the situation. However, at the end of that month I felt well enough to drive to see a friend who lives three hours away (no car, rental so first time driving.) While I had no pain during the trip, there and back over two days, within a week I had developed a blood clot in the area where the original thrombosed hemorrhoid was. I originally thought it might have been a new one. I imagine the clot developed from all the driving/sitting. Before I noticed the clot had developed I had some major burning during bowel movement (I believe b/c the skin was irritated, and I'd had spicy food.)
I called my specialist who was out of town, his secretary referred me to another specialist, who actually fit me in that very day. Which is pretty miraculous. To say I was pleased at this turn of events is an understatement, happy to see another specialist and get their opinion. He confirmed it was a blood clot, and thought it could be a new internal hemorrhoid. He chose not to do anything to it, and let nature take its course. He gave me a Nifidepine ointment script 0.6% to use twice daily. The clot went away, as I could see, within a week. Thank goodness, it was worse pain than the original thrombosed hemorrhoid. I'm going to keep up with the cream for two months total.
I am seeing my original specialist this coming Friday. I want to let him know this happened, and get his ideas on the situation. I want to know if he did use sclerotherapy on my thrombosed hemorrhoid, and if not, will I always have this pain with swelling from sitting, etc. When I began to realize I was going to have skin tags I asked this original Dr what could be done to remove them. He said only a hemorrhoidectomy, which he wouldn't suggest. I was surprised he didn't mention skin tag removal, and will politely ask him about this.
I feel I'm in a situation where I'm not being informed about my options and/or consequences ahead of time which is upsetting. Specialist one is now doing primarily bariatric work, but has specialized in proctology. Dr two is a colorectal surgeon.
I'm long married, pushing 50, I could live with skin tags if there was no pain, this isn't purely cosmetic for me. However, this is interfering with my life, I can't exercise like I used to, although I am keeping active and usually can walk up to one our without too great discomfort/swelling. When the first few hemorrhoids were gone it wasn't bad, but now I fear I won't be able to ride my bicycle again.
The only good thing to come from this is I've drastically changed my diet. Veggies galore, lots of fibre, lots of water, lots of fruit. If my bum wasn't so uncomfortable I'd feel really great
I'm going to get the specialist to see if something else is the problem. The skin tags on half of my bottom cause no pain, but the other side, some big discomfort.
Thanks for listening. Advice welcome. "Turk the cat"