So I had posted a little while ago about contemplating this procedure. Elphie and Frustrated graciously gave me their experienced oppinion! (THANKS ladies!)
To recap I did not have pain from the tags. I've had them for several years and I am newly single and find them to be embarrassing and a cramp on my love life. (I had 2 big and 1 small external tags)
The colon/rectal Dr (who I love! He is so knowledgeable, sweet and makes me feel very comfortable about this embarrassing situation) told me I had 3 external tags but that he saw I have some internal hems (Can I get rid of the internal hems by keeping my stool softer and more regular without surgery??)
Today when I went to the Dr.'s office he told me he could only remove what was external in the office and it may be painful. He asked me again if I was sure I wanted to do it in the office and that I can change my mind at any point if I don't feel comfortable.
I said I wanted to do it at the office...though I was nervous.
So he and the nurse prepared for the removal.
He said the most painful part would be the numbing with the needle. He said alot of people find that to be quite painful. So I braced myself for the pain.
He would tell me he's going to give me the needle before every time he did it. He and the nurse asked me like every second if I was ok. :)
But the truth is that there was hardly any pain! It was like a slight pinch and that was it. He cut them off and then sewed me up.
I asked to see the skin tags afterwards....they were GROSS! I was glad they were gone.
The Dr. told me he is shocked how well I took the shot and told me I was strong. lol
After it was done, they gave me water and said I had to lay down on the bed for 15 mins before I could leave.
He gave me a perscription for 25oxycodone/apap tablets for the pain and told me to use colace stool softener and up my fiber and drink A LOT more water.
Well I took the painkiller as soon as the perscription was filled about 3 hrs ago. Right now I feel mild to moderate stinging. The pain is bareable....for now! I'm terrified to death about having a bowel mvt! I didn't take the stool softener yet because I had a bwl mvt before seeing the dr today and I don't believe I will go again today and also I'm afraid the stool softener will induce a bowel mvt. (Should I take the stool softener asap or can I wait until tomorrow?)
He put a tightly packed dressing on the site and told me not to remove it for 24hrs unless I have a bwl mvt. If I do I will have to clean up well and replace the gauze.
He said I need to shower or sit in warm water after a bowel mvt to clean it well. He said I should sit in warm water 3 times a day.
He said some possible complications are infection from feces or fissures from hard stool putting pressure on the stiches during bwl mvts.
I will have to go back to work in 11 days and I'm hoping that I will be quasi healed by that time and able to function some what normally. He wants me to come back in 14 days to see how I'm healing.
I'm just bracing myself for the terrible pain that is to come and the DREADED bowel movement! I will continue to post any new developments in the process. Any words of wisdom or encouragement will be GREATLY appreciated!
Thank you for reading this LOOONG post! -Bummer