Painful and bleeding skin tags

[ajd]

Advice and personal stories please!
I have a skin tag, maybe more than one, that in the past hasn't been too much of a problem. Mild irritation sometimes with treatment of PrepH working very well.
Lately thou, (last week primarily) I've had a HORRIBLE time with them. Actually it started just after my colonoscopy/endoscopy with a new doc because of other symptoms I had been having. The scope went fine, mild inflammation right where we expected it and nothing new or abnormal. After the procedure the doc told my husband and I that he advises against removing the skin tags due to possible complications. What complications he didn't say, and he told me this right after the procedure when I was still coming down from the meds. So I have no real recollection that this conversation happened at all other than my husband telling me what was said And had no chance to ask questions.
Anyway after the scope I went home and my skin tags are completely inflamed, enlarged painful to the touch and bleeding. My bum hurts CONSTANTLY especially when I have to sit somewhere or move for long periods of time. My job is in a retail store so moving around is an intricate part of my daily life thus I've been coming home in such pain I'm barely keeping it together.
I am seriously so frustrated and upset about this constant pain I feel like I'm going nuts. And I'm having a tough time getting a hold of this new doc to get advice. Over the weekend I got a call from an on-call doc who very abruptly (and rudely) told me to find a surgeon. Couple that with my doc's original advice to do nothing about them and I'm at a complete loss as to what to do. I've looked around on the internet and have seen little to no suggestions about treatment.
Help? Anyone have something similar happen? What was your treatment for them and how'd it work?

 

[2thFairy]

bumping this up to get more exposure.

 

[LisaL]

I am sorry you are so uncomfortable. I don't have any answers for you, only sympathy. I have a hard time determining what is a skin tag ( I have them on my body) vs. a hemmerhoid vs. something else. I will be interested to hear what others have to say. I hope you find relief soon.
Lisa

 

[motheroftwins]

I am so sorry your going through this.

 

[KYGirl]

I had a lot of problems with skin tags for several years. I had 3 or 4 of the little buggers, which are essentially scar tissue and pretty common for Crohnies. They would always get inflammed and irritated, with bleeding and pain. My GI didn't want to bother them for fear of upsetting the apple cart further. However, I had had enough. I went back to the colorectal surgeon who had offered to remove them the year prior. I had them removed right there in his office. Took about 15 minutes total. I had to do sitz baths several times a day for about a week, but once everything healed, I was much more comfortable. I am really glad I did it. If more tags appear, I will get them removed, too! I was a little squeamish about it, the thought of getting numbing injections in the ol' ballon knot was kind of unnerving, but it wasn't bad at all. I am sure you have already been through way worse stuff with your Crohn's, and it shouldn't be too bad for you. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

 

[AIjen]

I have skin tags as well. I thought they were hemorrhoids, but I guess they are skin tags. My GI doc said I had internal and external hemorrhoids and should have them removed. He set me up with a surgeon who only removed the internal hemorrhoids and said he wouldn't touch the external skin tags. He said it is a painful surgery and a long and painful recovery, so he wasn't going to remove them because they aren't causing any problems. Hah! That's what he thinks. It's so hard to get clean down there after going to the bathroom and they are always sore after ''going", probably because of the somewhat vigorous wiping I have to do to get around all of them and get clean.

KYGirl - sounds like it's not as difficult as my surgeon made it sound. I may have to bring this up to my GI dr. again in the future....

 

[Switalski]

Adjen,

I have skin tags too that flare from time to time. Sitting and standing can be painful. My surgeon told me to never let anyone cut them out. I just use Prep. H., cut down on what I eat, and stick to soft foods until its over. Good luck!

 

[Earnellzwifey]

I have a perianal skin tag that my dr gave me some steroid cream to use on it when it's painful. So far after a day or two of the cream I can sit without pain.