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Hemorrhoid or Abscess or What???

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/16/2009 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.  I am having a hard time figuring out what the heck this thing is.  It's a hard ball underneath my skin on the side of my anus that has developed a sore or open cut it seems on the skin.  The ball doesn't bother me whatsoever.  I have had an abcess and this feels NOTHING like that.  I have looked up hemorrhoids but nowhere or no one that I speak to talks about having a sore type situation on the skin.  It stings very badly when I touch it or when the skin around it stretches but that is it.  I don't feel it when I sit or walk.  I am really trying to put off going to the doctor because I don't want to have to go under anesthesia again to have her examine it.  I have a fistula with a drain and 2 fissures so having an office exam is out of the question for me.  Anyone had any experience with something like this??
Posted 1/17/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well, DeLinares! Fortunately I have not had to deal with perianal or anal abscesses so can't really help you with that. I do have hemorrhoids and have had fissures. Hemorrhoids can get irritated and be sore to the touch but do not cause a "hard ball" under the skin. Hemmies can get hard but they are an outgrowing item.

While you might not want to go to the doctor, it sounds like you probably should especially since you already have other issues going on in the area.
Posted 1/17/2009 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
I'm going to agree with Ides on going to the doctor with this one...
My first thought was fistula, but then you said you're already dealing with one so I imagine you know well enough what is and isn't!
Posted 1/17/2009 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome DeLinares!

Other than a hemmie, I wonder if it isn't an irriated skin tag. Skin tags around the anus are not uncommon in Crohn's. You might want to try something soothing like Preparation H pads or wet wipes to help reduce irriation when wiping. Good long sitz baths in the tub with hot water may help sooth it. Seeing the doctor is a good idea if it dosn't subside soon. Better catch whatever it is early!

Take care!
Posted 1/17/2009 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Yup, it could be a perianal crohn's skin tag with a fissure on it, of course it's best to get it checked out to be sure.

:)
Posted 1/17/2009 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
I thought about the skin tags too but I have 2 of those also.  I had one removed which did have an open sore and it sort of feels the same but this is more of a ball.  I did do some reasearch on hemmies and they said that a thrombosed hemmie can cause a hard pea size ball under the skin.  That is about the size of this.  I am going to try Anusol tomorrow and see how it goes for about a week.  I also haven't tried the sitz bath. I need to make time, there aren't enough hours in my day!  I really can't complain,  I was able to come off my meds almost a year ago and have been doing great.  The butt hasn't seemed to catch on to the message that it needs to calm down! =) 

Thanks everyone!

Posted 1/17/2009 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Either way, try hot sitz baths with lots of epsome salts (don't worry, it won't sting like table salt) as many times/day as you can.

:)
Posted 1/24/2009 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
I have had 2 ab's there and i can tell you it sounds familiar...I was 18 and too scared to tell anyone about how uncomfortable i felt down there, went to the doctor who put on a rubber glove and said "nothing wrong here" 5 months later I nearly died from the infection that also left me with a fistula for 2 years. My lesson after this event was (it's okay to be paranoid and check everything you find out because the alternate option of not doing so is much worse)

If you have been diagnosed with a disease you have to take the time to see the doc no matter how busy. I would much prefer getting some flagyl and pred than surgury and packing the wounds every day OOOUUUCCCHHHHH!!!!!!
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