I found one of these four days ago, nurse said its a perianal abcess and got anti biotics for it, seems to be going down, she's checking it again on weeks time x

Hello and thank you for replying , that's really weird , I had an abscess about a week or so ago and it's just healing up on the front of my lady parts , it was really big and full of gunge which emptied . I wonder if I still have infection in me ? Oh well I suppose I'll find out sooner or later , just have to wait to be looked at , oh joy. Once again thank you . Can I ask what alerted you to the fact that you had it ? 

Hi ZG321,

I saw your post on the supraclavicular lymph node (I have my left one up too) and wondered if perhaps it is linked to the perianal absess (infection)? Just a thought?

x

I think it could be, lymph node swole up after day 2 of covid booster and then perianal abcess appeared week later, nurse suggested it could have been brewing for a while. Hoping bloods inc FBC and CRP Protein bloods will rule anything out. I hate having these awful thoughts, hard to rationalise and explain to people how I feel. 

I think so, mines half in and half out, about 1cm too. I'm the same, haven't enjoyed Christmas at all. 

I do feel for you too. My Christmas is totally shot to pieces , haven't done anything except freak out. I'm so tired with no sleep and hardly eating and I haven't even managed to see a medical person yet , so lord knows what I'll be like when that happens. I hate feeling like this and realise that my mental health anxiety state is terrible , but where do you start to address this ? Drs are so hard pushed and it is seen as being a defeatist and just to pull yourself together. I feel I seem to find something wrong with me every day , I'm worn out with worry and stress. Poor you too.

I feel exactly the same, I go months feeling great and something hits me and I'm back to square one, feel like I'm wishing something on me, tried reflexology, reiki to help and it does for a short while but it's always there. I'm going to look at a course in new year to try help these bouts of anxiety x

Here we are again . Been referred on the 2 week list to the colorectal team at the hospital which is a 40odd mile round trip . Dr said it was a hard lump and offered no alternative other than when asked " it could be a gristly lump or a cyst, who knows ?  If it's a nasty they'll chop it out" "people tend to see the word cancer and death in the same sentence but advances in medicine doesn't always mean that " impressed ? I think not . She also said that I could have ovarian cancer after 6 and a half years and that really impressed my fear factor into outer space. Now absolutely mortified awaiting CA125resulys and the March down that path as well . Sleep ? You must be joking .

Right. I now have an appointment at the colorectal unit on 13th of jan 22. Which is terrifying me as of course I've been on Dr Google and have summarised that "hard , firm , smooth , glassy "lumps , bumps , tumours whatever you define them as are usually cancerous , this info was from reputable sites such as the American association of colorectal surgeons etc. I'm really , really scared now . However my blood tests have come back:

 - full blood count normal and my CA125 is only 14 so that looks good so far. Thank you.

I will update when I'm investigated . I'm dreading it , I'm dreading having to get my husband to drive me backwards and forwards , I'm dreading having to leave my very needy and very "separation anxiety " filled dog with him and he will have to come on the drives with us , he's never been left alone. I think I'm going to burst with worry. I can't leave him with anyone , there's just no one I can leave him with , no friends or neighbours or relations and although he's a medium size dog he's only 3 and very friendly / boisterous.

Hey 

keeping my fingers crossed for you because I'm in exactly the same boat. Frustratingly people post about this on this forum and disappear without update.  I found a pea sized movable lump about a month ago. No pain, no protruding etc. It's inside my anus and very hard, not soft and just feels very hard and round. I went to the doctors before Christmas and wasn't even asked any questions, just told it was a thrombosed vein. Went back two days ago and was told actually they didn't have a clue what it was. I have no symptoms of piles / haemorrhoids. No blood, no itching generally. I have a feeling that something is there so to speak. Tingling and a fuzzy feeling but aside from that I only realised I had it because one day I wiped and it was there. Worth mentioning it doesn't change size from straining or bowl movements. Only few things of note is that I have been absolutely exhausted constantly and my bowl movements have been very loose recently. Don't know what to think. I was referred to my hospital via the 2 week pathway and have a phone consultation next week. What use is a phone consultation for a lump is beyond me. 

Hello there . 
im sorry to hear of any poor soul , worried out of their bonce like me.

My GP was totally flippant and dismissive, I felt a complete twit waddling across her room bare from the waist down making it worse. Embarrassed and frightened.

Anyway, to summarise today's events thus far. 

- went to the 2 week OUt patient appt as made by Dr Flip herself and saw " a doctor " whom I cannot remember his name ( I was really hyped up with fear ) and a lovely student nurse. He gave me a lot of questions , and a DRE , you MUST , MUST , MUST , get this done - a telephone consultation over a lump inside your anus cannot be done over the phone , NO. if I were you I would politely insist that a Dr has a hands on , feely , pokey and investigates further. 

- The gent I saw had experience of anal cancer and he reassured me to a certain extent , but , to make sure he arranged a sigmoidoscopy to be done and the results of that, pending the outcome ,  more tests such as biopsy under anaesthetic etc to determine what said " hard but rubbery " lump is. He did think it could be scar tissue under the mucosa from an old fissure but needed the sig to have a look. 
- literally as soon as I'd got in , the hospital rang and I have a "pre-procedure" questionnaire with a nurse tomorrow on the phone and the sig procedure on Tuesday afternoon. 

if I were you I'd ring your surgery or telephone consultation source and calmly suggest a DRE is definitely the way to proceed . 

Hope this helps.

you do feel swept along by the frightening thing happening that is beyond your control , but , as I have found out , it really doesn't matter how much you mither yourself into a jibbering wreck , it isn't going to alter Mr .Lumpy residing in your anal canal , he's still sitting there , quietly waiting for either to stay in benign residence and grow old with me  or to be served his eviction notice . Whatever happens , I CANNOT CHANGE BY GOING LOOLOO. You must get it checked.

So do the call , insist on "touchy feely " approach . My bum has never had so many new best friends . 
And yes I'm getting to the point , that if the band of the Coldstream Guards walked through playing "I've got you under my skin" I wouldn't be suprised either. 
Be forceful.

I have to say I love your posts, they cheer me up... albeit I really hate to think of how worried you feel by this all. 
 

I did complain to the hospital in the end and I have an appointment face to face on the 25th. I don't have any other symptoms in terms of pain, bleeding etc and that almost worries me more as the natural conclusion would be it's a pile etc. I just have a bit of an upset stomach a lot of the time and extreme tiredness but that could be anything. I'm just trying to remain calm and collected, chilled and just not worry. I'll be thankful to not have to wake up and put my finger inside my anus to see if old lumpy is still there. I have a sneaking suspicion it's getting very very slightly bigger. But not sure if that's my imagination. 

I have to say I love your posts, they cheer me up... albeit I really hate to think of how worried you feel by this all. 
 

I did complain to the hospital in the end and I have an appointment face to face on the 25th. I don't have any other symptoms in terms of pain, bleeding etc and that almost worries me more as the natural conclusion would be it's a pile etc. I just have a bit of an upset stomach a lot of the time and extreme tiredness but that could be anything. I'm just trying to remain calm and collected, chilled and just not worry. I'll be thankful to not have to wake up and put my finger inside my anus to see if old lumpy is still there. I have a sneaking suspicion it's getting very very slightly bigger. But not sure if that's my imagination. 

Oh dear,  it's now become a daily appt in the shower first thing in the morning with me 'n Mr Lumpy !

I think , we will always think " perhaps if I stick my ankle round my neck , 'ol Lumpy feels bigger , or wider , or if I do the splits , he goes in a bit .....
I honestly think your mind goes into warp factor 10 , Mr Sulu !! .....and you and your finger can't possibly judge 'ol Lumpy's size . Sometimes I go to the loo and think , I know , whilst here I'll check on Lumpy and guess what ? He's still there . I also personally think that the more he gets poked and prodded he could be aggravated and roust up the surrounding skin to be sore , so as tempting as it is to give Mr Lumpy a good poke just to keep him in his place , let the physicians do it for you. I sincerely hope you get to solve the mystery of exactly who the stranger "up there" is.
Good luck. 

So true!!! We definitely need to keep each other updated on here as hopefully we can put other people's minds at rest too. 
 

Frustratingly I've got to go for another procedure regarding and abnormal smear. Second colposcopy (first in 2018) due to hpv coming and going! My worry has always been about the link between hpv and anal cancer so was hoping it would've cleared up. 
 

my poor nether regions hahahaahah!!

Yes , we must carry on the saga of the lumps , like lord of the rings ( literally anal rings , oh dear )  
 I too fear HPV as I am too old and wrinkly to have had the jab for it , so I'm aware ......, so, so aware of the link between the virus and S.E.X  ye gods , but I read somewhere that even nuns and the like have been found with HPV , lord that makes your mind spin doesn't it ? I don't know of a definitive "test" for HPV either , so you're damned if you do , so to speak and definitely damned if you DO ......what a situation to be in .
- I've been reading about the "sig" omg I'm really looking forward to that , I don't think , apparently you can request "privacy pants " I can't wait . I think I'll ask if the Coldstream Guards do "requests" seeing as they're bound to be in the audience when the privacy pants get unleashed or blown away by the results of the enema ........

You think you've got the short end , well I've got another test ultrasound for the lady parts soon as well , so bring on the other probe , I've only got the earoles left now .........x 

may the force be with you 

Ps , what do you mean ? Your poor nethers ? Mine are defo in the same boat , up that creek and you know the one I'm talking about ...........

Helllooooo

Just wanted to check in and see how everything has been! Have you had your procedure done yet? I have my appointment on Tuesday so will update you with the outcome! 

Hello again , and apologies for not writing up sooner ........

Had the sigmoid and that was ok. The worst part was the round trip AGAIN to pick up the ....enema . That was fun. The trip to the hospital takes approx an hour. The instructions on the enema were , do it an hour before - you work it out. Thankfully I did it earlier and it works within a few minutes , 2 steps from the loo all done, procedure itself very straightforward. Nurse asks you loads of questions you then go to a room and the operator and another doing the computer present . You are with another nurse that monitors you and talks to you all along. The instrument is then put in and away it goes ..... my colon according to the gent doing the examination was very healthy and very clean ( thanks enema ) , however there was nothing that he could see ?????? But he felt  Mr Lumpy and describes him as "a big pea " soooooooooo they give you a choice of gas and air or sedation , I didn't want anything as I wanted to up and go as my husband and dog were waiting in the car park . But the nurse said just have a few minutes on the gas and air " a legal high" well , I didnt feel ANY different , but hey , laid in the trolley bed had a drink of water and got dressed ready to go. Got a report and further recommendations for yet another test on a rectal ultrasound to see what Mr Lumpy is.
The doctor couldn't see him either by looking up my nethers either . By this point I just couldn't care less , pass the car Jack and insert , have a grandstand view. 
To summarise :

colon healthy , further tests required.

Tommorrw ultrasound of pelvis and abdomen as I have had this fear of ovarian/ uterine cancer etc etc for 6 and and half years but have been terrified of having the exams . I'm really getting a scared on now , but I keep telling myself that there is absolutely NOTHING I can do to change the outcome  - NOTHING I can do it will not alter it. So another day of making some new best friends and putting my bits on general display again . They obviously won't do the rectal one tomorrow , as the 2 have not been connected, although I keep telling every NHS person I come across . I just am swept along with the systems schedules and "this happens next , then this , then that"

. I did tell the Dr in the colorectal face to face that a sigmoid would be a waste of time , but , of course he just said , that it had to be done . 
 

so as they say ....." Tomorrow is another day "

How is your tenant ? Has he still got set up in residence ? 
all the best for the 25th. And speak up , don't be a wallflower ! 

I've got to give your hospital credit - they don't seem to be *** about so to speak! Seems like everything is progressing very quickly for you. 
I'm 100% going to take no messing around or fobbing off. My lumpy friend is still in residence. Not changed in size but noticed he is a tiny bit sore today but I can't work out if that is because I just constantly have an upset stomach at the moment and I'm going to the loo more regularly. 
I find it really curious they do the sigmoidoscopy before the ultrasounds. Would've thought the ultrasound can pick up masses a lot easier. I have a feeling that they won't see mine and in addition my doctor had trouble locating it! Also TMI but for my husband to have a feel because I wanted to make sure I wasn't going out my mind and as sure as eggs is eggs he felt it. Really want to know what on Earth is is to be honest. I'm like you though, can't do anything about it. Just got to crack on and hope for the best!!!

The hospital has been good , but they don't seem to talk to one another. In the endoscopy dept they were told on the report that I had a "polyp" !!! Where on earth did that come from? 
I must admit I'm really fearful of what the ultrasound will find . But I'm resigned to just having to go with the flow as I'm just being swept along. No good questioning the "but what if it was because it did this or that " coz that will produce nothing positive except positive worrying. Nothing you do or say at this stage will change anything. 
Any way good luck and here we go again ......

Well that has to be one of the most humiliating experiences ever.

So not only did my doctor not take me seriously but the consultant just absolutely fobbed me off. He was so rude to begin with, we basically stood around really awkwardly briefly discussing my concerns and then when I went to lay down he asked me me what my anxiety levels were like. He suggested that my anxiety could be causing my health concerns. WHAT?! It was as though he was trying to suggest that I was catastrophising.

Anyway, he examined me and at no point did he offer me the dignity of explaining what he was going to do. Once he finished he walked off and basically said everything looked absolutely fine and I QUOTE 'there was no lump there.' Pardon? The pea sized lump that I can firmly feel every single day apparently is some sort of figment of my imagination. I challenged him and honestly he just completely shrugged it off. He said he had no concerns, it all looked fine and that there was nothing there. When I explained to him that it most certainly WAS there he just said oh it could be some scar tissue from an old heamorrhoid. I've never had a heamorrhoid in my life.

So to summarise hes said i have no lump, all is fine but if I do have a lump its nothing to worry about. LOL He did ask me how often I washed with soap and I explained everyday!!! He then suggested I move onto something a little more gentle on my skin to soften up my anus!

I was genuinely just completely dumfounded by the entire experience so I marched straight to pals and reported it and then booked a private consultation straight away. I cant even begin to express how humiliating it was to be made out that im absolutely blinking crazy.

I'm 33, I've only ever been to hospital for operations or referrals, I'm not someone who would EVER abuse the service. The only thing I can think is that it may be located in a funny area or because im so used to feeling it now it may not be so easy for them. Certainly when i am sat down I feel it far easier than if I am on my side. Whats more is I have now started getting tingling sensations in it. Not itchy or uncomfortable, just a sort of 'hi im here' pressure feeling.

All I want to know is what on Earth it is so I can just move on and not have to think about it. 

Hello there ,

what a terrible experience . How awful for you. It's bad enough thinking the worst , without some doctor whose supposed to  help and support you doing a dismissive ***** routine . I've got to say the DR that did my sig said , can't see anything but I can feel it ( having a feel before insertion of the tube )  I will recommend an anuscopic ? Look see-y thing. Do these drs really think you want to be lying there with your *** on show to the world and having a total stranger place there hands up your nethers ???

Madness.

I just hope that you resolve this ridiculous situation. You KNOW you've got it , after all it's YOUR body . What a complete buffoon . Sending you tons of empathetic feeling ....... and good luck ....

Honestly it was completely humiliating. Not even the procedure... just how I was made to feel. Like a complete and utter inconvenience. For a second bloody time. It was just so baffling, I was stood there genuinely gobsmacked thinking why one earth would anyone think I would put myself through this. I had a lump on my breast many years ago and my breast looked completely normal but there was a large lump in it. I was treated so wonderfully and had it completely explained to me and luckily it went away never to return. 
I'm hoping that a private appointment will bring more answers but who knows. I drove away from the hospital so furious but then I started to think.. perhaps it isn't even anything to be worried about but then the voice of reason kicked in and said what if it IS something and you'd just been fobbed off. Luckily the voice of reason won on this occasion!!