Last November, I had surgery to remove several unsightly anal skin tags (I'd had them since pregnancy at 18 which means I've had them for decades). It didn't bother me much physically, only that I really disliked the way it looked. Since my insurance covered it, I figured, What the heck.
During recovery, I noticed a strange odor every time I sat down to use the toilet. The surgeon assured this was normal and the smell was coming from the open wounds (she didn't use stitches, asserting it would get infected if she did). It took a really long time to heal, and the smell didn't go away for months (the odor was comparable to the smell of a dirty band aid).
Fast forward to June and I'd been having trouble passing gas. I'm a gassy person in general but it got to the point where my stomach would bloat and I couldn't pass stool. I cleaned up my diet, ate Greek yogurt, and assumed I was in the clear and that it was nothing more than a partial blockage.
Fast forward to last Wednesday when I sat on the toilet and the worst odor I have ever smelled filled the bathroom. I do not exaggerate when I say the worst odor I have ever smelled in my life. I thought something was coming from the pipes, turns it out it was my pipes. It smelled like rotten eggs. I didn't eat anything unusual (in this case ground turkey meat)and within two days it cleared up.
Now, today, that horrible odor is back. It is coming from me. I know this because I inserted a Q-tip inside of me and yes, it's me. Once again, I ate the same exact thing I have been eating for years (in this case, chicken thighs) and I have never had this type of smell.
I did some research online, research I should have done before I decided to have this surgery which I now ultimately regret, and found a discussion about regarding the removal of skin tags in J-Pouchers and all the problems it can pose. I am wondering if I messed up my previous surgeon's work.
I am scared ****less, so to speak, as I am single and I am wondering if I am going to be a smelly nelly the rest of my life. I have different insurance now, and am meeting my new doctor next week to try to get a referral to a gastro. I have no idea what is covered but my insurance is Medi Cal.
My question is - has anyone ever dealt with this type of smell coming from them? Has anyone had skin tag removal and been presented with issues? My tags seemed to have formed a barrier against stool leaking out (at least large amounts). It's like I have removed that barrier and it's not holding back the odor. The area looks like a train wreck. The tags are not really gone, and I have new folds of skin in the area. I can actually stretch the area open and see even more folds of skin. I fear that I have weakened the structure of the pouch.
Also---and I don't know how this factors in---after nearly 15 years with the pouch, I am able to eat a lot of vegetables again. I'm having difficulty tolerating meat, and I have practically lost my appetite for meat. Especially after this odor issue. I don't know if something has changed in my pouch and my body knows it, or if it is just a coincidence.
Sorry for the long winded post. Thanks for any help or insight you can provide.
During recovery, I noticed a strange odor every time I sat down to use the toilet. The surgeon assured this was normal and the smell was coming from the open wounds (she didn't use stitches, asserting it would get infected if she did). It took a really long time to heal, and the smell didn't go away for months (the odor was comparable to the smell of a dirty band aid).
Fast forward to June and I'd been having trouble passing gas. I'm a gassy person in general but it got to the point where my stomach would bloat and I couldn't pass stool. I cleaned up my diet, ate Greek yogurt, and assumed I was in the clear and that it was nothing more than a partial blockage.
Fast forward to last Wednesday when I sat on the toilet and the worst odor I have ever smelled filled the bathroom. I do not exaggerate when I say the worst odor I have ever smelled in my life. I thought something was coming from the pipes, turns it out it was my pipes. It smelled like rotten eggs. I didn't eat anything unusual (in this case ground turkey meat)and within two days it cleared up.
Now, today, that horrible odor is back. It is coming from me. I know this because I inserted a Q-tip inside of me and yes, it's me. Once again, I ate the same exact thing I have been eating for years (in this case, chicken thighs) and I have never had this type of smell.
I did some research online, research I should have done before I decided to have this surgery which I now ultimately regret, and found a discussion about regarding the removal of skin tags in J-Pouchers and all the problems it can pose. I am wondering if I messed up my previous surgeon's work.
I am scared ****less, so to speak, as I am single and I am wondering if I am going to be a smelly nelly the rest of my life. I have different insurance now, and am meeting my new doctor next week to try to get a referral to a gastro. I have no idea what is covered but my insurance is Medi Cal.
My question is - has anyone ever dealt with this type of smell coming from them? Has anyone had skin tag removal and been presented with issues? My tags seemed to have formed a barrier against stool leaking out (at least large amounts). It's like I have removed that barrier and it's not holding back the odor. The area looks like a train wreck. The tags are not really gone, and I have new folds of skin in the area. I can actually stretch the area open and see even more folds of skin. I fear that I have weakened the structure of the pouch.
Also---and I don't know how this factors in---after nearly 15 years with the pouch, I am able to eat a lot of vegetables again. I'm having difficulty tolerating meat, and I have practically lost my appetite for meat. Especially after this odor issue. I don't know if something has changed in my pouch and my body knows it, or if it is just a coincidence.
Sorry for the long winded post. Thanks for any help or insight you can provide.
