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What Causes Swelling Around The Anus And A Lump On The Anus?
Question: Hi Doctor,
This question is for my husband. He currently has some swelling in the area around anus, but we are confused if it is fistula or hemorrhoid.
For about 7 years, my husband feels a lump of the size of a almond on the left side of anus. This is under the skin. The skin looks normal.
Some times the lump will act up. Last year, he has a swelling around the lump and went to the family doctor. The doctor said it is a fistula and referred him to the specialty doctor, who suggests surgery. However, my husband is too afraid to do it. he went back home and a lot of sitz bath, the swelling went away, and even the lump.
However, recently it acted up again, my husband is having another swelling around the area, this time he went to the family doctor (different one) and the doctor said it is a hemorrhoid, and sends him home, and recommend sitz bath.
There are no opening on the skin, no drainage. The skin looks normal, not red, not warm. My husband has no fever, no pain. He said sometimes it hurts a little big when he is standing.
What could it be? fistula or hemorrhoid
Thanks.
On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 11:58 AM, Jijie Wang < YYYY@YYYY > wrote:
Hi Doctor,
This question is for my husband. He currently has some swelling in the area around anus, but we are confused if it is fistula or hemorrhoid.
For about 7 years, my husband feels a lump of the size of a almond on the left side of anus. This is under the skin. The skin looks normal.
Some times the lump will act up. Last year, he has a swelling around the lump and went to the family doctor. The doctor said it is a fistula and referred him to the specialty doctor, who suggests surgery. However, my husband is too afraid to do it. he went back home and a lot of sitz bath, the swelling went away, and even the lump.
However, recently it acted up again, my husband is having another swelling around the area, this time he went to the family doctor (different one) and the doctor said it is a hemorrhoid, and sends him home, and recommend sitz bath.
There are no opening on the skin. The skin looks normal, not red, not warm. My husband has no fever, no pain. He said sometimes it hurts a little big when he is standing.
Thanks.
This question is for my husband. He currently has some swelling in the area around anus, but we are confused if it is fistula or hemorrhoid.
For about 7 years, my husband feels a lump of the size of a almond on the left side of anus. This is under the skin. The skin looks normal.
Some times the lump will act up. Last year, he has a swelling around the lump and went to the family doctor. The doctor said it is a fistula and referred him to the specialty doctor, who suggests surgery. However, my husband is too afraid to do it. he went back home and a lot of sitz bath, the swelling went away, and even the lump.
However, recently it acted up again, my husband is having another swelling around the area, this time he went to the family doctor (different one) and the doctor said it is a hemorrhoid, and sends him home, and recommend sitz bath.
There are no opening on the skin, no drainage. The skin looks normal, not red, not warm. My husband has no fever, no pain. He said sometimes it hurts a little big when he is standing.
What could it be? fistula or hemorrhoid
Thanks.
On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 11:58 AM, Jijie Wang < YYYY@YYYY > wrote:
Hi Doctor,
This question is for my husband. He currently has some swelling in the area around anus, but we are confused if it is fistula or hemorrhoid.
For about 7 years, my husband feels a lump of the size of a almond on the left side of anus. This is under the skin. The skin looks normal.
Some times the lump will act up. Last year, he has a swelling around the lump and went to the family doctor. The doctor said it is a fistula and referred him to the specialty doctor, who suggests surgery. However, my husband is too afraid to do it. he went back home and a lot of sitz bath, the swelling went away, and even the lump.
However, recently it acted up again, my husband is having another swelling around the area, this time he went to the family doctor (different one) and the doctor said it is a hemorrhoid, and sends him home, and recommend sitz bath.
There are no opening on the skin. The skin looks normal, not red, not warm. My husband has no fever, no pain. He said sometimes it hurts a little big when he is standing.
Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
I am sorry to hear that your husband is bothered with something around his anus. From your description and its behavior I would tell you that he has a hemorrhoid. A fistula is a tract or opening that develops fro Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel condition. They rarely just appear. There must be an underlying condition which would allow for the fistula to form and the most common cause is Crohn's disease.
Your description of lump without an opening is very classic hemorrhoid and since it did improve with sitz baths that pretty much convinces me that it is just a hemorrhoid. I recommend that he continue the sitz baths until they heal. To prevent them from occuring again he needs to prevent constipation or any straining while having a BM.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
Hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
I am sorry to hear that your husband is bothered with something around his anus. From your description and its behavior I would tell you that he has a hemorrhoid. A fistula is a tract or opening that develops fro Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel condition. They rarely just appear. There must be an underlying condition which would allow for the fistula to form and the most common cause is Crohn's disease.
Your description of lump without an opening is very classic hemorrhoid and since it did improve with sitz baths that pretty much convinces me that it is just a hemorrhoid. I recommend that he continue the sitz baths until they heal. To prevent them from occuring again he needs to prevent constipation or any straining while having a BM.
I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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