Is there anything more painful than a fissure?!

[Roonerspism]

Oh help. I had one of these bastards after DC2 and it eventually healed.

I'm now pregnant again and it's back!!!!

It is excruciatingly painful to poo and I'm lying in the bath wincing 1 hour later. I have birthed two large babies with no pain relief so why does having a poo make me sweat and sob?

I'm downing lactulose and syrup of figs.

Any other tips? Although dear gawd, I hope not many other wretched souls have also experienced this!

[TheCowThatLaughs]

Coconut oil is meant to be good, applied topically, not swallowed. I have no personal experience but a friend of mine said it worked for hers very quickly when other treatments had failed.

[TheCowThatLaughs]

, btw. Hope it heals soon

[Roonerspism]

Really? Have it in house and will try tonight! Will report back. Thanks (nice conversations you have with your friend :) )

[girliefriend]

I have had these, so painful

Sudocrem helped a bit as did a low dose topical steroid cream.

[TheCowThatLaughs]

Ha! I know! It was a bit of a talking point for her because obviously was at the forefront of her mind a lot of the time

[Yackity]

See if you can get some Movicol prescribed, it will make the poos runnier.

[allypally999]

You need to put some soothing suppositories up there (not easy if you are not flexible lol) and they protect your insides while you heal - need to replace after bowel movement

Yes there are lots of things more painful and I've had them all ... a fissure barely registers but annoying for sure

[Roonerspism]

Thanks all. Not sure I will get movicol when preg but will try for after.

Coconut oil has definitely helped a bit today (and I smell nice too :) )

Am I a complete woose allypally? I swear when my fissures are severe, the pain is not dissimilar to a baby's head crowning. Has no one else found it horrendously painful?!

[EhricLovesTheBhrothers]

Steroid cream from the gp, lactulose and vitamin e either capsules or oil applied directly. I sympathise.

[Missrabbitshouldjoinaunion]

Not much - I had 3 after DS and it was agony. Shitting glass followed by hours of throbbing :(

I found one of the most important things was keeping really well hydrated, and taking ibuprofen after a poo helped dull the throbbing. I also used the steroid cream from GP alongside this and after 10 weeks they healed.

Wayyyy worse than the ventouse delivery with gas and air!

[SparklyReindeerShit]

Oh god, can't believe I'm admitting to this but I find applying a little pressure to the area helps with the re-opening/pain when passing the stool

[allypally999]

Lol rooner I think I was a bit unfair as I am no stranger to pain (back surgery, bowel surgery, oral surgery blah, blah, blah) ... they are sore but the pain should die down after a few mins and the suppositories really do help honest ... I'd give a fissure about 7 out of 10 so yes pretty sore .. also not like you can say "sorry I am a bit off today but my bum is killing me" - you just have to suffer in silence which doesn't help

oh and softeners help too (lactulose, movicol, etc)

[Roonerspism]

Thanks everyone.

I hesitate to say "miracle" cure but the coconut oil has really helped! Thanks.

Will also ask GP for steroid cream. Downing lactulose by gallon.

allypally I do think they come in degrees of soreness. When mine are at their worst, the pain lasts for hours after each poo. I'm talking throbbing, make you limp pain! A bit like msrabbit said.

When they are not so bad, it does ease off sooner. Not sure how they have got so bad again... Sorry you have had so much pain yourself. It's feels like something you can't talk about

[TheCowThatLaughs]

Brilliant, glad it helped

[allypally999]

glad you found something to help

I have been getting these all my life, maybe I've just gotten used to it - years ago it was much worse but then it was polyps not fissures? Have you had your GP take a look?

isn't it funny how we can talk to strangers about it but keep quiet otherwise .. thank goodness for the internet

[Lauracarr55]

I feel for you I have had this and it took a year or more to go. It was so painful I would be sat on the loo crying dreading to go to toilet. Wen I did go the toilet would be covered in blood. My oh had enough of me screaming the house down every time I had a poo and made me go to the dr cringe. She wanted to have a look more cringe.
She said if it didn't heal I would have to have surgery as it had gone on so long but finally it went.
I remember it throbbing for hours after I could hardly sit down.
I would go to the drs Hun get some cream xx

[Roonerspism]

That's just it - I am very embarrassed and I'm so grateful for MN for things like this!

Laura - I sympathise. I actually sweat with the pain! And the blood is everywhere and drips out my bum all day.

I'm fairly certain it is a fissure based on what I had last time and the fact it comes and goes....

[iwantgin]

Yes, very painful. It is like having a baby out of your backside on a daily basis. I used to wake in the night, feeling like some little goblin wearing pointy shoes was kicking me in the arse. Sooo horrible.


I managed to get rid of mine by being super vigilant with my diet. Loads of water. Loads of fruit. Apricots and apples seemed to be good.

It may be a coincidence, but at the time that it finally stopped splitting and bleeding we were away on holiday. The toilet there was a bit higher up than ours at home. So the very act of sitting and pooing was at a slightly different angle. Hard to describe - but as a taller person I suppose i wasn't stretching when sitting right down??

Hmm.. Anyway - it went away then. I have tried to keep up the daily fruit habit - even if I don't feel like it that day. This is in addition to my over zealous 5+ veg a day. Just can't have that again.

[allypally999]

rooner I owe you a big apology. It was arrogant of me to assume I can handle pain better and make you feel like a wuss. I forget we are all different and your fissures could be way worse than mine. You can't compare pain really.

In my defence I just had surgery on Tuesday night and I feel sore, sick and have a crashing headache, can't sleep and can't eat.

Its no excuse but I am sorry.

[Roonerspism]

gin interesting point. I'm tall too! Shall I start squatting and pooing in the garden :)

allypally no need to apologise! I'm sorry you are in pain. I hope you feel better soon. I'm grateful for any advice. I am generally ok with acute pain so I am wondering if there are degrees of fissures. I think it's like all these things - so different for everyone. Get well soon

[allypally999]

Thanks rooner you are sweet

Honestly you should get some suppositories in ... I have used Anusol for decades but now prefer Boots own (might be tmi but there can be a bit leakage as they melt and coat your insides so protect your clothes) - they not only soothe the pain when you have been they make the next time easier too

Good luck!

[misspollysdollyridesagain]

OP, you need to see your GP and to ask for a prescription for an ointment called 'GTN'. Not the most pleasant treatment but it was the only thing that worked for me....