***Delightful subject*** Fissures - Medical advice please !

[wickedstepmother]

Ever since I gave birth to my DD, 12 months ago (08.08.02) I have had pain on passing stools Having got up close and personal with a hand mirror (!), I have discovered that it is a small split probably about 8mm long. Is it a fissure ?

I am far too embarrased to see a doc about it (yes I know it's really common blah, blah) but what I really want to know is will it clear up on it's own ? Things are getting easier in the bathroom dept now but I just wonder if it's ever going to go away 'naturally' ?

[wickedstepmother]

Perhaps I should have changed my alias for this one ?!

[FarmerGiles]

There's a whole thread devoted to these here!

[wickedstepmother]

Yeah, I know, I posted on it ! But it didn't provide me with the info I need !

[gingernut]

WSM, a quick message. Do go and see your doctor. I thought it would be awful but it wasn't as bad as I expected. What is your diet like? Try and eat lots of fruit (I find juicy stuff like melons and nectarines the best) and veg (I find salad no good - has to be cooked veg, so if I have a salad instead I eat extra fruit to make up) and lots of (non-alcoholic!) fluids. Use bidet if you have one.

Will post more later when ds is in bed.

[gingernut]

WSM, a quick message. Do go and see your doctor. I thought it would be awful but it wasn't as bad as I expected. What is your diet like? Try and eat lots of fruit (I find juicy stuff like melons and nectarines the best) and veg (I find salad no good - has to be cooked veg, so if I have a salad instead I eat extra fruit to make up) and lots of (non-alcoholic!) fluids. Use bidet if you have one.

Will post more later when ds is in bed.

[gingernut]

ooops!

[wickedstepmother]

Must I ginge ?!

[boyandgirl]

They do often go away on their own eventually, but if it's gone on for so long you really should get it checked out. Poor you .

[wickedstepmother]

It's just so undignified !

[gingernut]

Hi again! Yes, it isn't nice at all and I do sympathise. I put off going to the docs for months! Have you read my original thread here ? You might find some of the posts there useful. I suspect that after this length of time it isn't going to go away on its own, you will have to treat it somehow (either by diet or some sort of cream initially). Mine still hasn't healed completely but it really doesn't trouble me much. You could have a look on the net for factsheets - some of them are quiet useful. Unfortunately, it seems there aren't many treatment options out there . Good luck.

[wickedstepmother]

To be honest it's fine most of the time. It doesn't give me trouble every (no2) toilet visit (apologies, I'm trying to be as delicate as i can here !). It tends to just 'remind' me every now and again (twice/three times a fortnight). I'm certainly past the excruciating pain stage.

[fisil]

I know what you mean, but do go to a doctor. Do you have one you trust/like? Or HV? I had fistulas, don't know if that's the same, but it sounds similar. I wasn't in pain except when they got infected, which happened fairly regularly (think about where they are!) but the worst bit was that I lost control over when wind decided to make an appearance! Not great when you teach teenagers (especially A-level students who were annoyingly quiet in class!)

BTW glad you didn't change your alias for this one - if I hadn't recognised the name and thought "oh yeah, I like her" then I wouldn't have given such an honest response!

[gingernut]

A fissure isn't the same as a fistula. WSM, it sounds like you are at about the same stage as me - most of the time it doesn't worry me but occasionally - ouch! I think it would be best if you saw your doctor, but if you really can't face it you can at least take some comfort from the fact that, medically speaking, it's not a serious condition (apparently!). Fisil - that sounds awful. And poor you for having such well-behaved students - how dare they??