16 months post birth and have anal fissure and tearing on perineum

[feb14mum]

I know this may be personal but is anyone suffering from anything since their births i gave birth in feb 14 and had a few issues and this sounds terrible but part of me thinks I'd rather be dead then have to suffer with this pain for the rest of my life. since the birth I've had an anal fissure Google it if u don't know I've been using a cream called recto genic and it worked but now it's opened it self up again and the side effects of the cream is chronic headaches and god are they painful. basically a fissure is a tear in the bowel so everytime i have a bowel movement I get bleeding and a sharp pain then after it always feels sore aswell im still using the cream but it doesnt seem to be doing anything now next step for that is botox in the bum.
and the front lady area I found sex incredibly uncomfortable though that is much better now with the help of doctors intervening with vagina dilators yet now im on the biggeat size of it my perineum which is skin bit between vagina and bum constantly has splits on it or grazes.. more so after sex it's like a paper cut i use to get them before but not as bad. my birth ended up with being cut and a 3rd degree tear please tell me I'm not the only one

I really want to have another baby but am so scared about what will happend next time

I shouldn't be having these problems so long after the birth but what with moving house nhs and waiting lists it seems to be going on for ever!!!

[Lonz]

I would suggest looking up Birth Trauma Association on Facebook. Someone on here pointed me towards it and it helped me to hear other women's experiences and start the process of coming to terms with my son's birth.

I had a 2nd degree and epi. It is painful and it took me over a year, nearly 2, to feel comfortable with it all. Was excruciating. I had doc appt after doc appt for months after just to find out what happened as I wasn't told. I wanted more kids but after a doctor explained it all to me, and why, I refused ever since.

I can understand the pain and frustrating you must be feeling, it can be emotionally exhausting too. As soon as you can get a doctor's appointment and ask for a referral. From what I've read, these things can be treated. Hugs, sweet.

[byhec]

I had a 3rd degree tear and was offered a c section for the next one

[WiIdfire]

If the anal fissure hasnt healed with Rectogesic by now, you should ask your GP for a referral to a colorectal surgeon. They deal with fissures everyday. There are loads of options including a different sort of cream, Botox (good because it is temporary), debridement, sphincterotomies or flaps. You don't need to suffer in silence! In the meantime, make sure your poo is soft to avoid pulling on the tear.

[QuiteLikely5]

You poor woman. I know exactly what you are going through. Have you taken stool softners? You really need some ASAP so that the next time you go your stool does not keep ripping open your fissure.

Also I'm surprised your GP hasn't referred you to a consultant for a complete repair given the amount of time that has passed.

You have got a right not to suffer like this. Go back to GP and honestly the stool softners were the only thing that helped me.

I also wonder if you might have an infection down there as well.

[QuiteLikely5]

In the short term re the softners! I hadn't finished my sentence properly! Drink lots and lots of water too.

[EhricLovesTheBhrothers]

Good god that sounds horrific. I had 3rd degree tear and still get fissures but nothing like you describe since about a year post partum. Have you tried a strong vitamin e supplement?

[feb14mum]

hi thanks for your comments I'm currently waiting for my health visitor to turn up to talk about it all and she's hopefully going to get me in touch with the birth trauma people.

I took some pictures of the tear in my perineum aswell last night to show her so she can see it her self.

I have been back to my gp but they just say it's in the hands of the hospital now and I've got to carry on rectogesic treatment and just see what happens next which is easy for them to say if they don't have to go through it them selves

[feb14mum]

well I had my health visitor round and it went well need to be referred to tramau association but because I gave birth in a different county I've got to request my birth notes! what a door dah hopefully will get them though and me and husband also going for a discussion next week with senior midwife to awnser some of my queries from what she can off some notes I've got .mainly about trying for another baby what would happen with having a planned c sec ect

[girlmumoftwo]

Heya! I know this might be a long shot given how much time has passed, but I think I’m suffering this too. Currently 8 months pp :( has yours healed up by now?

[mumof2bambinos]

Hi girlmumoftwo has your fissure healed up now. Im in the same boat of daily agony!

[girlmumoftwo]

Heya! I’m 20 months pp and still suffering from them actually but not as much. I’ve been on stool softeners for about 5 months and take Metamucil too which seems to help but have been using a cream as well called Nifedipine with lignocaine. That cream has helped dramatically though.
I’m actually at a follow up appointment with my colorectal surgeon now to see how it’s going. I definitely try getting your hands on that cream! Rectogesic gave my terrible headaches. My muscle might also be too tight from 3rd degree tear as well and I don’t think I healed up properly because my stitches actually came apart when I came home after giving birth so had to wait till it all healed itself from the inside up to the skin. My advice is plenty of water, stool softeners, Metamucil so you don’t have to worry about fibre intake and massage to the area to relax the muscles.

[mumof2bambinos]

Oh no! You poor thing. Noone ever tells you these things postpartum! Its so agonising. Are you in the U.S. im in the uk. I have just been referred to general surgery for them to see why i am not healing. Iv read various forums and everyone seems to have healed after a few months so im getting really worried. Iv been on laxido for 7 months and even though stool is soft it still retears. Feeling so lost in all this. X

[girlmumoftwo]

No one does! It was all so traumatic for me anyway which is another thing on it’s own. My surgeon did recommend a colonoscopy after my next follow up. So hopefully that will bring some definite answers. I’m in Australia. I hope it all goes well for you. Know that you’re not alone!

[mumof2bambinos]

Aww no you poor thing! Have you tried using lanolin on your fissures. Someone suggested that to me so im giving it a try to see if it works.

[girlmumoftwo]

I have tried everything! Right now being on Metamucil and stool softeners along with that cream has helped heaps! I even had like 3 week periods with no pain when going to the toilet and no bleeding etc.

[mumof2bambinos]

Fingers crossed it keeps healing for you. Especially if you have had no bleeding. Thats a good sign.i just cant seem to heal for good.

[girlmumoftwo]

Thank you and likewise! Always happy to help so you can message me on here. Definitely get a start on stool softeners and Metamucil and see if you can get that cream. A pelvic floor Physio could help too maybe it’s a muscle thing. I know my muscles are super tight down there which doesn’t help either. Take care of yourself!

[mumof2bambinos]

Hey just checking in with you. How are you doing @girlmumoftwo . I thought i was healing but then started bleeding during a BM. Its so frustrating. Going to try beeswax now. Ive been referred to hospital but been told its a long waiting list so not sure when il get the cream you suggested

[girlmumoftwo]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear :( I'm the same to be honest still using the stool softener, cream and metamucil and have been good. Still on the waiting list for a colonoscopy but otherwise okay. Scared to get off them but really want too. There is another medication cause rectogisic which can help but causes headaches if you wanted to give that a go? Or definitely get back on those softeners I hear it takes a good 6 months to heal.

[mumof2bambinos]

@girlmumoftwo i started stool softeners again. TMI sorry but are your stools thin or normal sized. The stool softeners keep making mine thin. I dont know if thats a good or bad thing. Fingers crossed you get the colonoscopy soon and it gives you peace of mind. Yes doctor has given me the headaches cream though i dont feel it is doing much. Ive been on stool softeners for 8 months. I feel like i no longer know how to go without them. So depressing all of this

[girlmumoftwo]

I wouldn't say mine are thin but just the usual size they normally have been throughout my life? They do get messier though especially on days were I eat a lot of fibre as well. Have you had a GP have a look to confirm its a fissure? I totally understand you. I've been on them for about 5 months now. I'm actually moving overseas so I need to think of a doctor to see for the colonoscopy over there if waiting list doesn't happen. Just know that you are not alone!

[mumof2bambinos]

Oh okay. Maybe its cos am not eating much fibre thats why its thin. Yes i went to a gp many months ago and they said they saw a cut inside so its a fissure. But since then they wont re examine me and currently waiting for hospital referral. Thank you for replying. Gives me some hope and definately feel less lonely. Everyone who i kno thats had babies has never suffered from fissures

[girlmumoftwo]

Never alone! Same here. Everyone keeps telling me how different of a post-partum recovery I am having compared to theirs. I also use a stool to go Bathroom as well, maybe give that a go to position everything nicely. Take care of your self.

[trezzy]

Hi wow its great to see this post is still helping people. Im the original poster I had an email to say that it had new comments on.

So sorry to hear you guys are going through what I went through. Keep at those doctors and using your laxatives and creams you've got and keep everything soft, im pleased to say i was healed in 2015 probably a few months after I posted this.
I remember now I got my name on the wait list expedited(moved up) by the pals service(who i and the health visitor contacted and explained the situation)we have in uk hospitals because i was really struggling wirh it and my mental health and I received an appointment within about 4 weeks of doing that we went and saw a specialist and I was put on a different stronger cream and that healed it within a few months I didn't need botox in the end. I did have a few appointments with the specialist for a few months after to keep checking.
And i was also referred to a dermatology department to see someone because of the skin splits they said I have a skin condition down there so I now have to use creams every day for that. I still got sore at times but its just something I have to live with and its managed. I also had internal physio to stretch the skin a bit again painful but needed!

I also managed to have a 2nd baby in 2016 however he was born by emergency c section as ww had some medical issues but im really relieved he was now!
I can still remember the pain I had when I wrote this and it was absolutely awful so I really feel for you guys but there is light at the end of a very dark tunnel keep positive ladies! I still have my creams in the bathroom cupboards there's about 5 different types i had to try !

[mumof2bambinos]

@trezzy thank you so much for updating us and creating this post. It really is helpful more so than what the doctors tell you nowadays anyway. I hope i can get this cream once i get seen at the hospital whenever that may be as im told theres a long waiting list due to covid. Ive had if for 8 months and stools have been soft so dont know why it just wont heal. I am so glad to hear your still healed and had another baby ! Im put off having more children