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Original poster

Severe pain with anal fissure- only option to go private??

136 replies

MrsBloxby · 09/03/2022 19:15

Hi, posting here for traffic.
I had an anal fissure diagnosed in September. Ive tried the GTN creams, laxatives twice daily, prune juice and Diltiazem.
The latter didnt work at all and now the GTN which used to take the pain from my bum (but give me a splitting headache) is not working either.
Last month I had a flexible seismodocopy which ruled out anything sinister. It was so painful, the nurse couldnt get the enema in. I had to guide it in myself. The procedure was awful too.

Now everytime I have a bowel movement it feels like I have a piece of glass wedged in my bottom. The only thing that stops the pain is 5ml of morphine. Im at my wits end.

The GP said she couldnt think of anything else I could try and suggested I go private. At £300 for an appointment, is this the only option I have.

I feel so anxious at the thought of having a bowel movement at work. Its affecting my everyday life.
Any advice gratefully accepted and sorry for the long post.

OP posts:
Zerrin13 · 09/03/2022 23:22

Sympathy from me too. I had one years ago that lasted for months. Agonising!

Kittykat93 · 10/03/2022 18:22

[quote MrsBloxby]@Kittykat93
No you are right. It was in my medicine cupboard from a previous ailment. I'm so glad I have it but dont want to get addicted.....I only take it during awful flareups...[/quote]

Honestly op I understand why but please don't use the morphine...you're going to be even more constipated if you take opiates, and that's the worst thing you could do for fissures.

Original poster
MrsBloxby · 10/03/2022 20:02

@aliloandabanana
Thank you for your kind message. The GP said to keep badgering the hospital.

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lingo · 10/03/2022 20:16

You have my sympathy too, I had one after being badly instructed to push in labour with my first, it really can only be described as pooping glass! Thankfully mine seems to have healed with time but it does reappear every now and then.

problembottom · 10/03/2022 20:50

I had Botox for mine after years of complaining to the GP who finally referred me. Cured straight away. Made me quite angry in a way that I hadn’t been taken seriously.

PantsandBoots · 10/03/2022 21:09

Lubricate the rectal passage and anus with Vaseline before passing a stool. That will protect the injured area and reduce the pain.

Have you tried the 4 way Anusol HC suppositories? They are very good for healing. Available over the counter in Boots and Superdrug.

weasle · 10/03/2022 22:39

I treat patients with fissures.

An MRI is a waste of time. As PP says they are sometimes used to assess fistulas which are different.

You need an urgent examination under anaesthetic and Botox injection. Ideally within a few days given you cannot work or do normal daily activities.
When you have phoned the hospital have you been able to speak to the consultant's secretary? Can you ask if the department has an emergency clinic or surgical assessment unit as you can't carry on like this. Or your GP should know. Worse case ED triage could book you in.

The £300 private fee is for a clinic. In this situation it won't move you forward as you know the diagnosis and treatment plan. Having the surgery privately would be quite a bit more I'd guess £1000 but I don't do private so I may be wrong. But this is an urgent problem and you should be able to get NHS treatment urgently.

Original poster
MrsBloxby · 11/03/2022 07:34

@lingo
@Zerrin13
@JoanDarc
@Feduppluckingmychinhairs
@Scbchl

Thank you so much for your kind messages. Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsBloxby · 11/03/2022 07:36

@Cherryana
Thank you, yes taking a similar one twice daily.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsBloxby · 11/03/2022 07:50

@50DaysAF
Have taken the hospital number to work and will try again to see if I can be seen quicker. Thank you for your message. X

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsBloxby · 11/03/2022 07:55

@JamieNorthlife
@weasle

Thank you both for your messages.
My GP friend was listening to the conversation between myself and has explained where she thinks the GP was coming from: the GP suggested the MRI just in case there was something completely separate from the fissure causing the pain.

When I went for the flexible sigmoidoscopy, I thought I would be ok without anaesthetic but I was in a lot of pain. I will definitely call the hospital again.

I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone, its made me realise that my pain is severe and cant wait for a telephone call from the consultant in a month's time.

OP posts:
StringFellow · 11/03/2022 08:57

This is way beyond the GP suggesting things, it’s the consultant you need to be really strongly pushing - as others have said, when you ring be very firm about the impact it is having on your life in black and white. Your GP can also contact them and request that you be seen ASAP, I would do this . So sorry OP

Original poster
MrsBloxby · 11/03/2022 19:46

I'm writhing in pain now, did a bowel movement at 4pm and still feeling the sharp stabs, I did apply the gtn. I am trying to ride it out and not go for the morphine but its so painful. The pain doesnt fade after a bowel movement, it actually intensifies and can last 8 hours or so. It would have lasted longer but I was able to get home and have the morphine and gtn.

I work in a special needs school and need to be on the ball. I really love my job and the kids but this fissure is making me so miserable.

I tried calling the hospital today and couldnt get through at all. I called several times. Its so frustrating.

@StringFellow- thank you so much. I didnt think of asking the GP to chase up the hospital. Xx

OP posts:
StringFellow · 12/03/2022 01:13

@MrsBloxby

I'm writhing in pain now, did a bowel movement at 4pm and still feeling the sharp stabs, I did apply the gtn. I am trying to ride it out and not go for the morphine but its so painful. The pain doesnt fade after a bowel movement, it actually intensifies and can last 8 hours or so. It would have lasted longer but I was able to get home and have the morphine and gtn.

I work in a special needs school and need to be on the ball. I really love my job and the kids but this fissure is making me so miserable.

I tried calling the hospital today and couldnt get through at all. I called several times. Its so frustrating.

@StringFellow- thank you so much. I didnt think of asking the GP to chase up the hospital. Xx

This sounds so tough Sad Keep chasing..
Original poster
MrsBloxby · 12/03/2022 22:54

Update
I went to A and E tonight, referred to by 111.
I was in so much pain, couldnt sit on the seat and pacing up and down, sobbing behind my mask.

The doctor tried to examine me and just the parting of my bum cheeks was excruciating. I told her I take morphine for the pain and she said "well just keep a bottle in your handbag...!" Confused

I told her, I cant take the morphine at work; I work in a school and the morphine makes me all spaced out and whoozy.

She said the wait for surgery (Botox, first option or sphinteroctomy if the botox doesnt work) can take anything from 6 months (if Im lucky) or 2 years...even if I go private it will take a long time. She said to keep ringing the consultant.

She gave me a single dose of morphine, a prescription for morphine and sent me on my way.

We have a family holiday to Turkey and Egypt and Im seriously considering getting my procedure done there.

OP posts:
TraceyLacey · 12/03/2022 23:20

I hope this doesn't sound daft when you've just been prescribed morphine, but have you tried Sudocrem? Zinc is good for healing. It helped after my 3C/4th degree tear.

Original poster
MrsBloxby · 13/03/2022 08:32

@TraceyLacey

Not daft at all, sudocrem is a wonder cream. Will give it a go right now. Thanks xx

OP posts:
StringFellow · 14/03/2022 12:36

How are you now @MrsBloxby ?

Original poster
MrsBloxby · 14/03/2022 18:35

@StringFellow
Thank you for asking ❤. Im fine and I will be until the next bowel movement....
Good news: managed to get through to the nurse on the colorectal dept and have an appointment next week.
However my county no longer offers botox so might have to go straight to the sphinteroctomy...

OP posts:
CherryRipe1 · 14/03/2022 18:49

DD suffered for years & was in alot of pain. She had various treatments including gtn, diltiazam cream, a few rounds of Botox & finally an advance flap treatment which did the trick more or less. She was treated by the nhs but it took ages & op was done at a Spire but NHS funded. Good luck 🤞 it's miserable & painful. X

Original poster
MrsBloxby · 15/03/2022 17:12

@CherryRipe1 thank you for your message. Its so sad to hear that many people have suffered for such a long time. I'm glad your DD is feeling better. I havent heard of the advance flap treatment. Off to Google it
Thank you

OP posts:
Imherenowandthen · 15/03/2022 17:31

I've suffered for years on and off with this. The things that help me are Dulcoease daily, Prep H wipes (they have tea tree on them I think), I rarely go "naturally" now but use my finger wrapped in a Prep H wipe to help it out, it's not as painful that way. I have a steroid hemorrhoid cream from my gp called Uniroid which numbs the pain and helps it heal. When it gets bad again, which isn't so often these days unless I stop doing these things, I have warm sitzbaths with epsom salts. HTH

CherryRipe1 · 15/03/2022 19:04

[quote MrsBloxby]@CherryRipe1 thank you for your message. Its so sad to hear that many people have suffered for such a long time. I'm glad your DD is feeling better. I havent heard of the advance flap treatment. Off to Google it
Thank you[/quote]
Thanks. Her AF was complex, she had two and it was like a skin graft, surgeon cut the AFs out and cut a flap of skin out and grafted it to the wounds. She still has to be careful with diet etc. The other options are sphincterectomy or otomy, something like that? There's an AF forum on health unlocked that is informative. Good luck xx

Geee123 · 07/04/2022 20:59

Anyone got experience of using GTN cream? I've been using it two weeks and the pain when pooing has nearly gone, still a bit sore to touch. But the blood is still there on the toilet paper? The consultant I saw said the pain stops before the bleeding. How long did others take to heal?

Nightwithhertrainofstars · 07/04/2022 21:28

How are you OP?
I'm not sure what stage you're at now but I had the Op after suffering for 2 years. I was terrified to do it but I couldn't go on as I was. I'm not in the UK and there was no mention of trying Botox so not sure if that would have worked. I suppose it's worth a try if you can get booked in for that. Those waiting times sound just crazy, when you're in absolute agony. It's unacceptable really. If the Op seems more accessible in some way I'd strongly consider going for it. I hope you have been seen by or at least had a conversation with the consultant by now?? I'm so sorry for the pain you're suffering, it's just horrendous, I know.