To ask for help! (TMI-poo!)

[DannyWallace]

Firstly, I just want to put out there that I'm not a troll. But I'm completely desperate as I'm getting nowhere here. So please, please don't take this post as a joke as I'm really struggling here.

Background-I had a baby 3 months ago. I'm EBF. Also, I have suffered with constipation/IBS over the years. I'm strict with my diet to help this.

I didn't have any issues opening my bowels after having DD. These problems started about 2 months ago.
I can't remember what came first-the constipation or the pain/bleeding.

3 different doctors told me (without any examination) that it must be piles. The blood down the toilet when I poo'd looked like the middle of my period (the bleeding wasn't persistent though-only when I opened my bowels). I was encouraged to drink plenty water, carry on with laxatives (I have lactulose and laxido) and make sure I was eating a good diet-I've done all of these.

Finally around 10 days ago a GP did an examination and it looks like the pain/bleeding is due to a cut-no piles. And the cut is likely caused by constipation. So I've increased the laxatives (30mls of lactulose twice a day and 2 sachets of laxido) but I'm still only going 3 times a week (instead of my usual daily) and it's so so painful as I really have to strain. I'm in tears after and I can't sit comfortably for about an hour after I go. The bleeding isn't as bad as it was a few weeks ago, but it is all still so so painful.

After that hour or so, I have no pain again until I have to open my bowels again.

Does anyone have any suggestions what I can do to make this easier? I'm going to go back to the GP next week. Should I take more laxatives? Or less (I know some bulk!)

Help! And please be nice.

Not advice as I had one years ago (maybe 10/12) and I can’t remember what I used to help with symptoms but in the end I had day surgery to fix the fissure. It was so painful and went on for so long (couple of years) in the end I had a sort of lump where obviously things had tried to heal but then I’d get a flare up again etc etc.
Since the surgery I’ve never had an issue again. This might not be anywhere near an option for you yet but just so you know, it can be sorted surgically (only took half an hour and I was out of hospital within 2/3 hours). You have my sympathy- it’s agony

I remember thinking at my 6 week check that I would need surgery. The GP said wait for 6 months. By then it was absolutely fine pain wise. I think the constipation I suffered then causes the problems I have today still. Do your best to get it sorted. My DS takes movicol. Stagger the dose up and down gently - we were told 10% a week starting at 2 sachets a day.

Oh had this. He just has surgery with botox to freeze the muscles around the fissure to allow it time to heal. He was in agony so I totally empathize. Might be worth talking to your GP?

Firstly don't believe anything a pharmacist or doctor tells you about what you can't take when breastfeeding. They often just assume you can't incorrectly. The breastfeeding network have a helpine run by a specialist pharmacist who will tell you the facts.

Secondly go back to your gp and beg to be taken seriously. I was given a cream called diltaziem. If you use it, apply it with plastic gloves as it can give you a headache from being absorbed with your fingers. The cream healed it.

The next time I got a fissure, that cream gave me a bad reaction, so they gave me something with a steroid and pain relief.

I've had a couple since which heated up more quickly without going to the gp.

This all started after I has dd. I guess this was because things changed down below.

I was also referred to a bowel nurse who helped with techniques to relieve chronic constipation. I use one moviciol daily now which keeps things in check.

I have suffered from constipation on and off all my life. What usually works for me is a glass of skimmed milk. This was recommended to me years ago & it does work. Has to be skimmed.

i've had anal fissure twice. the first one was 4 years ago. diltiazem cream is what saved me both times. however, i don't think the place of the cut heals completely, i sometimes feel a strange sting when passing harder feces, it's hard to explain, but something is off. this forces me to be on constant alert and I am always watching my diet.

I just wanted to update incase anyone ends up reading this who has had something similar.

Today-3 months after it all began-is the first day I've had no pain/bleeding!! I'm so bloody happy!!

Lots of laxatives/prunes and being in the "correct" position when going has helped so much!!
Thank you all who gave advice. It's taken a while but I'm so glad it seems to be over.