Anal fissure support

[SadFace2]

I know this isn't an unreasonable debate but I'm posting for traffic because I really need some help here.

Had surgery for piles which is all sorted now but suffered a tear during my surgery. I've been struggling ever since. 5 weeks now. Doesn't sound long but I am starting to go under.

They gave me botox during the surgery and since I'm not doing well I'm assuming more Botox in the future wouldn't be especially helpful. I was using diltiazem cream but that's now started to react badly and really set me back.

I'm being careful with food, barely eating to be honest. I'm on movicol so I'm not constipated and I don't have diarrhea. I'm using a footstool to go to the toilet and I'm having baths to encourage blood flow and healing.

I don't know that there's anything more I can do but I'm starting to lose my mind so had to post.

Even if you don't have a miracle cure I think I'd just appreciate some support at this point. I don't think I've ever been so low.
Thank you.

I’m so glad you’re almost there! You will honestly feel loads better after.

the internet is a funny old place isn’t it! X

Thank you @Rhubarb7, that’s helpful to know. The clinic my GP recommended only appears to offer LIS which I hadn’t realised is a permanent procedure! It’s got me worrying a bit.

@Waxlyrically, I hope you’re feeling ok today after your churning stomach yesterday. I similarly retore after a bout of diarrhoea that started in the middle of the night a month ago so I can appreciate the anxiety. All BMs invoke fear these days!

Hi @LibbyL92. I’m sorry to hear you’re similarly suffering at the moment and for such a long time. It’s encouraging to hear that Botox worked for you first time around.

@Chlobob27, I really feel for you - I can’t imagine dealing with this for such a long time as you have and with young children to look after too! Thankfully mine are tween and teenage so they understand when I’m in too much pain to do anything or moaning in pain on the school run. I joke with them about them putting my cream on for me when I’m old 😂

I’m so glad of this thread, it feels so much less lonely to know I can come and vent with people who understand. I had a little cry again today - I think it’s the not knowing when it will end and the fear that this is it now forever. The constant worry that I’m not doing the right things or will somehow make it worse. I honestly feel traumatised by the whole experience, the pain, the fear and the helplessness.

I want to throw everything into getting super healthy in a bid to heal properly but I’m hopelessly addicted to sugar and nicotine, can’t exercise due to the fissure and have terrible anxiety about everything so a bit of a mess really! I have lost a stone over the last couple of months though so it’s a start.

@Migrainium, losing a stone is a massive achievement, although this is a horrible reason for it. I'm losing weight as well, although not that much! Stay strong, we will all beat this godawful affliction. Regarding diet, I did it (am still doing it) by making just one change each day or every other day, little incremental changes. I'm now practically veggie, can't give up cheese entirely but have cut down a lot on the amount. Don't eat anything spicy now either and I love pears amd canned fruit, so they have taken place of sugary treats. I didn't manage that overnight by any means. Just a little change can make a big difference over time. I know exactly what you mean when you feel hopeless and that this is how it will be forever, I sometimes feel that way as well and it's a really horrible feeling and I'm so sorry it happens to you too. But it won't last forever, nothing does. I've found meditation helps my mindset on that. There are some great free meditations out there for anxiety, pain and mindfulness and they're usually only a few mins long. I wasn't too sure about meditation at first, but thought what have I got to lose and to my surprise I did actually feel relaxed after. I think the message I have gleaned so far for pain, although you may not be able to change the pain, you can change your relationship and reaction to it. Not all the time, but the more you think that way, apparently the easier it gets to bear. I'm only a few days into this, I've been struggling massively with joint and muscle pain I think from the anaesthetic from the botox procedure, my sister has had that too after anaesthesia, and this meditation has helped me deal with it. Honestly, as if the bum pain wasn't enough!

I really feel for you. It really is the most awful pain. I've had 2 babies one section one ventouse with a tear. I've had gallbladder stones and episodes for years finally having it out.
But the fissure was the one that almost broke me. It went after liberal constant use if rectogesic for about 6months. I used to come home at lunchtime to sit with an ice pack between my but cheeks.
I really do live in fear it will come back and avoid constipation at all costs.

@Rhubarb7, thank you so much for that very practical advice and encouragement too. I know I need to get healthy but I don’t really know what that entails so it’s good to have some direct pointers. I started slimming world a couple of months ago so I’m eating much better but still binge on chocolate and sweets. I’m going to limit my sugar intake by reducing it a bit each week.

I'm not really into supplements and whatnot but I’ve read some positive things about black seed oil and think it can’t harm to try it. I might look at using a zinc supplement too.

Thinking about the role of stress, I’ve also realised I urgently need to address my MH and anxiety. I came across this article which is really interesting on the subject: www.nextavenue.org/mind-over-medicine-how-help-your-body-heal-itself/

I’m feeling generally under the weather this week but thankfully my fissure status has been upgraded from painful to just very uncomfortable which feels like huge progress. I’ve changed the stool softener to a different type and that’s really helped. I used a bit of Rectogesic for the first time last night and I woke in the middle of the night with a headache but applying some this morning I was ok. I’m going to build my usage up and try a full dose at the weekend so that any migraine won’t interfere with work. Anyway, feeling a little more positive about it all and like I have some practical things to try.

@memorial, I’ve just started using rectogesic so it’s encouraging to hear it helped you overcome yours. Really hoping it doesn’t take another 6 months though!

I hope everyone else having a flare up is ok 💐

Something that might bring a smile - I went to a staff meeting this week and my manager started saying that someone smells really nice, like sun cream or coconut and asking who it was. I shrugged my shoulders while internally laughing at the thought that she could obviously smell my bum 😳

Lol @Migrainium , that did make me smile!! Haha, the things we have to go through! I'm really glad your pain has lessened. It's so horrible when it's at full agony level isn't it. I've got my follow up with my consultant after botox tomorrow....bit nervous, but hoping since my pain levels have gone right down from what they were thay it's all good....but I guess it will be what it will be. Can't be scarier than actually having the procedure right?! And good on you for starting slimming world, that's such a great thing to do for yourself. I've found eating mainly veggie really helps, as long as I can have a smattering of cheese on it, I'm happy lol. Cheese is my chocolate. I found with the Rectogesic, that instead of doing the 2 big doses each day (which did make me feel really weird) I did smaller pea sized blobs up the bum 4 to 5 times a day. If you check out the NHS Web page on anal fissures, that's what they suggest if you're prone to headaches and I found the side effects went down a lot....Still got a headache but much milder and gone in 20 mins. Don't get any symptoms from it now, even though I'm still using it. So that's just another option, hope whatever you do, you get on OK.

@Migrainium I'm like you...I'm addicted to sugar (chocolate). I tried to eat healthy and loss 2lb one week and regained it the next. It's not really working out lol. I'm still suffering with my bottom. Tonight it's really uncomfortable and I'm not sure if the suppository and cream has just made it worse. Absolutely brill.... not! I hope everyone is doing okay this week. So funny about the coconut oil @Migrainium. It made me laugh and I sure needed it after today.

Thank you @Rhubarb7. How did your consultant appointment go?

@Chlobob27 I’m glad it helped 😁 I’m so sorry to hear things are still uncomfortable. Could you try something else for a few days? Weight loss is so hard! I actually lost the first stone fairly quickly but have stalled at just above the stone bracket and I can’t seem to stick to the plan. I really need to start exercising to start shifting again but the weather and the fissure aren’t making it easy!

Until today, I’ve been loads better. The rectogesic is working well, passing a BM became super easy, I felt hopeful that I was finally making progress and my mood has been hugely improved. But, I tore again this morning (blood) so it’s feeling quite sore again. Thankfully not as bad as before (I think that’s the rectogesic working). I’m feeling disappointed and of course the 6 week clock resets today.

I think I know the reason though - I had to be at an important work event earlier than usual today and I was giving a presentation. I think the stress and the need to rush meant I probably forced things without realising. I also forgot to take my morning oil cap yesterday so the first part of the stool was harder than the rest again (apologies for the tmi!). I’m going to be more religious with my ‘system’ and hopefully this relapse will be the last 🤞

So sorry you've had another tear @Migrainium. Hope this one is short-lived.

Thank you to whoever suggested a footstool - it has helped ease things along. Still a lot of pain and inflammation and random agonising muscle spasms.

I've been prescribed rectogesic but not used it (yet). Everything is so sore the idea of shoving a fingertip of cream up there fills me with dread and nausea.

Thank you @LavaBum. I hope so too!

I'm sorry to hear you’re still suffering. I was similarly terrified of Rectogesic but more because of the headaches. I tried a little but on the outside to see how I got on. Could you do that first to see how you get on? I don’t find it stings or hurts the fissure at all but relaxes everything reducing the pressure and spasms.

@Migrainium I already take Lactulose morning and evening. I've tried Diltiazem, which is similar to the Rectogesic, but it left me in a worse state than I was originally. I think I had a nasty reaction to it. I used a suppository and cream immediately after using the loo today. If I leave it and see what happens, my bottoms swells and they don't seem to work as well. I knew I was going to re tear. I could feel thing's starting to flare up again. Thankfully, I've been going to the loo on an evening sometimes, so it's not had an impact on my day so much. I'll be glad when I have the botox though. The only time thing's got better for me were I was pregnant with my second son. I had no issues with my bottom for the whole of my pregnancy, but I re tore after giving birth. Typical!

Hi everyone. I'm currently having niggles after my nights out last week but no major re tear yet. Yesterday I had no pain going but burning all day but then today a distinct sting and an ok day. There is no
logic or pattern to it at all!

@Chlobob27 it was weird with the diltiazem as I was fine for months then suddenly had a horrible sore & itchy reaction to it. I now have a tube of the rectogesic but I'm too scared to use it!

@Migrainium your coconut oil story made me laugh - the things we have to do! I often leave trails of suspicious white powder, (secretly taken stool softener) in the work toilets and think if asked I'd feign a cocaine habit rather than explain my fissure problem.

Hi @Waxlyrically that's what's so awful about it. Planning anything is stressful because you've no idea how you'll be from one day to the next. I won't touch anything other than the cream and suppositories I currently use. Like you, I'm too scared to. I hope you manage to keep a full blown flare up at bay.

I'm so glad for this thread. It's good to have support from other sufferers. I mean it's not like you can talk to many people about it because of embarrassment, plus they wouldn't understand the level of discomfort these little f***s cause! You've got to have experienced it to know!

Haha 😂 @Waxlyrically. The indignity of anal fissures! I’ve found myself over sharing recently - I told my parents and an old work colleague as every time I saw her, I was complaining of being ill and she asked me what’s was up! I bet she wished she hadn’t by the end 😳

My relapse was short lived thankfully and I’m back to being more or less pain free and everything feels to be moving along as it should. I completely credit that to Rectogesic as it’s relaxed everything and eliminated the spasms which I now realise was at the crux of the problem. For anyone avoiding taking it, please give it a try - it’s made a huge difference to me and my only regret was not asking for it months ago.

I slipped yesterday in the rain though and now suffering with a badly bruised elbow and multiple bruises down my back. One thing after another 😭

I feel like I’ve got a good system going now:
I take an oil capsule first thing on an empty stomach
Before or after every meal I take 5ml of milk of magnesia (cheaper and works way better than dulcoease capsules)
I eat two to three dried prunes and/or apricots a couple of times a day
Rectogesic morning and evening
Mild baby wipes every loo trip to keep things as clean as possible
Coconut oil a couple of times a day and medihoney last thing at night (I find it stings during the day for some reason)
If anyone could see my bathroom cabinet right now, it screams fissures! 😂

I’m hoping that this weekend I’m finally well enough to get on with some very overdue DIY. I hope everyone else is feeling ok and enjoys the weekend whatever you’ve got planned.

I'm still suffering. It'll be 3 week's next Tuesday since this latest flare up started. One day I feel okay and the next I don't. The hospital rang me today. Finally got my botox on 2nd Dec, day's before my 31st birthday. What a present haha. Got some period like cramping tonight. It's only mild though. Got spotting too. Hopefully it's my period. Normally my stools are looser when I'm on my period, so hopefully it'll help thing's heal. My partner is having a vasectomy next year. He's gotta wait until June. Gotta try and avoid getting pregnant until he's sorted. Don't wanna have botox and end up back at square one again!

Hi everyone,

@Migrainium , I'm so glad you are feeling better. Rectogesic can really help, even before I had my botox, my consultant said my fissures were starting to heal. So pleased you have developed a routine that works for you, long may it continue! Heal, fissure, heal!!

@Chlobob27 , yay for your botox on 2nd Dec! I was really scared of my botox procedure, but it really wasn't anything to be scared of. I was totally numb for 24 hours afterwards, didn't have a BM until 2 days after, the first one did hurt, but not as badly as the damn fissures and it just got better from there. Trick is keeping stools soft, which I'm sure you're already well versed in!

@Waxlyrically, I hope your niggles go away and you continue on an upwards trend. I hate that these miserable things can have such a damning impact, like if I bleed badly one day, even with little or no pain, it really brings me low again, as I windervhow I will ever heal. Then if I have only a little bit of blood and no pain, I'm happy. Such a crappy roller coaster and like you say, no flipping rhyme or reason to it! Very frustrating.

As for me, my consultant said my fissures are healing nicely, there is one that is still a little bit open (he said 3mm) and if I keep on my current trajectory ( I.e. everything soft), he thinks it will fully heal in a month. I'm experiencing less pain with it as time goes on, but it does bleed with every BM, which is abit disheartening. Not lots though. So I'm chugging along, trying as best I can to keep things soft but regular and trying to eat things I enjoy. Basically, that means putting bit of grated cheese on everything, ha! I've also been having super painful joints and muscles, blood tests indicate I may have rheumatoid arthritis. Joy! Just want to get past being in bloody pain all the time, if it's not my bum, it's something else. But I'm really pleased it seems like the fissures are healing. That is a huge step forward.

Gosh, I hope by Christmas we're all significantly better and we stay that way!!

Hi everyone
@Rhubarb7 great to hear you are healing. I wonder whether blood is always a bad thing as it’ at least shows there is some blood supply which helps healing. Mine is worse when it hurts during a BM but doesn’t bleed I think. Interestingly I’m having joint and muscle pain everywhere and have suffered it alongside fissures since it all started. Maybe there is a link - peri menopause in my case?

@Chlobob27 fantastic news on the Botox. Not long to wait and hopefully a pain free Christmas and the end of the horror for you 🤞It really is nothing to worry about as other have said. Be prepared for a bit of bruising and soreness for a couple of days but nothing as bad as fissure pain.

@Migrainium brilliant your flare hasn’t been too bad and I hope you recover from your fall quickly. I know exactly what you mean about fissure bathroom. Mine is devoted to them - medications, sitz baths, wipes, creams and the latest addition yoga blocks for “positioning” 😂

@LavaBum how are things with you? Have you dared use the rectogesic yet? I’m going to start as I’m still getting cramps and the Diltiazem has given me a reaction again despite a break from it.

Praying we are all ok for Christmas too!

Well, I shouldn't have spoken so soon about healing should I?! Constipated today, didn't go at all yesterday (although went several times the day before, had a bit of diaorrhea, perhaps that's what's causing this) and haven't been able to go this morning!! I hate it when I don't go, it really stresses me out, as I think I may have strained yesterday when trying to go and the fissure that my consultant said should heal in a month bled a bit and I can feel it again, which I couldn't before, so think I may have aggravated it
And now, with constipation, whatever happens, it's gonna hurt and put the fissure backwards. I was on such a good streak, I've managed not to get constipated at all in the 3 weeks since I've had botox and I haven't done anything different. So really don't understand why I have to have deal with this nonsense and why my body can't just go! And I've booked a Sunday meal out today at a local pub for me and hubby today for the first time in ages, as i felt able to do it!! Typical this happens on the same day. May have to cancel. Very fed up. Stupid damned fissures!! And stupid damned bowels!!

Aw I’m so sorry @Rhubarb7 I could have written your post myself as mine is just the same - no pattern. What I do know is that some flares don’t hurt for long even when you think they will and that firmer BM’s don’t always spell disaster and mean a tear if (and this is so difficult) you can relax during them. If you can still go out for a meal today I would. I’ve found mentally this helps as I use events I’ve managed to cope with despite the fissure help reduce anxiety about future things. Not always possible though I know. I hope you have a better day today and that this is just a small blip in the healing process for you.

Thank you @Waxlyrically . I took some Laxido and had a cup of coffee and thay got things moving, thank God! It did hurt a bit more than it has been, and bled, but not too much. Nothing like the crapping razor blades feeling though. So had a sitz bath and put all my ointments on and will make sure I drinkers of water (think maybe I didn't drink enough yesterday, I was cleaning all day and probably got dehydrated which won't have helped). Anyway, thank you for your kind words @Waxlyrically , I'm sorry you are experiencing the same thing. I'm going to take your advice and still go to the pub today, I checked the menu before booking and it has what I would call 'bum friendly' food! 😆

Sorry for typos....phone tries to auto correct!

Urgh, I also spoke too soon 😒 Small section of BM was hard this morning and caused a tear again. Thankfully, it’s just the fissure itself feeling a little sore and the Rectogesic is keeping the spasms at bay so I can manage.

I’m more disappointed that my system failed as I was feeling confident that I had it nailed. I took my girls to a Xmas market yesterday so ended up eating things wrapped in pastry without any fibre which is probably the cause and I didn’t have stool softener with me. It’s annoying that you can’t let up on anything for a single moment!

@Rhubarb7, I’m so sorry you’ve relapsed as well. I really hope it’s not too painful. Your consultants words are reassuring that things are still healing despite bleeding each BM as it’s tempting to feel like you’re back at square one with each relapse. Perhaps this will be different as the Botox should prevent the dreaded spasms. Being fully healed would be the best Xmas present! I hope you have a fab time at the pub as well.

@Chlobob27 thats brilliant news! You’ve waited so long for this - fingers crossed it’s the beginning of the end of your ordeal. Although I’m sorry your latest flare is still giving you aggro 3 weeks later. I think it’s the relentlessness that starts impacting your MH which in turn affects healing. I find the same when I’m on my period - I’m just coming to the end of mine now so maybe this was a factor in my latest relapse.

@Waxlyrically I don’t want to think about how much this has cost so far with the various creams and equipment! The advice on this thread has been priceless though.

Thanks so much for your support everyone. Hopefully we will all graduate from the thread soon 🤞

I hope it's okay to join. I have always had issues since I was a baby with impaction etc. and have an anal skin tag that seems to get 'caught' and tear every so often. I had my first baby 12 weeks ago. No trauma to the anal area, just an episiotomy that was sutured.

An episode of constipation on Day 10 (which was so painful my blood pressure dropped from its post pre eclampsia levels and I fainted 😕) resulted in a fissure which despite hydration, fybogel and a good (ish!) diet, I can't seem to heal.

My bowel habit seems to have dramatically changed since giving birth. I used to have a BM once a day, now it seems to be every 3 days and, sorry for the TMI, they're massive and embarrassingly usually block the loo. They're generally an okay consistency so I think it is the size that is re traumatising the fissure every time. It's like pooping a razor blade and I'm often a bleeding, tearful, shaking mess after, breaking into a horrible cold sweat. It's also much more urgent than before, and I have to literally throw my baby at my husband and run to the loo which adds to the trauma of it because I can't prepare myself.

Im currently managing by using local anaesthetic cream meant for piles, pain killers post BM and vaseline pre BM if I'm quick enough.

Bloody awful.