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.

My son finally had Botox after a long time suffering. It worked!

@Migrainium so sorry to hear you are suffering especially as you sound like you are having such a difficult time. You're not alone though. My secondary fissure has torn badly and the spasms from that opened the original one back up. I've been back at square one for a few weeks now. At least Ive finally plucked up the courage to use rectogesic - no choice. It has been fine side effect wise only a mild temporary headache at times. Here's to a pain free Christmas for us all 🎄

So sorry to hear this @Migrainium . These fissures are just so bloody spiteful aren't they. It's so uttwrly disheartening, i had a little retear a month or so ago and I was really upset. However, it healed over really quickly again. I would definitely reconnect Botox. I think I have healed as my consultant has discharged me, no more pain (the odd twinge which I hope are healing twinges!) and no bleeding for a few weeks now. However, I am keeping going with the stool softeners and laxative (lactulose), sitz baths and ointments (H Fissure oil, vaseline and sudocrem) and my consultant said that even after healing, the skin is very fragile and delicate, so to keep up my laxative until at least the end of Jan. So I'm keeping my current regime going until then. I've broadened my eating as well, including more bread, Indian takeaway (so lush) and a bit more meat. I still don't eat as much as I would have before as I do still worry, but so far, so good. I really hope you can get back on track quickly and enjoy Christmas.

Hello sad face. I just wanted to reach out to you as am in the same situation and have never felt so alone. The pain is indescribable. Has anything worked? I’ve had Botox and now worn off. Back to square one. Just to see others with the same problem takes things down a notch. Am literally wait for the pain to kick in as I write. Sending hugs x

My Botox didn’t really work. Just keep going in circles with good and bad weeks. Can’t stand the itchiness. Had no follow up from GP since botox and don’t see the point chasing them as nothing works and they never actually take anything seriously. Sorry to hear others are still in same pain.

Try Rectogesic cream , it stopped the itching for me. 🤞for you

Hello everyone. Just thought I'd give an update. I got a new date for botox. Was meant to have it this coming Thursday. Unfortunately we all got Covid over Xmas, so its now been pushed back for 7 week's at least. It's hospital policy. I'm doing okay at the moment. I've had a few pain free week's. I'm not holding out hope of being cured though. I know how quickly thing's can deteriorate. Wishing you all a Happy New Yr.

How's everyone doing? Have thing's settled for you @Migrainium and @Waxlyrically? Also, are you still pain free @Rhubarb7?

Hi @Chlobob27. Thanks for thinking of me! I wrote a long post before new year and lost it when the page reloaded and I forgot to come back!

Thankfully the relapse was short lived and I’m doing pretty well fissure wise. I’m completely pain free, no longer using stool softener etc. I’m back on the healthy eating after a break to use up the Xmas crap and of course now suffering from backache and carpel tunnel 🙄 but just so glad to be out of fissure hell.

How is everyone else doing?

@Migrainium I eat crap, but tbh eating healthy is what caused my fissure to re open last November. The added fibre didn't do me any favours. Since the month long relapse that I had back then, i've been pain free. I take my usual dose of Lactulose daily and try to drink enough. I don't know if I'll remain pain free, but this is the longest I've gone without relapsing and I've had this for over 2.5 yrs now.

Hi@Chlobob27 I'm sadly still here and up and down. I now have a second fissure ( less deep than the first) and that is adding to my problems. I've been feeling a bit panicky today as the scar tissue in my original one has been hurting. I am worried about another fistula - the op for that is what set all this off for me 😢 Also my GP has refused to reissue a prescription for rectogesic as I've had it more than 8 weeks 😩 (even though only using for 4). Don't know what I'll do when it runs out!

@Waxlyrically oh no, I'm sorry to hear you're struggling at the moment. You could do with been referred to colorectal, although I imagine the wait will be long. I'm meant to be having botox on 10th Feb. Thing is, I don't want to have it done if I don't need it right now. Only problem is if I don't go, they'll remove me from the waiting list. They only offer you two appointments. I couldn't go to the one I had booked for Jan because I had Covid before Xmas, so they wouldn't allow me to have the botox. They said I had to wait 7 week's. Be frustrating if the fissure does re open and I've to wait 2+ year's again on the NHS to see someone.

@Waxlyrically, I'm sorry to hear you are still struggling. It really does suck doesn't it. I'm doing ok thank you, no pain, sticking with the stool softeners and lactulose, eating healthier than I did before but with more non healthy stuff added in, perhaps eating less than I used to, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! Had minor relapse where one of the fissures had a v small bleed but I'd forgotten to drink enough water and eaten a lot of cards the day before. It cleared up quickly and didn't cause pain. So hoping I am still on the road to recovery, no pain for a long time now and only the minor bleed, which stooped very quickly. I've kept up sitz bathbafter BM and fissure oil and vaseline. I'm going to continue with my regime for at least another month as my surgeon said the skin even once healed is fragile. So that's me. I am wishing all of you the same, as I know how utterly awful this condition is.

I hope everyone is ok?

I’ve had a few stressful days with bad anxiety that’s killed my appetite. Resulted in quite a bad relapse. It’s just a bit sore at the moment rather than excruciating but of course I’m gutted. It’s bad timing as well as I’ve got a few very busy and stressful weeks coming up

@Migrainium hopefully it will heal quickly again. We're just all run down in our house. Was just getting over a cold and have now got another immediately after the last one. I think we're run down from having Covid over Xmas, as it's rare for me to be unwell.

Mine has been feeling slightly better. Is such a slow gradual process but fingers crossed. I don’t know if anyone listens to Private Parts podcast but Jamie Laing was talking about his fissures; first celebrity I’ve ever heard talk about it as obviously most of us keep these things hidden!

I've been having a few twinges. I've gone 10 whole weeks without pain, or bleeding. I have just read that even a fully healed fissure can re open. Apparently chronic fissures normally present with scar tissue and this can enable it to reopen. I'm hoping it won't happen, but I'm prepared for if it does. I've come to the conclusion that because I've had mine for 2.5 year's, I'd probably need surgery to remove the scar tissue and fix the issue permanently. I don't think botox would of been enough. How's everyone else doing? You doing any better @Waxlyrically?

@Migrainium I hope you are doing better x

my surgeon says this is now a life long condition 😞 I’m trying really hard to relax and think positively and am diligent with laxatives, dulcolax and rectogesic. I feel more positive but get anxious about time away especially work. This little community has made such a difference as it’s such a lonely condition. Sending positive thoughts to all suffering x

@Chlobob27 sadly I am suffering again at the moment as I have literally torn me a new one! It is so sore and stingy and despite the rectogesic, softeners and small fissure dedicated chemist shop I have bought over the last 18 months opens up pretty much every day. I am scheduled for further Botox later this year and if that doesn’t work it’s the LIS operation with all its risks or wait it all out. Apparently they do all heal eventually and elderly people seldom have them according to my surgeon. Then he added we could be looking at 10 years!! @4Mysanity I hope your surgeon is wrong for both our sakes. This has massively impacted my life and made me fearful of any sort of travel/change. Work is a nightmare when it’s bad. I have to keep reminding myself there are worse chronic conditions - it’s the only thing that keeps the despair at bay. Hope others are doing better than me but at least if not we can support each other here x

@4Mysanity I think you've been fobbed off. It doesn't have to be a life long condition. There is LIS surgery, which @Waxlyrically mentioned. It does come with risks, but I'd say it's far better than living with this for the foreseeable future (up to 10 years)! Are you having the botox on the NHS? I felt the familiar sharp pain when I went to the loo today. No blood or pain afterwards though. I'm off for a night away with my family next month. I shall be taking my foot stool with me. I really hope things aren't going backwards for me, especially after 10 whole weeks. I'm sorry you're still in the club too @Waxlyrically and everyone who's still here. Shame I've been removed from the waiting list for botox. Totally typical! I honestly don't think it would of done anything significant though. Maybe it would of stopped the pain for a while, but I'm pretty sure it would of returned.

Well here I am again. 12 week's pain free to feel back at square one. I ate some cheese and it bunged me up, even though I take Lactulose. I've felt sore for 2 day's now. How's everyone else doing?

Oh I’m sorry @Chlobob27 I hope it will only be a small flare up for you. I have has a terrible time with a new one but have had 3 tear (and tear) free days. I think this how it goes - retear then heal, in a cycle with gradually increasing ok periods between each of these events. I was despairing a week ago and have started taken my softener immediately after my meals, double vaseline (sorry!) application and using rectogesic just before I go. When it’s really bad I have to find new things to try just to give myself hope.

@Waxlyrically aren't you getting botox again this year? And is that through the NHS? Also, what's you're longest period pain free? I was really hopeful I'd healed, as I'd never gone that long without pain. I'm not bleeding at all. There isn't even any pain when I go. I just become really sore after going. It gradually comes on.

@Chlobob27 yes I’ve got it planned for May but am using my work health insurance to go privately. I’m not going to cancel yet because although I feel ok today next week could be another story. My best period was about 10 weeks but then I developed this new one which has been back to square one! I have been having slicing pain on going followed by building burning & throbbing most of the day. No blood though - I rarely get that. I also get sudden horrible muscle cramps in the middle of the night with it. Are you still scheduled for Botox? This is such a horrible thing we are going through!