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 don't know if this is going to be relevant but my fissure became an infected tract and they ended up doing a seton suture procedure. I am pain free and healed for about 5 yrs after approx 12 yrs of issues, all started with piles during pregnancy and then a fast delivery. I was on anti biotics repeatedly, had searing pain that was utterly crippling, I used rectogesic, had botox multiple times. Eventually changed consultant after 1st one told me it was stress related and possibly IBS/IBD related. New consultant was furious I had been palmed off by the older allegedly more experienced surgeon. Turned out the weeping mucus was actually a severe infection. I had to gently pull and rotate the loop of the seton suture every time I went to loo, salt baths daily, it should have been in place for 6 mnths but with NHS waiting lists is was almost 15 mnths in total. Its been the best thing and I only wish it had been offered sooner. Like I said maybe not relevant but something you could query with consultant, is it definitely only a fissure. You should not be suffering with this, you have my utmost sympathy, it is such a debilitating thing to go through and not the most pleasant of things to discuss with people. Best of luck.

@Darkosx3 This had been one of my main concerns, that if it doesn't heal fast enough it'll become infected and I'll end up with a fistula. This is why I get so worked up. He has assured me every time I've seen him that it's only a fissure, it's not infected and despite the pain it is closing.

It does appear to have closed. No blood, no searing pain when going to the toilet, but swelling and soreness after. I have to say though that today has been a much better day, I'm putting that down to the effect the milk of magnesia has had on my poo. And I seem to be having less of the mucus too so maybe I'm turning a corner. Going to my check up on Wednesday evening.

I just want to say I'm so sorry that you had to suffer through all that and I'm really glad to hear that you have been healed and you're out of that pain.

Aw thank you. I really hope to see updates that you're also doing much better. Bloody horrendous what you're going through 😔

@SadFace2 I use Lactulose x2 per day to soften my stools, which does work. I'm like you in that I'm not bleeding at the moment when going to the loo and I'm not in dreadful pain, but I'm experiencing soreness afterwards. It's uncomfortable to sit down. I took 2 Ibuprofen earlier and used a suppository and cream, but I don't think either has helped. I'm glad you've had a better day pain wise. I just get this pulling sensation before going to the loo. I rang the hopsital today. They said I'm at the top of the list for botox. Should get another app next month. I'm going to go for it. I'm scared though. I'll be going alone and I have a fear of hospitals and thats without being put to sleep 😖. I'd try the milk of magnesia that you mentioned, but I don't fancy adding something else in to the mix, as I might end up going more than once a day to the loo.

@Chlobob27 I'll be honest, if you try the milk of magnesia it might make you go more than once but they have been easier and caused me less pain than going only once without taking it. If that makes sense. I have used it in the past when having trouble with piles and it really is excellent at making your poo the right consistency to slide out without hurting things. I am very hopeful that it's helping me heal and I'll keep updating in the next few days.

I know it's easy to say don't be scared about the botox but it honestly isn't too bad. It will relax all the muscles so you won't experience the kind of pain you might be worrying about. I've heard lots of success stories about Botox and even though I've been incredibly sore with this fissure the botox has stopped everything from going into spasm and that's a big help.

Pleased do keep me updated. I wish someone would of told me that childbirth can cause these kind of issues, but as my consultant said, the human race would be extinct if women truly knew how traumatic giving birth can really be. It's defo been no walk in the park for me. I couldn't even pee for nearly 3 weeks after having my first son. I had to be catheterized for urine retention! Thankfully my bladder problem fixed itself. I do hope that botox ends my troubles. I'm either in pain when going to the loo, or sore all day afterwards, despite it not hurting. Can't win either way! I have a friend who has bottom issues too. I reckon it's pretty common, but many women don't talk about it due to feeling embarrassed x

Hi OP, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I remember it was hell for me too after childbirth. Doctors recommendations didn't help. I slathered Comvita Medihoney Antibacterial Wound Gel on the fissure multiple times a day for a week or two and that's what finally healed it for me. I think I read they use this on ulcers that don't heal in some hospitals. You can get it on Amazon or health food shops.

www.comvita.co.uk/medihoney-antibacterial-wound-gel-50g/13107215.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwn4qWBhCvARIsAFNAMihsEvhcACl4SJtwA_LCx2qe-hiuFSRtZgSKq22QHOIdqBgesnMUoeIaAsrtEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Just a quick update. Went to the toilet 3 times this morning. First time hurt, second and third didn't. So basically I didn't take enough stuff to make it soft enough last night. I won't make that mistake tonight.

So I've been sore all day but haven't bled or anything, think I've just aggravated it. Going to my appointment tomorrow night, hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Just caught up with this and wishing you well. I just wanted to let you know that it seems awful at the time, but it can get better. I can remember the awfulness of the pain and sitting at my desk completely unable to speak because the pain from the spasms was so awful. Touch wood, I've been mostly pain free for the last ten years - even when the fissure opens again (once you've had one, I believe you're always prone to it reopening it's not particularly painful and certainly not like it used to be. What helped me while I was waiting for Botox was a combination of rectogesic and what was euphemistically described to me as "digital massage" by the consultant. Probably TMI, but Basically when you're applying the rectogesic you use your finger to massage your back passage and it helps relieve the spasms. The first lot of Botox helped for a while but then wore off. It was redone a year later and I've not really had any trouble since. I do need to use wetwipes or similar and I'm just experimenting with wype, but I'm pain free . Here's hoping it works out the same for you

@nonevernotever I'm glad that second time round the botox worked for you. I'm hoping it works for me too, as I've had a fissure for 2 yrs now. I was just about coping with it, until I used Diltiazem and it set me back. @SadFace2 I'm sorry you've not had a good day today. Here's hoping tomorrow will be better. My fissure defo reopened today. It hurt and bled a little too. I was experiencing a pulling sensation previously but no pain, although I was sore all day. I was sore for a little bit today, but I think maybe taking painkillers within an hour of going and using a suppository and cream helped. I also sat very briefly on my sitz bath over the loo, but it felt uncomfortable. Sitting on the loo feels like it's stretching the tear. Sorry for the TMI!

@nonevernotever I'm glad to hear you've had long term success and you're pain free. I hate to think of anyone going through this, it's awful.

@Chlobob27 I'm sorry you're having a bad day too. I'm really cross that the Diltiazem made us both worse. If I'd known a bad skin reaction could happen I would have definitely decided to risk a headache instead. I'm still having no problems with the Rectogesic so you still could give it a try if you felt up to it.

I find the sitz bath uncomfortable too. It puts too much pressure on everything. I use it to get clean but don't sit on it for extended periods of time. I've been laying down in the bath which is fine but I've had so many baths this last 6 weeks. My water bill is going to be huge!

Fingers crossed we both have a much better day tomorrow.

@SadFace2 I know exactly how you feel & have been suffering for several months with mine. It is mentally awful as well as excruciating but has slowly and gradually got better overall (with many set backs). Loads of good advice on here for physical relief but check out “your friendly proctologist” on YouTube. He has such a positive attitude to it all. I watch some of videos as a mental lift on dark days. Try not to worry about the fistula thing I had one of those before this and it wasn’t nearly as painful! Having a bad day myself today and am off for a soak in warm water, coconut oil and Epsom salts - a bum spa! Most important of all you are not alone!

@SadFace2 I know, I don't remember having the same reaction to the Diltiazem the first time I used it. I just don't fancy the headaches with the Rectogesic. I wish I had the time to get a bath, but with a 2yr old and a 3m old, I never seem to get any time to myself to do anything.

@Waxlyrically I might look up that person on YouTube. Anything to cheer myself up on a bad day when I feel I can't take it anymore.

@Waxlyrically Thank you for the solidarity. I wouldn't wish this on anybody but it does help to talk about it and know you're not the only one and hear from people who have healed and feel better. Thank you for the YouTube recommendation, I will check it out.

@Chlobob27 Oh I didn't realise your children are so young! That is a very difficult situation, I'm sending all my healing thoughts your way. Mine are 11 and 5 now so it makes it just about bearable.

Hopefully it's all your pregnancy hormones settling down and things will start to improve now you're getting past the 12 week mark.

I've bought some lottery tickets with it being such a big euromillions jackpot. If I win I'm paying for private Botox, a nanny, whatever you need to get you better so you can focus on the kids.

I just wanted to give you some hope too.

I had this 15 years ago, I can remember the horrendous pain clearly, far worse than childbirth, c section, broken leg etc. just awful. I remember crying under the boardroom table regularly at work, abandoning shopping trolleys, screaming in the car etc.

I had surgery where they removed a small section, after a few weeks healing I haven't had a problem since, with fissures or piles even during pregnancy.

Keep pushing for help, at one point I was seeing the GP twice a week.

I found sitting on wrapped ice cubes brought a little relief for a particularly bad spasm.

Best wishes

@SadFace2 yes, this all started after my first son was born in 2020. I was induced and the second stage of labour was long. He had to be delivered by forceps. I got severely constipated and my bottom was swollen from having piles. They went away after the birth, but the tear from constipation didn't. It was great when I was pregnant with my second. No pain for 9m. I thought it had healed and I guess it had, but once the extra blood flow from pregnancy was gone, I tore yet again. I'm home all day with the kids. We can't afford nursery fees, so I'm a SAHM. My partner works from home, but he can't really help and I have OCD, so I refuse his help even when he offers. I've just started CBT for that. We unfortunately have zero family support. I defo could do with a nanny. A break for even an hour would be a bloody luxury!

@Irisbouquet I'm so glad surgery worked for you. Did you have a LIS? I've heard it can cause leakage for some people, but if botox doesn't work then I'm going to push for surgery. I'd rather wear a nappy and be pain free if it came to it.

@Irisbouquet Thank you for that, another long term success story, that's brilliant. These things really aren't talked about enough. Everybody seems to think they're the only one but when we get talking it's astonishing how many people have had to deal with this stuff.

@Chlobob27 Which cream are you using when you're sore like today?

@Chlobob27 yes have a watch. He brings humour to the horror of it and is a sufferer himself as well as a surgeon.

I have had one round of Botox which was easy to recover from and helped but it is wearing off 😢 I’ll risk lis if it is offered and also snap up another round of Botox - anything really. I can’t believe how debilitating such a small thing is!

@SadFace2 I use Proctosedyl cream and suppositories. They contain a steroid and pain reliever.

@Waxlyrically I'm hoping to have botox next month. I'm more scared of having a GA, than I am having botox injected in to my bum! 😅. They can make you damn right miserable. Nobody wants to feel like somebody has taken a blow touch to their bottom. It's awful feeling so uncomfortable all day, especially when trying to sit down. I won't ever taking having a pain free poop for granted again when I'm eventually fixed.

Feeling pretty low today, finding it hard to stay positive. My consultant is going to wish he'd never met me tonight I think.

I had a cream but boy were the headaches severe. Made a world of difference though. Still suffer from the tear even after all these years.

@SadFace2 sorry you're having a rubbish day. I wasn't in pain when going today and no bleeding, but I've been pretty sore. I'm off to get my hair cut Friday, but I'm not even looking forward to it. The thought of having to sit down fills me with dread.

@chrissypissy so the Recogesic helped, but didn't cure you? Have you found things have settled down? My consultant said they tend to settle, even if the tear doesn't heal. Thing's had settled for me, until I tried Diltiazem. Big mistake 😪

Not sure if that was the cream or not but pretty sure they all do the same. I still suffer from the 'old injury' but having IBS doesn't help this. It occurred about nine years ago and occasionally happens off and on, maybe once or twice a year. Seems to heal itself much quicker without the need for any intervention.

@Chlobob27 yes I had a LIS done. No problems at all afterwards with anything.

They didn't often Botox as a treatment to me back then.

Keep the hope, there will be an end to this awful situation you're in, you will get better.