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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sore bottom ruining my life

160 replies

Agonydownbelow · 26/04/2023 18:09

Hesitated about posting this for fear of being accused of being a troll. But I’m so desperate for help I don’t even care about anything anymore. I’m a regular poster etc but obviously any concerns feel free to report etc

I go through spells where my rectum/anus is excruciating. Like I don’t just mean a bit stingy, I mean absolutely excruciating. It’s bad when sitting and walking about but particularly bad when passing stools. It feels like I’m being torn apart and I sometimes wake up from sleeping because of the pain of it. I get bleeding on wiping too (usually red) The painful flare ups last anything from a few days to a few weeks. I’ve been checked for piles and anus fissures during flare ups and it’s been neither. I’ve also had a sigmoidoscopy which was clear. Even though fissures have been ruled out, I still tried things like anusol and other treatments which didn’t help either.

today it was so bad that I was screaming whilst going to the toilet and gripped the wall so hard that 3 of my acrylics and my own nailbeds were ripped off. I didn’t even notice the pain of it because i was in so much rectal pain. I also woke up during the night last night with the area throbbing in pain and I’ve had more red blood on wiping. There’s no obvious irritation externally and piles and fissures have been ruled out by the GP

I’ve been to my GP 14 times for this.Been referred to gastro 3 times. Clear bloods and calprotectin fine. They said everything serious has been ruled out and won’t accept another referral for me, but equally the GP cant help either and said I need to learn to live with it myself (how???) I also can’t afford to go privately for at least 2 years until I save up :(

I’m not constipated (usually the opposite problem) but I tried stool softeners anyway- again no, help. I don’t eat spicy foods or foods that might cause irritation when passing.

please tell me has someone else experienced this and have any advice or things I could try to help this? Im not being melodramatic when I say it’s ruining my life

OP posts:
LCTikaheu · 26/04/2023 20:31

@Agonydownbelow I have endometriosis and although I can't compare with your waking in the night definitely with the loo part and take.pain relief before I go!

It's also more random now I'm older not once a month so incould describe as more of a flare up... linked to my cycle but more random frequency so maybe get checked as I don't think it's the same for everyone.

I'm lucky mine isn't life altering but there was that celebrity (US actress in Girls i think) that had a drastic op as it just ruined her life

All the best xx

LCTikaheu · 26/04/2023 20:33

Oh and @Agonydownbelow I should have also compared it to the worst part of labour! Its excruciating and could do with gas and air!!!

Silentbarking · 26/04/2023 20:33

SaveMeFromForearms · 26/04/2023 20:30

If you think I'm a troll please report @Silentbarking 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’d much rather you stop commenting to me. Cheers.

Greentree1 · 26/04/2023 20:34

Nothing like what you are experiencing, but when I've had soreness down there I've used Savlon or E45 cream to soothe it down. I have had minor fissures that have healed with this treatment.

Danioo · 26/04/2023 20:35

I've had something similar and the pain is like nothing else, you poor poor thing. I remember writing to the consultant begging them to help me and not leave me like that any longer. As you have said, it's life wrecking.

I can't remember the name as it was 20 years ago, but I had two operations to remove a small section of my colon. It was going in to spasm, I also had very high up fissures. Have you been prescribed GNT spray to try? This can help.

I would keep beating the doors down and ask for a 2nd opinion.

Good luck, this won't last forever, someone will help you.

Silentbarking · 26/04/2023 20:35

GoFasterKnickers · 26/04/2023 20:31

OP - I had similar and was in a painkiller cycle. I was taking codeine for the pain but the codeine was solidifying my stools so I was bleeding every time I went to the loo. Are you taking any painkillers for this?

Codeine’s awful for that isn’t it. Try taking vitamin C when you take them, it helps counter the constipation.

SaturdayGiraffe · 26/04/2023 20:36

I had similar with a Strep A infection. Antibiotics cleared it up, but it required swap tests.

coverp · 26/04/2023 20:37

It sounds like an anal fissure to me too. I had them after childbirth and it is incomparable pain, worse than labour! Have you tried the ointment? It's horrible treatment, gave horrible dizziness and headaches, but it did work.

AlbertaAnnie · 26/04/2023 20:41

Sorry you are dealing with this op - your symptoms are so similar to what I experienced with a anal tear - it was excruciating 😣 I hope you get some answers - keep pushing ( no pun intended)

Pornstarmatinee · 26/04/2023 20:43

I know it's drastic and you shouldn't have to do it. But could you take out a small loan? Also I know it's sensitive but can you petition your MP councellor and explain the issues?

TooOldForThisNonsense · 26/04/2023 20:43

My sympathies, I have fissure and piles that flare up sometimes and my bum can ache for ages. At least I know what it is though. Xx

BMW6 · 26/04/2023 20:46

Well there must be a fissure somewhere because there is blood!

TooOldForThisNonsense · 26/04/2023 20:46

What painkillers are you taking? I had an anal fissure after I had my second, honestly the pain was excruciating, I would cry for ages after going to the loo. I was given codeine by GP but Health visitor told me that was making it worse. Can’t remember the detail why but once I stopped taking that it did improve x

LondonJax · 26/04/2023 20:47

I had similar a year or so ago. Not as bad but a very itchy and sore anus which would bleed sometimes. I don't have endometriosis as I'm late 50s now.

I tried the nappy rash cream which helped a lot but didn't cure it. I had various tests - all normal.

I changed washing detergent - no difference. Then I stumbled on people saying they were getting the same problem (including men which ruled out the endometriosis possibility for them). They realised it was their loo paper.

So I changed from recycled loo paper (which every brand is now regardless of whether its aloe vera, comfort cushioning or whatever) to bamboo paper (I use The Cheeky Panda brand). Everything stopped within a couple of days. It appears that the loo paper disintegrates so quickly that tiny fibres get stuck in the anus, causing minute cuts in some people. I was one of them. The Cheeky Panda brand doesn't disintegrate as quickly so less or no fibres come away. I can only get Cheeky Panda at Waitrose but Amazon sell it in various size packs.

Worth a try but do keep on at the GP. We're all double guessing what it could be but you need to make sure. It may be trial and error in your lifestyle or it may need a few tests or some new creams. But they can't just leave you like this.

Fortheloveofgodwhy · 26/04/2023 20:48

Bit out there but how about trying local estrogen? Vaginal atrophy can affect the anal region and be very painful and cause micro cuts? Easy to try anyway.

SaveMeFromForearms · 26/04/2023 20:50

Same @Silentbarking but troll hunting isn't allowed on threads, so I'm sure I am allowed to respond to being called one.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 26/04/2023 20:51

LondonJax · 26/04/2023 20:47

I had similar a year or so ago. Not as bad but a very itchy and sore anus which would bleed sometimes. I don't have endometriosis as I'm late 50s now.

I tried the nappy rash cream which helped a lot but didn't cure it. I had various tests - all normal.

I changed washing detergent - no difference. Then I stumbled on people saying they were getting the same problem (including men which ruled out the endometriosis possibility for them). They realised it was their loo paper.

So I changed from recycled loo paper (which every brand is now regardless of whether its aloe vera, comfort cushioning or whatever) to bamboo paper (I use The Cheeky Panda brand). Everything stopped within a couple of days. It appears that the loo paper disintegrates so quickly that tiny fibres get stuck in the anus, causing minute cuts in some people. I was one of them. The Cheeky Panda brand doesn't disintegrate as quickly so less or no fibres come away. I can only get Cheeky Panda at Waitrose but Amazon sell it in various size packs.

Worth a try but do keep on at the GP. We're all double guessing what it could be but you need to make sure. It may be trial and error in your lifestyle or it may need a few tests or some new creams. But they can't just leave you like this.

I know I’m not the OP but that’s really interesting. I do sometimes end up with loo roll up there. A couple of weeks ago I had a flare up and then we went to a hotel and it was all of a sudden fine. Loo paper theory may make sense

OldFan · 26/04/2023 20:51

@Agonydownbelow I would change GPs OP and you can choose which hospital you see to see a different one, or pick a GP who automatically refers to a different hosp.

Freeme31 · 26/04/2023 20:51

Annal Fissures? There was a thread about this recently

Mumoftwoinprimary · 26/04/2023 20:52

Slightly left field suggestion but how about threadworms? If you have enough of them the itch becomes a pain. (As we discovered with poor ds one time.)

A dose of Ovex won’t hurt you if you don’t have them.

ShowUs · 26/04/2023 20:52

This sounds awful.
I have no idea what may be causing it.

I am prone to tears and it’s horrible but I don’t get it that often.

I use toilet wipes after going for a poo and make sure I clean myself properly.
I will also use anusol both the suppositories and cream when needed.
I’ll also use sudocrem (nappy rash cream) as this heals the cut quickly.

I’m sure you’ve tried all of these things but just incase you haven’t.

babyproblems · 26/04/2023 20:53

Just wanted to say how awful this sounds OP and agree with those saying see another GP - of course you can’t just live with it & further help is definitely needed!!! Sending you a firm handhold, I really hope you feel better soon. Xxxx

Easterfunbun · 26/04/2023 20:53

I think I would go down the route of getting a contraceptive implant like Nexplanon as this is used off label for endo. If your pain reduces it may well be quite telling? It does sound a bit like endometriosis to me. I hope you manage to find some relief it sounds excruciating.

ScribblingPixie · 26/04/2023 20:54

I'm so sorry, OP. This sounds awful. While you're tracking down the cause, can I recommend slippery elm powder? The proper powder which you make into a drink by simmering it in boiling water until it gets 'slimy'. It really does help with soothing everything down - it won't be the answer but it may provide a bit of relief.

WiddlinDiddlin · 26/04/2023 20:57

Sounds like anal fissures that are hard to see and possibly some fairly small internal but 'only just' piles which again can be difficult to see and Drs do tend to think that tiny piles can't hurt as much as whopping great big dangly ones... which I do not believe to be true!

You're describing the exact symptoms i have, though mine are intermittent and i have a lot of other factors going on - but the agonising burning can't fucking sit down can't stand can't lie down fading into itching, can't stand to wipe but have to, blood (sometimes quite a lot) on the paper.... drives you absolutely round the bend and makes it bloody hard to do anything at all.

At their worst I have been sat on the loo (feet up on a brick each side to raise my knees) sobbing and swearing as my arse tries to eject whatevers annoying it, and feeling like im being ripped to bits!

I have a full range of arse torpedos (medicated, lubricating, calming) and creams and generally manage BUT i am also on pain medication patches for something else, I suspect without them id be in a lot more pain!

I would try to see another GP, personally, and ask them to treat as if for fissures/piles to see how you get on.

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