In absolute agony with this?

[Funnythings]

Hi

i know threads like this always seem a bit suspicious for trolls, I promise I’m not though- I’m a long term poster who has name changed

I’m really, really struggling and I don’t know what to do. I’ve had an anal fissure for about 3 weeks now. It’s just not hearing and I honestly can’t even begin to explain how excruciating it is. Ive tried anusol creams, ointments and suppositories and even the one with hydrocortisone in it but nothing has helped. I’m not constipated but going to the toilet even though I’m passing normal poos is absolutely horrific and it feels like the fissure is just being ripped back open each time. I’ve tried stool softeners but it hasn’t helped at all either.

im at my wits end with this. It all sounds very depressing and dramatic but I honestly spend all day dreading going to the toilet because of how horrific it is. I was in so much pain going to the toilet tonight that I ripped off the door handle- I didn’t even realise at the time but I was in so much pain I was gripping it and ripped it off.

I’ve tried to make a GP appointment but they don’t have anything for weeks and apparently it doesn’t qualify for a same day appointment as those are for emergencies only. I think it’s not really seen as a problem because I’ve had this before and by the time it gets checked it’s usually healed itself (because it takes so long to actually get an appointment to get seen) so I think that’s part of the reason it’s not classed as severe which obviously I know it’s not but it’s excruciating. I’ve tried explaining I’m bleeding when I’m going to the toilet because of it but the wait is still several weeks and normally I wouldn’t mind but I’m in so much pain it hurts to even sit down now

has anyone got any magic solutions or advice or anything that helped them? Sorry, not the nicest topic but I’m so miserable with this x

Love, get yourself to A&E or your local walk in. Take pics of the bowl when you've been to show any blood. You can't go on like this.

Short term - maybe try some vagisil? Iirc it has local anesthetic in it which may help. Can also try a well wrapped ice pack?

Honestly I considered going to A&E but I sort of talked myself out of it because the blood isn’t pouring out or anything like that (sorry tmi) it’s only when wiping

i hadn’t even thought of vagisil, im going to see if we have some upstairs, thanks for the advice. If not I’ll try ice until I can get some.

Im working tomorrow unfortunately (im 25) and can’t really take time off but thinking I might have to because I can’t even sit comfortably now, any pressure is just agony. So frustrating!

You say you have had it for three weeks. I would suggest you
need to take stool softeners regularly for at least a week for them to make a difference and allow it to heal. And also, the pain and blood is ‘usual’ with a fissure. I know it’s excruciating but not usually dangerous. That helped me when I had to clutch toilet seat when I had one.

I also got advice to fill rubber glove with water and put in freezer and you can then insert a finger a little way up (careful to use it in glove and not give yourself freezer burn!).

Cicatridina Suppositories Amazon only thing that works and I tried everything

Tell your GP’s receptionist that this is an emergency / you need to be seen by a doctor and your life is being severely impacted, including your ability to work.
The receptionist is not medically qualified and you’ll have to stand up for yourself to get that appointment. It might not have been an emergency previously but it is now, you can’t be expected to wait weeks in this condition, and it sounds like it’s getting worse.

Our surgery says that phoning is pointless. That the best way to get an appointment is to turn up in person at 8am

Unfortunately I’ve tried insisting on it but they said it’s not an emergency. We can’t just show up unfortunately, it changed over covid and never went back to just walk ins in the morning so now you have to call. To be fair there’s a queue system and it’s not bad getting an appointment if it’s an emergency, I’ve had appointments for sudden onset things because and I got an appointment fine it’s just because this technically isn’t an emergency which I can understand, but it’s bloody agony in the meantime!

Prescription anusol foam has an antibiotic in it. Maybe you need that.

Thank you I’ll get some ordered right now!

Sorry that was for @SuffolkUnicorn

Yeah I think I could do with that, or whatever the next step up is from over the counter anusol because that’s just not doing anything x

Thinking of you! I had this too after childbirth. Agonising.

I just tried looking it up and can't seem to find anusol foam with antibiotics. But I remember my aunt talking about her agony and getting the foam. Good luck, I believe you need a doctors prescription.

I had a birth injury and subsequently developed an anal fissure/ the pain was amongst the worst of my life so you have every sympathy!!
Lactulose helped a bit, plus I bought a ring cushion to sit on. I also was really careful with what I was eating. The cream that the gp gave me gave me excruciating headaches but was good pain relief albeit didn’t solve/ improve the problem.
I ended up having to go to hospital though as an emergency surgical outpatient and having it operated on within a couple of days. I was becoming quite unwell with it. You definitely need to get seen before then and have it looked at.
You have self- diagnosed a fissure but until a dr can look and check you don’t hundred percent know what you are dealing with. Could you phone and try to be firm that you are in excruciating pain which painkillers haven’t touched and you have tried all OTC remedies available and you need a gp to look and see what the issue is as a pharmacist can’t?

I hope you are feeling better OP, it’s really awful.

You're in severe pain that normal painkillers aren't helping from a cause you're not 100% sure about.

You can't get a GP appointment. The issue isn't improving.

Urgent care or A&E is the right next step. You could also try 111 and see if they can get you an OOH GP appointment.

Try 111 online, I've found them really good.

Edit : hope you feel better soon!

DH had this and it took ages to get any kind of diagnosis - including some "probing" examinations from various people at our local GP service which made things worse, until he managed to persuade them to refer him to a private specialist (we had insurance).

The best long-term solution medically has been the GTN cream (I think that's what it's called) - that's the only thing that's fixed it, and even years later he gets the occasional reoccurrence so keeps the cream on standby (managed to get a letter from the private specialist to the GP basically telling them to prescribe it whenever DH asked for it).

Other things that helped... Lots of baths around the time of bowel movements to relax the muscles. Massively upping levels of fibre in his diet and cutting out alcohol. A ring cushion to remove the pressure while driving/sitting at a desk. Somewhat randomly, cutting out lactose - this one hasn't been tested at all, but it's working for him.

Sympathy for you OP, I've never seen DH as miserable as he was during this time, and even now it's something we're acutely aware of. But it can be fixed. You just need to push (no pun intended) until you get the right person to help you.

Honestly only thing that has ever worked put one in and have a lie down hope you feel better soon I know how painful they are

I’ve bought scheriproct from the chemist online I think that was about 25.00 which used to work but nowhere near as good as those suppositories.

also I find washing the area with hibiscrub helps it has never caused me any rash or irritation and I have very sensitive skin

I had this and it was awful. I'm shocked your GP surgery won't offer you an appointment sooner. I know when my doctor examined me they knew straight away I was in a lot of pain. Can you ask to speak to the Practice Manager?
The NHS website recommends seeing the GP. Tell them that.
Also, I know it's not ideal, but could you try one of those online GP's. I am not sure where you are located but I just found an NHS online service. (never seen it before so I don't have any feedback)
Otherwise, I agree with PP's - call 111 or go to your nearest A&E or walk-in centre. Please don't continue to suffer.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anal-fissure/

https://nhsgp-online.uk/area/

It sounds like you need GTN. There is reference to it in the fissure information on the NHS web site - link in the post above.

It fixed mine up post birth. It increases the blood flow and speeds up healing.

It's not like pile medication it's especially for this problem. Read the leaflet and put a little on first as it's really powerful stuff.

They should be able to prescribe this on one of those online triagey things but equally I'm sure urgent care centre will prescribe you some straight away.

Online GP is also a great idea. It's Around £45 but I've used one to fit around work and the service is excellent and they can send the prescription to your local pharmacy.

My dh has this and currently has a bad flare up. Also can't get the gp to take it seriously and tried all sorts. Baths and showers a few times a day seems to help ease the pain for a bit . Definitely after going to the toilet.
I hope you get some help soon.

Ds has a fissure & ended up in
A & E several times when he was dripping blood across the bathroom floor. He was referred straight to the bowel surgical unit where he had a colonoscopy within a couple of weeks, then prescribed the GTN cream, which took about a month to work. He now has an open referral in case it opens up again.