Help DD with fissures. Arrgh! TW bleeding

[Thirtysomething123]

DD (10) had intolerances and CMPA as a baby and toddler. She has a few minor allergies to some pollens (not sure if this history of allergies is relevant). Over the last nine months or so DD has started having periods of diarrhoea. It then improves after a while. Around the same time she started getting episodes of bleeding from her bottom. We took her to the GP and they believed they could see a fissure. They did tests too (blood tests) which all came back normal. After us pushing a lot we got her a referral to paeds and a dietician (we are still waiting for this). But GP told us it’s IBS which could be right as common IBS irritants coincide with the diarrhea. It’s horrible as she gets so upset and it can be sore. Sometimes it’s quite a bit of blood. Always fresh red. What else can I push for? She’s crying about it a lot because it stings. Whilst we wait for the referral what do I do? Anything else I should ask for?

I can't help much with the IBS side of things but when one of my DV got a fissure the doctor said we could use hemorrhoid cream with local anaesthetic in it. Not all brands have LA so worth checking which type.

Have you noticed any triggers for the diarrhoea?

We are making (an ever growing) list of triggers but there’s some we aren’t a hundred per cent sure of yet x

Has she had a faecal calprotectin test done? GP can order it. It’s a stool sample that is measured for inflammatory markers.
Has she had her CRP (level of inflammation) blood test done?
I would be asking GP to order a colonoscopy too (not sure if they can, or if it is only a pead who can do this).

I would be pushing the GP and asking if they could run the calprotectin asap, as if levels are elevated it could indicate possible inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis etc) and they may the be able to push for an expedited Pead appt

Yes Calpotrectin has been down and fine. I’m desperate to help her with the stinging 😢

Aw, poor thing. Tried using a barrier cream for open skin? Cavilon? Before having a bowel movement etc?

Yes we have nappy cream and GP prescribed vagisil for it too

The poor lamb. I’m not an expert but as a lifelong IBS sufferer I can sympathise.

If there are mechanisms at work other than IBS then I can’t help. But the thing that proved life changing for me was Fybogel. Crucially, not taken according to the pack instructions, ie: two doses daily, taken with food. This was disastrous and made matters worse for me. I started taking one dose daily, after my evening meal, then nothing but plain water until bedtime. I found this cleaned up and “reset” my system by the next morning. Diarrhoea was about 60% better, bleeding stopped altogether and the soreness disappeared in a matter of days.

It won’t work for everyone but it’s cheap and easy to try.

Applying some sort of cream or something like coconut oil before going to the toilet, and using wipes not tissue paper. A warm bath or sitz bath after using the toilet, and something cold like a piece of ice well wrapped in kitchen roll inside your pants if it'd feeling sore can all help.