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Original poster

Anal Fissure (Sorry TMI)

28 replies

DontKnowWhatToDoo · 02/07/2012 17:46

Hello, name-changed as very embarrassed.

Basically, it has only just occurred to me that I have quite a large tear/fissure in the opening of my anus. I always thought that it was a bleeding skin tag as I have a skin-tag-looky-likey on the opening, which is actually hiding the fissure.
Last wednesday I had a BM and a large amount of blood came out (i.e red water, and was dripping). Still thought it was the skin tag.
Anyway, has been happening every day now - went to the toilet just now, coughed on the toilet and it started dripping with blood. So sorry for TMI.

Can I treat this at home? I've never had to go to the GP about this, and I know that this is their job etc etc etc, but still, would rather not go if I didn't have to...

The actual area isn't painful when I have a BM, which is a bit confusing. Nothing has recently changed in that area or anything, and my stools are normally quite soft, so no idea how this actually happened...

Really hope someone can help, thank you.

OP posts:
Footle · 02/07/2012 18:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 02/07/2012 22:21

Bumping for desperate need for advice..

OP posts:
Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 02/07/2012 22:22

P.s Footle I can't imagine an Elastoplast would be very comfy in that region! What will the doctor be able to do though? Confused

OP posts:
dozensofpichu · 02/07/2012 23:31

Go to the doctor. You will be prescribed cream and told to drink lots of water and eat lots of fibre. Doctor will probably need to examine you to be sure that is the problem. They see this stuff everyday! HTH

OhEmGee24 · 03/07/2012 07:19

It doesn't sound like a fissure if it doesn't hurt to have a BM. Anal fissures are renound for feeling like you're pooing glass, I have one it's agony. Def a trip for the GP.

Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 03/07/2012 08:51

GP not there, but managed to get an appt at 11.
OhEmGee Any idea what it could be? Its slightly uncomfortable, but not painful - there is definitely a tear there though..
Very nervous!

OP posts:
Hebiegebies · 03/07/2012 08:54

You will know by half 11! Don't worry, the medical staff will look after you

OhEmGee24 · 03/07/2012 11:12

I don't know, perhaps a haematoma (sp?). You describe dripping blood and red water in the loo which doesn't really coincide with a fissure. They are - typically - very very painful when passing a bm and for sometime after, and the blood is just on wiping. Let us know, you're in the best hands. Be prepared to have wither a digital examination or a sigmoidoscopy. It's unpleasant but done very quickly.

hairytale · 03/07/2012 11:35

Doesn't sound like an anal fissure. I have one and every bm is like pooing glass. There is a small amount of blood when I wipe.

Good luck with the GP.

Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 03/07/2012 12:28

Well, I've come away quite confused. The Dr didn't give me an actual 'diagnosis'. There is definitely a tear as I've looked after a BM and can see about a 1inch tear behind a skin tag/sentinel pile.
He said that he couldn't see much of a tear, but that there was blood coming from the sentinel pile - I'm not surprised he couldn't see anything - we were in the corner of a dark room, and behind a curtain. It was virtually pitch black!

The thing that I am most concerned about is the amount of bleeding - it is literally dripping from me whilst I'm having a BM. He wasn't that concerned about that either really..
He wasn't my usual GP, and haven't met him before - he seemed more flustered about the examination than I was, and I was very nervous!

I've come away with some Scheriproct and been told to eats lots and lots of fibre and fruit and veg. I told him that I go through days of harder stools/constipation and then virtually diarrhoea - again, he didn't seem too bothered about that.

Anyone had Scheriproct before? I'm not sure on dosage as I had to go to 4 different chemists to get the prescription, when I finally got them there is no dosage note as that normally comes from the Dr IYSWIM..

Also, it says in the instructions not to use for more than 5-7 days, he told me to keep using it for at least a few weeks until it has improved. Also says that it is for inflamed and sore piles - I'm not inflamed or sore.. Confused

OP posts:
OhEmGee24 · 03/07/2012 13:08

Scheriproct is great. Don't worry about being for piles. Ive been prescribed proctesedyl for my fissure which claims to be or that too. It'll just numb the area and if it's like the proctesedyl, you store it in the fridge so after an agonising glass poo, a freezing cold suppository is actually bliss!

Re diarrohea to constipation, me too. I have IBS. Take my recent example: Friday I had chronic diarrohea, didn't go at all on Saturday then come Sunday it's so rock hard it caused my fissure. The only way to help is buscopan if you get tummy cramps, loads of water and fibre and a stool softener.

Hth. I'd defo get the excess bleeding sorted though. Perhaps ask another gp. X

boredandrestless · 03/07/2012 13:14

Doctor doesn't sound that good. I would book another appointment with someone else TBH. I know it's a faff and unpleasant but this doctor sounded rather lacking!

I sometimes get small anal fissures and they are very painful and only bleed a little. I too have IBS that results in constipation, then runs, then constipation etc.

Ephiny · 03/07/2012 13:17

A fissure would normally be v. painful during and immediately after having a bm, and that amount of bleeding doesn't sound normal to me. If things don't improve with the Scheriproct can you go back, maybe ask for an appointment with your usual GP if you have more confidence in him/her?

Iteotwawki · 03/07/2012 13:17

Painless bright red bleeding after a BM is a good history for piles. Topical creams can help with pain / itching and may shrink them but if the bleeding continues then I'd go back and ask for a referral to a surgeon - they can often treat them with a rubber banding technique.

Eating a high fibre diet and drinking lots of water to keep BM soft is a good idea, you can get a fibre supplement (Metamucil) which is really good for keeping things consistent!

If the bleeding doesn't settle in a few days then get it checked properly - you may need a colonoscopy to rule out anything more serious.

Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 03/07/2012 13:23

OhEmGee I know what you mean, but I don't have any pain - thats what is so strange.
I have wondered about IBS; but I mentioned to him that I go from constipation to diarrhoea/very soft all the time, but he didn't say anything about IBS.
I said that I'd had a few sharp tummy pains in strange places of my tummy; but again, that wasn't looked into further.
Has been really helpful though, so thank you :)

bored I thought the same - he wasn't nasty or rude, but just made me feel a teeny bit like I was wasting his time. IMO with this amount of blood loss, its not wasting time. Like I said, not horrible at all, but I think if I'd told him that I'd bled a litre of blood he would still have said 'Hmm, yep, yep' and carried on.

Thank you Ephiny - instructions say that it should help after a week - if it hasn't and there is still a large amount of bleeding then I'll definitely go back.

OP posts:
Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 03/07/2012 13:25

Iteowaki can you get the fibre supplement over the counter? I asked Dr about how I could increase fibre as I already have quite a high fibre diet (meaning a supplement) but he said no.

OP posts:
Iteotwawki · 03/07/2012 13:36

I couldn't find Metamucil listed in Tesco or Boots (am not in UK) but it's sold in supermarkets and health shops here so I'm sure there's something similar available in the UK.

I started taking it after I had my piles banded and I think it helps a lot - I didn't have a particularly high fibre diet before though and I know I have a tendency to constipation.

washngo · 03/07/2012 13:39

Please go to the doctor. I had an anal fissure which became an abscess and was dry very painful before eventually being operated on. You cannot solve this problem yourself but a doctor can help you.

washngo · 03/07/2012 13:42

Sorry! Just seen that you have been but I do suggest you get a second opinion. I was sent away three times before my abscess was diagnosed (one doctor even said they suspected I had pnd because "you're crying an awful lot for someone with a sore bottom" but that was because by that stage I was in agony!).

Original poster
DontKnowWhatToDoo · 03/07/2012 13:45

Okay thank you Iteotwawki I'll have a look in some pharmacies and health shops.

OP posts:
wannabestressfree · 03/07/2012 13:48

I have had my bottom stitched :{ with crohns related tears/ I go to the hospital though not the doctors.
Hugs though....... they kill

lisaro · 03/07/2012 13:53

I'll open up, it's not embarrassing - I had one with similar symptoms about 3/4 years ago. I eventually ended up in the hospital as a day case where they actually stretch the tear further so it's easier to heal. I was a bit tender and off work for about two weeks. It's fine now. If 'resting' it by making your poo softer doesn't work then this is probably what will happen. I know you're worried but it's not too bad - honestly.

OhEmGee24 · 03/07/2012 16:00

How are you op? Is the blood just rectally or possibly vaginally also?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 03/07/2012 16:04

Fybogel is a freely available fibre supplement thingy. Had loads after DD helped my fissures too

babyjane67 · 03/07/2012 16:07

hi
sorry for stealing yr thread but have also had blood in my bm today
have had piles&had to have the op on them just afta i had my last child3&half yrs ago
dr said today though that the blood was prob due to a pile or sm tear in my bum but how can it be due to piles if ive had em done!!!!!
is that possible for them to come back???
tia