Anal Fissure for 6 months, scared and sore

[MissTulipan]

Hi

Despite having a teenage daughter and having looked for words of wisdom from mumsnet many times in the past, I have never posted, until now...

I have had a sore bum on and off since a few slightly painful poos back in May brought about by eating a load of peanuts (never ever again) Having had mild piles after birth if DD2 I assumed I had piles and self treated for internal piles.

Had sore times and ok times all summer but more sore in recent weeks and noticed external piles appearing and feeling generally sore. Went to GP last week and she looked and said I have piles on the outside and thinks I have a fissure. She offered to refer me to hospital or to try a stronger piles cream. I said I would do what ever she felt was best. She prescribed a stronger hydrocortisone cream, Scheriproct and said to go back in few weeks.

Having now read about anal fissures (gone Google mad) I am now realising that the symptoms match what I've been experiencing but just not to the extreme as some people have described. But I relate to the nagging pain and soreness on and off all day. I don't have issues with constipation and am an active 42 year old. I am going to go back to the GP and ask for the cream that increases blood flow to bum area. I cannot see a tear in my bum but it feels like it is inside above where the tight muscle bit ends.

As it's obviously been there for 6 months and not cleared up I have got myself into a really silly state of thinking that it will be with me forever causing chronic pain (if it gets worse) or I will end up having the surgery that cuts the muscle and i will end up soiling my pants. I'm an anxious person generally but this has made me feel panicked reading about the difficulties treating these things!

Can anyone offer me some words of wisdom and hope as I've spent all evening crying on and off as the family are out. I've been on my feet all day with work and I feel scared and sore.

Thank you

I'm a year on from botox now and I think I might be ok from now on.
The fissure was 11 years old and constantly damaged by IBS.

I've had to accept that in the long term I have had to eat less and constantly be aware of my diet to reduce the chances of any more problems. Sitting down isn't good either.
My consultant prescribed milk of magnesia too. It worked. I thought it was just something they used in the 1950's .

Crossing my fingers we can all come out the other side in time. It's such a wretched problem .

Yes, I’m always aware of my diet and of drinking plenty of water meglet. Not such a bad thing I suppose! If I have a day when my diet isn’t great I’ll eat some fruit and/or take a sachet of Fybogel before I go to bed, to ward off problems.

How is everyone doing? I've hit a major low 😔. Waiting for round 2 of botox. Has anyone healed after 2 rounds of botox? Slowing becoming more and more depressed by this awful fissure. I want my life back!

Bloody awful fissures, I thought I was on the mend but gone two steps back again. I just keep holding on to things consultants and junior doctors have said to me over the last year:
It will heal in the end
It’s definitley healing, just keep doing what you are doing
Keep everything soft and never strain

I’m trying to stay calm as stress makes it worse, I’m eating less and losing weight, that helps too, less food in means less to let out and make bum sore. It’s bloody annoying and can’t believe how long it goes on but it could be worse.

Wishing everyone suffering and down lots of empathy and understanding x

Feeling down tonight about all this, although I’m not in pain I have discomfort in my bum about 80% of the time. A swollen slightly sore feeling. I’ve been advised by specialists to leave it alone now and hope it doesn’t get worse. No further Botox recommended as it’s invasive and may make it worse and if LIS surgery is performed then there would be considerable risk of incontinence in 10 or so years time.
It’s hard to accept the ongoing discomfort but I just have to. It’s been 18 months now.

Hi there, I have been reading this thread with interest as I have been suffering with multiple fissures for 15 months now since having a baby. The pain for the first 5/6 months was unbearable. Then things improved and I managed with less pain overall with the occasional bad flare up. Having a bad flare up at the moment however. About to try the GTN cream which I haven’t done due to breastfeeding and worried about the headaches. Sorry to hear others suffering. It really is a horrible thing to deal with. :( I hope we can be cured!

I've suffered on and off with fissures for years that have been caused by my rectocele. Colorectal surgeon said it's only mild so nothing he can do and of cause the fissure had healed at the time of my appointment but is back now worse than ever!
I'm on week one of using GNT cream and it's done nothing, not even a bloody headache!
I've just spent all morning crying my eyes out with the pain, huge sympathy for anyone else suffering

FluffyDavis were you told your rectocele was causing the fissure? Or making the fissure hard to heal because of the rectocele? I was told at first examination at hospital that I have a rectocele (which had caused no symptoms and I was unaware of) I wonder if this is preventing mine from fully healing. I can’t see my fissure as quite high inside.
I’m really sorry to hear of you and Missmums suffering. Unfortunately for me neither creams did anything for me but they do for lots of people so there is hope in that front.

Sorry for TMI-
I have known about the rectocele for many years. When I need to poo it bulges through the wall into my vagina and I have to insert my thumb and apply pressure to go (and this is what he called mild!).
If I'm even slightly constipated I end up trying to pass something that feels as big as a grapefruit because of the large void which then causes a tear.
It doesn't sound like your rectocele is affecting you in that way?

FluffyDavis Thank you for the explanation, the registrar I saw described a more advanced rectocele the way you describe yours! interesting how doctors have differing opinions. I do not have rectocele symptoms. Is there an operation to improve that situation that could help the fissure?
I am having a better day today!? And that’s the nature of this...I am enjoying the day of less soreness.
Sympathy to everyone in this boat.!

@Joanna88 nope, second round of Botox didn't work either. Now waiting for follow up appointment in February ☹️

How is everyone getting on?
I am so bloody miserable, dh has taken over the school runs this week as I'm finding the walk excruciating.
I went back to the doctor on Monday and cried. She just said to persevere with the gtn cream and also prescribed Lidocaine but only to use it for a max of 3 days. The pharmacy had to order it in so haven't tried it yet.
I have called the hospital and managed to make an appointment to see the colorectal surgeon again, I seriously can't take this pain anymore. He originally said surgery wasn't an option for me but I could be seen by the physio team. Not sure how that will help?!

FluffyDavis Hello, sorry to hear you are really suffering. I have read about physio helping fissures that are related to pelvic floor issues, but don’t know the full detail. Have you had Botox before? I see no reason why that couldn’t be tried. It helps a lot of people and even if it just brings temporary relief it’s worth it. It’s such a pain all of this.
I am having quite a good week of minimal soreness but I’ve had that before a month or so ago and then it got sore again. But I’m enjoying this for now.
There is hope that it will improve in time. I take lactulose daily and more in recent times. I drink straight out bottle but I reckon about 15-20ml per evening and I won’t stop taking this any time soon. Have you tried sitting on a hot water bottle.
Good luck with the surgeon, when are you seeing him?

You may know this already but there is also a procedure called advancement flap surgery which is an alternative to LIS. Surgeons are loathed to perform LIS as can cause incontinence in future years, this is what I was told by my surgeon and probably a rectocele added may be more problematic but the other surgery I read is an option.

That's great that you are feeling better!
He is seeing me next Tuesday so I haven't got long to wait. I'm determined to get some sort of treatment plan so will go in with a list to ask him. I've never had Botox so hopefully that is an option for me.
I'm struggling to get the correct dosage of lactulose so that's helpful thank you. I literally spent the day sitting on a hot water bottle!
My dh picked up the Lidocaine and also a syringe with some sort of anaesthetic so I'm hoping I won't be in as much pain tomorrow.

I will also look up the advancement flap surgery, thank you.

FluffyDavis I'm wondering how you are doing? And what your doctor said? X

The daily pain is as worse as ever! I barely managed to get out of bed today at all, it's not too bad when I'm laying down but 5 mins after getting up and walking I'm in agony again.
The consultant has said they will do an examination under anaesthetic and Botox so just waiting to get a date for surgery now.
He could see a fissure but I couldn't tolerate being examined any further, the pain was unbearable.
I'm so miserable, just desperate to get my life back

Joanna88 how are you now?

I'm so sorry to hear how much pain you're in 😔. I really hope the botox works for you. Botox has definitely helped me but I'm 4 weeks out of my second round of botox and I'm still not healed 🙁 i was really hoping it would completely fix me....I'm feeling better than i was but not fixed. Wondering how long all of this is going to continue for. It feels never ending. I often wonder if it's ever going to get better. It's been over a year now. It's so debilitating. You have my empathy. I pray that 2019 brings us all a fully healed bum!

Hi all, just been reading this thread as I have been suffering for a while. My SIL recommended taking slippery elm powder and my god it is working wonders! It basically costs everything with a slimy mucas (😷) and help you to go without so much pain and reopening the fissure. I cannot recommend it enough. I warn you though it tastes vile but if you can’t stomach it in powder form they do a capsule as well (not sure if it would be as effective I’ve only tried the powder) I got my next day delivery on amazon. Please please try it - after a week if feel so much better. I take it twice or three times a day in water. No pain no blood and hopeful for the first time in ages that it might heal!

Hi,

I've been reading your posts and cant believe this has been going on for so long :(

I've been suffering so badly with this to the point I'm screaming on the toilet and biting down so hard on a towel in absolute tears - ive been awake for a few hours now in so much pain reading your posts hoping for light at the end of the tunnel.

I've had a fissure(s) for just over 6 months and I would genuinely rather go through childbirth again. I get no sleep from the pain which makes me more grumpy in the day with my family. It literally affects every aspect of my life. Please tell me you feel better now?

I'm so sorry you are going through this too, it's truly horrific
What pain relief are you taking?
I currently take Naproxen tablets twice a day and paracetamol. Not sure if it's making a difference but will try anything.
I've just bought some dulcoease to try, it's a softener rather than laxative so I'm hoping it will be better than the lactolose.
I actually left the house today with only mild pain the difference it makes if you don’t use the toilet in the morning!
I’m going to try and train my digestive system to go in the evening, at least I can lay down and have a normalish day then.
Sorry you aren't sleeping, that's awful. The only thing that helps me is a very hot water bottle under my bum in bed. Might be worth a try if you haven't already.
Have you seen a colorectal surgeon or doctor about it?

I am feeling a lot better of late thank goodness. Lots of time needed to cure fissures sadly. I think another few months and I will be a lot better.

Ive been reading this thread and thought i would reply. Ive had my fissure for about 10 years. Ive tried all the creams under the sun and had botox twice and still got it. Have to say never tried stool softener as i thought it was like a laxative and would have made things worse. I have salt baths almost daily. When i went back to my gp about a year ago, she referred me to the colorectal consultant but all they did was send me a consent letter gor the LIS surgery. From what ive read im put off by it so i never filled the form out. Personally i would have liked to see a consultant to talk about options first. How is everyone else getting on?