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

Hi!

Yes my appointment is on Friday! Still a bit worried about them poking around but I guess someone has to have a look 😂!

Yeah some days I don't feel it at all, others like today, it bleeds and burns! But it is bearable, and not like it was at the start! Just have to watch what I eat and drink, which is boring! But fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse! It's definitely bearable!

Hope you are feeling ok 😀

Xx

I will be thinking of you on Friday and awaiting an update. I’m interested in what they do and suggest x

Good luck tomorrow Ash, hope you get a plan of action of how to tackle this annoying ongoing and sore issue. May they be very gentle with you too, maybe they will use an anuscope to examine you?

Sending virtual hug xx

I had to take a stool softener which ensured that my poop was so soft that it allowed the tear to heal.

If you don’t do this your fissure will never heal as your hard stool will aggravate it each time you pass a stool.

Hey!

So I had my appointment today! He said everything sounds consistent with a fissure, and that they can happen after labour 😱!

He had a look and it took him ages to find it! He said it's very tiny, but is there! Changed my cream to diltiazem and told me to use it for 8 eeeks day and night!

If it doesn't heal it's Botox 😕, but that is under general anaesthetic 😱. Hope you are doing well

Xx

Hi Ash, so glad you have had your appointment and something new to try, pretty much as expected probably in terms of treatment. I imagine that is exactly what I will be told too but I think I have some internal piles issue going on as well.

That’s really positive that it’s tiny though although doesn’t feel like it! At least not a gaping sore wound...

Do you feel a bit better having been?

I have just had 2 glasses of wine on a work night out and right now feel quite normal travelling home but that’s probably the effects of alcohol and a lot of girly laughter!

Let me know how the new cream goes and let’s be positive...keep me posted and likewise I will too xx

Yeah I felt much better after seeing the Dr! I'm trying to be positive and hope that this cream works wonders 😊!

Had a few glasses of wine last night and now I can't go to the loo, which is slightly worrying 😂! Keep feeling better and then messing with my diet and ending up back at square one 🙁.

Sorry for the random post, but hope that you had a good weekend!

Random posts are good! Can you have some lactulose or milk of magnesia or something? Lots of soft fruit?
It’s hard to maintain the whole diet thing day in day out. Someone noticed for the first time yesterday my weight loss! Nearly a stone but actually that is the only silver lining to this whole situation as I am slimmer now and pleased about that, nothing to stop you eating so much and eating better than bum troubles. I am counting the days until my appointment. 23 days.

When I read my first post which was about 3 months ago I remember how panicked I felt and I know I have moved on from there mentally although symptoms have not improved much. I’ve accepted it now and am hopeful of improvement with specialist intervention.

Wishing you healing with the new cream...

Feel free to random post anytime, I’m here to listen and respond x

A fellow suffer checking in. Does anyone know if diltiazem is better than the GTN ointment? Have been on the GTN for few weeks and seem to heal but then another tear opens up in a different place. Wondering if I should ask GP to change to diltiazem...

I have used GTN for 8 weeks now with little improvement. I imagine I will be prescribed diltiazem when I see the consultant in 3 weeks.
Have you had a referral to a specialist?

Thanks missT! It's always nice to have someone to talk to, especially about something as horrible as this!

It really is hard to stick to the diet, I miss alcohol and takeaways! To be fair though you are right, I'm back into all my pre pregnancy clothes and smaller, without much exercise! So that is a silver lining 😊!

Well done on feeling slimmer! But it's definitely not the nicest way to lose weight!

I used GTN for 8 weeks and to be fair I did see a huge difference in pain and bleeding! But it wasn't completely healed! I also think it took 4-6 weeks for me to really notice a difference! The dr told me at the clinic that diltiazem is better, but I don't know how true that is as it probably had to say that as he was giving me it after GTN 😂

But fingers crossed it will work!

Chin up to anyone reading these posts and suffering!! It has to get better!

Xx

How is the new cream going Ash?
I seem to have developed a new weird pain up my bum on left side...3 weeks today and all will be revealed with the specialist as to what’s going on.

Sore today. Felt upset last night. It just goes on and on x

Hey missT,

Sorry to hear that! I think sometimes you can be so stressed when going now that it just hurts everywhere!

The new cream seems to be working a treat touch wood! Bottom feels much better, but for some reason I am a bit constipated even though taking lactulose still and eating well! I genuinely don't understand 😂! So very scared what tomorrow will bring! And I had an episiotomy with my baby and everything just feels tender again, I fear I am a mess 😂

Are you still using the rectogesic? Hope you will feel better soon!

Hi Ash, I’m encouraged that you have a positive initial response to the new cream. I guess I will be given the same, the first gp I saw mentioned something about injecting piles and doing ‘a stretch’ for the Fissure!! I looked up ‘the stretch’ and I think it may have been an older treatment...

So goodness knows what I face but I’ve accepted that I may have to go down the injectable route both with piles (if that is what’s going on inside too?) and the Botox for the Fissure. I too feel a mess. I think this is the sorest I’ve been for a few months. Haven’t told anyone at work but imagine I may have to at some point! That will be interesting.

I read that the diltiazem cream can cause skin irritation so perhaps that’s why your scar is feeling tender.

I’m still using Rectogesic and I’m 8 weeks this week which is the max I think gp said but think I will continue until I see specialist in 3 weeks.
I eat prunes all day long which seem to be working and tons of water.

Hope you are ok tomorrow and I hope your baby brings you lots of smiles to take your mind off this annoying issue, my 7 year old certainly does

Hi MissT and Ash, just read the full thread.
Not sure if this may help you Ash, but a good spoonful of olive oil and orange juice (not cordial), before bed, is pretty good for constipation.
Also, sit on the pot, in a Squatty position, and move your hips around for a while, sometimes this gets things going.
What a thoroughly miserable time you're both having, wishing you both a very speedy recovery.💐💐

I ended up buying a Squatty Potty 😂but it's super uncomfortable so don't know if I'm using it wrong, but I assume there is only one way to use it!

I'm drinking prune juice before bed and taking lactulose and eating well but I'm still somehow having problems! Who knows what's going on!

Chin up MissT! Only 3 weeks until your appointment you can do it! I'm a bit resigned to the Botox route, but who knows really! My fissure is definitely still there, but not as painful and hasn't bled for around a week which I think is good?!

Haha yes my baby brings me lots of smiles bless her! She's 7 months now so always chatting, shouting and hitting herself with things, so curious!

I find walking helps me, I used to run but I'm scared to get back into after the baby! Helps clears the head and gets the blood flowing! Hard when you are working though 🙈

Hi Ash- checking in, how are you? Any joy with the new cream?

I’m still sore and a bit miserable but keeping busy and on a 2 week countdown now until I see the consultant.

Have been researching Botox treatment in preparation.

I do quite a lot of walking to and from station, school and work. I used to do a lot of fitness classes but now I’m working full time it’s hard to fit in.

Sending you and any other sufferers reading healing vibes...

Hey missT,

I'm doing good 😊! Still not perfect, but the past few days I haven't recalls felt it, this is despite having a few drinks and dinner out at the weekend! So I'm taking that as a win! A little sore today, but hoping it's nothing!

This is either the effects of the cream or possibly the Squatty Potty as I got both at the same time!

Have you got a Squatty Potty? Feels weird at the start, but I actually think it might be quite helpful!

Fingers crossed for your appointment? When is it again? I think at this point anxiety plays a huge part in the pain (at least for me!)

I hope that you are keeping well otherwise!

Xx

I’m pleased to hear you are doing well. I don’t have squatty potty, just a foot stool.

I’m sore, but back to using the Scheriproct cream I got prior to Rectogesic which the gp kindly informed me has cocaine in it so my bum is really quite numb at present!! I got to my 8 weeks of Rectogesic hence why I’ve reverted to the other cream.

My appointment is two weeks time on Valentine’s Day! The man I’m seeing seems very experienced as I’ve looked him up so feeling confident about that.

I’m fully prepared for all manner of injections or surgery. Always like to prepare for the worst then can’t be dissapointed.
Other than that life is busy. Really hope you will move forward. I’m so bored of reading depressing anal Fissure forums but I can’t help it, I get desperate and just need to search for good news stories. Thankfully there are a few...

Take care x

Hi Ash, how are you doing?
I’m the same, no better or worse but starting to get quite anxious about appointment which is now 10 days away, worried I may have something seriously wrong (unlikely) or something hard to treat, worried he won’t find anything particular and I will go home feeling as confused as I have for last 9 months!
I know it’s all irrational fear but just needed to vent.
Worried I will never be normal again and then feel guilty when I think about how many people are out there right now dealing with far far worse.
Rant over

I hope you are feeling a bit better x

Hey MissT,

I'm pretty much the same, it still hurts when I go to the loo and some days it hurts all day! But not like at the start!

So not much change here I'm afraid! I'm not sure it's enough to make me try Botox though!

Sorry to hear you are still sore! Do you think it's gotten any better at all?

Rant away! It's what I'm here for

Xx

Hi there. I know I’m Late to this thread, and that you’re now waiting to see a specialist. But thought I’d add my story. My fissure was the result of constipation caused by iron tablets after my second baby. No piles though. As you know, the pain was just awful, stabbing, breath taking, I needed pain killers in anticipation of pooing. I put teething gel on my bum before pooing! I self treated with germaloids, then had the gtn cream from the gp. Then I had the diltiezem from a proctologist. Who said it was unlikely to help long term, I was a bit young (38) for surgery but he’d book me on for Botox. But I found out I was pregnant with DS2 a few days before the appointment. My gp suggested trying to avoid ever having a solid poo. Movicol sachets, around 3-6 a day really made a huuuuge difference. I kept this up through most of the pregnancy and and the problem never came back. DS3 is 2.5 now and still ok. I did have a pile last year, which had totally different symptoms and has also gone.

Stay hydrated Eat lots fruit + veg Sudocrem

I had a fissure. I've had problems with constipation and haemorrhoids since giving birth 3 years ago. I was prescribed diltiazem and told to apply it with gloves as it can make you dizzy. It cleared up in a few weeks. The doctor had said if it hadn't healed with the cream, next step was botox. That was about 6 months ago and it hasn't returned.

Has really cheered me up to see some new positive stories...

Ash, there is hope. Thanks guys.