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 hope you're feeling a bit better missT!!

Xx

HI Ash, much the same here. Def worse since all the examinations but not too bad, just usual slight soreness and discomfort all day. I had a theory that perhaps it’s healed but just scar tissue is sensitive? But until someone looks at the photo and tells me I don’t know. Going to GP for advise tomorrow.
Was feeling quite panicked about it all over weekend but resigned myself to fact that it’s there and just have to accept its long term

Have read some other forums and it’s all quite depressing. How are you?

Honestly I'm ok! It hurts a little going to the loo and I do think it could get worse if I wasn't careful with my diet, but it doesn't really bother me during the day, which I think I all I can hope for!

I'm now seeing physio for my tailbone as it has just gotten progressively worse! So it's my new thing to worry about

I hope you got to the dr today and got some diltiazem! I think it (and time ) actually helps!

Ash

Hi Ash, sounds positive news for you Fissure wise, not so good about tailbone pain but let’s hope time is a healer for all these things!

My gp can’t prescribe diltiazem as it can only be prescribed by specialists but he is going to contact the consultant and discuss differing diagnosis and next steps. For now I have more Rectogesic. The gp said I may be offered Botox and he assured me that it will heal and won’t be there forever. I’m holding onto those words!

I feel ok, the soreness is tolerable, just annoying and I have to eat copious fibre, fruit, water etc. Now I understand more about rectoceles I can understand how I got the Fissure through one bout of constipation. The rectocele hinders the ability to push poo out so brings the need to push/strain a lot more if constipated. Hence how I ended up like this. At least I now know I have this weakness and will never let myself eat badly again even if only for a day! Take care and keep me posted on your progress x

How’s things Ash? No change my end, just sore! So bored now of it but resigned that it’s the new normal. Still waiting to see consultant again to get diltiazem (or what ever else he recommends)

Hi OP. Get you've had so much advice. I had fissure after having kids. Had it a it 2 years. Awful. Used to cry in pain. I did three things-

1. Stool softener
2. GTN cream
3. Use a stool for my feet when I went for a poo. Forces the body into a squatting position which is a more natural position to poo in

Thanks...That’s encouraging that you had it for 2 years and I presume healed after. I have been doing all your list above for months! On 3rd tube of GTN cream. Foots stools in bathrooms and softeners....I am still hopeful though.

Hi missT,

Things have been going well here up until today 😂! I went out for a friends birthday last night and ate and drank too much! Very silly! Was quite sore going to the loo today and now I'm sore! Hoping it's just a slight setback and nothing too horrendous!

Any idea when you will see the consultant? I think the diltiazem is very good! Sorry to hear you are sore!

Xx

Hello all! Just joining. I have had fissures on and off for a few years, January 2017 it properly peaked and I was panicking it would be chronic, but got back under control through rectogesic, eating ten portions of fruit and veg a day (no exaggeration!) Drinking gallons of water and taking fybogel twice a day. It completely healed and I had no issues at all over the summer. Came back a bit last November but nowhere near as bad . It is Definitely worse in the winter! I think I'm more tense when it's cold?! Anyway, apart from all the obvious as above, the things I think helped were taking fybogel at meal times, and also when going, as well as sitting up straight with feet on box, making myself sound ridiculous... Blow out through your lips to make a sort of horse noise?! If your lips are relaxed so is your bum, basically, and if you can't clench then it is slightly less painful. It sounds ridiculous but it was the only way I could go sometimes, and I think it prevented it getting worse!!

Good luck to everyone. It is so unpleasant!

How is everyone doing? I’m still waiting to see consultant again for diltiazem cream. Is it going to work?

Still sore and uncomfortable, constantly aware. Fine when sitting or lying down so it’s only bothersome when walking and standing.

People keep saying that one day I will look back on this time when I’m better but after a year if it, it’s hard to imagine

Hey missT

I honestly feel so much better, o don't know if it is the diltiazem or if it's just time!

I'm still worried going to the loo and it's still does hurt sometimes, like it did today! But it doesn't bother me at all during the day! So there is hope!

I just worry I will go back to that! I am also now struggling hard with tailbone issues probably caused by forceps delivery 🙁! There's always something!

Chin up though! It will get better!

Thanks Ash and sorry to hear about tail bone. So annoying. I’m just bored of it all. I go from feeling optimistic to a bit bleak. Feeling quite down about it all right now but should see consultant again soon.
So pleased to hear Fissure wise you are on the mend

Ash- tell me you are all healed with diltiazem!!?
I’m still waiting to see consultant and I think symptoms getting worse after a year. Really trying to be positive but it’s draining. Still using Rectogesic

Hi missT!

Honestly my fissure i way better! I don't feel it most days!

I'm still struggling though I think I also have a rectocele, and I'm really struggling to get on top of toilet habits 😬 and tailbone pain is terrible!

Struggling to see how I will ever have another baby!

But honestly I think the diltiazem works! Fingers crossed you will see someone soon!

I hope that otherwise you are well! Xx

Hey Ash, pleased to hear your fissure is feeling a bit better. I am a year into my bum issues now!

I finished 3rd tube or Rectogesic, honestly think it does nothing beneficial for me and then thought I’d use the hydrocortisone cream for a couple of weeks as I have lots left from last summer. I do think this helps but don’t want to over use. Still have 4 weeks until I see the consultant again so have decided to give sudocrem a go, have read some people have had success.
At present soreness and irritation is not too bad, mildly noticeable and every time I have a better phase I feel encouraged that this time I may be on the mend.
How is tail bone pain? Regarding rectocele, the registrar I saw before who diagnosed mine said that many women have them after pregnancy but a lot don’t cause symptoms. Mine I now know will only become symptomatic if I get constipated (hence how the fissure/piles palava started)
Happy days....

Thought I would update this for anyone who may be looking for advice. I have now been prescribed diltiazem which I’m to use for a few weeks but it’s looking as though I will have Botox under GA in a few months. I’m not really suffering badly but still on going soreness and discomfort. Doctor assured me that all fissures eventually go away as long as you keep everything soft, never strain etc.

Hi missT!

I'm glad that you got the diltiazem! Was it from a consultant? It really helped me!

I still struggle sometimes with irritation but it's not like it was before at all!

Finger crossed for you!

Ash

Hi Ash, I wondered if you would still be around...so pleased to hear you are doing better. Yes a consultant prescribed it, the ointment so I will see how it goes. I am having more better days than before but then a day where I feel really uncomfortable again. Still eating figs all day!

So happy things are better for you x

Hi missT,

I hope the diltiazem will really help you! I'm sure it will! Lots of positive thoughts coming your way!

Ash

Marking my place. I had botox last autumn and think maybe, possibly that after a decade of IBS and fissures I'm finally out the other side.

megletthesecond Congratulations and well done on getting to this point. I so long to be able to type that last line....positive thoughts

Hi I stumbled across this thread hope you don’t mind me posting for info. A good friend has this issue after children for a good few years, eventually had the Botox and has never had a problem since. It seemed to stop the cycle of issues. Thought it might reassure.

It really does reassure, thank you for posting ilovebagpuss

I have posted on this thread previously but just checking back in.

This time last year I was at breaking point and preparing for surgery at the end of the month. I had internal piles treated with the halo/thd method, I had an anal skin tag excised and Botox for 3 fissures. I thought I was beyond help.

But I wasn't and it was the best thing I've ever done. After the initial recovery I had my life back and now I can enjoy my children, eat what I want and basically be normal. I'm grateful every single day and will be for as long as it may last. Which is apparently forever if I look after myself and don't have any more pregnancies.

If treatment is what you need then go for it and don't look back.

I think I have a fissure. Was at the doctors today thinking it was piles- I'm 38 weeks pregnant- she couldn't see anything. I Thought maybe piles but getting better. Then I had a bowel movement. It was horrendous again. Had to run a bath- only thing that soothes it. Things settled down then did another poo and again in excruciating pain and itching. I'm thinking now to wait til after baby is here before back to doctors as not sure what they could do.