Help! How do you heal a fissure?

[Migrainium]

I developed an external haemorrhoid during pregnancy 15 years ago and it flares up from time to time. That was manageable but then two months ago I developed a fissure either on or close to the haemorrhoid (I haven’t looked! This is according to my GP).

Oh the pain! It’s unbearable sometimes. The GP prescribed an ointment which seemed to heal it but it quickly returned. Sorry, TMI but it reopens every time I pass a bowel movement. I’m trying a healthier diet to help (and trying to lose weight) but that’s increased the frequency.

I can’t keep using the ointment as it has a steroid (and can only be applied twice a day). What can I do to help it heal? Getting desperate 😥

Stool softeners! I’m surprised your GP didn’t prescribe you any when you saw them. They’ll keep everything nice and easy to pass, without re opening the fissure. Have you tried a sitz bath to help with the pain? I found putting coconut oil in the water really helped, as I was told to make sure you keep the moisture in the skin (and to prevent it re-opening). The pain from a fissure is hell, so I do sympathise and hope you are pain free again soon.

My husband had this was prescribed a special cream to take for 8 weeks by consultant, this didn’t help at all. He then had botox injection in May under aesthetic and this has made it heal. The botox wears off after 3 months.

Thank you both for replying and the sympathy! The stool softener seems to have worked a bit - I just need to remember to keep taking them. I haven’t tried a sitz bath - will buy some asap.

I didn’t realise you could get Botox for this. I’m glad it helped DH. I will go back to the GP if it goes on too much longer.

Vaseline

I was prescribed GTN ointment and that worked. You have my sympathies it's so painful.

I had this in pregnancy and it was awful, literally bowls of blood after a bowel movement from the fissure. GP prescribed a numbing cream, suppositorie and laxatives, for me it came right for me after giving birth but It was horrendous while I had it.

Use vasoline before every 💩.
drink lots of water too.
don’t strain or push at all, just breathe it out.
sitz baths helped soothe mine lots.
really aim to keep the area as clean as possible, so not using toilet paper 🧻- wipes are best.
I also used an ointment which I found online , this helped a lot I think. Xx

Proctosedyl ointment from GP - it does contain steroids but really helps. Also a stool softener

Nice Guidelines suggest 2 rounds of botox, and if that doesnt work, surgery. I had surgery after nearly 10 years of pain, it cured me. Please ask for referral to General Surgery, I wish I had insisted years before.

I had two rounds of Botox, sadly unsuccessful, still in terrible pain. I think the next step is surgery ☹️

The best thing I’ve ever used is Yarrow balm ….you get it from Amazon it’s from Bulgaria …it is amazing!

@Lemonlemon88 that sounds absolutely horrendous! I hope it didn’t last long, I can only imagine having to deal with this on top of just giving birth.

Things were improving after using Vaseline (thanks to those that suggested it) but last week it all started back up and I’m in so much pain, I don’t know what to do with myself. I cried the other day because I’m just so fed up, I can’t believe how much it’s affecting me. It’s changed slightly too so now I’m unsure if it’s a fissure or haemorrhoid or both together.

I’ve been using a stool softener the last couple of days (after realising I’d been using a laxative the last few weeks!) but I’m now going more often. I’ll call my GP on Monday but just wanted to vent a bit and say thanks for all the suggestions. I’m looking for some Yarrow Balm that will arrive before two months.

@Migrainium you can order yarrow balm on Amazon for next day delivery

I honestly think I’m in the same boat as you. I think mines changed and now it’s either a skin tag ir something called a sentinel pile 🤦🏽‍♀️

I ended up buying this as it was cheaper than yarrow and had good reviews: amzn.eu/d/16Z4ypl

It’s worked really well and I was feeling so much more comfortable within about 10 days. It’s not getting any better than it is now though, being still quite sore and passing a stool is painful. Not sure if I should visit my GP again about it or give it more time. It’s been a horrible few months!

@Parri I’m sorry to hear you’re going through something similar. It truly sucks! I had to look up sentinel pile and now I’m also wondering if that’s what I am developing. It feels to be healing with a ridge rather than a tag though.

Epsom salts in the bath, stopping Using creams and wipes and surprisingly quitting dairy all helped heal mine and I stopped having issues with my piles xx

If nothing the gp prescribes helps, I'd ask to be referred to a colorectal surgeon.

They do heal on their own anyway. Extremely painful in the meantime though!
Paracetamol, ibuprofen and fybogel (or similar) to get you through.