Anal Fissure

[CHPC]

Been diagnosed with an anal fissure 5 weeks post partum. I’ve been on lactolose for 3 weeks and I am no longer constipated get the fissure keeps reopening everytime I go to the toilets still. I’ve tried a warm compress, sudocreme and now Lidocaine for the pain but it isn’t healing! Any advice because I can’t keep doing this it’s making me miserable

So sorry to hear this. Ask your GP to prescribe diltiazem cream for you. This is what finally got rid of my post partum fissure.

They're so painful! I had them when I gave birth to my twins in Dec 2022. Honestly like sh**ting glass so I really feel for you.

Definitely go back to the GP if it keeps re opening they might give you another cream.

When it happened to me, a long time ago, I was given GTN cream that sorted it out quick.

I had this after birth and it went on for a year. Absolutely miserable and the pain used to last all day - I do feel for you. I was prescribed all sorts and I think GTN cream may have helped. In the end, I was referred to colorectal outpatients, but by the time the appointment came through, it had healed. This was 16 years ago now, but I still remember how depressing it was. I would recommend salt baths or baths with lavender or tea tree oil (mixed with a carrier oil).

It’s really really awful but I’m very sorry to say 5 weeks is very early days. Mine was 12 months with very careful bowel movements and lactulose/psyllium husk.

You probably need the gtn/diltiazem cream. They can take a long time to heal. In my area I had to see the hospital consultant as it was specially mixed and only available from the hospital, gp wasn't allowed to prescribe. Gp is 1st point of access.

I'd ask the gp to examine you to see if the fissure is healing as it should be, no infection or fistula. Especialy as your baby is only 5 weeks. Could have had tears in labour that arent healing as they should.

GTN cream or diltiazem. They didn't really help my sister and she ended up having Botox injected and that worked!

GTN, but also, you need your stools to be a soft as possible- movicol all the way! You can buy it over the counter

I'm plagued by piles/anal fissure since childbirth.

Pooing carefully using a footstool helps too. I bought a Dunelm fold up footstool and that really helps!!!

I had an anal fissure after the birth of DD1. I had to have it roared by having a lateral
Sphincterotomy as no creams helped at all.

Repaired

ApolloandDaphne, you're the first person I've come across who's female and had LIS surgery. If you don't mind me asking, did you get Botox before the colorectal surgeon decided to do the LIS? And have you had any after-effects from it/ how long it took to heal?

I've been battling this fissure for 1.5 years and it's driving me nuts.

I have suffered over the years with these. The worst one lasted a few months - but it seemed to vanish whilst I was on holiday in a cottage in France. I ate a TON of soft fruit every day, didn't drink alcohol (In France!) and the main thing was that the toilet was quite high. We'd call them a comfort height I guess. It meant that I was in a different position when I passed a BM.

I wonder why some people are more prone to these. I currently have a mild one, but noidea why.

My new toilet at home IS a comfort height though - I learnt from that experience.

Hope it soon gets sorted .