Fissures help!

[paininthebum2026]

Am I being soft for finding anal fissures so extremely painful?! Around November 2024 I had a painful anal fissure for the first time with what is apparently called a "sentinel tag" opposite. Over a year later, it's still here, only now I strongly suspect I have a couple more of them...ahem, inside as such.
I have ointment from the GP but it is doing nothing. It's so embarrassing to discuss IRL with anyone but I am finding the pain almost intolerable now. I bleed everytime I need to poo and for hours later it is throbbing. It's painful just to sit down.
I feel that if I say this to doctors etc they're going to think I am a right hypochondriac/ melodramtic.

Thank you! I had no idea such a thing existed

My DH had painful fissures, 8 weeks trying the cream didn’t do anything, he eventually had Botox injections under anesthetic which he said has helped. He’s had no follow up so doesn’t know if they’ve completely gone, but there’s no more bleeding or pain from that area, so although he was sceptical about it working, it does appear that it has.

I was referred to a socialist who prescribed something called Diltiazem off label. Life changing.

Have you been to the doctor?

Oh I’m sorry, I’ve just read your update. Can you afford to go privately?

You're not soft, they are the worst. I had a fairly mild one and literally cried when I had to poo.

I went to the doctors. They gave me something to put up there - cream or gel or something. I remember there were two different types - a cheap one they used as a first stage, and an expensive one for if that didn't work. I found the expensive one better.

Other things I have found which helped -

1. Sitting in the bath / sitzbath
2. Getting a squatty potty so I could squat to poo. It aligns everything better than sitting. At least get something to raise your feet up?
3. I switched from loo roll to using damp cloth (reusable cloth wipes, previously used on my child when in nappies). I keep used ones in a small wet bag in the toilet (as in, the room, not the actual toilet), until I have enough to wash. Sounds a bit grim but I wouldn't go back to loo roll. I imagine a bidet would work well too.

No not at all easily but I might at least have a private consultation if not treatment

I think it might be worth it. There were things my consultant could prescribe that my GP couldn’t, so it might not need surgery (which would be expensive privately)