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hi there
iv just been diagnosed with this and was told 3 weeks ago by my gp i had piles and the pain i had was to do with the mirena coil so 2 weeks ago i had the blasted coil removed only to be told today by a doctor at a+e that it had absolutely nothing to do with this i had an anal fissure which is quite a large one and is making me pass huge amounts of blood its terribly painfull and i dont think i can cope with this for much longer iv got 4 children to look after so i havent got time to be poorly myself the a+e dr has asked me to go to my gp in the morning for a referall to the surgons as its such a bad case he really wanted me to stay in but iv got nobody to look after my children as my partner has to work otherwise we wont be able to pay the rent counciltax etc so im just hopeing that my gp does this referral thingey pretty quick and matt can book a holiday for when i have to have the surgery done

has anyone else had to have the surgery and what does it involve and how long will i be laid up for

any advice would be hugely appreciated

sam

Hi Sam

Sorry to hear that u have to have surgery on yours, mine healed with cream thank goodness. The operation I beleie should be quick and would think would be a day case but not 100% sure depends what they have to do and how big the tare is.

I have been tryng to look it up for you but as yet I have not found anything sorry. x

I am new here but wanted to share my story. I am 3 days out from having surgery for anal fissure (or as I say-- problems with my area 51). I went through about 5 months of pain with every bowel movement and it got to the point where I just stopped going as the pain was just to much. I have two daughters and this pain was at least 10x's the pain of childbirth, but I was embarrassed to talk about it and even more embarrassed to have my area 51 looked at. Last weekend my family heard me crying and said enough is enough and I called my gp again. In the past months I was the perfect patient--- sitz baths 2-3 times daily, lidocaine ointment on my area 51 prior to a bowel movement and nitroglicerin (sorry about spelling) to reduce the spasms. NOTHING WORKED and I truly thought that death would be better than pooping broken glass pieces and the hours of pain that followed. I went to the doctor and said I can't imagin another day of this and cried my eyes out when he again wanted to view my area 51. My surgery was last Friday---- even thou I am a bit sore from the spyntorectomy (again, bad speller) the pain to poop was instantly GONE!!!!! I am still on bed rest but I was put out for the surgery and I do sitz baths still now BUT...

IF I KNEW THAT THE SURGERY WOULD HAVE INSTANTLY FIXED MY 5 MONTH NIGHTMARE, I WOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER.

I don't think people understand what life is like when your bottom doesn't work correctly and even thou my children are 14 and 16, it happened due to a medication change that caused constipation, which inturn ripped me. Sorry to be graphic but I so feel all of your pain and I am so glad that I kept going back to the doc (even thou it is embarrassing) because I was eventially going to explode if something wasn't done.

Hope my story helps and good luck to you all.

hi cath
well im not having surgery yet i saw my consultantand hes trying botox first and if that fails then ill have surgery iv never heard the botox could sort it god ill have a pamperd bottom free on the nhs lol
still in loads of pain and to make it worse im really bunged up so in with the lactulose today
my partner really doesnt understand what im going through he still thinks i can look after 4 children and have the house spotless and his tea hot on the table when hes finished work and if none is done hell be horrid to me i shouted at him yesterday i had a really bad day and couldnt get out of bed as it was really hurting so i think he will be a bit nicer to me when hes finished today
i just wish this nightmare would end then i can have my life back i mean im on so mant pills iv lost count the pharmcy know me by my name now and the only way i get any sleep is if i take 3 amitriptaline grrr it makes me feel funny too
i will leave updates on this thread on in the parenting forum so youll all know whats going on
must dash the boys are both screaming in tune with one another lol
sam

I have just found this website via google, as I'm getting desperate re my fissure. I have suffered for some years (not related to childbirth as I am of a certain age...)and have tried a range of dietary things and also lactulose. I gave up the dreaded GTN as it caused such awful headaches but I have been using flaxseed oil. Can't say that anything makes much difference as I clearly have a chronic problem - it seems to be better for a while and then comes back with a vengeance.

I am seeing my GP this afternoon with a view to being referred for surgery, so I would be very interested to know if CatherineKirby (or others)have had any after-effects from the surgery, as I have heard it can lead to leakage ( ie slight soiling) - not very pleasant but possibly better than the pain....

Also, did you have your surgey in the US or elsewhere?
Thanks
Paddy F

Paddy, my husband had his fissure surgery in the UK at the Sussex Nuffield about 12 years ago. Leakage depends on how much of the sphincter muscle is contraindicated by the surgery, but with lazer technology it's amazing how close they can go and not affect the muscle.

Like you he had trouble on and off and suffered with it for years literally, but he said the relief after surgery was worth the slight discomfort he experienced in the few days after. He's never been affected by it since.

I hope your GP can get you a referral quickly, there is no reason to suffer with it. I hope you're sorted out soon.

Vikki.

Thanks Vikki. My GP now says it may be piles as my pain is different from that usually experienced with fissures. I am now trying a cream that is both streoid and anaesthetic - but can only be used very short trem. She will refer me after that if no better.

Perhaps I need to join the "piles" chatroom!

Paddy

I sense you're still managing to keep your sense of humour despite your discomfort...well done!!

If there isn't one (chat room), you'll have to start it.

Vikki.

hey me again just an update i had the botox the end of july which was only a temporary measure iv been informed by the surgoen and im now waiting for the surgery which will take place on 17th october im a bit scared but who wouldnt be when youve got drs looking at your bum (trying to keep myself sain with jokes at the moment )
ill let you all know how things go
at the moment the fissures back with quite an angry vengance and im now anemic from the blood loss falling asleep on busses which isnt good when youve got 4 kids (lol you can just imagine me missing my stop) guess ill have to wait now

hope you are feeling better now sam, how did the op go?
I also have suffered repeatedly with this over the last few years, and i sympathise with all of your discomfort. i thought maybe i should pass across what tips I have learnt to help those who aren't quite on the route to surgery as yet.

1. See you doc straight away, don't be embarrassed, a doc has many more unpleasant jobs than simply looking at your bottom. Your GP will be able to accurately diagnose and prescribe with just a quick look.

2. Follow a proper fibre diet. Most tips on the net are easy to find, eat regular, small meals throughout the day, and avoid too much meat and fatty foods.

3. Drink LOTS of water, and i mean LOTS. Like 2 litres a day minimum. This will help the extra fibre in your diet to bulk out, making going to the loo much softer and hence easier (and less painful)

4. DO NOT TRY AND AVOID GOING TO THE LOO. This is so important that you keep your bowel movements going. Do not avoid going when your body tells you to go, GO. I tell you one simple reason why: the longer you avoid it, the longer that stool sits in your bowel getting DRYER, and HARDER, making that feeling like pooping shards of glass TEN times worse. Its just not worth it, and I know its terrifying, that dread of needing to go, I've been there, and suffered. On the flip side, do NOT try and give yourself diahroea; this will also be as unpleasant as constipating yourself, and can be dangerous through such side effects as dehydration.

5. REMEMBER: you are not alone, this is a surprisingly common thing to happen, especially in young people, caused by constipation, and women, caused by child birth. Read some of the stories in 6, and although it won't take away the pain, it may help to cheer you up, a couple of the stories, although fairly graphic, are excellently written and highly amusing in places. Don't give up, if you feel your treatment isn't working, go back to your GP, he will check you up and see if you need alternative treatment. Remember, anal fissures normally take between 4-8 weeks to heal on average.

6. this is less a tip, more a collection of useful links I've gathered that have helped me enormously.

Link to a blog by a doc who has suffered a fissure

Link to quite an old story on how they used to fix fissures (anal dilation)

Link to a fellow fissure sufferer with lots of 'living with' tips

Finally, stick to your medication for the full course. Always check the exact requirements of application (many creams need to be applied internally) with your GP (ask if he/she doesn't make it clear). Make sure you make time to apply it EVERY day, regardless of where or what you are doing Bear in mind you may need to stick to this regime ruthlessly for 4 weeks or more.


Best of luck and get well to you all (i'm just coming away from 2 weeks of agony laid up at home)
M.

Hello Vicky,

I know that it has been some time since you were on the Forum, but I noticed that you had an anal fissure after you had your little girl,
My little boy is now 11 months old and I have had pain since he was about a month old! Thought it was piles and would go away, but have now been told it is a Fissure and have been given the GTN cream.
What worked for you?
AGONY!!!!

Thanks,

Rachel

Hi Rachel,

GTN ointment worked for me but it was after a month it stopped hurting completely when I went to the loo!

Hope it works soon x

Thanks Vicki that is great.
Fingers Crossed!!

hi , i'm ne won here and out of desperation like so many of you n here sekk help advice and just plain old knowledge your not on your own!! you cant talk to anyone about it cos they think its just an itchy bum, my doctors made me try several types of creams saying it was itchy bum syndrome!!!!!!!!!!!! my husband phoned them cos i coudltn take no more and yet she gave me another cream, finally after a week of this i mad ehr check me over , i had got to the stage the postman cud of looked at it if he cud of cured me! lol,,, anyway turns out its a fissure also a pile too, two for the price of one,,, she has suggested surgery cos its been ongoing for months, but gave me gtn cream which being a migraine sufferer knocks me sideways, have to plan when best to take it, by taking headache tablets prior to applying cream so they work as it kicks in...how would thought a fissure could be this painful and life controlling? i have tablets to help me sleep as waking in the night because it wont let u rest was too much to bare,,,,,so would u recomend the surgery and how long does this nightmare cream ususally take to heal said area!!, thanks for lettin me moan on here, feel it helps family just laugh!

please excuse my awful typing lol