Fissure Hell

[BB3000]

Crohn's symptoms have been under control for almost a year since my 2nd flare, but this is almost worse, pain-wise. I have an appointment with a rectal doctor next week, but from everything I've read, the treatments are kind of a crapshoot and the only thing that will heal (without surgery) my fissure is time.

What do I do in the meantime to cope with the pain? My diet and exercise are great, but since I'm on Adderall, I go to the bathroom 2-4 times every morning. With this painful fissure I'm scared to poop because of the pain. I've tried: Tucks, sitz baths, Aquaphor, peri bottles, wet wipes, but nothing can stop the pain. This sucks.

 

[ronroush7]

I am sorry.

 

[Ozboz]

Yeah had one of these about 10 years ago it was like poopin razor blades had surgery for mine and then some meds and was ok after but yeah I feel your pain it's no fun

 

[Ricky_V]

You need to be super careful with fissure surgery because it involves cutting around the sphincter muscle. There is also a procedure that they attempt to cut a flap to heal the fissure. If the surgeon screws up and cuts to deep you could have issues with incontinence. My daughter had a fissure that seems to be healing well with Remicade. Good Luck!

 

[Layla]

I found the only thing that helps is keeping the stool soft. So not hard but also not watery, that can be just as bad.
It's hard to achieve but psyllium or slippery elm can do the trick.
Also rectogesic cream does help a little as does lidocaine cream.

 

[Jimmy Lee]

It is the worst pain I have ever experienced! I am so sorry you're in the midst of fissure hell. I actually have written several posts that included my horrors with it.

Sadly, nobody believed me. I went to the emergency department so many times (sometimes waiting to be seen for 8 hours!!!). I had a colonoscopy and asked my gastro to see if he could find the source. Not only could he not find it, but he asked a surgeon to step in and have a look. The surgeon didn't see anything. Nevertheless, my gastro set up an appointment for me to see the surgeon about it. I did. This is when the surgeon walked into the room, took one look at me and stated, "There's NOTHING I can do for you." You may gasp now. That was the coldest encounter with a doctor I've ever had. I was crushed. I literally cried.

I asked my gastro if he would set up a consult with Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "No, I really don't like to do that. They are really funny about that. There has to be a lot of documentation for that, and I really don't deal with 'that' area." OMG. Another gasp if you wish, lol. So I went to my primary care physician. He said he would set it up!

I was seen by a colorectal surgeon. My experience at Duke was phenomenal. The surgeon apologized for the pain during the anal scope exam, as I begged him to take all the time he needed to find the source. It was over in no time. "Jimmy, I see the source of your problem...it's an anal fissure." I asked, "Is there any way two doctors could have missed this on entrance and exit for a colonoscopy?" He replied, "Not unless they just weren't looking!"

I didn't opt for any surgical procedure due to the risks of fecal incontinence. He told me that he didn't recommend anything invasive due to where it was located. I don't know how, but it healed on its own! Suddenly "shitting razor blades" as one doctor described it was a thing of the past. I did, however, buy a bidet toilet seat. OMG. You cannot know the difference it made in my life. Best investment I ever made. I'm sorry this was so long. I do hope you find relief and that it becomes a faint memory, never to be revisited.