Botox for anal fissure

Hi Danielle, ive also jist jad botox for an anal fissure I've had for only 5 weeks (day 6 after botox today), but those 4 weeks before the botox were just horrendous, I was in so much pain and not just during a BM, but afterwards as well. I went on a liquid diet (not fun at all am sure you can relate) and that helped a bit, but since the botox I have noticed a significant improvement. First BM after it was a bit hard at the tip, then soft, so it Hury a bit at forest, but was then OK. I've discovered that drinking water is key for me, something I struggle with. Today my BM was a bit harder as I didn't drink as much water yesterday, so it's a note to self to try and keep hydrated all the time and balancing it with eating lots of veg and porridge. I am very grateful for the relief of the pain, bit also just wanting it to get lost for good as am sick of being in pain and not being able to eat what I want. I hope we both heal soon, I wouldn't wish this horrendous affliction on anyone. Take care, Paula x

Thanks for your reply Paula. I was starting to feel a bit alone on here.

It's day 4 for me and it still hurts. It's not unbearable pain, but it's very uncomfortable and itchy and stingy. Also at times it feels like I've been kicked up the bum. Hard to tell how much better it is day to day (if any). I do think it's different to before though, only because I know how tense I was down there before.. to a point where I couldn't relax at all. I think things are definitely more relaxed down there, but I just want it to be over too. I also want to eat whatever I want to. I've been in bed for days and just getting a bit discouraged. It's too uncomfortable to walk around. I really hope we both heal soon and can get back to normal life.

I fear needing further surgery due to how long I've had this. But doc said there was still a chance this would work. Keep me updated on your journey.

Hi Danielle,

I'm sorry you felt alone, you are most definitely not! I'm struggling with this bloody affliction mentally more than anything. I've been off work for 4 weeks with it and also a thyroid issue that caused a heap of other problems. I feel like I've been put through the wringer in the last 2 months. And now have to deal with this, my consultant said after my procedure that I have 2 fissures, not one! I was gutter to hear that. Still, as I've mentioned, things have been better since the botox which is now 1 week ago. I pray it continues to get better, as like you, I'd rather not have any more surgery, but if I need it I'll have it, I'm not suffering with this damned affliction any more than I have to. I get pay up to 3 months if I am off sick, then it goes right down to not a lot. I really hope you are able to heal enough to get back to work, it really does suck that you don't get any sick pay, I really feel for you on that, but think you have done right by your health to take the time you need. My husband and I have a trip planned to Wales (we're in the UK, think you're in Australia?) in a weeks time just to his parents caravan, just the two of us and I'm worries about how I'll handle food etc. It's a new caravan, small but has central heating, a fully fitted kitchen, loo and shower, but I'm still scared as it's close quarters and in this situation you sometimes want some space! Oh well, he's heard me screaming on the loo when it was really bad like passing razor blades, so I guess there's not much more to hide! Totally get you on being in bed....I've spent a lot of days I'm bed, I try to make a point of getting up and washed and dressed, but I think it's the mental exhaustion as well as the physical of dealing with this that means most aftenoons I crash. I'm taking lactulose am and pm as well as stool softeners throughout the day, trying to drink enough water and sticking to porridge, smoothies, yoghurt and veg for food as much as I can. I do have a bit of cheese in my veg as I love it but apart from the odd bit of yoghurt, that's my only dairy. If I have any bread, it's wholemeal sourdough, and usually only half a slice. So tough to live through. I am hating every minute. Here's to us both healing and never having anything like it ever again!

Hi Danielle, haha, i think there are also some folks from theUS of A on here too....I figure anyone who is suffering from this God-awful affliction is very welcome to crash the party! We're all dealing with a bloody nightmare, so let's help each other through it if we can! I'm definitely feeling better since the Botox, touch wood, I haven't had the 'razor blades' pain that I was having, which was utterly excruciating and left me incredibly low. However I'm not pain free, funnily enough where I think the main fissure is, is healing as I can put my finger on it and feel the (now very small) lump that was there and where it went up inside and used to be oh so painful and it doesn't hurt now. But where I think I had a sentinel pile excised, just next to the bottom and sort of next to the perineum, that's where my pain is now. It's not excruciating, but it's a sharp punchy kind of pain whenever I have a BM and it's usually not all the way through only where the BM is at its biggest. I'm also experiencing the odd twinge when sat down or moving about, although not too bad (so far, anyway). Really desperately hoping this all continues on the upwards trajectory, so don't want to go backwards. Am keeping up my diet for at least another 4 weeks, alongside my lactulose and stool softeners as don't want to think I'm healed and go out and have a burger only to set myself right back! I have a follow up appointment with my consultant on Friday 11th Nov, so hoping he will tell me I am healing 🙏. I'm so sorry to hear you have also been in the wars with your knee on top of this affliction, it's just so debilitating isn't it. And this affliction isn't really anything you want to talk about with others all that much either! I really hope we both get better, roll on healing and recovery for us both and everyone else suffering from this.....we will beat it! I'll definitely keep you updated when we go to the caravan.....it's quite a nice one it's brand new and has a tiny but fully fitted kitchen with hob, oven, fridge and a freezer draw, shower and loo and sleeps 4-6. Hubby said I could take whatever food I needed with me so I can stick to my diet and we'll just chill out. So I'm looking forward to it more now. 🙂

Sounds like a nice getaway. I guess it will be fine as long as you can keep up your normal diet and routine.

I went back to work yesterday. I am a swimming teacher, so sticking to a routine is gonna start getting difficult. Yesterday I was super scared to get in the water because I was worried about it burning or stinging down there.. surprisingly it actually weirdly soothed it. I don't understand the chemistry but it is a magnesium salt based pool, so maybe that is gonna work in my favour. I also put a lot of sudocrem on before I went in as a barrier.

And then today I had my first pain free day in 3 weeks! 🙌 celebrate good times. I never thought the highlight of my whole month would be taking a dump in peace. But here we are. 3 actually. I have successfully had 3 pain free BMs now. And gone back to work! So I feel like this is a very good sign that things are moving in the right direction.

My take away for today for anyone else reading is that if you are gonna use sudocrem, which is zinc based, it doesn't really come off. So you're gonna have a white bum for awhile. But it is apparently also good for healing, not just as a barrier cream for swimming.

I hope you are doing good Paula. Let me know how your follow up goes. Onwards and Upwards.

Wow, first pain free BMs in 3 weeks, that is something to celebrate! Ha, I know it feels like an odd thing to feel happy about, but I totally hear you. I'm currently going 2x daily, the one first thing is usually a bit painful, like a nasty pile, but the second one in the afternoon is often pain free which is such a nice feeling! But I'm really struggling with joints and muscles in my arms and legs....so pain is inevitable for me for a while it seems 😑. I need a blood test for them to understand what's causing the joint and muscle pain. They've given me codeine for it, but I'm not going to take it as it constipates the life out of you and I really don't need that! I'm still bleeding a bit, especially with the morning BM, not a lot, but it's bugging me, as it feels like that's where the sentinel pile was that was excised used to be and the scar of it has reopened and I think that's the pain I get in the morning BM. It doesn't feel like the awful fissure razor blade pain, just like a nasty pile pain. Guess I'll find out whats going on on Friday at my follow up appt. I will definitely update you! Your magnesium salt pool definitely sounds like it will work in your favour, I think it may help heal you more quickly. I restarted my sitz baths today, my instructions from the hospital were to wait 2 weeks, but it's nearly that and I think they really help, plus I feel cleaner after a BM. I did try sudocrem before my botox, but both times it stung like hell, so I'm a bit wary of trying it again, although I have heard a lot of people say it helped them heal. Will ask consultant about it on Friday. Roll on healing and full recovery for us both! Oh, and NEVER having a recurrence!

Hey Paula. Sorry it's been a minute since coming on here. I went back to work and trying to manage everything has been exhausting. I am still pain free thank goodness. Today it's been a bit irritated.. but not painful.. I'm not sure why but it's a bit scratchy and stingy. Oh well, as long as there's no pain or blood, I think I'm still good. I'm still using all the softeners and fibre etc.. trying to keep up the Veggies and salad but that gets so boring and I just want a pizza. haha.

I hope you can manage to enjoy your holiday despite the challenges. Good to hear the doc says you are healing well.

I didn't have my pile removed so I'm not sure what that pain is like. I want mine gone. but maybe not after hearing that it hurts. It's not really causing me any harm.. and doc reckons it's unimportant.. so maybe I'll leave it alone. I am scared for when the botox wears off because it seems to be working well for me. My follow up is in a few weeks, so fingers crossed all is good.

hi Danielle, no worries about delayed response, it must be busy trying to fit in all the fissure paraphernalia and routine after going back to work! Im glad to hear you're doing well and pain free. I'm going back to work next week, my boss is also my friend so she knows what I'm dealing with and has been really sympathetic. I hear you in wanting pizza lol. Last week when we were away I was having to choose really healthy stuff in pubs and restaurants when all I wanted was a burger and chips! Hubby was stuffing his face with all sorts, ut was soooo hard! Not worth the pain though. I'm getting on OK, still bleeding a bit after a BM. I've had a letter from my consultant after my follow up summarising and it is one of the fissures that is still a little bit open, but he reckons it will fully healed in a month or so. It's a little bit painful when having a BM, but not afterwards and nowhere near the level of pain I had before botox. I just hope the damn thing heals before the botox wears off! I was annoyed today, as despite all my efforts with a veggie diet, laxatives and stool softeners I couldn't go this morning. This really stressed me out, had to take a Laxido and that did get things going in a gentle way, but honestly, i could have done without that. Why does my body have to be so contrary when all I'm doing is trying to help it?! Frustrating. But even though the fissure did bleed again, it wasn't very much and it's only when I have a BM. No pain after. Guess I just need to keep up the sitz baths and all my ointments as well as laxatives and diet. Really cannot wait to have a burger and chips!!

What is your laxative/stool softener regime? I only take the osmolax at night (the kids dose), and that's all I need. Anymore than that, and I'm going all day. Maybe you couldn't go because you were psychologically anticipating pain.. that happens to me.. when I'm scared I can't go.

I have stopped eating nuts because they don't digest fully and the other day it hurt when I went because there were sharp pieces in my stool (too much info sorry). All it takes is a little hard bit to scrape past the fissure and it stings. Freaked me out, so I stopped the nuts. Shame, I was enjoying them. I could really go for a burger and fries right now. At least I'm losing the weight I wanted to lose. I've kind of been forced to. My friends said to me the other night that I was crazy ordering a salad at an Italian restaurant. They were ordering chicken parmigiana, carbonara, pizza, cheesy toast, cocktails.. and here I was with my salad and water. Sucks. It was a nice salad, but still. They don't understand.

my laxative regime is lactulose am and pm and Dulcoease (stool softeners) after every meal (two after dinner as its my biggest meal). I do tend to go twice a day though. I think you may have been right about the not going on Saturday being psychological......it's annoying isn't it! Been twice again today, both times no pain, only a bit of blood this morning and none this afternoon. Keeping up the sitz baths and the veggie routine. Hungry a lot of the time so sneaking in half a slice of wholemeal bread and butter before lunch sometimes! Ouch, the nut thing sounds painful. That is such a shame, I love nuts, but won't be going there for a while as your experience resonated with what I've read on other forums. Literally a bummer! I feel for you when you went out with friends at an Italian restaurant and just had a salad and water whilst watching everyone else having all the yummy things! That's what it was like when hubby and I went to Wales, although at least there was only one of him! It's so hard isn't it, but you're right, others don't understand it, they don't know the pain. I never did until it happened to me! For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing, we have to remember this isn't forever, it's just while we heal. In time, we will be able to have that burger and fries, and not face any painful repercussions please God!

Hey Mic. I'm glad you've found comfort in this blog. If you have any questions or just wanna vent, go for it. You're certainly not alone in this. And I think you've made the right choice with Botox. Mine was chronic and I thought it was too late for me, but I've been pain free for 10 days now.

Hi Mic, gosh you have my sympathetic dealing with this God awful thing for a year, like Danielle. I had it for a week and was in such pain I went straight o my dr! Then when 3 weeks of Rectogesic hadn't done much, I went private to a local colorectal surgeon who did my botox! I never thought the first place I'd ever have botox on my body would be my ar$e, but hey, if if works, who cares! I really hope botox works for you, my consultant thinks I'll get away with not needing more treatment and I hope to God he's right, but if I do need LIS surgery, I'm taking it! No way will i live with that razor blade pain. People who haven't had it just don't get how debilitating it is. Sending you healing vibes!