Chronic anal fissure losing the will to live

Lou I've been where you are now.

You need the LIS surgery. It works.

hi lis

allthou ive had this over a year last tues i had BM which was only very slightly harder on the head of feaces and since then for 5 days dreadful pain for hours. since then its still abit painful but it feels really achey and bruised?? ive had bad bouts before which has been awful but this time around its been like no other and for mich longer just dont get why?

im pushing and hoping for lis surgery but with the pandemic all non emergancy opps are being delayed.. which i do understand but still frustrating when im suffering so much. i will be honest it will be my first surgery and i am s@@t scared i suffer with depression and health aniexty and thought of surgery really makes me bad but at the same time i cant go on like this its torture

how was your exsperience with the op?

Lou I was exactly like you before the op.

I couldn't work or do anything in my life. So painful.

I was scared of the op as it was my first (except for the unsuccessful botox).

After the op I was OK. I would say it was sore, not painful. I managed with alternative paracetamol and ibuprofen. Took this for 4 to 6 days. I stayed in bed for a couple of days then rested alot after that.

I never once felt any pain like I did with the fissure before the op.

I was sore due to swelling, on the outside, but this eased at about 4 weeks.

I'm now 7 weeks and walking loads. Feel fine.

I still follow diet of fruit, veg, 3 to 4 pints of water, prunes and apricots,

If in pain I'd recommend soft food.

I take lactulose, dulcosoft and dulcoease. I daren't reduce these yet.

I also use a foot stool on the loo. A child's step for handwashing. Feet up and lean forward. Breath deeply. It's easier to go and reduces pressure.

I googled pelvic physio and found this very helpful.

I think if I'd known all these tips when the fissure first came it would have healed. Although I realise that once it's at the chronic stage - like yours- it may be too late to help... Sorry.

All I can suggest is keep contacting your GP and surgeon. They need to know how bad you are.

I had been to A and E, GP surgery and phoned 111 several times and I was so lucky that my surgery was brought forward , although this was not during the current crisis.

I really hope you can find help soon

Best wishes xxx

hi thanks to replying

4 days straight in agonising pain i completely lost my s@@t by yesterday afternoon and begged my doctor for something so hes prescribed lidocaine in a much higher strengh im really hoping it will help ease it even if only slightly .

im picking it up today from the chemist

im dreading a bowel movement today as thats when it really kicks off and lasts all day its torture isnt it

yes.. when i went and see my specialist he actually told me here in the uk they are trying to avoid the botox injections as its wasting resource and money due to not being effective

but hope you find some relief too

i actually ordered a herbal remedy of the internet yesterday called H-FISSURE im going to give it go it has hood reviews cost me £25

i will keep you updated

good luck

stay safe

hi,

i know what you are going through too. I am a father with two kids. i was in the same situation with a chronic life changing fissure 2 years ago, i couldnt live with it any longer!! i am 90% better now due to LIS after Botox was a complete waste of time, botox seems to not work for anyone and i believe it should not be an option for fissures any more. u must stop taking any pain killers, as they will increase anal spasms!! i know how hard this is but it helped me when my surgeon strictly and harshly told me i must stop taking them. always wash do not wipe ya bum, have a hot bath and lubricate before BM and bath again after! a while ago a person from this site suggested the cause of his fissure was drinking too much orange juice. i think he might be right in some cases too.

Does anyone on this site with fissures drink a lot of orange juice?

I was told yesterday I am not getting an appointment until this over. Did u have Lis? Are you in England?

Hope u have lots of painkillers x stay strong xx hope this is it for u

hi

im pleased youve had the surgery and i hope you have a good outcome to put a stop to this absolute misery weve all been tackling

when i see my consultant begin of march i was told to try the diltaziem cream first

and to meet back up in three months time and if it hasnt worked then LiS SURGERY will be next

im currently taking stool softners

and one senna at night

15ml of lactulose AM and PM plus the diltaziam cream am and pm plus the lidocaine 5% as well as trying to watch what i consume oh n drinking as much water as possible which admititly some times i struggle with

i have come so close to ending my life as it seems the only way to free from the constant agonising pain but i have children and can not put them through that but it drives you demented after hours of hell

i try my hardest to remain calm and relaxed but its impossible when the bottom really kicks off

anyways i hope your LIS IS A SUCCESS do keep me updated

stay safe and well

LOUISE UK

Louise have you been told Lis is possible?

I live in Devon UK and have been told it isn't??????

I am so sorry you feel this way.

I too have had these thoughts you speak of, it's truly unliveable.

My recent soothing has been manuka honey, just started two days ago.

Nothing healed but it is soothing.

I have also stopped all gluten, upped leafy greens and water. Try it with me?? Xx

I phoned gp to find out my options. I told them it was leaving hell and they told me it was a 'case of managing it poppy due to the fact we are in a global pandemic'

So your appointment will be in a couple of months? Where are you based? I will need to get transferred if that's an option as my surgeon has already said no to lis

Xxx

Hi, I'm not from the UK and yes I have pain killers but not to get crazy, need to take every 6 hours, I hope until the end of the week I'll stop taking it.

hi pop...

yes my consultant said if using the diltaziem cream is unsuccesful then LIS will be our last option as they are no longer offering botox injections her in east sussex im near HASTINGS on the coast

thats so unfair youve been told to just suffer basically .... have you tried the lidocaine 5% oitment? since using it yesterday it does help a tiny bit and you can use it morning, after BM, and if your in pain throughout the day, and the evening.

personally i think the only thing thats going to work is the LIS surgery as mines chronic and had it over a year now and despite life changes as much as i possiblly can nothing is working so far

i would defiently consider getting refered here if they are not going to consider it where you are

ive not tried the honey yet thou

good luck

I've tried two creams.

One called scheriproct which is kept in the fridge and the other called which gives headaches and is called nitro cylcerin I think?

None are working.

So you will have lis which hopefully offered you some light? Hopefully it won't come to this.

Can I ask your symptoms, I just want to see if I am similar?

So I have awful awful bms, then pain after and then as my day goes on it subsides.

I have Been on a phased return to work since Nov after my operation

I am unable to function normally until the afternoon but I am able to get out and able and walk but obviously can't properly exercise or socialise

Can't sit down obviously

I also have terrible back pain, particularly my coccyx. Does anyone suffer with this? Xxx

Sorry second cream is called glyceryl trinitrate (headache one)

Xx

Yes I have the lidocaine

It does work but sometimes I don't have time to use it, if u get me x

Hello again,

I can really empathize with your situation and I wish there were something I could offer you other than words. I have been through your torment.

Your symptoms sound very similar to what I experienced. I would dread the morning BM, after which I would be miserable for several hours, and it would gradually subside somewhat by the evening. I spent countless hours in the bath, which helped a little. I don't mind telling you, even though the doctors would not recommend it, I would have a couple of Rum drinks in the evening which would help too. I retired from my job about 4 years ago so I did not have to go to an office any longer though I do work from home at my own business now. I bought a stand up desk because I too could not sit . I have never suffered the back pain you mentioned. I battled this for 4 years because I was just too afraid to go through the surgery. That was my biggest mistake. I know that you would like to have the procedure but can't at the moment. That must be almost unbearable.

I live in the US and have private insurance so once I decided to have the procedure done there was nothing stopping me. I know it must be terrible for people that can't get it because of other circumstances beyond their control.

I certainly would wish that the pandemic situation will improve and that you might be able to have the LIS in the near future.

It has been 4 months since mine and I no longer have fissure pain, though I do still have some minor lingering discomfort from internal hemorrhoids. But I assure you, it is nothing like you are experiencing and I experienced. My best wishes go out to you for an improvement in your situation and hope that you may soon get your life back.

hi poppy

on day 6 off my most recent episode bloody torture....

in regards to my BMs i struggle to keep a good soft consistancy im either passing too runny or ocasional hard esp the head of the BM... soz for info lol

going back last feb i ended up with severe sciatica which i was taking tramadol for and in return caused constipation i believe this is where my fissure came from due to over pushing and causing trauma to my anus... since then ive tried various creams prescribed and non prescribed all off which have not helped..., but generally after i pass a stool im in agony despite its consistancy for hours after then calms down by evening

yesterdsy was a very bad day cried so hard like a baby for two hours solid thought i was going to pass out with the pain.

so ive had this monster in my ass for just over a year now and as scared as i am about the surgery that i hope i will get offered very soon i know its the only last resort and i can not bare to live like this much longer.

its been extremelly diffacult the last 6 days as being in isolation with my partner and two children its hard to escape from them seeing going like something demented and screaming/crying in despair!

ive woken this morning feeling achey and sore down there and so anxious for my BM today as i can not cope with another day like yesterday

isnt it just awful how we are all suffering

i wish u all best and hope we all heal

i also suffer with coxcyc lower back pain cant say if its fissure related or not but yes i feel your pain

i do use a tens machine which helps if you havent got one i would recomend one

Don't be scared of the LIS surgery. The discomfort afterwards does not come close to fissure pain.

I just took paracetamol and ibuprofen for about 4 to 6 days. Never felt that fissure pain since.

I really feel for you and hope you can get the surgery ASAP. Keep asking and letting them know how bad you are.

Best wishes. X

sorry only just seen this

ive never been put under GA and it does scare me due to aniexty and depression etc

i lost my brother back in 2009 after he went GA for a peg feeding tube to be fitted he had Muscular Dystrophy and allthou he was poorly and his heart was weaker due to his condition it was too much GA that killed him..,, and it sticks with me but i know his underlying health issues had a impact but i cant help believing i wont wake up either

silly i know

im 35 female .... how old are you? if you dont mind me asking! have you had any issues with leaking etc after lis surgery x

That's so sad to hear. I also am waiting for surgery and I'm terrified of general anaesthetic. Strange how so many of us with this condition also have anxiety and depression. I wish you well

hi babara, there is no doubt in my view whatsoever that chronic AF are caused or made worse from stress and anxiety. no doubt at all!!!

I'm inclined to agree. I wonder if there has been any study done on it

hi

it really is just awful

i feel ive just been left to suffer lately

i know under the circumstances at the moment it is diffacult but i cant help self pity when in constant pain and discomfort

thankyou barbara

i get into a state just thinking about it

hope you get yours soon to its a distressing time

It certainly takes over your life doesn't it. I feel sorry for my husband as I won't let him anywhere near me 😂😂

lol i can totally see what u mean im the same with my partner ... opps!

but cant be helped

ive only got move wrong or awkard and if bum cheeks slightly stretch one sided oh boy the pain

it completely ruins and takes over life.

lets hope we get this surgery asap x

I'm the same. Even in bed at night I have to move slowly so I don't pull or stretch that area. Then wake up on the morning and off we go again 😪😪😪

How old are you guys lou and barbara?

I did hemorrhoidectomy 7 weeks and from week 4 till now i have pain burning spasm pressure after BM. It starts after BM. By an hour and stays fir roughly 8 9 hrs. Am. Sick of this the surgeon wants me to go under again i am afraid and refused the 2nd surgeon told me to wait 1 more week. Monday am. Going fir tge 3rd surgeon which told me to use lidocaine to numb the pain any of you used it?

yep completely the same i dread every single day go through it all again.

it literally feels like a horse has kicked me rite in the A HOLE .... i sure hope we get mended soon fingers crossed barbara

same its achey and little pain but after BM it really kicks off and in awful pain for hours after.. -a living hell isnt it

ive been using lidocaine and can honestly say it hasnt helped at all with the pain... i would love to say it has but sadly not

but it could work for you.. of course

hope you find some relief and good luck

I'm so sorry to hear about your brother Lou.

I had the same anxiety about the GA and worried so much. I was shaking the night before.

I am 46. I also had a GA in January for the botox.

Then the op LIS in March.

You will be fine I'm sure. It's only a 20 minute op. You can tell the nurses about your anxiety before hand, I'm sure they will be supportive

You can get your life back with this op xxx

I used lidocaine cream and gel.

The gel is better. Keep in fridge.

It was the only thing which ever touched the pain.

hi

thankyou

ive got to get with grips that this is my only last shot at recovery from this awful painful problem

as creams,oitments, stool softners and laxatives are just doing anything

allthou my BMs are pretty much controlled majority off the time try my best to keep them soft etc

who would think something so small could literally turn your life upside down

i never seem to be happy anymore or make plans etc yet i use to be so outgoing and bubbly .... cant remember the last time i got excited about anything

hopefully once this coronavirus has slowed down and certain precautions can be lifted i hope i get the LIS done asap

I think Lis is the way with me too but where? I'm in Devon in UK and was told they don't do it anymore. That's way I am so worried about not seeing any light.

You're right about a tiny thing ruining your life. Xxx

So sorry to hear about your brother xxx

hi poppy

if they are defo are not going to do it in your erea i would suggest looking to see if you can get refered somewhere that will it may be mean going private i dont know?

how long have you had yours? fissure... and if you dont mind me asking how old are you? as i know depending on age surgeons are reluctant the younger you are

ive been bad for nearly two weeks now and not sure why? ive had mine one year and two months and ive never had it this bad for so long at one time? puzzled?

all i know is i wish it to be gone its sucking life rite out of me

how are you keeping? x

thankyou pop...

think this is where my aniexty started from regarding going under GA i know circumstances are and were different but cant help the same will happen to me x

You will feel happiness again. You can get there.

I totally understand how you feel now. But stay hopeful as you can be cured xx

I'm in North Yorkshire and had it done in Middlesbrough.

Sorry I realise that's nowhere near to you xx

Keep pressing your GP xx

hi Lis

its just so frustrating as i think i would of been having lis surgery in the next couple of months as surgeon said if diltiazipim doesnt work then it will be surgery but course now because of the poxy coronavirus all non emergancy surgeries are being delayed... i dont want to sound selfish as this cruel virus has taken many lifes sadly but im desperate now... im feeling extremely depressed and exhausted from the constant pain ive had nearly two weeks everyday allday

allthou im s@@t scared for surgery i also cant wait... i want my bubbly outgoing life back xx

a year and two months ive had this and for some strange reason these last two weeks have been awful just dont get why it has kicked off so badly... i very rarely have blood from there and only some discomfort when i pass a stool its the pain i get after all day x

Hey lou.

I will be raising Lis and a different surgeon as soon as I can.

Mine came from emergency surgery in Greece which I need to also seek ptsd therapy for. This was august 6th 2019

Basically I had a blood clot, they thought it was an abscess and I had emergency surgery. Awake. In the middle of no where in a weird hospital

It was the most horrific thing I have ever experienced and if I had to do it again, I would rather die.

By the way, I am 32 with no children.

Anyway when I got home, I went to the doctors and no one knew what I'd had. The doctor said the abscess area looked like it was healing and I carried on.

Then two weeks later the pain was chronic. I went to the docs again and they said I had stage four piles.

I managed to get refered to specialist due to the abscess (even tho the 'abscess' was healing, they said they couldn't refer me for piles so they put abscess on the referral)

4th doctor later and this time the specialist he said :

I never had an abscess, it was a blood clot

And I had a skin tag and anal fissure (not piles!!!!!!)

Had surgery a few weeks later to remove tag and treat fissure with botox. This was October.

December check all looked like it was healing. I was reluctant to believe this.

I then went downhill so my sign off appointment in January turned out to be 'what shall we do now?'

I was then booked in for further botox in February.

February came and I got changed at the hospital, had my bloods and wee sample.

It was cancelled as the surgery said I was HEALING!!!!!!

Well fast forward now.

I am not healed but I am no worse.

I have medium days and bad days.

My work are scheduling a meeting to discuss my future as I've had so much time off.

I called the doctor (not surgeon) and they told me not to expect appointment until June.

Mentally I am done.

Physically my back is so bad from the trauma and not sitting for 10 months.

I would say my back is an 8/10 my bms are really low at the mo 3/10 and the pain after about a 5/10 until about 1pm. I also find it strangely itchy now and wonder if that's a good thing?

I'm probably insane.

However I am trying to be positive.

I have until June to see if time does it thing and I am trying a couple of home remedies which you have to believe in or there's no point.

You have to hope but then it's the hope that kills you.

How did you get yours? I'll read through and see if you've already written. Sorry I've read so much. Thanks for asking me how I was xxx hope you're doing okay ish

Sorry just seen how long you've had.

Don't mean to offend but when it's been a year, it classes as a disability and this can help with work.

I was told by my union.

Awful I know but it confirms what we are going through is disabling our lives

Xxx

Ps I also had blood the other day

Do you think they'd say I'm too young even tho I feel 82?

This sounds horrendous you poor thing. Living with this is so debilitating isn't it. Hope you get help soon

wow poor you that sounds awful and scary

im 35 with two children

mine all started last feb when i was struck with severe sciatica which was incredible pain but needless to say after 3 weeks i was ok still have flare ups but anyway whilst it that timeframe i was taking tramadol which caused constipation and i remember really pushing hard one day to go poop.. but because of the sciatica pain and numbness i didnt realise i had damaged myself until the sciatica pain had eased i went to my GP whom stuck his fat finger in my bum eeeekkkk i could of jumped off the couch! a few months ago i ended going to A&E as was in so much pain the DR there again poked her finger in i cried out like a baby i felt terribly embarrased as there was only curtains between me and other patients but she confirned yes defo fissure and approx 2cm and deep with a skin tag

just a case of waiting now til i get to see my consultant again and hopefully get the ball rolling for LIS surgery

thats in interesting to know it falls under disability as quite ritely so ive had time off work sick because of it and it stops me from doing day to day things

it sounds awful but sometimes just want to die to get some relief

well i hope you get some relief etc and you get lis asap

its a dead end road otherwise with no hope left

sorry i sound very doom n gloom but struggling at the min i keep sitting on my heat pad and have applied dillataziem and lidocaine but as per still in pain

I F*****G HATE ANAL FISSURES!! sorry had to shout that lol

x

I understand how you are feeling. I really do. On top of 3 fissures I've now got piles. Totally taken over my life. I feel as though everything down there is so heavy. Hate it so much.

You are not alone. Truly 😁😁

oh crikey ... 3 fissures how awful for you

im wondering if ive got another or something down there as this has far by been the worst flare up lasting nearly weeks constant pain all day everyday utter madness

and i agree i said to my partner this week everything feels heavy and bruised down there allmost like ive got a baby bearing down lol

i hope you get healed n relief soon barbara

what hell we are living in .... sad face x

I know.... Even cancer treatments postponed. But keep pressing them. Phone 111. Every time you phone its logged on your NHS record. I had my op brought forward as I was in such a state

Although obviously this was before the lock down.

I really hope you can get there ASAP xxx

June will come around quickly poppy please keep pushing for the surgery xx

I don't think age comes into the op really. If you need it.

It's changed my life.

Try and get a different surgeon xx

Hi Liss, I have been diagnosed with an anal fissure for 6 weeks. The burning after BM is horrible for about 4 hours. My next medical appointment is in June and I think they will tell me that I have to do the LIS, I am very afraid of recovery and when I have to BM after surgery. Can you share your experience?

Hello, I know I'm not the person you were asking, but I did have have LIS procedure a little over 4 months ago. I have posted in this thread previously if you would like to know my history and my experience.

I suffered with chronic fissure for over 4 years before finally going through with procedure. The first week post op is tough, but really not any worse than what you have been experiencing. The pain afterword is a little different in that it is not the fissure so much as the incision site. By week 2 you are feeling better, though it is still quite uncomfortable. Spend as much time as possible soaking in bath tub, eating healthy and taking fiber supplements. As far as pain, Advil worked best for me, as I tried to avoid the opioids the doctor prescribed. By week 3 and 4 you really are feeling like a new person and not fearing the BM as before.

If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to offer my two cents. Good luck!

be careful soaking in the bath for too long after LIS surgery or you may dissolve the stitches too quickly

Thank you, you have been very helpful. Every day I wake up in fear of how the day will pass. I can not enjoy my family and I am very nervous.

Anyone who wants to write to me will always be of help.

I was really scared of the surgery, as I had botox and really suffered after the op.

However the recovery from LIS was alot easier. I didn't really have any pain after

, more soreness. I stayed in bed for a couple of days. I took paracetamol and ibuprofen alternately. I only needed these for about 5 days. I needn't have worried.

Bms were a bit tricky but not as painful as with fissure. I never once felt the pain of fissure again.

I ate mainly soft foods for 2 weeks after the op. Weetabux, soup, yogurt etc. Plenty of laxatives and lots of water.

I got better each week.

Bearing in mind the fissure was there a year. And for the 2 months before LIS I was unable to work due to the severe pain. I was in a and e, gp surgery and phoned 111 several times.

I hope you can get sorted ASAP after the lock down.

Are you eating correct diet, using laxatives and posture on toilet... Feet up?, also drink lots of water....

hello to all

i finally had the las operation november last year. this was after over two years with a fissure, first treatment i have was botox with helped a lot. i then had to go for major heart surgery almost a year ago and after that another fissure came along, i think it just hadnt healed. id had all the creams potions and god knows what to no effect.

ended up have more botox and the fissure debriding plus banding of piles. this gave me a new level of agony, you guys know what i mean. well it eventually subsided but was never right, also my bottom was so bumpy and sore.

it also effected my heart recovery because i wasnt moving.

eventually i got another examination under anaesthetic booked in and a different surgeon carried out the las.

i was prepared for the worst but it was no where near the pain of previous procedures. as of now its all copable,its sometimes uncomfortable after a bm. i have to make a effort not to clench up !its something i have to live with and manage. i have a high fibre breakfast and lots of fruit during the day. i have a half sachet of laxido in water before bed.most of the problem with a fissure is anxiety. you are so fearful of pain and going to the loo. it does take over your life. you cant explain the pain and loneliness you suffer. if you are posting here and havent has the las surgery id do it.

bless you all and hope you are managing!

please exscuse grammar and punctuation.

How are you doing Liss? Let me ask you something. How many milligrams of Ibuprofen did you take each time? 400 mg or 800 mg each time? Thank you

It was 400. Then I alternated with 500mg paracetamol.

To be honest I found the paracetamol more helpful some of the time.

I am doing very well thanks. I had the surgery 2 months ago and I am now symptom free. So grateful and happy.