My experience with a chronic anal fissure

I have had an anal fissure for around a year now, on and off - more on than off! I am a 38 year old woman, vegan, very active and consider myself a really healthy eater. A year ago I got on a plane - something I hadnt done for 15 years, due to intense fear of flying. Around this time I had a number of stressors apparent in my life. I feel that the fissure developed around this time. When on holiday, I was very tense and I found it difficult to find food suitable for vegans - I ate a lot of bread basically and became constipated - something I wasn't familiar with at all. Kapow!! very very painful!

I'd not read about fissures - i went to the docs after 6 months of pain and some bleeding. I was petrified. I had a lot going on and the last thing I wanted was some hidieous diagnosis in a very delicate area. The doctor didnt examine me , he just asked for symptoms - he gave me lactose fluid and some cream to apply. I admit to not using the lactose as i didnt feel I my stools were that hard. I did use the cream however, which worked temporarily. The pain came back around a month after i thought it'd healed.

I was pretty terrifed to go back to the docs, so i didnt. I did lots of online research about pain in that area and decided to treat for fissure.

After using coconut oil internally and externally, aloe vera juice, psyllium husk, acidophillus tablets, a gallon of water a day(!), lavender oil etc etc...nothing was working and i was becoming tearful and agitated. I told NO ONE about the pain i was in.

Ok, so here is what helped me.

I bought 20+ strength Manuka Honey - I applied it inside my anus using the 'germaloid' cream insert that came with the cream. I covered the insert in honey - admittedly it was a little messy!! Honey in my knickers wasnt entirely comfortable and it stung like hell at first. But i used a pad and it helped a lot. I did this whenever I possibly could - up to 5 times a day.

I drunk 2 litres of water alone (not including the cups of tea) per day, I used a teaspoon of psyllium husk as a stool regulator, every time i ate. I ate lots of water fruit such as melons and I increased my fibre intake. I did this for 2 weeks before seeing any real results...and after a little while, no pain.

It has come back and i am suffering again, but im straight on the manuka honey - again for me, its defintely stress induced. I hope this helps people? I do understand the indescribable pain associated with this....but this has worked for me and its a natural remedy.

I just have to make sure that i keep it up, so that the painless times increase and the painful times decrease!

After 4 days of feeling very constipated and using a laxative with no relief I went to my family doctor. She could tell I was in severe pain. She attempted an exam and quickly decided against it when I was screaming at the top of my lungs. She called a colleague in the medical center who is a surgeon. I went over to see him 1.5 hours later. My family doc called in some pain medication because she wanted the surgeon to be able to be able to do an exam.

Took the mess and tried to relax for an hour. Went to the surgeon, tried to examine me, same problem the family doc had. Far too painful. His diagnosis was a possible anal fissure or an abscess . Did a CT scan, no abscess but a major blockage. In surgery 45 minutes later to remove blockage and found an anal fissure. Treated with medication and sent home.

Have been home5 days now and have actually experienced a bowel movement with very little pain. The first couple days home on pain meds and high fiber diet. Slept , took many hot baths and sat on alternating heating pad and ice packs. Now , am on Miralax, high fiber diet, and at least 64 oz. of water along with tea each day. I am also practicing relaxation techniques.

My doctor believes the constipation was stress induced, however just having gone off of some medication for acid reflux this all occurred after the end of the meds. Wondering if anyone else has ever been on a medication called dexilant? Any complications? Just curious.

My surgeon has talked about a Botox injection also. Not sure where we will end up wih that.

On the up side, I have lost 12 pounds since this began and am committed to not ever having this reoccur again. Truly was the most pain I have ever had in my life. Wishing all well and a continued recovery.

Take care,

and did nothing for while but use the kind of creams one get from the chemist without a prescription.

As the pain intensified I finally was seen by a colo rectal surgeon, given the botox treatment , rectogesic and Diltiazem.

There has been temporary but not complete healing. So I was botoxed again only to relapse in a more

horrific wayimmediately after the treatment than before. As my symptoms also became hellish after the first botox injection, I conclude that I may have an intolerance to the medication, However, the medical profession will not even consider this and they are offering me now sphinterectomy, which I am reluctant to accept.

Unlike other fissure sufferers my pain is not at its worst when I passing stool but when I am in an upright position and when I am walking. I have virtually become disabled - and have reached the end of my tether.

I am no stranger to pain: I had both my hips replaced, I had chronic cystitis for 9 months, I had dismenorrhoean, but I find the fissures most debelitating of them all.