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My journey to controling pruritis ani - the conclusion

Posted , 4 users are following.

PapaJim
PapaJim

Since this is the conclusion you might want to read my first post first.

I was due for a colonoscopy, so I made an appointment with a really good colo-rectal surgeon. When I went in for the consult I first told him about my pruritis ani. He had a resident with him so he turned me bottoms up and proceeded to conduct a clinic. He started reeling off the probable causes and would tell him what I had tried unsuccessfully for each one. He was not put off, in fact he was rather impressed at my efforts. It turned out that I had been doing something right and some not so right. Turned out the wet wipes were part of the problem. They contain alcohol and other things that are an irritant. He gave me an armfull of products to try with instructions to return if I didn't get relief. Turned out he had actually performed anal tattoing on one patient. Talk about wierd treatment! Anyway I'll skip what didn't work and go right to what gave me relief.

Balneol: This is a hygienic cleansing lotion for anal or vaginal discomfort. Instead of wet wipes he instructed me to clean my bum with about a two inch line of this lotion on toilet paper. He said it felt like silk and he was right. Keep in mind I was about to go through the intestional cleansing process necessary to perform a colonoscopy--a sure way to get the red ass! During this whole time I cleaned myself as instructed and never had any discomfert at all! Wow! out of space again--I'll add one more post.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • susie21906
    susie21906 PapaJim

    Posted

    okay, first of all, I think I felt my heart leap when I read your post.  My daughter has had this problem for 2 plus years.  We have hoped it would just "go away" and/or it would stop itching on its' own....so far that has not happened.  She is a teenager (13) who is involved in everything plus more.  Her itch has become the pinnacle of her non-existance in school.  She is absolutely miserable all the time.  The itch is worse when she menstrates due to the activity and things goin on in that area.  So I have ordered the piriton tablets and the Lepicol tablets to try "something" different.  We did do the vinegar bath, baby oil, baby wipes, warm wash clothes, epson salts, bathes, scrubbing, no scrubbing, checked for pin-worms, thread worms and any worm that would cause this much of an itch!!! OMG the pain is sharp and it makes her cry at night especially.  She was awoken at 3 am from the pain and itch, I am at the end of this in so many ways as I listen to these horrible stories of her discomfort.  I want relief for her so I am willing to try the Balneol; so I will order that too....however, there are so many many things to choose from and some people are not successful with any of it....so I have been reading blog after blog until 1 am to figure out what to do with this poor girl....I read all these posts and think, why hasn't some genius come up with a solution to a simple itch!!!  And, yet still, none of these stories are simple.  So many people suffering from this, she was comforted that she was not the only one as she has always assumed she was....thank you all so much for all your heart-felt posts to this terrible problem, I will try the stuff that has worked for you and let you know what happens!!!  Thank you for your words and wisdom, none of this is easy and it ruins your day your night and anything fun that happends to coinside with the miserable itch!!!  Much Love, teenagers momma Susie21906 

     

    • PapaJim
      PapaJim susie21906

      Posted

        As you will see from the posts people get relief in several different ways.My regimen is stll working for me after nearly two years now.  Good luck on finding the one that worksbest  for your daughter!
    • susie21906
      susie21906 PapaJim

      Posted

      Yes, I thank you and I will let you know what we figure out and share our hopefull success with everyone else who needs to help themselves or someone else that they love!!!

      Thank you and Much Love

      susie

       

    • syd39213
      syd39213 susie21906

      Posted

      Has she found a cure yet , I'm 19 and a girl ,and has had this for a year and a half now she is not alone !!! It's the most annoying thing ever and going to the bathroom is the most painful thing in the world !!
    • syd39213
      syd39213

      Posted

      I have learned to  deal with it but it's getting bad , verrrrryyy itchy , I feel like it's from moisture but beats me !!
    • PapaJim
      PapaJim syd39213

      Posted

      I haven't seen any follow up posts by Susie so hopefully no news is good news. My regimen continues to work for me after two years. In a nutshell:

      1. Shower every night and use a flexible shower head to cean your bottom.

      2. After every bowel movement clean you bottom with Balneol (kind of expensive), Eucerin Skin Calming itch relief treatment (less expensive), or Gold Bond hydrating lotion, (very reasonable). There are other anti itch creams mentioned on the forum that ar probably equally good. The importent thing is to get a product that feels very soothing and don't quit until all trace of feces is gone.

      3. Then smear on a coating of Calmoseptine (basically zinc oxide with a little menthol.  I think you are right about moisture being a contributing factor and Calmoseptine is a moisture barrier.

      Just over two years ago it was driving me nuts. Within a week of doing the above I had relief.  Sometime in the past year I decided to drop the regimen just to see if it had gone away permanently. After about a week I could feel it starting again. I immediately went back on it.  If it doesn't work for you PLEASE scan the forum for other solutions.  What copntrols it seems to be as big a mystery as what causes it!  

    • Humani
      Humani syd39213

      Posted

      You could try Balneol as suggested in this thread, but personally I have looked at the ingredients and it contains a coctail of chemicals. I have found that excessive (or under-) wiping with dry toilet paper is the real culprit. Be gentle use water or try a natural cleansing gel like Angel aloe & seaweed with toilet paper - it feels great and soothing.

      Hope you find your cure.

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