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Really getting me down - advice?

Posted , 4 users are following.

rc1982
rc1982

I first saw GP in Dec 2015 about rectal bleedimg and was given treatment for piles after internal exam - GP said I had an internal pile. This treatment improved things slightly but I had a recurrence over xmas so I bought more piles treatment from pharmacy and made appt with GP in Jan. He did not reexamine but gave me same prescription. In mid-Feb I saw female GP instead and was in increasing pain, and when she examined me she found a fissure, so prescribed stool softener for 2 weeks, which worked i initially but i had a recurrence shortly after finishing stool softeners. I went back at the end of March and have been given enough stool softeners for a month, and told to come back if no better after this

This was working - but this morning a little pain and blood again.

The pain is nowhere near as bad as it has been, but what is scaring me and getting me down is the blood. Despite being told there are no masses when having an internal exam, I am terrified I have anal cancer. I am also suffering from post-natal anxiety, and seeing the blood sends me into a panic for hours.

I wonder if I should be pushing for a referral to a colo-rectal specialist, or just accept that it is a recurring fissure and keep up stool softener? Should I be reassured that 2 GPs after rectal exam say nothing to worry about? As I say, it is the bleeding that bothers me most. I wondered what ofher people's experience is? I am 34, and gave birth to baby number 2 7 months ago.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • mmarcus151910
    mmarcus151910 rc1982

    Posted

    First and foremost, I'm really sorry that you had to go through this. It truly is a horrible condition and no one should be put thorugh this.

    This being said, I can give you some of my advice, although I am not a female and have had no experience with anal cancer or giving birth. However, I have had experience with an anal fissure.

    When I first had my anal fissure, I would see lots of blood in the toilet, as can be expected as you are applying pressure to an area in your rectum in order to use the bathroom. Usually, the blood is accompanied by extremem tremendous pain and if you do not have this then count your blessings. Some ways that I have found that can help eliminate the pressure that you need to apply while going to the bathroom is pooping in the squatting position. Not only is this healthier for you but it allows you to poop with almost no pressure applied. If you take the stool softeners, I use the brand metamucil and still use it today even though my anal fissure is healed, then the squatting position should almost allow the poop to just slide out of your butt on its own due to gravity with almost no pressure at all. Just make sure you do not overdue the stool softeners as diarreah can cause as much damage if not more, due to its aciditiy, as the hardness of a bad stool. With the metamucil stuff I take, I take on average a tablespoon a day with lots of water. The water is very important to take with the fiber as the fiber only really works if it absorbs water. 

    If you are told it is an anal fissure, than I would not super worry about the cancer. That is to say, I cannot promise you or guarantee its not, but I can tell you that it is normal for anal fissures to be accompanied by lots of blood.

    If the anal fissure starts to cause you tremndous pain, then I might even consider the surgery. I will post along a post that I usually give to people that describes my experience and some extra tips I have on dealing with an anal fissure. In this post, I was recommending  other methods to try to try to ease your pain. I hope this helps you out and never give up. :

    Here are some suggestions I have for you to help you through:

    1. Try somee zinc oxide in the form of calmoseptine which has menthol to soothe the area down there as well. Calmoseptine can be bought at almost any local drugstore and can be bought online too.

    2. Try squatting when going on the toilet instead of sitting. This is a much  helathier position and the poop sometimes will just slide out,  no pushing or straining involved.

    3. I would definately take a fiber supplement, specifically metamucil  is what I take evveryday,  in ordr to allow your stools to be soft and to allow them to pass thorugh easily. THis being said, with any fiber supplemetn, you must drink lots of water when using them, or they will not work veffectively. Also, do not take too much as too much fiber can irritate your bowels on the way  out and diarreah actually does worse down there.

    4. I would recommend getting a sphicteronomy surgery if htings dont get better. I waited it out, gave up, had the surgery, and was able to heal within about two weeks. I had a chronic fissure, so I knew where you are ocming from with v all the pain and discomfort.

    Try listening to music to distract your mind a bit, especially when going to the bathroom. If you are in writing pain, distract yourself with a movie or TV show right after. Also, to prevent myself from screaming and from putting more stress in the area down  there, i bit down on a washcloth in order to make the tensions with my teeth instead of my sphicter muscle.

    Good Luck!!!

    Sincerely,

    Myles 

    • rc1982
      rc1982 mmarcus151910

      Posted

      Thanks for the detailed response - this is all useful advice and it is good to hear others' experience. I think I maybe need to make stool softeners permanent. Thanks again for your reply.

      I had not realised how much of a mental side there is to this condition.

    • mmarcus151910
      mmarcus151910 ababacarharlem1

      Posted

      For sure!!! You just got to find a good action packed show! Honestly though, I wouldn't recommend a comedy that is too funny as I did that and I ended up being in more pain from the vibration of me laughing. 
    • mmarcus151910
      mmarcus151910 rc1982

      Posted

      Yeah no problem. After going through something painful like this, I like trying to do all I can to help other people going through the same thing. Just to let you know, I still take my fiber supplement, Metamucil, everyday. It is really not that bad once you get used to it and you actuallly save time not having to sit on the toilet and wait for a hard stool to pass. 

      As far as the mental side, seeing blood is one thing but most people, including me, develop the unfathomable pain that can last up to 4-6 hours after you go, although anytime you see blood it is usually a shock. 

      Hope you get better soon!

      Best,

      Myles

  • melissa90547
    melissa90547 rc1982

    Posted

    Hi rc1982, Ive had an Anal Fissure for the past three years and got the run around from GI doctors and a surgeon. I requested a colonoscopy to be done becasue i was sure i got cancer with so much pain for so loong. I had my colonoscopy done in February and they found nothing, thank god. And what i thought was hemorroids was a fissure. A Colonoscopy will not show a fissure becasue its on the outside of the anus. My advice to you is to get a colonoscopy as soon as possible. It is painless becasue the give you anasthetic and put you to sleep. When you wake up you are perfectly fine. No pain. And you will find out if you have anything. If you think you have a fissure , Id recommend surgery. I had it 3-weeks ago. Stop thinking about over the counter remedies becasue in the long run, that didnt help me. Good luck
    • rc1982
      rc1982 melissa90547

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. Are you in the UK? I am, and my GP doesn't feel I need to see a GI specialist, so it ia proving hard to get a referral. I am going to make an appointment again and try and push for this however.
    • melissa90547
      melissa90547 rc1982

      Posted

      I am not in the UK, I am in Cali. Just try and look up surgeons, and go directly to a hemorroid one if possible, thats what i did. Cause i got the run around. So i made an appointment on my own with a surgeon. They will recommend a colonoscoy usually first before any surgery. Oh and some advice, "Always get a Copy of your Medical Records from any check ups you have, so nobody can tell you have proof of your diagnosis.  I had to do this in order for these doctors to stop giving me the run around and sending me from one doc to another.  -Good luck
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