Does anyone have thoughts about fasting as a way to heal anal fissures. I have had a chronic one since giving birth 7 months ago. I've done topical treatments and have had the botox injection, but nothing is changing. I'm considering either a 3 day clear juice fast or even the 10 day Master Cleanse. Has anyone tried this? Any thoughts?
I haven't tried fasting but have you tried Anoheal Cream (Diltiazem Hydrochloride 2%), this worked for me, but you must use it twice a day for at least six weeks.
Hi - I went through the whole gamut of lotions and potions and nothing helped to relieve the unbearable pain of a fissure that was ongoing for months. The only thing that finally did help was fasting! Many people write that u shouldn't do this due to constipation,..wasn't the case with me.
Think about it. The reason fissures fail to heal is that they are repeatedley subject to extreme forces and movements which give them no time to heal. I lost quite a lot of weight (as a bonus) and the pain started to subside generally. I think this method of healing takes 3 weeks so prepare to starve yourself until it works....drink plenty of liquids. After the first few days which are hard, it gets remarkably easier.
1 bowel movement every 2 to 3 days has got to be better for the fissure than 2 movements daily....
Anyways...I am fissure free now ,...
To all those suffering,..hang on in there,...there is light at the end of the tunnel...
[quote:32a27fa656=\"hydelburg\"]Does anyone have thoughts about fasting as a way to heal anal fissures. I have had a chronic one since giving birth 7 months ago. I've done topical treatments and have had the botox injection, but nothing is changing. I'm considering either a 3 day clear juice fast or even the 10 day Master Cleanse. Has anyone tried this? Any thoughts?
I've had a fissure for around 5 weeks now. The pain leaves me unable to sit/lie down for large portions of the day. Sometimes, I have to resort to walking in circles just to give myself something to do. I've been off work all this time - cannot sit in a car and job is desk based.
Initially GP was reluctant to prescribe anything other than Anacal, but I reasearched and pushed for Rectogesic after 2 weeks of agony. I had an up and coming appointment with consultant re haemorrhoids the following week, who recommended that I continue with that regime for time being. Also gave me Lidocaine. Longer term options Botox and surgery.
Rectogesic does help, although can only use three times a day (on Consultants advice). Not sure Lidocaine or Ibuprofen/Paracetomol do anything.
However, after 5 weeks (and having had a smattering of \"good days\" I now feel I'm back to square one, with the pain as bad as ever. I have been considering fasting (very difficult as I love my food) and would be interested to know if you had any success with it. My main worry is about whether or not it will lead to consipation.
I too was unable to sit ,but found a bean bag a great help to perch on as it takes the exact shape of whatever the best position is to rest!
As far as fasting goes ,I'm not doubting it may work for some,but it could also lead to constipation (compaction ) of whatever is in the intestine whilst fasting.
mine was pretty bad and found that recotogesic helped. What helped more was eating more fibre because a lack of fibre is one of the main reasons for anal fissures. Fibre ensures that the stools are smooth which results in easier bowel movements and make sure you drink plenty of water too because this helps as well. Finally exercise helped me out as well because it increases blood flow and helps the fissure heal quickly. Cheers
I had fissure 3 months ago with great pain which prevents from working sitting etc. Interesting thing about it is it was not started with constipation.Even I do not remember serious constipation problem in my life.It was because of hard working(it is desk job) and stress.
Sometimes good and sometimes bad(agony for 4-5 hours).
First none of my doctor's advices helped me. So I tried my own way from what i learned.
-First I used Magnesie calcine to stop forcing the injured region (diarrhea) 3-4 days.
-I used Bepanthen cream to cure the region (put finger in 2-3cm if it is not hurt) and made massage smoothly(for blood flow) while being care of bleeding. Additionally to stop ache and relaxation I used nitroglycerin pomade some days.
-Important point for first 3 weeks was sitting in hot water(40C-50C) filled washtub.(At work I used toilet paper to massage with hot water) ,apprx. 3 in a day.
-After magnesie calcinee I noticed to eat vegetable and fruit.1 spoon of full bran at mornings , dried appricot etc. And at least 2 liters of water in a day.
-I am/was careful about not to force \"bowel movements\".
It is not fully finished yet for me-its fragile sometimes.
I think most deceptive point for this problem is it's end.
You should be careful when you think its gone.It recurs.
I'm fine for 4 weeks, no bleeding, no pain...
I m trying not to sit long time at work, at least walk 30 minutes in a day.
Hope it helps..Sorry for poor english.
I had a fissure for 6 weeks before seeing the doctor, and 8 weeks before i got referred to hospital for a sigmoidoscopy, that luckily never happened! I was prescribed diltiazem which has made a vast difference in the 3 weeks i have been taking it! The burning pain was unbearable before i saw the doctor but now with the diltiazem the burning has gone as the muscles are starting to relax. Along with this I am using dulcoease stool softener and drinking fybogel, as well as eating plenty of fibre!
This seems to working, although going back to eating lots at christmas caused its own problems!
Generally eating a bit less, and the diet supps have made things a lot more bearable. Still with fissure now but hopefully its getting better! Definitely not a quick fix for it, so stick with it and it should get better!
Good luck
I personally would not try fasting. I can see the point; if you don't eat, you don't go to the toilet, and the fissure will heal. But that risks constipation - if that happens, you'll be in even more pain than before. The best way is to get your stools as soft as possible, like a paste, so that you can go to the toilet without causing the fissure to stretch/rip. In order for your body to heal, you need to be healthy, not fast yourself for 3 weeks.
I'm pasting below an article that I wrote about my experiences... I hope it helps some of you!
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Back in 2007 I was in agonising pain with an anal fissure. After 8 months of agony, I honestly believed my fissure would never go away and that I would be forced to have surgery on it. The pain was so bad that when I went to the toilet - (which felt like I was passing sharp pieces of glass) - I used to think I would pass out. It was ruining my life. I felt hopeless and depressed.
Well, I have been clear of pain for almost two years now. I do get the odd setback from time to time, where I feel that the fissure might tear again, but I believe I have a method to keep it under control.
So here is my personal method to help cure anal fissures...
1) Each healthily, avoid fatty foods, and eat plenty of insoluble fiber (such as vegetables and cereal/bran.)
This will not cure the fissure but it will keep you regular and prevent you from getting constipated. If you've got a fissure, or have had one, you must avoid constipation at all costs! I ate and still eat a large bowl of Bran Flakes every morning for breakfast. Sprinkle All Bran on the top for even more fiber. With every evening meal, I made sure to include vegetables, especially root mash (which is basically sweet potato, turnips/parsnips, swedes, etc, mashed up like mashed potatoes ... it's a good way of eating lots of insoluble fiber if you don't really like green veg much.) I personally found that soluble fiber, such as fruit and beans, made no difference at all. It had to be insoluble fiber, which the body cannot digest and therefore passes out more quickly. If you absolutely hate veg and cereal, try taking fiber supplements such as Fibergel.
2) Drink plenty of water.
This is very important as it helps keep your stools soft. Try to drink a large 1.5 or 2 litre bottle of water per day. I find it difficult to drink large amounts of liquid, so I keep the bottle with me and sip throughout the day.
3) Take two magnesium tablets (300mg each) every single day.
THIS STEP IS ESSENTIAL! Discovering magnesium on a forum was a godsend to me. I can't explain how it works but it definitely softens the stools. I take one tablet after my evening meal, and another tablet before I go to bed. Magnesium was THE lifesaver for me!
4) Take three stool softeners, morning, evening and night (docusate sodium 100mg per tablet).
Again, this is another essential step in healing your fissure. It makes your stools paste-like so that you can safely go to the toilet without further damaging the fissure. In the UK I buy a brand called DulcoEase. You can buy them from any chemist or large supermarket. If you still feel your stools are hard, increase the tablets to 4 per day. (According to the instructions, 4 per day is the maximum.)
5) Use a tiny amount of Rectogesic cream applied three times a day.
All you need is about 1/2 - 1 cm of cream (the size of the tip of your little finger.) Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands with anti-bacterial wash before you insert the cream. Use your littlest finger as that's less painful to insert. Be prepared - it stings!!! If you use too much you will get bad headaches. Some people stop using it because of headaches, and that's a shame, because this stuff really does help. Basically it relaxes the sphincter / rectum muscles so that the stool can pass more easily. If you're getting headaches, try using less until you find an amount you can tolerate, but do stick with it. It wil
I need help with bleeding. When I go to bathroom last couple of days I have noticed blood in my stool. What could this be? Do I need to go to doctor for check up? It really is getting on my nerves and my wife says that I need to see a doctor. I really don’t want to go because I am little embarrassed abut this.
Well doctor mention adenomas colon polyps and I found out that adenomas colon polyps are cancerous and this is scary. I am waiting still for my call from a doctor, so I still don’t know do I have this. I found several other reasons for anal bleeding and they can point to many things.
http://www.steadyhealth.com/Anal_bleeding__17_years_old_t112688.html
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/rectal_bleeding.html
http://abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/1127/
Some suggest it might be hemorrhoids some that it might be intestinal tract infection. I’m not sure any more. I really hope that doctor has some good news for me. If not it means that I will have to deal with this for a long time.
I have followed several of JA78's recommendations and the results are amazing! My anal fissure is almost better. I've started taking Magnesium tablets and using Vaseline before having a bowel movement - it is so much less painful! I had tried Rectogesis before - it seemed to help for a few days and then just seemed to make the pain worse. My doctor said I might be allergic to one of the contents - maybe lanolin - I can't wear wool, so that might be right. I have a bath after a bowel movement and I have used aqueous cream as a cleanser since I first visited my doctor about what has turned out to be an anal fissure and I would recommend that - as well as good quality toilet paper (I use Andrew Puppies on a roll) and unperfumed baby wipes for sensitive skin (Johnson's). Many thanks JA78 - you've helped me more than the medics!
I have found taking flax seed oil capsules (2 x 1000mg) helps with lubrication, apart from its' other excellent properties of helping with cholesterol.
A recent bout of constipation brought on by having to take antibiotics was helped no end, in-fact I was able to pass the stools with a lot less discomfort.
I'm sure that it works for me, I initially took flax seed oil for the omega oils benefits but soon found that splitting fingers healed and the skin became more smooth and 'elastic', then I became aware of the easier passage past the problem area, there was still some pain but for a lot less time.
I'm sure we all have different levels of the problem and pain but we are all united in that awful moment when 'nature calls' and we know what to expect.
Bon courage mon brave!
hi all, i wonder could anyone help me? i have had a fissure 8mths now and still in alot of pain but i did go back to work 4wks ago. im keeping to a diet of weetabix and roasted veg every night also about 3lts of water, i take 2 magnesium 250s and 2 stool softeners a day. my problem is i always seem to have a hard plug followed by soft movement, the hard bit makes my fissure bleed and leaves me in pain the rest of the day. could anyone please help me. thank u so much for listening.
I suffered this over 4 years ago now, and began to think it would never end. I used rectogesic and diltiazem and neither eliminated the problem. I was taking a couple of Movicol per day as well as the high fibre/lots of water diet, but found that making my bowels too loose made me sore and I still didn't seem to heal.
In the end I had the botox treatment. Took two goes, but after the second treatment (6 months after the fissure occurred) I was healed. My take on this is to be persistent with doctors/consultants who keep trying to fob you off with creams. If your situation has been going on this long, you may need an intervention. The week following the procedure was bad, but it buys you a couple of weeks without the spasm and gives the fissure time to heal.
As everyone is saying here, you must avoid constipation at all costs. I drank loads of water at the time I had the fissure, but now I just take one Movicol or Laxido per day and I don't have to drink so much. I conclude that my body just doesn't send enough water into the bowel without medicinal assistance. The laxido is more important than the water. But when my diet becomes unusual (like at Christmas) I do take more Laxido to be safe.
Good luck - I feel for everyone on here - but persist with the doctors because the longer it goes on the less likely it is to heal spontaneously.
first of all nicro thanku for replying to me i am laying on my side in bed crying with the pain in my bottom lots of blood this morning. im so happy that i have finally spoke to someone who knows the pain. i am a 44yr old woman with a grown up family. i got my fissure last november but it was treated for hemmies up to march. i dont seem to have spasms anymore but blood and the throbbing ache that can last all day. i am booked for botox on 18th june i am so depressed with this sickness my life has gone to the dogs im finding it harder everyday to cope. thank u so much for talking to me nicro i am so glad to hear from someone who got their life back from this horrible thing.thank u.anne.
Hi Anne. I feel so sorry for you, and know what it is like to search these forums looking for that magical piece of advice that might end your ordeal. One of the really bad things about this is that you suffer in silence ... if you had a broken arm you could tell people you are in pain, but this !! I remember rarely being able to sit down for breakfast and crying in front of my children because of the pain, and then doing the school run and chatting and smiling at people even though I was in agony because I couldn't tell them.
I was a similar age to you and had suffered with haemorrhoids for about 15 years. I did have them injected at one time which eased things for a while. But what makes me cross in retrospect is that the doctors just told me to eat properly, and there was no conisderation that my body just didn't work as well as other peoples when processing waste. Like I said, I drank loads of water and spent most of my time popping to the loo (I already had a weak bladder). But on its own it still didn't take enough water into my bowel. I think of the fissure as advanced haemorrhoids, but nobody ever warned me about the damage I could do to myself just by straining when going to the toilet.
I don't know how you experience the spasm, but I always figured that the throbbing ache was the sphincter spasm squeezing the wound, and the pain only eases when the spasm subsides - I may be wrong though.
Good luck with the botox. Like I said, the first week is a bit rough, but when things start to settle down the relief is so great. Make sure you discuss options for a second course if the first doesn't work. I initially thought I would have to go back on the waiting list again, but the consultant was great and said just to phone her secretary and she would add me on to her next available list. Be persistant - it is your life that is being ruined here.
I have overcome some of my shyness about this, and if someone hints they have haemorrhoids I do warn them about where this can go, as so few people seem aware of this. I did have a recurrance one Christmas, and panicked - trying to get myself back on the botox list asap. But I did heal spontaneously that time - weird, isn't it !
Let me know how it goes. I will be thinking about you. Nicola.
hi nicola thank u so much for ur kind words. ive been really bad hardly out of bed crying constantly. spasms r back again i would discribe mine as sharp cutting jabs into my behind that tkes ur breath away. the point where the fissure is throbs and burns like slicing with a knife feeling. i seem to b getting worse. ive read that sometimes the botox doesnt work if u have a sentimal pile or skin tag with ur fissure nicola?? if u dont mind me asking did u have a tag? i have one and it gets quite angry somtimes. i walk with a constant limp now days and just tell everyone that i have a sore back. u sound as if uve had such a hard time nicola im so happy to hear that u beat this and got ur live back. all i have done this year is cancel holifays and missed loads of work, i have venice booked for two weeks after botox it was booked from last year before i got so bad. thank u again nicola for taking the time to reply to me. none of my family as ever heard of fissures i had never heard of them either. just living to get this botox and hope i get some relief i will as u did get it a second time im sure i might need it. thank u nicola
Well This is the first time Ive spoken about this to anyone....well besides 1 doctor.
I have been living with a fissure for over 6 years. Its one of the most painful things Ive ever experienced.
I am a veteran, self employed, so I use the VA for health care.
At first, they were treating me for hemorrhoids...but the stuff some foam stuff made things 10x worse.
Ive been using the Diltiazem for about a year now.
I take docusate 50mg/sennosides 8.6 mg 2 tablets 2x a day
I also take a daily laxative...been on these for a year also.
Im getting pretty desperate as the pain increases through time.....now I have so many "other" problems...
I hope they schedule me for surgury soon....
I had anal fissure 5 months ago & it was healed 2 months ago but till now i still feel discomfort after every bowel movements & feel a little needle pain while passing bowel movements . Do anyone can help me ??