I posted a few weeks ago about a horrendous fissure. I had a colonoscopy and they saw the fissure and its quite small. How can something so small cause so much pain? Its beyond belief now and my quality of life is so bad.
I have tried coconut oil, sitz baths, rectogesic and even got a special topical cream made up but they do zero! Nothing helps - except wine which relaxes me! But thats no answer.
I wanted to leave it go and see if changing my diet, drinking more water etc...helped. But it hasnt. In fact having more fibre is a killer. I have no idea why ppl say this helps? Its the spasms that are killing, me - not the cut itself. I basically have water or just a bit firm BM and it doesnt matter. It still goes crazy.
Im now heading towards botox but am scared because there appear to be quite a few horror stories out there.
Can any one who has had botox injections please shed some light on what to expect, if it worked etc...also I have heard that it wears off, but some people have nerve damage and that just leads to worse things.
Please note - I have delayed healing ability for whatever ever reason, so that scares me too. What I dont want is to have another complication or thing to deal with.
Hey Nicole I head the same thing and nothing worked. I did it all and saw 6 different doctors who told me to do 6 different things and still nothing worked! The surgery worked for me not the botox but the other one. Please stop doing all the baths, fiber, stool softeners etc and get the surgery. It's not bad at all. Had I known what I know now I would've gotten it immediately. I went through months of suffering trying different treatments.
I was told I had a 'small' fissure too and my god the pain! I've had two bouts of botox now to no avail. I've heard it's more successful in 'new' fissures. I have my checkup in July and I know it'll be a case of surgery (the incontinence aspect of that scares me).
The botox procedure is nothing to worry about. I had mine under general anaesthetic and was back home within 3 hours. No pain after and the first BM is fine! I would maybe suggest trying the botox if your fissure is new.
I feel your pain, I have had a chronic fissure with really bad haemerroids for 6 years. I have attempted all the conservative measures and nothing worked so last Tuesday I had an EUA (Examination Under Anaesthetic), they banded the massive piles and injected the fissure with Botox. I was told the piles would fall off after about 10 days, they have slightly improved after 10 days but still bad. The botox didn't work and I am bleeding still when going to the loo. The surgeon did say the Botox only works 50% of the time, it may not of worked for me but it hasn't had any other side effects.
I exercise every day, drink lots of water, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, take 15mls of Lactulose twice a day and use Diltiazem 2% Cream, I would recommend this cream nothing else has the same effect, it relaxes the muscles, reducing the spasm, ask your doctor for it Nicole.
Get all your fibre from fruit and vegatables that's the best way I've found, things like wholemeal bread and pasta make it worse as you need to go more!
The next stage for me is to request a Sphincterotomy, if that doesn't work I'm stuck with it it forever and I'm also worried about it causing incontinence, which is rare but can happen!. I'm only 35 so about the same age as you and it does really control your life and lower quality.
You have a 50% chance of the Botox working so go for it, it might just be the solution for you and complications are very rare.
Firsty Nicole, we all know how you feel, scared and alone (apart from speaking with fellow sufferers). I have had this condition for 4 years now and like you say I feel 20 years older than I am. It really does have a a very negative effect on your life.
I was in hospital and had EUA (examination under anesthetic) - It was found that my fissure had begun to heal (skin forming over it) but they found a polyp further up (which they removed).
I was also botoxed in several areas and had ultrsound and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
They knew of my past and 2 Anaesthetists visited me prior to going into theatre to say I would be given morphine pre and post as well as usual anesthetic to ensure minimal pain (thank god).
Apparently as I was out cold as soon as they tried to dilate me (open my bum) I began to moan (hello pain even under pain killers and anesthetic) so they gave me more 'stuff' . . .
Upshot is it is now day 1 after op/botox and I am sitting up in bed - feels uncomfortable and as if someone has kicked me in that area (dull pain).
I have not been to loo and I am to be honest scared . . .
I do not want to frighten anyone but I left hospital with 'packing' inside my bum to stop bleeding (I am guessing) - consultant said it would come out with poo - but I was not waiting - lay in warm bath and gently got hold of the small piece pokingout of me . . . take almost 1hr to tease it out - was about 5-6 inches in length - I shant give any more detail but was glad it was out for sure.
You poor thing! I feel for you. How are you travelling? I have actually discovered if I use rectinol before I go to the toilet, the pain is not nearly as bad later on ie not nearly as bad spasms, but my surgeon said that as it has a steroid in it, that's setting up a bad area to heal in as it weakens the skin. I'm still debating the botox too... Please keep me up to date with your progress.
Hi - My daughter (age 22) has a very painful chronic fissure & has tried lots of different approaches. She had botox surgery & it helped for a while - she had it again the following year - with some relief. However pain is back - she was offered the advancement flap surgery - but after researching it as much as possible - decided it was a big risk - surgeon has agreed to try botox again - so will try this. He also suggested possibly suturing the fissure - so if anyone has had this procedure or knowledge of it - I would love your advice. She tried the Diltiazam cream again recently - but this time she has come out in a very itchy rash so had to stop this. I spoke to the pharmacist & they have changed the brand of Diltiazam tablets they use - so I am wondering whether she is allergic to a different ingredient that the different brand is made from ? Again if anyone has had this issue - please reply. She has been getting some relief (after painful bowel movements) with a warm wheat bag (it is long with 3 sections - so can be moved to fit the painful area) I have just been reading about Nifedipine suppositories - does anyone have any experiences with these ?
Good Luck with your decision Nicole1972 - Hope it goes well
Well two-days worth of toilet trips (they have been mainly diarrhea) which you might think is best given the circumstances but it burns like hell and stings for hours afterwards - pain so bad I spent most of Sat in bed and thankfully slept some :-)
Its too early to tell what the outcome of this latest surgery/botox is - I am hoping 7-10 days after i will have a clearer picture of progress.
My usual pain killers not having some effect so getting very narky around partner (guilt) . . .
Its 1am and I feel pretty down - still gotta think things will get better.
I had annal fissures for years with all kind of pain and disconfort. The absolute best thing I ever did was purchase a bidet toilet seat. This has changed my life for real. My fissure and hemrohoids are basically healed after a couple of weeks. I use it to keep everything clean and it healed up with no issues. I do have flare ups from time to time be this heals it right up in a couple of days. I would suggest getting one. The one i bought did cost but about 500.00. Not cheap but it works. Please try it if you can.
Sorry to hear about your daughters ongoing pain :-(
I have had 3 rounds of botox now - over a period of 3-4yrs - nothing has permenantly solved the fissure issue but it is apparently beginning to heal.
My problem is a very tight anal muscle which is unforgiving and spasms at will. I had a double dose of botox in June and this helped but I think it is starting to wear off some and the paralyzed b'std muscle is awake again.
I am due in next week for more botox but reluctant as its day surgery and its a bit of a cattle market with a lot of people getting same done in a short space of time. I had one really bad experience (2nd time) where I was def injected in wrong area and was in worst pain of my life ever - no compraison with fissure pain - this was off the scale.
In June I was in general surgery and colorectal surgeon used ultrasound to get to correct place - hardly any after pain (well apart from 1hr in bath getting 'packing' out - I now know what giving birth might start like!).
I am today undecided whether to go in next Thurs for yet more botox - but if I do this is the last time - I will demand I get the LIS on the muscle done next time - to hell with passing wind if it deals with things.
Dilitazem cream after a while caused me to itch like hell (I was using cream) and I stopped it.
Only things I can suggest are:
Gabapentin and Naproxen for pain management
Diazepam to help relax when totally stressed out and spasming
Hot water bottle and donut ring to sit on - the dunlopilo donut ring from Amazon is good (I have 2) and I found a small kids hot water bootle that fits in inside the ring inner. The heat does help.
Keeping strong is difficult when your life is being ruined by this condition and I really do not think doctors have a real appreciation of the agony it causes. My docs whilst ok I am sure think I overstate the pain - Id like to see them on it for a few years and then ask them how they are doing.
Wishing your daughter and all the best for recovery.
I am now in the waiting game and when I get to see the consultant at the hospital on 29 october, they will caht to me and check my fissure over and advise me, I have already been told by my GP re operation and botox, I read that peeps on here have had the operation an find it a sucess, but I have been told by my GP it can make you incontenate and I dont want to have to were pads because of this so have you heard that peeps who have had the operation for anal fissure have become incontenant
Thank you for this as It is very worrying what works and what does not work for some peeps, I am on veg and fruit and drink water and take fibre husks in water some days are good but some days ochh the pain and to nearly fainting today as it was the worsed, my problem also I have IBS so this does not help the fissure healing I am in a catch 22 situation phew
Hi, I am currently writing this from my hospital bed as I have just undergone Botox injection and anal polyp removal. I will let you know how I am feeling in a couple of days but at the minute I am very sore when I spasm. Like a sharp shooting pain. When I'm not in spasm its kind of like a dull ache ( the kind when you fall on your ass from a bit of a height) nothing like the pain from my fissure, which I was told today was very deep!
Hopefully it will ease off but I will let you know either way.
I would definately advise to get the sphicteronomy surgery....If interest I can give you a full account of my experience... I tried diltazem ointment for first four weeks..gave up due to it not helping...and decided to get the surgery...best decision of my life!!!