Recurring or chronic

Digestive health
1

Hi everyone. I've been experiencing these delightful fissures for the past 2 years. I mentioned it to a doctor 2 years ago who said well it sounds like an anal fissure, but never examined me. I have had it on and off since then. The pain never got that bad although sometimes a lot of blood. But since I overhauled my diet it's been great, I've only had one or two real problems (but again pretty minor every time).

I am going to see doctor about it this week as I want to try knock it on the head for good. I've been reading a lot about them but this has caused me more confusion. See, I'm confused about whether you'd call mine chronic? The tear itself doesn't last more than 5 days/ a week in itself. But it has recurred a number of times over two years. So is that chronic? Because I thought chronic meant that particular instance of pain and blood etc lasted more than a certain amount of time.

Basically, what is difference between recurring and chronic?

Thanks!

2

Yours sounds like mine!! I don't have spasms but I have some pain during a bowel movement and some blood but it doesn't last after I'm done with the BM. But mine is reoccurring as well, and if it keeps coming back, I believe that constitutes as chronic. Have you taken meds or anything for it?

3

No not yet. When I first saw the doctor about it she didn't mention anything. She sounded very blasé about whole thing and since I never had any pain, and my diet overhaul had pretty much got rid of it, I was too! But I do want to make sure it goes away and stays away as much as possible which is why I am going back to doc.

4

Yeah, I've learned when it comes to my health, I am the biggest advocate for myself and the only one who is going to lead me to healing first! The doctors are an amazing resource to learn from but at the end of the day, we are the ones with the issue!! Let me know what she says, my thoughts are with you!

5

Thank you! I'm more trying to focus on not dying of embarrassment if they want to examine me! Just trying to tell myself it's same as a gyno looking at you but...a little bit south haha!

6

Hi Sophie

Just wanted to see if my experience can help you.

Chronic fissure is anything that lasts 3 months or more.

Recurring is a fissure that heals then comes back.

I fell in to the severely chronic category as mine lasted 2 years straight with mere days of feeling moderately ok, but I can say now I'm cured, and NO surgery.

So I won't bore you with what didn't work for me as what works for one does not always work for another.

I've got a really good doctor who doesn't push for surgery unless he absolutely believes nothing else will work as any surgical procedure is permanent.

So mine got me to the end of my tether...didn't want to leave the house, couldn't sit for too long and ended up that I couldn't even share my bed with my wife because of the pain I felt all day and night.

My bleeding was sparse but the pain was always there and toilet trips were dreaded. The irony is that at my worst I was having to go up to 8 times a day because I just couldn't empty myself fully because of the pain.

So here was what worked for me

No more toilet paper- Preparation H wipes only (bought from Amazon in qtys of 6 packs)

Allow plenty of time to go poo- you want to relax and not feel rushed as hard pushing is what causes more pain and damage.

Buy some Lactulose solution from your pharmacy (cheaper than prescription) and start using it twice a day.

Forget the suggested dose, I took 1.5 ml twice a day. Too much will cause irritation and make you want to itch which will cause more damage.

I take a sachet of fybogel every night before bed to add more fibre to my system.

I found that when I was ready to go a sort of slight push then relax method worked for me but do NOT force it

Add plenty of water to your diet.

Now here is what solved it for me

The information above will help to start easing it but my doctor prescribed 2 things that cured me

1- a 14 day course of scheriproct suppositories (apologies if I spelt it wrong) and a tube of Betnovate ointment to apply twice a day.

You keep the suppositories in the fridge and only take them out when you are ready to use one.

I found that if you weren't careful opening them they would snap in half and you don't get the full effect so be careful with them. Once in I would then apply a pea sized dose of the cream around my bum and slightly inside it.

I know this sounds like the last thing you'd want to do but it worked, you just have to relax and know it will help. It helps if you insert them after a shower as you are more relaxed but do it slowly and it helps. Then put on the cream.

I started to go commando to avoid irritation from my underwear and I slept naked to avoid irritation too.

I did admittedly get a second 2 week course of the suppositories as I snapped most of the first batch but after 2 years I'm pain free which I thought would never happen.

I've got my life back. No one can understand this pain until they have had it and I've suffered migraine since I was 13 (now 42) and I can honestly say that a fissure is THE most painful thing I've ever dealt with full stop so I feel for you.

I'm now back to once a day and no pain (although I know that for the rest of my life I will always have to be cautious going to the loo) and I can do everything I used to do without feeling lousy.

None of the normal treatments worked for me and the typical creams gave me bad headaches.

I was too terrified to have surgery and thought I'd be stuck with this for ever but I was wrong

Here is a quick list of what and when i did what I did

Morning shower

Bowel movement

Clean with wipes

Insert suppository

Apply cream

Drink first dose of Lactulose

Evening shower/ bath

Insert suppository

Apply cream

Just before bed

Second dose of Lactulose

Drink sachet of fybogel

Use painkillers to manage at the beginning but avoid codene as this can bung you up bad!

Have faith, it CAN be cured

Relax and stop worrying as this makes it worse

Avoid too much alcohol and coffee and add plenty of fresh veg to your diet

Also lay off eating too much meat.

Protein bungs you up

Avoid junk food and spicy food and takeaways for a while

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Pete.

7

Hi Sophie! Any updates for your fissure?!