Hi all,
Thank you for having this forum and maintaining it.
May I ask for some perspective on something?
I was diagnosed with an AF on Dec. 14, a little over three weeks ago. I think I caused the AF with a hard stool (due to constipation and large hemorrhoids) on Dec. 4, about five weeks ago.
I have been on nifedipine ointment for about four weeks, among other things (corticosteroid suppositories, high fiber diet, lots of water) for a little bit longer. Just in the last week, I seem to have developed a sentinel pile. It's right in line with where the AF is... is hard, a lump, and a little itchy and a little painful. As I read the stuff out on the web, development of the sentinel pile is not a good sign. I had hoped the nifedipine would help the acute fissure to heal, but the development of the sentinel pile suggests (according to what I read) that the fissure has become chronic and perhaps unable to heal on its own without surgery.
I have an appointment to see my CRS in a week, which is two weeks before the original follow-up appointment, but I'm sufficiently scared that I moved the appointment up in time. I'd like to avoid LIS if I can and have 100% recovery, with no risk of post-LIS incontinence, but I am worried that the emergence of the sentinel pile is a bad sign for me.
Any comments on the emergence of a sentinel pile? I suppose I'll find out in a week from the CRS whether the fissure appears to be healing or not, and whether it shows signs of problems in addition to the sentinel pile. But I'd be grateful to learn from your experience.
Prospero2