3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

A place for you to keep a record of your healing or surgery.

Return to Diaries



3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby AlexP » 23 Nov 2013, 18:17

On my third day since starting to apply the Lidocaine 2% and the Nifedipine 3% creams. Have had minor spotting with BMs, but luckily not every day. I'm following the directions, they say only for external use, so am putting a pea-sized amount on my outer bum 3 times a day or after BMs as needed. I began taking a zinc supplement, & Vitamin B6 supplement, maybe they won't help but I heard they can help healing, so I'm doing that. Eating whole grain pasta with marinara, today, which was nice. I MUST have my carbs, & fruits, veggies, fiber, etc. I don't think my fissure is too bad, but it's been with me now for about 5 weeks. One thing I wonder about is, since my creams say only to use externally, if my fissure extends slightly into the inside of the anus, will I still get the benefits of them? The pain isn't with me all the time, only with BMs luckily, and isn't unbearable. It feels like a sting, when the stool first passes out. I'm hoping the creams will start alleviating the pain in a few more days. Just wonder if my body will get the full benefit from them from only external use. But since the istructions say don't external only, I won't mess with that for now.
AlexP
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 50
Topics: 25
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 21:12
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby MarathonGirl » 23 Nov 2013, 19:36

I have Lidocaine 5% but so far it hasn't helped my pain. The gastro-specialist I saw told me to keep the anus as dry as possible, so I only use the Lidocaine on my worst days. (I've also had my fissure for 5-6 weeks.) What's confusing to me, is that a lot of people have benefited from using creams, but it seems to make more common sense to keep it dry? I was even told to dry my butt using a hair dryer, after a BM or a bath.
User avatar
MarathonGirl
Fibre Addict
 
Posts: 19
Topics: 4
Joined: 22 Nov 2013, 18:13
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 4 times
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby AlexP » 24 Nov 2013, 16:45

So finishing up my 4th day using Lidocaine & Nifedipine ointments, not much change. Maybe a bit of minor relaxation in the area, but still getting the occasional twinges of minor pain & definately still having the initial sting when having BM. Beginning to wonder if maybe I have a small hemrroid & not a fissure, because it seems most people here say fissures hurt nearly all the time, but my discomfort only happens when passing a stool, & shortly thereafter. I'm fine otherwise, & the occasional spotting. I'm doing 2-3 sitz baths per day, taking zinc & B6 tablets, because somewhere I heard that helped.

I admit I'm an impatient person. I've had this stinging back there in my bum for 5 weeks now. Hoping the ointment will begin to heal this. They say use for 6-8 weeks, & I'm only 4 days in, so maybe more time is needed. Eating lots of fiber, staying away from white bread for now. I would have thought that after 4 days the cream would have helped the pain with BM a bit more. Maybe more time is needed, or maybe I need a different cream if these don't start working more.

Going to give it a few more days, seeing my doctor again in 2 weeks, will go from there. Maybe I can try nitro or a hemrroid cream, just for the heck of it, and see if that gets rid of the stinging when having BMs. It's only there when the stool first comes out. Then it lingers a minute or two, then goes away. Hoping these creams start working.
AlexP
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 50
Topics: 25
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 21:12
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby AlexP » 27 Nov 2013, 16:21

Today is a week since starting Nifedipine/Lidocaine..Overall, so far, not much change. Maybe it's not been long enough yet. Still having quite a bit of stinging/pain when passing a stool, & occasional spasms (but not bad). Mainly it's just during bms. I'm going to try & start applying the creams just before going, but sometimes, one doesn't have the time to do that because when you feel it coming, you want to pass it for fear of getting constipated. I am feeling unwell today. My stools seem to be initially hard, followed by soft. In other words, the tips are hard but the rest is all soft. I have been taking one stool softener a day for the past 5 days or so. Maybe I should take 2 a day for a bit and see if that helps.

Called my doc's office today and told them I'm still in some pain, I'm going back next week. Maybe I just need to give the creams more time, because I hear Nifed/Lidocaine have a high success rate. I have had this so-called fissure for about 5-6 weeks now. I'm still not convinced it's a fissure, maybe it's a small hemmroid. My primary doc said he thought it was a fissure.

I'm trying to up my fiber, which is hard, because everything rich in fiber I hate! I am eating 1-2 apples per day, or pears, drinking water, raisins, fiber 1 bars, raisin bran cereal. Last night I had some tuna fish on whole grain bread, maybe that caused the harder stool today.

One thing I can NOT give up is coffee. I drink 1-3 or more cups a day. I can't function without it. I'm hoping all the fiber I'm adding will let me have at least my coffee.

Still a bit confused about the fiber thing. I have some fiber supplements, but it says it's a fiber laxative, and I don't want a laxative, but I do need more fiber. Hope I can get through this, it's ruining my mental state.
AlexP
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 50
Topics: 25
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 21:12
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby rio » 28 Nov 2013, 07:28

Alex, do you take magnesium? It is great stool softener. I take one magnesium citrate tablet/day (citrate form has good absorption) or drink magnesium rich mineral water (bit it gives me some rumbling in intestines). I think many of us take some form of magnesium to make BM softer.
Disabling burning, drilling pain in anal area for almost a year, started after UT infection. Small anal fissure diagnosed, turned out it is probably not the cause of pain, MRI shows no inflammation or fistula. Grateful to forum members for support.
User avatar
rio
VIP
 
Posts: 136
Topics: 12
Joined: 26 Oct 2013, 06:11
Location: Slovenia, Europe
Has thanked: 35 times
Been thanked: 23 times
Gender: Female

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby AlexP » 28 Nov 2013, 17:10

I have some 250mg Magnesium tablets, I've not had this fissure very long, not sure if Magnesium would help or not. I'm already taking a B6, Zinc, supplements, along with a stool softener. I might give it a try. Have only been on the Nifedipine/Lidocaine for a week now, hoping it starts helping me soon. I'm doing everything I know how to do to try and heal.

Maybe it just takes more time. I have a skin tag that is a bit irritated/sore too, but CRS didn't think it was a big deal, & seemed to rule out surgery. Maybe Botox might help eventually. Or maybe I shall try a different ointment like nitro or a steroid cream. Steroid creams always seemed to help me with minor anal issues in past. Still wondering whether only applying the ointments outside like the directions say will give me the full theraputic effect of them. Hopefully they will. My doc told me they have a 95% cure rate.
AlexP
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 50
Topics: 25
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 21:12
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby AlexP » 29 Nov 2013, 12:44

It's now over a week since I started applying the Nifeidpine/Lidocaine cream to my outer anus & skin tags. Basically, no change in symptoms. I still have the brief, sharp stinging pain when passing stool. Mostly, no pain at all during the day or night, only briefly and just after a bowel movement. It's like a stinging sensation, but when the stool actually passes, very sharp, which lasts only seconds. I have been putting on the Lidocaine first, just as instructed, then I dab on a pea-sized dollip of Nifedipine to the outer anus. It says external only, so that's what I'm doing.

Maybe it hasn't had enough time yet to heal. Or maybe I need another ointment. I'm going to see my doctor next week again, if the BM pain still hasn't stopped, I'm going to have to ask if indeed I have a fissure, because I'm still not convinced. Because it seems people with fissures have constant pain, all the time, and mine is only during BM. My doc thought I had one..Maybe the cream hasn't had enough time to work yet. I would have thought there would be some improvement after a week. I'm taking sitz baths, etc, but still having sharp stinging BM pains.

Maybe I need to try Nitro, or a steroid cream. I'll see what my doc says. Just hoping to get this resolved soon.
AlexP
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 50
Topics: 25
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 21:12
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby havefaith » 09 Jan 2014, 21:46

alex, you said you are applying this ointment to the outer part of the anus is that correct? from what i understand, nifedapine must reach the internal sphincter anoderm in order to have the desired effect of relaxing your internal sphincter and relieving spasms. i believe the nitro creams which stimulate bloodflow CAN be used externally and gently pressed in with some degree of efficacy.

i cannot stress this enough from my experimentation with nifedapine ointment, it has NO VALUE when placed on the outer anus.
I have faith in you always, i love you like my own son or daughter, when you hurt, i hurt. Let us all be each others guiding light, and heal without anxiety :) Much love to all.
havefaith
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 73
Topics: 14
Joined: 26 Dec 2013, 14:45
Location: Ottawa/Canada
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 24 times
Gender: Male

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby AlexP » 10 Jan 2014, 18:10

I have a lateral fissure, not sure if that matters..But I've had it since October. Good days and bad days. Basically it only stings when passing stool. And bloody toilet paper when wiping. I had been putting the Nifed on outside after applying Lidocaine. Sometimes I put it inside, maybe that will help me heal better if I start doing that.
AlexP
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 50
Topics: 25
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 21:12
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: 3rd Day on Nifedipine/Lidocaine

Postby havefaith » 10 Jan 2014, 21:46

i am sorry for your suffering :(
the location of your fissure matters not as to where you put the nifedapine needs to reach the internal sphincter to do its job and stop it from spasming. when that happens, your body gets better circulation there and you get better healing. From what my GI and CRS have told me, it must be placed about half of an index finger inside in order to be effective. basically for me, if i gently contract my anus, and it doesnt totally relax back, i know i have not done it right.
I have faith in you always, i love you like my own son or daughter, when you hurt, i hurt. Let us all be each others guiding light, and heal without anxiety :) Much love to all.
havefaith
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 73
Topics: 14
Joined: 26 Dec 2013, 14:45
Location: Ottawa/Canada
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 24 times
Gender: Male


  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to Diaries



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests