by dmcff » 16 Feb 2019, 11:10
I think the creams and ointments like nitro (glycerin) and diltiazem are only meant to be used for a few weeks at a time, and I had been on nitro for months on a repeat prescription from my GP. The CRS just took one look and shook his head, which was a bit depressing at the time. I think that topical treatments can mess things up down there, and are probably better avoided, at least for me - I can't even tolerate the aqueous cream the physio recommended, it really irritates my skin.
Yes, with the passage of time the condition does get better - but I find that the improvement is only relative, and compared to how I was before this awful thing 'attacked' me I'm not that free of pain and discomfort. Hopefully in another year or two I'll be recovered, but having tried most of the treatments apart from Botox (about which the St Thomas' CRS was not very encouraging) and LIS (which no CRS will consider because of my age), I'm a bit sceptical. Well, and I haven't had advancement flap surgery, either. Did that surgery work for you?
2014 Anal fissure
2015 CAT, EUA, sigmoidoscopy, 2 MRI
2016 Pain severe then moderate to low
2017 Moderate pain
2018 Physical therapy, pain management
2019-20 Living with it
2021 Still AF
2022 Therapy, meditation
2023 Onward, up
2024 CT scan