I've been dealing with this problem since I was approximately 10 years old. Over the years, I've seen specialist after specialist and all they've done is say "take a sitz bath with Epsom salt" or "use hemorrhoid cream to get rid of the hemorrhoids and things should be easier. Unfortunately, it never has. Now 23, I have these unsightly, disgusting hemorrhoids that have completely changed how my sphincter should even remotely look. It's like something out of a horror movie and I want a solution.

So...here's what I tend to go through. Usually, there's this nasty cramping from either IBS or EPI (unsure yet as to which one, going to have testing on that soon, treated for IBS right now) that can lead to random loose or incredibly dry stools. There are two fissures, actually. One is on the base of a hanging hemorrhoid and the other is on the sphincter itself. The straining I need to do to get through a successful movement causes them to break open quite often. Usually, this happens during cleanup, but there are some times, such as today, when I can hear an audible tiny jet of blood being shot onto the surface of the water below with each strain. It's gotten so bad over the years that I've been prescribed iron pills for mild anemia symptoms. None of the treatments that I've attempted have worked so far and the only surgeon that I ever went to illegally injected the area with experimental drugs and even cut it open himself without my consent and made things worse. I've tried sitz baths, hemorrhoid creams, high and low fiber diets, softeners which I usually take every single day, but nothing seems to help me other than those moist towelette things and those are really expensive as a constant alternative to toilet paper.

Is surgery my only option from here? What sort of risks am I looking at? I honestly want this problem solved as soon as possible because the pain is becoming horrible and I'm starting to lose quite a bit of blood. I got dizzy earlier just doing the dishes because of all the blood I lost today. With my lifestyle and the relationship I have.... I can't afford to have this kind of problem. Being gay....it'd be a huge problem for me if my boyfriend and I ever wanted to get intimate. I need help desperately. If anyone can offer assistance and advice it'd be greatly appreciated.

Hi Julian

Im very sorry to hear what you are going through. You do have it worse than most of us. I didn`t see you mention anything about your diet. As long as you are straining healing is going to be difficult. The key to me is soft stools so as to avoid straining. What is your diet like right now? Have you tried coconut oil? It really worked for me.

Hi Julian,
You probably need the LIS op as if you haven’t healed in 13 years then you may have a high resting pressure in your internal sphincter which no change in diet will help. Also try and get the liquid BMs sorted out as soon as possible. I got my fissure from years of liquid BMs from crohns and IBS, my CRS said that they are very acidic and strip the skin which long term is more damaging than constipation.
Could you use the shower to clean after a BM, I have a lot of hems both internal and external and the shower is much easier and a lot less painful way for me to clean.
I know over the years we have had a few members who were gay who went on to be able to resume their intimate life after LIS.
Where do you live as it’s shocking a surgeon would do that to a patient. I used to lose a lot of blood with my crohns often having to go into hospital but I refused the iron as it really doesn’t help when it comes out the other end
Good luck

Unfortunately, I'm on the low spectrum of wages in the US. Buying healthy foods is very difficult for me as the affordable ones are almost always junk.

Also, yes, mod my resting pressure is incredibly tight. I've brought this to the attention of all past physicians who specialize in this field and they've told me it has nothing to do with the problem but I know that it does. After all, it's just logical. Unfortunately....they won't listen. In fact, some of them even experimenting on me in that area illegally and made it worse.

I live in Maine, actually. Around here we have very few actual legitimate anal physicians and treatment options. I've been contemplating getting a sitz bath rather than attempting to try and fit into the horribly small bath tub that only children could probably effectively use in my apartment, but that won't work. Hopefully these sitz bath things are useful. Anyways, the one who did that to me was actually a dermatologist who specializes in skin treatments and who "dabbled" in rectal treatments. He's since been under intense scrutiny and is a bit of an outcast after it was discovered he did this to a few people including myself.

Unfortunately, I need to take the iron to prevent frequent dizziness and headaches from blood loss, along with acetaminophen painkillers.

Gosh that is horrendous every CRS in the UK knows that resting pressure is the major cause of a fissure, even the bad ones I have been too knew resting pressure plays an integral part. You cant have LIS on the NHS unless you have a resting pressure test.
Yes the sitz baths are really useful and if you have a small tub will probably be better than trying to squeeze into it.
I don’t understand why they won’t operate if you are losing so much blood, I’m so very grateful that I live in the UK and that for all its failings the NHS has been there for me.
I truly hope you find someone or some way to help

You can probably counteract the constipation side effects of the iron with magnesium Citrate supplements . They are cheap and safe for almost anyone. Just may have to experiment with the different brands and dosage to find what works for you.