Hi guys! I'm new here, but I've found myself coming back to this forum a number of times. First of all, I'm a 19 year old male who's been diagnosed with a chronic anal fissure and internal hemorrhoids. I also have got a skin tag down there *sigh*. Well, I've had this problem for what seems like years. I always seemed to push the problem aside assuming that it was just hemorrhoids that would surely go away, but I was wrong. I went to a colorectal surgeon a few months back and had a sigmoidoscopy done and that's when he said it was a anal fissure. So he prescribed me a 0.2% nitro gel which I promptly started using in hopes that my problem would be long gone! Nonetheless weeks later I returned and he explained that it was chronic. He suggested LIS and a colonoscopy. I didn't get to though because of school, so I decided to go back for a visit as soon as school was over, which it just about is. Anyways, sorry for this horribly long post! :oops: Ive had plenty of bad days where my bowel movements have caused really bad pain and some pretty bad bleeding, much like today. I had three bowel movements which is a tad abnormal for me, and the first and third had large amounts of blood whereas the second none at all and if any, a little. I'm really torn about getting the surgery done because of the incontinence maybe happening, but I don't think that I can go on like this much longer. My emotional level is at an all time low and I'm feeling really depressed! Again, I'm sorry for this really long post, but I just wanted to vent and maybe get some opinions and advice. Ill keep in touch, considering ill be back at the colorectal surgeon in a few days/weeks. Thanks guys, and this is a great forum!

Sorry you are dealing with this terrible problem at your young age! You should be out having fun!!! There is a lot of help available for you, starting on this site, I think. You are asking a lot of good questions, and I don't have an answer for you. I do think that your young age should be an advantage for healing with a more conservative approach. Spend some time reading about various topics to healing on this site, if you haven't already. Get a second opinion from a different specialist. I think if I had known what the problem was, I couldn't have healed without this becoming so chronic. Now I'm most likely headed for botox or LIS. It is one of the most unpleasant conditions to be dealing with, but at least there are fellow sufferers who are here and having to figure it all out. You might want to start with success stories and go from there!

Thanks Just 'Pain' Tired, I've definitely thought about getting a second opinion regarding this problem. I'm also going to go through some of the success stories like you mentioned, in hopes that my mood won't be so sour. I'm scheduled to see my colorectal surgeon soon though so I might see whether my problems gotten worse or better, guess I'll have to wait and see.

oguaston hi, there, is nice to see that you already have gone to seek medical advise on your condition, that is a plus to get the proper diagnostic.
Also is ok to get a second opinion on how to deal with the problem, but remember that if your fissure is been on going for a while is now chronic and only the proper care, that includes diet and avoiding constipation at all cost you may find some relief.
Also you have to deal with hems and probably the CRS will want to fix that too if you are going for surgery.
For now you can take matters in your hands and find a routine that will help you ease some of the discomfort you are experiencing.
Is plenty of information here that can help.
Lubricating the area before a BM to avoid irritation, doing sitz baths after a BM, keeping the area clean (changing your toilet paper for unscented wipes) and taking the necessary fiber to avoid hard stools.
Those are the main things to do, keep using the cream the doctor give you and give yourself some time to heal.
I wish you the best.

Hey Oguaston!
It's a dubious honor being part of this club, but the people here are so great and supportive, and we can help you through this mess. You're doing the right thing by browsing through this forum and reaching out to the people on it. No one can tell you what's best for you- you need to assess your quality of life and make decisions based on how poor it has become.
I just had LIS last Monday, so let me know if you have any questions about it. I was scared to death before the procedure, but it really wasn't a fraction as bad as I expected. I was also worried about blood/gore, pain, and incontinence, but fortunately my fears have been unfounded.
One thing my CRS told me was that if I didn't have an incontinent response to the nitroglycerin ointment, then it was a positive sign that I wouldn't have an incontinent response to the LIS. I'm assuming that's true, but even if it wasn't it made me brave enough to forge ahead.
Hang in there. And know that you'll get through this.

Hi there.
What is your "routine" besides just using nitro cream?
I believe all of us here need a specific "routine". Just using the cream is not enough.
What else do you do besides just putting nitro?
The only way to reduce pain and eventually heal up is to treat Anal Fissure as Cancer. You need a different lifestyle. It's sad but that's how I see it and I just successfully did an anal intercourse yesterday with no blood!!! Oh.. how excited I was. I didn't even care about the actual anal sex feeling. All I could focus on is whether or not I have blood.

Thanks for all the advice guys! About my routine revolving around this issue, I do take fiber powder daily which has helped a lot. But I've noticed that after using it for a while it doesn't work as well. When my BMs are really bad I usually take a sitz bath. I also stopped eating fast food, drinking soda, etc, I do light exercise and I'm weight/height appropriate for a 19 year old. I have a pretty healthy lifestyle considering. I really stress about my fissure a hell of a lot, so maybe that anxiety ties into it somehow.
@ceeteefeebs that's great that your LIS went through well! I'm rather frightened about going through with it, but I've really dealt with this problem far too long and ugh, I really wanna have it all behind me! Success stories like yours definitely help me feel better though! if questions arise ill definitely swing one or two over your way. :)
@buttquestion that's great about the anal intercourse not leading to bleeding! The thought of me trying that with how bad my fissure has been is making me cringe, but I'm glad yours didnt bleed!