Hi there,
Obviously, I'm new to this forum and just thought I would introduce myself. I don't anticipate being a massive contributor to this forum which is strange really as I do anticipate being an AF sufferer for practically the rest of my life as I cannot imagine/ remember life without it. Ahh, they must have been good days.
The main reason for introducing myself is to thank you all as I have consulted this forum a number of times now for advise and found it immensely helpful. Although there is a lot of information on AF on the internet it was nice to find a place that had more of a human touch. A place were other sufferers can easily and freely converse and a place where I have realised that having an AF is NOT the most embarrassing thing in the world.
I have been suffering with an AF since I was 16 years old and it has been 4 years now. Initially I misdiagnosed myself thinking it was hemorrhoids which I thought would go away but after 7 or so months I went to the doctor (almost in tears with embarrassment) who diagnosed it as an AF. He gave some cream (I cannot remember what it was) and told me to come back if it didn't work. I didn't, but I didn't go back. I wasn't and am still not, in a lot of pain with it and I thought it was nothing too serious so I left it. 3 1/2 years down the line one day the bleeding was so bad and I was experiencing so little pain I worried that I might actually have something much more serious that was causing such a huge amount of bleeding with my BM. This time, I did cry in front of the doctor. However, my fears were thankfully proven wrong and the bleeding was only caused by me AF.
Since then I've been on Rectogesic which made me feel really weird and I found it almost gave me panic attacks as it made my heart race so much. It didn't work anyway so now I'm on aAnoheal which seems to be better. I really don't want the operation. One of my doctors told me that, if she were in my position, she would not have the op unless she really really had to so i really want to persevere with alternative treatments. I saw another doctor yesterday who told me it was cool to continue with Anoheal. He was really young and attractive which made me even more embarrassed (vacuous, I know) but he decided he didn't need to actually look at me which was a massive relief.
From what I've read on here some of you suffer much more then I do with AF. i have never had spasms and only experience pain with BM so I am thankful for that.
Once again, thank you all for basically existing. It's given me great relief to read other people's accounts and you are all so able to speak freely and without embarrassment which is immensely refreshing.
Apologies for this massive essay I have just composed. I guess I just needed to tell someone/ some people who completely understand.
Equally, apologies now in advance as I've never really used forums before although I am aware that there is certain 'etiquette' with which one must abide e.g. no repition etc., so I'm sorry if I go against said 'ettiquette'. I promise I'll try my down right hardest not to.
This was meant to be brief.
Much love to you all, Helen.

Helen,
Welcome. You can find a lot of support here. I wouldn't be too concerned the etiquette either. I am sure I have repeated many things.
Cheryl

Hello Helen,
Thank you so much for taking the time to post. You are very welcome here in whatever capacity you would like. Some visit daily, or in my case several times a day bordering on obsession, to once a month or longer. It was interesting to read your account and history of your problems and I am glad to hear you don't suffer from immense pain.
I agree with the doctor, particularly since you aren't languishing in pain, that the cream might be the way to go. You probably know about diet modification and baths and hygiene and all that. If not, we've got lots of info here!
There is not much in the way of form here and we are pretty laid back in terms of how you post and present your info. It's nice to have people introduce themselves, like you did though, before jumping into discussions so we know a bit about you but we are pretty gentle here!
Do you recall what started your fissure problems? Do you have support with family and friends?
Again, welcome and thanks for your thoughtful post!
Lecia

Dear Helen
Welcome to this wonderful haven !!
I am so sorry your hear you have been battling so long with anal fissure and so young too, In saying that there are no exceptions A/F can happen at anyone’s time in life
I think you could be from the UK right ? Anoheal- Diltiazem is a very good cream and with less side effects than the Rectogesic, How long have you been using the Anoheal for ?
I too have used the anoheal and it healed my very first fissure but years later I got another and the cream didn’t heal me this time round so now I have Botox up my bum !!
Have you seen a CRS - colorectal surgeon about your condition ? I think this can be helpful....
I am sure you will know the importance of good diet , fibre , stool softeners and plenty of fluids, I use a softener called movicol it keeps the BMS nice and soft will reduce some of that horrible glass feeling on toileting !
You are in fine company here , a world of information at your fingertips !!

Hi Helen
sorry you have to be here! Af is horrible but i'm glad you're not in a lot of pain- it will be easier to persevere with the cream if you're not in agony!
It would definately be worthwhile being referred to a CRS, by the time you get the appointment through, you would be in a better position to judge whether you wanted the surgery or not!
Best of luck!

my experience began similarly 2 years ago. i thought it was hemorrhoids and didn't go to a specialist for 7 or 8 months. i tried the cream and that didn't do a thing at that point. i'm sure you've heard or read by now that once you've had a fissure for so long, surgery is pretty much your only option. i'm not encouraging you to have surgery, just to discuss this option with a specialist. the actual surgery is not as bad as it sounds. i've had 2 already, and i just turned 26 years old. no incontinence issues, if that's your big worry. recovery from a basic LIS (lateral internal sphincterotomy - the usual method of treating chronic fissures) is pretty easy. most of us here on the board have had complications and/or unsuccessful surgeries, but dont' let that discourage you. there are a lot of people who have had the surgery after years of suffering, and gone on to be very happy and healthy. hopefully you won't need this, but i just want to urge you to be more open to the possibility. good luck!

Hi Helen,
You are suffering from a long time with AF.Even i would advise you to see a colorectal surgeon.as juney says,usually with chronic fissure, surgery is the best option.chronic fissures can have scar tissue which needs to removed for better healing.even i had LIS 1 week back and i wish id got it done earlier than suffering.its too soon to know if it'll heal my fissure but it has definetely helped me with pain.botox is another option before surgery.i would advice you to get examined by a CRS to see the extent of your fissure.dont be embarrassed.keep us posted.

Gosh,
I am extremely flattered to have received such a response so quickly. You all speak with such experience which I value immensely.
May I firstly begin with a thank you to you all, Cheryl, Lecia, Tabby, Val, Juney and Pinky, for responding to my essay. I am grateful.
With response to your question Lecia, I'm not entirely sure what started my AF problems. When i was younger I used to be a little OCD about personal hygiene and cleaning so I think I was just over zealous with cleaning after a BM. That's all I think really. I'm a vegetarian so I'm naturally soft in that department, if you will. I've never really suffered with constipation.
Tabby, although, as you say, AF can strike at any age, it has been difficult. I've told very few people my own age. In fact, I've been a lot more open with you all on here then I ever have with my peers. Those I have told have seemed a little perplexed with the condition. It is obscure I suppose. Unless you've suffered with it it's not the sort of thing that would cross your mind as a possible illness. It's not a 'mainstream' condition in that sense.
You are correct in assuming I am from the UK. I have bee using Anoheal now for about 4 months. It has been prescribed to me by my specialist consultants that I am currently seeing. I do not know for sure if they are a CRS but I am presuming they are. They are pretty clued up in this field. I have seen three in total now. Each seem to have opposing opinions. Such actively encourage the operation, others don't. It's a confusing world out there. Your reference to botox shocked me. I have not heard of it as a treatment. I can see how it would work though. I'm not sure if it's available here in UK!?
Juney, you say you have had two surgeries. You must have really suffered with this condition. I can only hope that you are better now. You are right in guessing that incontinence is my main worry regarding surgery, It is reassuring to hear that these issues have not affected you. One of the three specialists I have seen have told me it's not an issue to worry abou toot. They told me not to read the 'scare stories' on the internet. To be honest, it's not my only fear. I've never had surgery before and so fear the whole anesthetic issue as well. I know I shouldn't, but it does strike me as weird losing all control over my own consciousness,
Finally, with regards to Pinky's post, I believe it is a CSR's that I am seeing. They seem wuite happy to let me persevere with Anoheal or Diltiazem (thanks Tabby). It seems that when I am 'anal' (HA HA, excuse/ don't excuse the pun) about my medication the AF goes away. It's only when I neglect to treat myself e.g. neglect to use cream, wet wipes etc. the AF comes back. It must be the scar tissue that is weak and prone to re-opening.
Please excuse my outpouring of utter self indulgence. How are you all?
Much love, Helen. xx

helen - actually i just had my 3rd surgery 2 weeks ago. neither one of the LIS surgeries worked for me, so I had a fissurectomy and partial fistulotomy 2 weeks ago. i'm hoping this will do it for me and one day soon i'll be free of this debilitating problem. Anasthesia is kinda scary if you've never had it before, but as long as no one in your family has had any problems with it, you're less likely to. I've had 4 GA surgeries in the past year and a half and never had any problems with it. i wouldn't let those kind of worries prevent you from considering surgery if your dr thinks it would help. keep trying the creams though, and hopefully you'll have success the easy way! :)
I also just want to add that i understand keeping this a secret from your peers. it's been over 2 years for me, and i've only very recently told a few of my closest friends. it's a very embarassing problem, which is so unfair. sometimes i've wished i had cancer instead so i could at least talk openly about it.

I kind of like GA. Maybe I am weird but it just amazes me how you can walk in there and then the next thing you remember is waking up. I have had 4 operations with general and I was very scared the first time. But I guess with anything the more you do it.....not that you want to!
I know what you mean, Juney. I hate to say it but I too sometimes wish it were cancer because then you could at least tell people and they are sympathetic and wouldn't dare make fun of your condition. I got an email from a friend with a photo attachment of a girl squatting down in a pool of blood with the caption "my @ss is bleeding" and it just struck me the wrong way. I mean, if it were cancer, no one would send me a joke picture of something like my breast is being eaten up by cancer!
Helen, are you sure you aren't 40? You write so maturely! You do what you gotta do with getting your bum fixed. You can handle it whatever comes.