I'm back here, with a difficult AF situation. The fissure pain got worse, after years when it was at least tolerable. Now I have to decide - do I want to go for LIS, or should I wait it out and let it go (hopefully) back to how it was. At 79 years of age it's a tough one.

Hey, welcome back! I’m also back after a while with another angry fissure, hope you get some relief whatever path you choose, I’ve already had LIS so don’t think it’s an option this time, what have you had before?


2005 sclerotherapy
2008 hemmies banded, proctosedyl, proctofoam, anusol supp
2008 fissure
2009 fissure diagnosed officially
2009/10 Nitro, Diltiazem, LIS
2010 Healing slowly
2024 fissure, Nitro, Scheriproct supp, proctosedyl

I've just been told by a GP that my notes say I've been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC). I'm not sure how that affects my future, and am trying to 'work' on it.

Did you ever have a colonoscopy? I believe this is how they diagnose UC and Crohns

No I didn't, mainly because of my fissures. I did however have a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which showed negative. And as far as I know I have never been formally diagnosed with UC.

I think part of the problem is the cloud of myth and misinformation that surrounds UC, largely because it's an incurable condition. This hard-headed discussion about the difference between Crohn's and UC puts some of that right, but there's still a long way to go in terms of clear communication on the issue.

I don't have any of the 'hallmark' symptoms of UC - like bleeding, abdominal pain, pus and mucus - but I do have a stubborn and continuous inflammation of the anus which has lasted more or less without a break since 2015.

I'm now booked for a telephone triage appointment tomorrow with one of the clinical nurses from the colorectal clinic at Medway Hospital.

I have chronic inflammation of the rectum and what I believe is another fissure but no formal diagnosis as yet, I’m waiting for a colonoscopy which I’m dreading due to the intense pain. Hoping it’s not UC or Crohns which can affect the rectum

There's no need to undergo a painful colonoscopy - you could equally well opt for a FIT test, a CT colonography or a CT scan. The FIT test is probably the nearest thing to a colonoscopy in terms of reliability, yet it doesn't involve an invasive procedure.

From what I understand though, the FIT only checks for blood in the stool, and if he has any blood for any reason (like simple hemmies), he would still be sent for a colonoscopy afterward. The FIT doesn't detect cancer at all, just blood in the sample.