First I wanna say I’m very thankful for this website. A lot of information. A few weeks ago I had some itching and was wiping too hard until I heard a pop. The next day the pain started. I’ve only had one painful BM and that was on the first day. It’s definitely way harder to go but the pain isn’t worse after it’s just constant. I was SLOWLY feeling better until a few days ago I re-injured it. The pressure and tightness was so bad but it’s slowly going away again I think. I’m not sure why but I’m also tired and fatigued from this but it could just be mental. After all the reading I’m pretty sure it could only be a fissure or fistula (praying it’s not that). I just have a couple questions for anyone else dealing with this:
1. Is it normal for the pain to be in a different spot everyday? Sometimes it’s in the front, back, or on either side of my sphincter. Also have a rice shaped skin tag on the anterior side.
2. I’ve been afraid of any kind of rectal exam since I was a child. Especially now. I’m thinking it would be way too tight and painful for a finger to go in there. Is there anything they can do it make it easier? This pain is almost all internal

Any response would ease my mind. Thank you and have a great day

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this all of a sudden. There are many nerves in the anal area which is why the pain can feel like it's moving around even though the injury is only in one place. As for rectal exams, a skilled colorectal doctor does not need to do an anoscopy or a digital exam to confirm a fissure. Most can be viewed by pulling gently at the opening. A digital exam would only hurt the patient and cause more problems. If they really feel more investigation is necessary then they would suggest something more invasive.

You are still in the early days of a fissure, and if you can get an appointment and get the right ointments prescribed, along with supportive home treatments like sitz baths, miralax and plenty of water, you have a good chance of healing. I would strongly recommend that you get seen by a doctor, and make your concerns about rectal exams very clear. It's harder to deal with a chronic fissure than the fear of doctor visits. I would also recommend a portable bidet for cleaning after a BM. Wiping will make things more painful.

Thank you so much for your reply. Just bought some mirlalax and I am hopeful since it’s slowly just becoming a dull ache on one side. I told myself I will give it a few more days before I make an appt with someone just in case I might not have to. You took a lot of stress off my mind thank you again!

Glad I could help! I do hope that you see the last of the pain very soon. A strategy that I follow is to make an appointment, and if I find that I really don't need to go then I cancel a couple of days before. Since appointments to good specialists are often highly booked it can take weeks to be seen if you're in the US.

That’s a good idea. I’m calling them as soon as they open. Only thing I’m a little concerned about is this yellow jelly like substance coming out of the fissure that doesn’t seem to go away. I don’t know if this is normal or not but probably best to get it looked at

Definitely get that looked at. It could be from hemorrhoids, but best not to self diagnose.