I had a digital rectal exam by my GP which was a thrilling experience from start to finish and then when I was still bleeding after some 6 weeks I went back to my GP clinic, was seen by a different doctor who had a look with a mighty cheek spread and said he could see the opening of it and I'm sure it was in the 12 o clock position. In fact, when I am aware of fresh bleeding, a tap of TP to the 12 o clock position will yield the fresh blood spill.
It just felt a little sore today thats all. If I get the faintest suspicion that a secondary fission has opened (in the 3 or 9 o clock positions) then I will goto the doctor post-haste. The different GP i saw to my regular was very insistent on NOT referring me to a GI/CRS and recommended that I take a factories worth of Fybogel per day to keep me on the path to healing. He said that the CRS would just dismiss me or give me a proctoscope and they wouldn't do much else.
Either way, my butt is sore!
I'll keep you posted.
Edit:
I had a pile that I was being initially treated for before any of this, and that occurred in the slightly sore spot, so this might account for something. I'm fairly sure the fissure is located to the 12 o clock spot, but I won't swear to it.
Interesting how having a BM is the simplest thing in the world until you remove the conditions that make it so! grrr

Aaaaaawe : (, I am so sorry that they rough handled your poor butt : (. Many here had same experience. It is just crazy that your GP said that about CRS since only they know about proper treatments of fissures and about all of the options available (at least that is the case here in the USA).
I am glad to hear that your fissure is in the most typical position - you have nothing to worry about than : ) !!! Sorry that your butt is so sore - did you try to sit in a tub with nice warm water for 20 min. or so- it can be very soothing. Try also not to sit too much and sleep on your side or your belly tonight. As Lecia said, Aloe gel can be very soothing too !!!
Hope you will feel better soon !

Hello GF. Sorry to hear of you troubles. A second opinion never is a bad idea. Im surprised the Dr. was so vocal in dismissing another opinion. Diet is sooo important. I found relief from the Aloe vera gel (the real stuff you have to keep in the fridge). Fiss is right that pinpointing the exact location is difficult. You have found a great place for support and info. Hope you heal quickly! D. a/k/a BA hopefully soon to be GA!

My faith in the UK healthcare system is somewhat a mixed blessing.
I am REALLY thankful its there in that it has seen me through tough times before and essentially saved my fathers life when he had CR issues.
On the other side of the coin, I'd rather have some lavish insurance and a spend-alot doctor who is ready to book me in for some further investigation just to be safe.
I spent 45 minutes in a hospital in the USA when the cold winters of upstate NY gave me an asthma attack of epic proportion, and to find out that the bill was nearly $4000 was beyond my belief.
Anyways, here goes with the *tssssss* GTN ointment.

Oh yeah, ha ha ha, health care here is crazy expensive and if one does not have an insurance he/she might as well declare a bankruptcy if something serious happens in the family !!!! Totally inhumane and scary, in my opinion - I grew up with "universal healthcare" kind of system and it worked
great. Doctors were first class and if needed one was sent to specialists even
to the distant parts of a country without any out of pocket expenses. How it is in UK? Do you have to pay for anything at all ? How about meds? Sorry for
the "interrogation" LOL - it is just so interesting how different countries have different systems ...
Hope you will wake up pain free and have a tiny poop !!!

Brendan -
Good luck with the GTN ointment! I am such a advocate for it because it has worked wonders for me! I have been on it for 2 and a half months now and it has saved my sanity. Everyone reacts to these creams differntly so I wish you the best of luck. I also credit my healing process to baths, fiber, flax seed, and WATER, WATER, and mor WATER!!!
Jen

Well in the UK, the healthcare system works with relative simplicity. After the primary analysis with the GP, if you're recommended for a referral to a specialist then you'll be assigned a date, depending on the urgency.
I now live in London, but I used to live in Wales; the two countries have the same NHS system, but in Wales you do not pay for ANY prescriptions, ever....not a dime. My father had 6 months of chemotherapy drugs, which are highly expensive, but he did not part with a penny. When he had his surgery he was in and out without ever seeing a medical expense form, or a billing agent tapping his shoulder looking for any numbers or account references.
Here in London, I pay Ј7.10 for my prescriptions, no matter how numerous in quantity they might be. For instance, I am asthmatic and get salbutamol (thats albuterol in the US) inhalers; the doc usually puts 3 on my prescription and that costs me Ј7.10. If he'd put down 4, it'd still be Ј7.10.You pay per prescription.
The rectogesic GTN ointment (0.4%) costs the NHS Ј32, but I only pay Ј7.10 for it. You see how it goes.
I was pretty confused in the states to see that I was billed $45 for a single asthma pump. They cost pennies to make and they could make a profit even if they only charged $10. Seems a little over the top to me.
I have had private British healthcare before too, when having a tosilectomy as a child. The entire thing cost Ј3500 for 3 nights in the most luxurious hospital, with my own bathroom and the works, and of course the surgery. So I noticed that the private healthcare here in the UK seems to be incredible value for money. The hospital I visited in the US was the exact same standard as the NHS hospitals I've visited.
The surgeons tend to do work for both NHS and private practices. By doing NHS twice a week or so and then their own private practice for the rest, they can do their bit and get paid handsomely by the government, whilst earning a wedge of cash on the side.
I felt that I was treated well whilst in the US hospital, but the aftermath - I was fraught with worry. My insurance company didnt recognise the form that the hospital sent to them so it was immediately rejected and the onus was on me to notice this and fix it with call after call after call while the hospital is encouraging me to pay with credit card and settle up with the insurer later, OR the heavies will come around to sort out the problem. It took 5 months for the status to change from rejected to accepted. I certainly didn't have $3600 to shell out I'll tell you that.
Anyways, after all this talk I booked an appt with my reliable GP for 3.20pm today, so he can have a look and doubly confirm the fissure site.
Phew, what a ramble...
-Brendan

Hi Brendan,
I live in Scotland we are paying Ј5.00 each for prescriptions, Having lived in England and my mother in Wales i can compare the systems and have to say that i feel that Scotland has a much faster system than the rest of the UK....
I hope the appointment goes well today, maybe you could mention the movicol to your GP, I am sure this would help esp as you are feeling sore
Goodluck bud :)

Hello Brendan
I to am a young male who are dealing with this monster. Your symptoms sound very like mine. Constant sore and a tightening/dull pain feeling down there 24/7. Maybe you should try Botox if that is an option? It feels like your life is put on hold when you have a fissure. I wish us both a painfree life soon :)

Thanks! I too wish us both rid of this nuisance as soon as possible. It is surprising how it can consume a large part of your life with no effort at all.
I don't think I want to resort to anything drastic yet; I'm sure I can solve it with other methods, but I need to achieve my dietary sweet-spot in order to get the right consistency BM with the right frequency too.
Still trying!