New here and suffering

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New here and suffering

Postby Searching4AF » 11 Jun 2009, 18:33

1st of all I want to thank whomever organized this forum. I've never experienced a hell such as this in my 30 years on this planet and it's comforting to know that other's have made it through this condition.
I started suffering 3 weeks ago. I was convinced by my GP that this was internal/external hemorrhoids. He gave me hydrocortisone suppositories and told me to take hot baths. The external hemorrhoid has almost gone away but it's a slow process. I stopped the suppositories after a few days because they weren't helping and actually aggravated my condition. Now I'm 99.999% convinced that I have an anal fissure.
I have intense, extreme pain for hours after bowel movements. It's delayed, about 2 hours later. Thank God I've been able to work from home as needed but I don't know what else to do now. I've called my stupid GP this morning to ask for a referal but the nurse didnt call me back as promised. I'm calling my insurance tomorrow morning. I've tried high fiber diet (fruit, whole wheat, water, etc) and while it helps some of my stools are still too large or hard. I'm fckn dying, and now i'm just not eating. I know it's not healthy but I'm too scared to eat. Has anyone else tried this? Should I drink Ensure? Smoothies? What do I tell my insurance? That I need to see a clo-rectal specialist?
Thanks Guys!!!!
Jason
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Fissulyna » 11 Jun 2009, 20:20

Ahhhhhhhhhh Image , so sorry to hear about all of your suffering Image and that you have incompetent GP - yes , make app. with CRS (colon and rectal surgeon ASAP) since you are still very early in your plight and have great chance to heal with conservative methods (diet, soaks, creams or Botox). So, finding CRS who is offering special creams (Nitro and/or Nefidepamine) and Botox is imperative now !!!
Don't even make app. before you ask if that is offered as a treatment or you will loose precious time Image
Yes, we all lost a TON of weight during fissure days since one is afraid to eat anything :( . It is important that you make your poop soft and don't resist stool softeners and extra fiber (like Metamicil, Benefiber and such) and gentle laxatives like Milk of Magnesia, Colace, Miralax !!! You will be taking them short term and hopefully help your fissure to heal without surgery.
Drink a lot of water, no coffee or alcohol, take at least 3 , 20 min long soaks in the tub during the day. Hopefully , you will get to CRS fast and get those creams that will also help with spasms and fissure healing and with lots of luck and a discipline you will heal in 4-8 weeks Image
One of my CRSs suggested protein shakes , just don't forget extra fiber !!! Protein can be constipating : (.
Hang in, buddy , we all understand your pain and you will find a ton of info on this site as well as an emotional support .
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Guest » 11 Jun 2009, 20:25

Welcome to the board, Jason. I am so sorry you are going through this nightmare. It has caused all of us misery and suffering that you just can't relate to until it happens to you. So it is nice to find a place where others have been there.
External hemorrhoids if they are thrombosed are very painful but internal hemmies really shouldn't be giving you the kind of pain you are describing. Did your GP even do an exam? I think you need to see a colo-rectal surgeon who can properly diagnose what is going on. Unless your GP is versed in fissures and treatment, this may be the best way to go. The first line of treatment is a cream with a blood pressure medicine that helps to relax the anus so that more blood flow can get there to help healing. It also helps with the spasms. Any doctor can prescribe it but they may not know about diltiazem or nefidipine or nitro. It has to be made at a compounding pharmacy which should not be a problem for you as you live in a hotbed of medical centers and pharmacies so access shouldn't be a problem.
I know how you feel about not wanting to eat. I did limit my food intake to the point where I lost 20 pounds. I think you need to eat though or you won't heal-your body needs nutrition. Stick with safe bland foods with some fiber content. That seems to work for me. Also why not try a little bit of Miralax to help soften the stool. That is so crucial in aiding in healing.
There is so much advice here so hopefully you can plow through it all. Hang in there.
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Searching4AF » 11 Jun 2009, 21:23

Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it.
I found some CSR's in my area on my insurance website. Hopefully I can just call them and make an appointment. My GP is gonna hear it from me in the morning.
I'll definitely try and get on those creams. I wonder what I can consume that won't cause a BM. I've been eating a very high fiber diet these last few weeks but I'm afraid that the whole wheat bread and maybe the baked chips I was eating were bulking things up. Maybe I should drink Ensure or Boost.
I'll keep you guys updated with my situation. Thanks again for all the advice.
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Fissulyna » 12 Jun 2009, 00:11

Jason, you have to eat Image , no matter how scared you are. You can not be on liquid diet for 6-8 weeks - which is the time needed for normal fissure to heal (that is new - acute fissure). Just stick with mostly vegetarian diet , some fish and poultry , but your staple food should be fruits and veggies and mostly cooked (like stews and soups and such), since they give the most regular and softest poop. Breads and pasta, even whole wheat, can make poop bigger and harder. Chips - LOL, are you kidding me ; )) ! You will have to forget about processed food for a while completely. You can eat cooked oatmeal and such too. Add some "softeners " and your BM time will become more manageable. It will not happen overnight :( , but little by little you will start getting better. Image
I am glad to see that you are very proactive and are taking initiative in finding good doctor - that is half battle won right there !!!! Keep us posted, and best of luck Image
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Deleted User 5 » 12 Jun 2009, 05:57

Ensure or boost is great but you should really eat fiber and keep yourself as regular as possible. Constipation would be the last thing you want to accidentally happen because it can be a living hell with AF. So make sure you go everyday and eat fruits and veggies, but your, you can overdo the fiber....just try to satya round 25-30 grms a day.
Since you know what is happening early on there is a good chance perhaps your fissure will heal on its own.
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby cherylk » 12 Jun 2009, 07:55

Jason,
I lost 15 pounds because I was afraid to eat and got way tooooo thin. I did drink Ensure. I agree--it is a nightmare and most people don't understand the anguish associated with it. Hang in there. You can learn lots here and gets a lot of support as we have all been through many procedures and know about lots of treatments. You can heal. Make an appt and get in to see a CRS ASAP. Good luck. Image
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Guest » 12 Jun 2009, 08:05

Hey Jason,
I lost 22 pounds and didn't eat either. Now I know that was the wrong thing to do and have learned what foods agree with me. Not sure who said it, but breads and pastas are the worst. I have learned they make my stools much larger and harder. Now I stick with fruits/ veggies, seafood, salads and such and take magnesium 250 mgs at night.
I hope things get better for you!
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Searching4AF » 12 Jun 2009, 10:20

Thank you so much for your encouraging words and advice. Just having someone to talk to about this hell makes me feel a smidge better. It's so weird trying to describe this to friends/family because they don't really understand. Not that they don't try, but it's totally different than talking with people that've lived through it. And reading through all of your struggles gives me hope. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Image
I drank 2 miligrams of MOM last night. BM was half runny/ half semi-hard so I don't think my level of pain will be quite as intense today. But as you all know that can be unpredictable. I still haven't eaten, I will though. I want to maybe drink a boost/ensure and see how that goes before moving onto fruits/veggies. No more whole wheat bread or super fiber cereal for me. And no red meat either (right?)
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Re: New here and suffering

Postby Deleted User 5 » 12 Jun 2009, 10:42

The thing is, you don't want to get constipated -- that is pretty much bottom line. Not only will your pain increase when you do finally have a hard, dry BM, but oyu may tear the fissure worse. You just don't want to overdo the fiber and get too much.
I understand your not wanting to have a large BM but you still need to have regular BMs. If you can make them soft with the MOM, that is great. The boost/ensure will help with the softness a little. But not in providing fiber to keep you regular.
Good luck!
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