Hi all,
I've spent some time reading without posting. I had my first fissure around 2000 and it healed on it's own without too much trouble. I kept having fissures with minor bleeding on and off (they always healed on their own) until fall 2010 when I had a very bad episode. I was in lots of pain with what I considered lots of bleeding for a few weeks. I finally went to my GP who had a quick look and said it was a nasty looking fissure. He prescribed Movicol and Ultraproct (I think) cream. It took a couple of weeks and the pain and bleeding stopped.
I kept buying Movicol (OTC) and kept the fissure under control with only minor pain and bleeding episodes which happened maybe once or twice a year until early this year when I seemed to get diarrhea from the Movicol. I lowered the dosage (I used to take one sachet a day) and things improved a little but I still got episodes of diarrhea. In the end I stopped taking Movicol and was okay for about a week without taking any softener (I maintain a 'fissure' friendly diet and drink plenty of water). However, my stool started to get firmer and I bought both Fybogel and Lactulose. I tried the former first and that was a mistake as I re-tore two days ago and I've been on Lactulose since (approximately 15ml twice a day). The pain is minor but I'm bleeding which bothers me quite a bit. My stool is soft with the Lactulose and I had a bit of bleeding on my first BM today and on the wipe off, there was bleeding in the water after my second BM and on the wipe off. I have not had another BM but I did fart when I had a pee and that made the fissure bleed. I do use the leftover cream from fall 2010.
I don't know about you but what really bothers me is when I bleed when I go for a pee (I assume this is because it does put a little pressure on the area). I live in the UK and I don't think it's worth going to the GP again as all they seem to recommend here is wait and see. I do have private, BUPA, insurance but I don't really want either botox or LIS as the pain isn't bad at the moment but it's the bleeding that bothers me.
I guess it's a matter or keeping the stool soft and things will clear up.
I do apologize for the rant but I needed to get this off my chest and my partner has had more than a fair share of 'butt talk' the last couple of days.