Hi everyone. I'm a 22 year old male. I'm somewhat relieved to have found this forum and super glad I'm not the only one dealing with this. I also have celiac disease.

I've never really ever had problems with my bowels or anything of the sort other then pain every now and then from constipation or whatever. Last Wednesday, I drove about two hours to pick my sister up from the airport. We met up, reunited and what not. The next big decision was what to eat for lunch. We were starving. We decided on a Thai restaurant. We assumed the noodles and everything were gluten free since they're labeled "rice noodles" We definitely should've asked. Anyways nothing bothered my stomach immediately. Didn't think much of it. We stopped at 7 other locations while we were in the city. Just random arrands and such. I usually only have one bowel movement a day and its in the morning. While we were in the city I had three bowel movements within an 8 hour span I'd estimate. It didn't bother me, and it wasn't painful although I found it strange.

I got home, passed out from exhaustion. As the days progressed I started experiencing subtle pain with my bowel movements. Each day, getting more and more intense. Sitting in a tub of warm water helped relieved the after pain. Finally, this last Tuesday I felt I had enough and went to a clinic. The doctor examined me and said he couldn't see a problem but if I didn't get better by next week they'd have to send me to a specialist so they could use a scope. He sent me home with a prescription of two different antibiotics and hydrocortisone suppositories.

Its now day three of these medications and I can't seem to notice any of the symptoms getting better. Honestly, I feel the medication is just adding more symptoms and making my condition worse. I really do feel like its an anal fissure. And I'm at the point of randomly crying from pain and overall getting randomly emotional due to the side effects of the hydrocortisone.

I never realized how often to you clench down there while doing everyday activities but its effecting my life in such a negative way

to the forum! Sorry that you're in pain. Watch out with the hydrocortisone. Thins the skin. As what you seem to have is an acute fissure, I would suggest that you ask your doctor to prescribe Diltiazem or Nifedipine ointment as you can nip it in the bud with either of these ointments. They are calcium channel blockers and get the blood flow going. Lack of blood flow to the area, combined with spasm of the involuntary internal sphincter is what causes the intense pain. Also, invest in a Sitz Bath; best one is from Rite Aid, if you are in the States. After having a fissure for more than 6-8 weeks it becomes chronic and far more difficult to heal.

Use the search function on the group (the one directly above between FAQ and Portal) where you can search our huge amount of information by topic.

We are here whenever you feel like ranting; we know where you're at

I've stopped taking the hydrocortisone because I felt it was doing nothing but causing me more pain.

I recently got nitroglycerin prescribed to me and still have yet to experience any kind of relief.

How do you guys feel about nitroglycerin? Sure is very expensive stuff

I presume you got Rectiv. It does work, but nothing about anal fissures gives instant relief. Use it - applying it to the outside of your anus, not inside as that will just aggravate the pain and fissure further - for at least six weeks. regularly. Can't stress enough that you use it regularly, as you still have a chance of healing this with the ointment. It goes into the bloodstream and brings blood flow to the internal anal sphincter, the involuntary spasming of which is what gives the intensity of the pain. If you got Rectiv (and yes, it is bloody ridiculously expensive) it should have lidocaine in it too which should help. You need to catch this while it's still in the chronic stage!! Side effects can be headaches, but hopefully you have not got these. 

Also, make sure you are drinking enough water, not overdoing what fibre you eat, and soaking. As I mentioned before, there is a vast amount of info on here so do use the Search function above (between FAQ and Portal), where you can search by Topic. 

Here, for example, are topics with Rectiv: 

search.php?keywords=Rectiv&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=titleonly&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

By the way, have you seen a Colon and Rectal Surgeon? GPs are generally hopeless with this, whereas it's a CRS bread and butter, so to speak...

I wish you good luck with healing and let us know how it goes! Feel free to rant!!