Hello everyone, I've been quietly suffering since I was 26, maybe even longer than that. I'm 31 now and it's just been getting worse and worse. When I was younger I maybe had blood on the tissue every 6 months or so for a few days and then it would stop... but now, to be honest, I've been bleeding on and off for a year+. I have quiet periods of maybe a week or so before I see blood.

Last year I was diagnosed with internal hemorrhoids, but I kept experiencing bleeding even after keeping up with fiber/drinking 2 liters of water a day/exercising...sometimes even soft BMs make me bleed. I went to the doctor again this Feb and he recommended I take Metamucil daily. I did and I had one week of blissful, comfortable, no bleeding BMs...I finally thought I was on the mend... then I had some constipation. It didn't hurt to pass, but I felt it sort of..'grind'.. against my skin. I didn't see any blood on the tissue, but the next BM (which was softer) had blood on the tissue and it was uncomfortable to pass it. Now I regret ever taking Metamucil....I'm so scared that I have a fissure now.

My doctor says I need to get my constipation under control, but what more can I do..?? I'm TERRIFIED to take Metamucil again. There's nothing I can rely on to have consistent soft BM. I've silently resorted to stool softeners in hopes that the bleeding will go away in a few days...
I seem to always have a little constipation in the morning and I don't know what I can do to stop this nightmare.

I'm stuck in this depressing cycle of using stool softeners, watching what I eat, slowly getting off the stool softeners, praying that I don't see blood in the morning, then eventually seeing blood on the tissue...

To make matters more frustrating, we are trying to have a baby. My doctor is out until the 27th, then I will be contacting him again to give him the update. Before he went on vacation he prescribed nifedipine 0.2% ointment for me, just in case it is a fissure.


What do you think? For those with confirmed fissures, do you notice blood as soon as you pass hard stools, or does it take a 2nd BM to see the blood? The pain I feel is uncomfortable, quick, but it's not like I want to punch the wall or anything. I have heard that some fissures don't even bleed. I'm not sure if this is my bleeding hemmies doing their usual thing or something worse. Or with my luck, I'll have both now.

I'm 100% done with my butt. Any comforting words, stories, reality checks, hugs, advice, and tissue boxes are welcomed.

Huge hugs!!

As far as the bleeding, ugh, fissures have a mind of their own. I'm sure many on here will say the same thing, there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason on when we bleed with this stuff! It's common to have hemmies and fissures too. I'm a proud owner of both (internal hemmies & fissure) and had a fistulotomy to boot.
I know how depressed and frustrated you are feeling and can relate to that experience of waiting each morning to see what will happen. :-/

Are you seeing a CRS, Gastro, Primary Care? I ask because many CRS and Primary Care doctors will give out the best advice they can on digestive issues. I figured they were all fairly experienced in the shared territory, until one CRS told me I should be seen by a gastrointestinal doctor to figure out why I was having BM issues. After doing that was the first time I got some answers of what was causing my confusing BM issues. Having that sorted has helped make slow progress on the colorectal issues -- the fissure and hemmie stuff. I suggest seeing both specialists because simple things can really make a difference but they are so much more skilled at knowing exactly what is causing what. Though they love to overlap!

Side note of "ugh.. are you kidding!!!": My GI figured doing a digital exam for my fissures in the same week I saw the CRS was totally fine. Probably is 100% his job too, but all I could think was "having a finger up rear twice in 1 week is not in my plans!!"

Also, enjoy this stage in your life that is looking to start a family. It's wonderful! I know though it's not ideal given what you are dealing with and how you feel. But fissures or not, it's a special time for you. But I'm with you, it's easier to enjoy fissure and stress free!

Lots of good thoughts for you and virtual hugs, tissues and more. :)

Manitourose wrote:Huge hugs!!

Thank you so much for your kind words! After all of these years of just bottling all of this up, its so nice to talk to someone in the same boat.
Yikes! Twice in one week..?? Nooo thanks. You poor thing!
I already emailed my doctor and warned him just how squeamish I am about my next appointment on the 30th. He will be checking for a fissure, which, by now, I'm sure is there. I checked the card he gave me, it just says his title is surgeon. My usual doctor I go to wanted nothing to do with my problem and she sent me straight to him. I did ask him in my email yesterday about talking to a gastro doctor as well, thank you! And because of what you said, I took a look at the prenatals I've been taking for the past 3 years (it's been a long road trying for a baby, but that's another story..!). There was a warning on it saying it might interfere with blood clotting (maybe that's why my hemmies have been bleeding for so long? bleh).... and it has iron in it, which I read yesterday that iron supplements can cause constipation. I'm tempted to try a different brand without iron and see if that might help a little. But maybe I'm just grasping at straws now. Anything is worth a try at this point!

Sending lots of virtual hugs to you as well!! I'll give you an update on how the appointment goes this wednesday. Not looking forward to it!! Eek!

Well its official, doctor said I have a small tear. He said it wasn't that bad, and if I keep the stools soft it should be healed in a few weeks. He recommended lots of fiber, veggies, and something called Citrucel. Does anyone have any experience with Citrucel? Not even sure if I'm spelling it right!