Hi! First I want to thank those who made this site. It is comforting to see that people are experiencing similar symptoms and its not just me. I feel like I am annoying my family members by talking about it, but what they do not realize is that on a "Bad Stool Day" it is all I can think about.
On to a description of my problem: I am a 21 year old college student. I noticed some blood in my stool about a year ago. Just blood, no pain. I was eating pretty bad (Oreos and chips for dinner) and it often resulted in constipation. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone about it, so I ignored it. Around December the blood began appearing more consistently and it was accompanied by pain. I finally saw a doctor who said I had an hemorrhoid. She said to change my diet, take stool softeners and everything would be fine. It was for 2 weeks and then the pain/blood got progressively worse. I had to lay down after each bowel movement since walking and sitting hurt so much.
Bleeding everyday scared me into seeing the school doctor who said he didn't see a hemorrhoid. He said it was colitis and gave me anti-inflammatory steroids which did nothing to help. Once I got home I saw two doctors who both assured me it was an anal fissure. I was given Diltiazem, Lidocaine, and Metamucil. It has been about two weeks but nothing has improved.
I understand that this is a mental battle just as much as it is a physical one. Sometimes I want to hold in a bowel movement just so I do not have to feel the pain. I'm immediately stressed/angry when I feel a movement coming on a day of a job interview or before hanging out with friends. Even now my friend wants to go to sports bar for the Warriors game and I have to come up with an excuse for why I can't go.
So I just need some advice on how to deal with this mentally? What are ways you calm your stress and start thinking positively? Also what are some diet changes I can make to soften my bowels/pass them more easily? Is a strict diet necessary for healing? Lastly, how do I deal with the painful post bowel movement spasms? Sometimes they last for about 6 hours and prevent me from completing daily activities. Thank you all who can help!