More advice please, can't stand the pain

Multiple fissures and thrombosed hem

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More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby GilmoreGirl » 02 Nov 2016, 18:51

Hello again,

My journey so far just keeps getting worse, and I'm past my breaking point. Apologies for the longggg post.

I just finally recovered from a large fissure (on the anterior side) which was complete hell for about 3 weeks. I had a little bit of pain relief for about a day, then it gradually got worse again. Back to the clinic - I now have a thrombosed external hemorrhoid which is excruciating. I had some relief the past couple days lying on one side with a pillow between the knees and ice pack on the bum, otherwise constant pain.

Today - no relief at all. Took a look down there, and I now have a fissure right on/at the base of one external hemorrhoid (the sore one), with another non-painful external hem "sandwiching" the fissure.

The pain is unbearable. I have ibs and am used to having a bm multiple times a day - I can manage with two but by stomach is constantly upset. I am using stool softener and it was helping, but it seems as if my body has gotten used to the dose?! Not working anymore

I have an appointment in a couple weeks with a surgeon but I can't stand it any longer. I don't know what to do and just spend my whole day gritting teeth and in tears.

Please if anyone has any advice I'd really appreciate it.

**Below is a list of the treatments I've been using:

- nifedipine with lidocaine
- polysporin antibiotic with pain relief
- sometimes zinc oxide ointment at night
- sitz bath 3 x daily
- alternating ice and heat on area
- 0.5% HC (anusol HC)
- Tylenol, ibuprofen, Advil you name it
- eating lightly, drinking lots of water
- ducosate sodium stool softener
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby GilmoreGirl » 02 Nov 2016, 18:59

Just more ranting but maybe someone can help me with the psychological aspect of this...I'm a personal trainer and a graduate student. I was supposed to graduate in December but haven't been able to work for over a month, so now I will not. To make things worse, I have lost most of my clients, and am not able to work. Not exercising has been devastating for me - it is a huge part of my life, and the means by which I handle my severe anxiety. I have never been so hopeless and depressed
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby averageJoe2000 » 03 Nov 2016, 20:46

Hello although i do not have the same problems as you, i have a similar situation and like you i feel depressed and in pain. (anal pain, and extreme problems with BM). It's a tough psychological war we must endure. You gotta find the strength somehow. I don't know how you will find that strength but you must because it's our only option. don't give up.
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby GilmoreGirl » 03 Nov 2016, 21:10

Hey averagejoe,

It's so tough, but good to know we're not alone.

Broke down and went to emergency today as the pain was increasing. They gave me a prescription for morphine which is helping immensely and allowing me to think more clearly. Also got a stroke of good luck, seeing a surgeon next Tuesday and I think I can hold on till then.

Did you ever get a chance to see a surgeon or colo rectal specialist? Even just having the appointment is honestly what's keeping me going - I'm hoping like crazy that they'll be able to help fight this.

Hang in there, you're not alone
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby Mypoorbutt » 04 Nov 2016, 04:26

Hi,
Really glad you got some decent pain relief. I too have IBS D and crohns so know exactly where you are coming from. I used to go to the toilet between 6 and 30 times a day but since having the fissure I have had to try upping my meds a simple one to start with if you don't get constipated is loperamide you can get it over the counter so no need to see a doc. My BMs now are never more than 4 and often just once a day unless I'm really stressed or my colon just feels like throwing a tantrum. I also find that with IBS the softer stools are much more acidic and bug the hems and fissure so I prefer to have a Bristol 3 BM as this tends not to burn at all.
These awful things can really get you down I'm doing a part time course at uni and sometimes the thought of sitting down for hours just makes me want to cry. Keep going as there will be a life after this fissure. I am having my LIS on Tuesday after 18 months and hope this will be the start of my new life.
It's so awful for every waking moment to be consumed by pain or the thought of how to avoid it, once you see your surgeon you will have a plan and will be able to fight back and take control.
No one who hasn't had a fissure will ever be able to understand the level of pain and fear it causes.
Take care
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby GilmoreGirl » 04 Nov 2016, 14:15

Thanks so much mypoorbutt, your message was really helpful. I will definitely look into those meds!

The emergency room doctor suggested I take a senna laxative to help things move along easily. I have strange transit issues with my ibs, where things move along to a certain point, I feel the urge to go, but nothing is there...thus I end up straining and staying on the toilet for longer than I should. Then once it starts it doesn't stop!! Any advice with this? Have you (or anyone else!) tried this senna laxative? I'm worried about it being disastrous to take eek!

Best of luck with the surgery! I am counting down the days until I see my surgeon. I've done tons of reading on the LIS and it sounds like you'll get some quick relief!!
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby Mypoorbutt » 04 Nov 2016, 15:39

Gosh, I would never have a senna laxative as these would literally go straight through me, but I guess if your not able to go properly then it may be useful for you. I did use to take senna when I was a teenager and they certainly did the job of clearing me out but are way too strong for me now.
Have you tried olive or coconut oil, or even magnesium something to help it slide out as it were.
I'm hoping so...typically I'm having a good few days now so am wondering whether to postpone but I won't let myself as last week was very bad.
Good luck with your surgeon
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby averageJoe2000 » 04 Nov 2016, 17:44

GilmoreGirl wrote:I have strange transit issues with my ibs, where things move along to a certain point, I feel the urge to go, but nothing is there...thus I end up straining and staying on the toilet for longer than I should. Then once it starts it doesn't stop!! Any advice with this? Have you (or anyone else!) tried this senna laxative? I'm worried about it being disastrous to take eek!


GilmoreGirl. Sorry you're having transit issues. I think i have transit issues too, the stool doesn't have volume. Most days i drop alittle tiny piece and that's all i have for the day. I don't know what it might be but i guess transit too. But i don't even have urge anymore. it's gone. and i don't strain etc cause my little piece or pieces are easy to pass.

For me laxatives just give me diarreha which doesn't solve my problem. But for you it might work or a stool softener since you say you strain.
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby GilmoreGirl » 11 Nov 2016, 11:22

Thanks for the advice.

Just an update - I finally saw a surgeon. Because of the ibs, she wants me to do a sigmoidoscopy before she considers surgery...I guess she's worried that there is an underlying cause. I'm really worried about the scope - how can it be possible to manage the prep and the procedure with this amount of pain??

As for the fissure, I have seen no improvement. I'm in a vicious cycle where one day I'm able to have two light and easy bms, and I start to feel a little better. Then the next morning, I have to go way too much - the stool is soft but still next to impossible to pass, and seems never ending. This severely irritates the fissure again! It has been two weeks of this - one day good, the next awful.

How can I regulate things better? Stool softener just seemed to make things harder to pass...it feels like no matter what I can't go easily.
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Re: More advice please, can't stand the pain

Postby Mypoorbutt » 11 Nov 2016, 11:29

So pleased you have managed to see a surgeon and it's good she is investigating, it's probably nothing but it's always best to check.
I have had a few colonoscopies and there is no hiding the fact the prep will be ruff especially with an active fissure...I refused to have one in August as I just couldn't have handled it. I think all you can do is have a very light diet get your GTN, baths and painkillers and just plough through it.
It's always been going too often that upsets my fissure but I have to use loperamide to slow me down...don't know if that would be too strong for you. Have you tried psyllium at all.
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