Hi everyone,
I'm new here and had to make an account to get some tips. I'm a longtime sufferer of IBS and was taking Amitiza 8mcg off and on. Since the 2nd week of July, I have been battling what I thought was a hemorrhoid. I wash my bottom after I have a bowel movement and I had accidently scratched some of the anal area. I did not notice any blood and everything was fine for the next couple of days. However, I was still having constipation and pain with defecation. My PCP just told me to do Preparation H and Hot sitz baths. I had been using the internal applicator without lubricating it when inserting prepration H into my anal canal. After another couple of weeks, the pain got worse and I saw a Gastroenterologist where I was working and he did a rectal exam as well as based on history, concluded I had an anal fissure. He prescribed Nitroglycerin and Lidocaine. The headaches with nitroglycerin were too severe so I was switched to Nifedipine/Lidocaine for my fissure. I really didn't notice much relief even after 2.5 weeks and still had bowel movements that were hard to pass. What really concerned me was that I would notice streaks of stool after I would wipe myself. This is not something I would experience before.
I also tried optimizing my diet, increased the Amitiza I was taking and started taking Colace as well. I don't care for metamucil so I take Fiber Gummies. I admit I live in Desert so my water intake is not always opitimal. However, I have tried to increase that as well. Last week, I saw another GI specialist back home who did an anoscopy and stated that I did not have fissures, but rather internal hermorrhoids. He did not recommend surgery but instead recommended Hydrocortisone suppositories 25 mg twice a day for two weeks.
I have been on it for 1 week now and I have noticed a little difference, though I still have streaks of bowel left after I poop. How long do you have to keep the suppitory in for the hydrocortisone to have its effect?
Thanks in advance and apologies for the long post as this has been an agonizing couple of months for me.