I've had (what I believe to be) a fissure, which began 9 years ago with slight bleeding and pain on the posterior side of my anus, when my stools were hard.

6 years ago, my stools became much harder, and I began taking Miralax daily. I'm now take 2 doses of Miralax daily, and if I miss even one, my stool is MUCH too hard, and the fissure rips open, bleeding, and beginning the vicious cycle of unbearable pain - usually lasting a week or two. I also develop hemorrhoids occasionally.

I finally got the willpower to have a colonoscopy last week. The fissure was not "open" at the time, which isn't surprising because the prep for the exam made the last day's bowel movements so watery. The gastro doctor told me he found nothing whatsoever. He also said that if the fissure was temporarily "healed" then he wouldn't be able to see it. He essentially told me to keep taking Miralax for the rest of my life.

Is that true? Do I really have to wait until the fissure is ripped open to have a colonoscopy? I can't imagine how hellish the pain would be if I had the exam while injured like that. I am trying a new probiotic, but at this point I'm at a loss as to what to do.

Thanks.

Can’t understand why he would need a colonoscopy to see a fissure that’s usually used to check what’s happening. Also if you have hems a colonoscopy will not move them to look behind and to the side. 3 CRS’s missed my fissure and I had a colonoscopy just as my fissure started and no one saw (or at least mentioned) it.
Only one CRS saw my fissure...hiding behind a hem and he said it was pretty superficial...after Botox where I was anaesthetised so he could open the sphincter and have a proper look, he told me it was two inches long and down to the muscle and that only the tip of it was visible without opening the IS.
So perhaps get a second opinion do at the very least you know where the pain is coming from. Perhaps see a CRS instead of a gastro as they are normally better at spotting fissures

Thanks! What is the exam called where the CRS found your fissure, just a colonoscopy? How painful was it/how much prep? I hated my colonoscopy.

Nope my current CRS who specialises in IBDs found it without even an internal exam...it was painful while he moved a few of my external hems and asked me to bear Dow as if having a BM, but at least he saw the tip of it. I had a colonoscopy the week my fissure started....I have crohns and have regular colonoscopies...the CRS didn’t mention a fissure it was months later after seeing 3 separate CRS’s that I paid private and found my current CRS.
The procedure was during my Botox but you can ask to be checked under anaesthetic as they can then widen the anus and will be able to see exactly what is happening in that area, even better than a colonoscopy that is mainly used for looking in the colon for more obvious things.

Im going through same thing couldnt find with colonoscopy or mri. Devestated by both test and still suffering now

Kaleb91 wrote:Im going through same thing couldnt find with colonoscopy or mri. Devestated by both test and still suffering now

I don't understand what a colonoscopy has to do with a fissure. Plus a gastroenterologist is not who you see for a fissure - you see a colorectal surgeon. All a GI doctor will tell you is go see the CRS down the hall. Your post was in December. Any progress?