Good morning! Yes indeed it is 2am where I am and I am awake because my anal fissure decided to visit.

My AF story is quite similar to many I've read this morning, seeking solace in being amongst "my people."
I developed an AF in December 2017 after eating meat for a few dinners, but having led a vegetarian lifestyle for several years. Instant clog, instant constipation, instant here-I-am-now. I have had, nearly every time since that day save once, severe pain during and following BMs. Often I have blood but not always. The pain will show during the initial exit of the BM, be relatively painless during the rest, but after 1-5 minutes following the BM, I'm done for the day due to the amount of pain and discomfort I am in.

While I have not been cured of this awful, unfair, and painful condition, here is what I have learned that may be of help to you, but please note that we're all beautiful, unique individuals so what works/didn't work for me may for you:

What doesn't work:
Prep H, Tuck's Pads, Aloe, pain relievers

What doesn't work but brings me the most relief so I'm not in tears:
Heat between the cheeks (hot, wet washcloth between my butt cheeks)
As hot as my parts can stand bath (seriously, the temporary pain relief of these things is MAGICAL)
Walking
Stool softeners and water (this is a common theme in every post I have read and I cannot stress this enough if you haven't already started using them)
Sitting straight up while having a BM (as long as stools are soft)

What brings me (temporary) relief:
Time

I went to the colorectal doctor at the end of March and he formally diagnosed the AF (I thought I had hemorrhoids) through a rectal exam, which itself was painful and uncomfortable and led me to leaving work early because I couldn't stand the pain it put me in (had to give myself an enema before, too. That was weird but it didn't hurt at all like I thought it would). BUT! (no pun intended) Ah-ha! There was some relief knowing what it actually was. I began using stool softener (generic kind) and drinking an ungodly amount of water.

The pain, OH MY GOSH THE PAIN, that I have following a BM usually lasts 12+hours. I won't feel better until I wake up the next morning. I'm not a religious woman but I've found myself seriously praying for relief. I passed two kidney stones last year and would take that gut-wrenching pain over this crap. At least there is some relief after several days!

In the past month I have had one completely painless BM and several where the pain only lasts like 8 hours. It's a start, right? However, after three days without a BM, and thus pain-free, coupled with unnecessary confidence, I didn't take any softener and here I am sleepless and dreading the six hour flight I have to sit through in a couple of hours.
Recently I went for a long walk immediately following a BM. I am convinced it helped alleviate the pain and "heal" me faster for the day. My mind wasn't solely focused on the pain and the movement kept pressure off of my butt. The constant fidgeting of finding that "sweet spot" while sitting can be bothersome and tiring and often never found.

Like many of you, I fear the moment I know "it's coming." I feel instant sadness and legitimate trepidation. I began a liquid based diet of soups, Naked drinks, and maybe one solid meal a day (but still 'soft' foods). This has taken my regular every other day cycle and moved it to 2-3 days. Coupled with the softener and water, it is so much easier to use the restroom and I'm convinced alleviates the pain faster. While it may not be healing my AF completely, it's given me a mental and emotional break from the agony and frustration of being in pain so often. It's also allowed me to stop giving lame excuses to people so often as to why I'm walking so funny (the ole' knee injury excuse works best).

In mid-May I am having surgery to, hopefully, get my life back. I have sat out many days since this all started or have not been able to enjoy life because of the hair-pulling, scream-inducing pain and frustration of this thing. I will post back when I have the surgery with, ideally, good news. Maybe it will entice some of you to get it too.

Here is my recommendation to you, fellow anal sufferer: don't brave the pain. If you haven't been formally diagnosed with whatever you have, GO SEE A DOCTOR. Get help. If I had done so, I could have been fixed months ago.
And start using stool softener and drinking so much more water.


If you are suffering from an anal fissure, my friend, you are a strong individual. The awful, awful, awful pain that you are in shows your strength and resiliency. But please go to a doctor. The emotional and mental fatigue of this condition is also severe, like the physical pain. Don't wait, don't think it'll go away on it's own if it's been longer than you can handle.
I wish you all well and quick and easy recoveries.

Good for you to decide on surgery. Make sure tjat your doc does fissurectomy as well, very important for quick fissure healing.

where do you all find surgeons so quickly?

All the specialist I've seen just throw ointment at me. I've been in pain for 8 years.

Were you on the east coast, Hurtinend? Just Google proctologist in your area and read their reviews. Do a consultation and ask them about their experience. It is ultimately your decision if you want a surgery. My CRS did not mention surgery until I asked him, then he offered to be patient a little longer and try diltiazem. When that didn't work I asked for surgery, he asked if I was sure, then explained everything. I am in Southern California and many people travel from all over the country to see my surgeon Dr. David Rosenfeld. He doesn't accept insurance, maybe this is the reason I never had to wait for so ointments and surgery, but his office is always busy, yet for emergencies he makes time. My surgery was about $4000 BUT I never cared, because health is priceless
He offers consultation over the phone if anyone has questions, but he charges for tjat, I don't know how much. But again, worth investing for your health.

Hi hurtinend!
I went to my General doctor who referred me to a specialist, the only rectal doc in this particular hospital's system. When I saw him he didn't really give me any other option but surgery. I didn't know about prescribed ointments until I researched afterwards. Perhaps it was the obviously pain (and whimpering during the exam) that allowed him to only recommend surgery. I'm frustrated for you that your doc hasn't recommended surgery! I don't know how you've managed this for 8 years!

Hi all!
I am back to update you after I had my sphincterotomy in May. Let me start by saying I AM COMPLETELY HEALED. Praise the butt gods I am healed!
After waiting 6 weeks for the surgery from the time I met with my doctor, I was counting down the days by how many more sore butts I was going to have. Kind of like those paper Christmas chains we made as kids, but only a bit more painful and less enjoyable.

The surgery itself was an outpatient surgery and lasted about 20 minutes so I was in and out after about two hours.
I was in ZERO pain after the surgery. Of course I was cautious and didn't do anything the remainder of the surgery day, but the following day I was up and normal again.

It was about 2 days before I had my first BM and I was TERRIFIED everything was going to be painful. After drinking Miralax (if you haven't already started drinking this stuff, I didn't learn about it until after the surgery and how effective it is keeping your stools soft. DRINK IT) beginning the day of the surgery, I had ZERO pain with my first BM. Zip, nada, none. Can you imagine the literal dance of joy I did afterwards when I knew I wasn't going to suffer the rest of the day?

I stayed on Miralax DAILY for two weeks straight with, again, no problems, no pain. A little blood but it quickly went away.

I was hesitant to stop Miralax but tried it after a couple of weeks, only to have one or two days where I could tell I wasn't completely healed (had a little pain but didn't last long and wasn't anything like before) so I stayed on daily Miralax for another month. Completely healed now. Just out of precaution and desire never to return to my sore state before, I drink Miralax 1-3 times a week as well as have upped my water intake immensely.

After insurance, I paid around $2100 for everything-surgery, anesthesia, etc. But friends, it was so worth it. I think back to the months I was depressed, in pain, and undeniably scared to poop and I am so grateful I chose to have the surgery.

Therefore my sore-ended friends, if your fissure is not healing in the time that you need it to, I highly recommend talking to your doctor for this surgery. I am indebted to this doctor for giving me my life back.

If surgery still isn't an option you want to consider:
1. Drink Miralax-THIS STUFF IS KEY. Keeping your stools soft, like REALLY soft, is what will help heal your butt.
2. Try coconut oil-I didn't believe it at first but after nothing helped I finally tried it and it worked the best out of any topical ointment (non prescript) that I tried. And I tried a lot. I used it before and after a BM.

Good luck! Here's to healed butts.