New and Not Improved

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New and Not Improved

Postby Talesofmytail » 16 Nov 2018, 20:39

Hi!
I'm a 36 year old female diagnosed with an anal fissure this September. All conservative measures have failed as well as the topical diltiazem. :~!@:
My life has changed so dramatically since this terrible visitor has arrived and I'm looking for some commradarie to stave off the depression and isolation. I've got lots of great friends here in the real world, but let's face it, unless you've suffered with one of these bad boys, you really can't understand. My whole life is currently revolving around my butthole and I feel like it takes about as much care as a new born baby. :baby4:
Just hoping other folks can relate and would maybe want to swap war stories...
Began suffering: 9/6/18
Dx'd with fissure: 9/27/18
Began diltiazem & Miralax: 9/27/18
Began physical therapy: 10/26/18
Acupuncture: 12/08 - 12/22/18
Began nifedapine: 12/29/18
Dx'd with small, superficial abscess, started Cipro & Flagyl: 1/2/19
Talesofmytail
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Okaybum » 16 Nov 2018, 21:45

Yep, it seems to. I look at others and wish I could be carefree or I just sit here wishing I could go back to before. That's my life. Doctors don't care or want to do anything, hubby is sick of hearing about my butt or the foods I can't eat, he's sick of me spending money on stool softeners and creams, told me there must be something wrong with me if a potato chip would retear my bum. Back in may, I told him that I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy but after his constant remarks or when he shops, buying bad food or insisting on take out all of which causes me issues, it makes me wish that he could have the experience. He has no idea. I try not to worry or stress, but every meal I think about how it will affect my butt. Sometimes, I just want to hear reassurance that everything will be ok. He just sits there moaning about how he doesn't want to hear about it or telling me there must be something wrong.

It's heartbreaking at times, but I'm hanging in there. I hate taking so much medicine from stool softeners but I'm surviving. 8 weeks of healing. I still occasionally feel it. It pinched 2 days ago but no retear, no stinging or blood.

If you've only had it since September, then it's still early yet. Don't loose hope. Take miralax/movicol, drink water, lots of water, eat more veggies. You'll be ok.
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Talesofmytail » 17 Nov 2018, 02:23

Hi Ok,
I'm sorry your husband is being a turd; that's definitely not what you need right now! I've noticed I try to hide a lot of what's going on with me from the man I'm dating, mainly because we haven't been together very long and it's hard to talk about butt stuff anyway. Having said that, it's impossible to totally keep it from him as it's effected all aspects of my life. Are you using typical treatment and fiber, diet, etc only, or have you tried Botox or LIS? Thanks for reaching out, it's nice to know there are others out there ❤️
Began suffering: 9/6/18
Dx'd with fissure: 9/27/18
Began diltiazem & Miralax: 9/27/18
Began physical therapy: 10/26/18
Acupuncture: 12/08 - 12/22/18
Began nifedapine: 12/29/18
Dx'd with small, superficial abscess, started Cipro & Flagyl: 1/2/19
Talesofmytail
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Okaybum » 17 Nov 2018, 07:19

Thanks! And I understand, that would be tricky. You definitely aren't alone. ❤️

I tried fiber but kept retearing as it made my BM too big. Now I'm on far too much stool softeners it feels but it's doing the job. I will be seeing a dietitian soon. Basically, I am eating veggies, chicken, and fish, occasional pork, little beef. I've worked out a great diet, full of fiber, but I break up the fiber so I don't have constant gas which hurts the fissure.

The only thing I've done is the rectogesic/nitroglycerin. It works but it makes me feel a little nausea and causes diarrhoea and makes me feel like I have a yeast infection. The nurse I saw basically said once I lost some weight, the fissure may disappear but they wouldn't treat it in the meantime.. I actually left the doc office in tears but I'm not in pain...however I try to keep my diet so good that my BM are almost diarrhoea. Now, I'm scared I'll never be able to have a normal bm. Luckily I'm down 10lbs thanks to my fissure diet

I'm giving it another 4 more weeks then I may see a new doctor. I already researched a good CRS who also specialises in pelvic floor muscles. If it continues to be an issue I won't hesitate to get LIS or whatever she recommends. This one is definitely not healing because of tense muscles as it hurts most when I'm super stressed. My TMJ in my jaw flared at the same time my fissure started to hurt out of the blue so an LIS may help. I just want this to be over.
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Talesofmytail » 17 Nov 2018, 13:04

Oh I know! It gets so discouraging. One of the things that is so hard mentally is the rollercoaster cycle of feeling a bit better and then suffering a re-tear and/or living in fear of suffering one. I've definitely cried many tears over this and I'm so sorry you left the doctor's office feeling so distraught! I Feel like this condition isn't taken as seriously as it should be by some of the medical providers. Their idea of pain management is lacking, so I'm really glad you aren't in too much pain currently. I dread having a BM because it always triggers hours and hours of painful spasms. Yesterday I wasn't feeling alright until ten hours after the deed. Sometimes it's much less though thank goodness. For some reason the diltiazem doesn't do anything for me, so I'm just treating the pain with the acetaminophen, gabapentin and CBD until I can speak with my CRS on Monday about surgical options.
I don't have any problems with constipation, but I do take Miralax on recommendation of the CRS. Like you, I've been diagnosed as having hypertrophy of the pelvic muscles which the CRS thinks is the actual cause of this entire calamity. He has referred me to a physical therapist to get that sorted out in a few weeks. This sure is a long road! Hang in there!
Began suffering: 9/6/18
Dx'd with fissure: 9/27/18
Began diltiazem & Miralax: 9/27/18
Began physical therapy: 10/26/18
Acupuncture: 12/08 - 12/22/18
Began nifedapine: 12/29/18
Dx'd with small, superficial abscess, started Cipro & Flagyl: 1/2/19
Talesofmytail
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Abu » 23 Nov 2018, 10:39

Please share with us if you get some exercises from the PT to perform.
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Talesofmytail » 30 Nov 2018, 23:47

Abu, I will. I'll start with the exercises next week. I think most of the therapy is internal manipulation by the therapist though, and since she will access the muscles through the vagina, it will be female-body specific. I'll pass on anything I learn that might be helpful though!
Began suffering: 9/6/18
Dx'd with fissure: 9/27/18
Began diltiazem & Miralax: 9/27/18
Began physical therapy: 10/26/18
Acupuncture: 12/08 - 12/22/18
Began nifedapine: 12/29/18
Dx'd with small, superficial abscess, started Cipro & Flagyl: 1/2/19
Talesofmytail
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Posts: 47
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Joined: 15 Nov 2018, 12:15
Location: Portland, OR USA
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby SueMac » 02 Jan 2019, 09:52

I'm really interested Talesofmytail in any info on the therapy as if they can't see any issues when I see specialist (this happens in 2014 they couldn't see a problem) then I'm wondering if I should push to be referred to PT.
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby Talesofmytail » 02 Jan 2019, 14:26

Hi Sue. I would definitely recommend PT as it has helped me control the muscle spasms. In fact, I just returned from the CRS this morning and was told my fissure is nearly healed! PT can feel pretty invasive and uncomfortable, but it's worth it. If you do end up going to PT, the therapist will likely use internal manipulation, biofeedback, massage and exercise, all of which will relax your pelvic floor resulting in lower resting tone and (hopefully) subsequent healing of the fissure. I've also been on a topical compound of nifedapine, calendula, vitamin A&E and tetracaine which is likely relaxing the muscles. I hope you are having a good day and please feel free to contact me if you have any more specific questions!
Began suffering: 9/6/18
Dx'd with fissure: 9/27/18
Began diltiazem & Miralax: 9/27/18
Began physical therapy: 10/26/18
Acupuncture: 12/08 - 12/22/18
Began nifedapine: 12/29/18
Dx'd with small, superficial abscess, started Cipro & Flagyl: 1/2/19
Talesofmytail
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Posts: 47
Topics: 2
Joined: 15 Nov 2018, 12:15
Location: Portland, OR USA
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Re: New and Not Improved

Postby SueMac » 03 Jan 2019, 11:09

Talesofmytail! many thanks for your update. I'm really glad you are being helped and the treatment is working for you. I don't mind about it being invasive - I just want to get better and I've had three kids so that wouldn't be an issue but useful to know. How many times did you/are you planning to go to the PT?
SueMac
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Posts: 411
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Joined: 03 Dec 2018, 13:03
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