Hi everyone,
A little bit about my story below:
-First had blood after bm in July 2018. I went to a doc and she just gave me stool softener, said it was probably a tiny cut, and told me to eat lots of fiber. Didn't give me any other details about the fissure and really wishing she had told me to take it more seriously then.. I took stool softeners for a very short time (under 2 weeks probably) and didn't have any other issues with bleeding or pain for probably a year or so.
-Some point in 2019 I started feeling more pain and smaller traces of blood. By the end of 2019 I knew something was very wrong. I was also alternating between constipation and loose bm's, which I'm sure aggravated the whole situation.
-Feb 2020, I was on vacation and saw more blood than ever (still relatively small compared to some of the stories I've heard but it was alarming.) It seemed to heal for a few weeks and then came back with a vengeance.
Finally in April I sought help from my PCP. She prescribed nitro cream 2x day, sitz bath, high fiber diet. I inspected the area and saw a cut that looks like it might be 1/3 inch, but I didn't see scar tissue or anything else around it that others say is indicative of a chronic AF. I also saw a second, smaller cut nearby.
The plan was to do nitro cream for 4 weeks, if the fissure healed, to stop. If it came back, to continue nitro for 4 weeks while getting a referral to a surgeon.
So..4 weeks went by relatively pain free. No blood since probably early april. I did notice that the nitro started burning last 2 weeks or so. I stopped the nitro this week and then.. had one hard BM and it either re-tore or it never fully healed. The stinging of the nitro may have been a clue that it was not healed.
I've been eating basically the same way for weeks if not months now, no idea what caused this. I've been pretty restrictive about my diet and it would be nice to eat like a normal person again, vs worrying about my fiber intake, whether I will have an incredibly hard stool, etc. Trying to get some exercise but difficult since I have a pretty intense WFH job that keeps me sitting as well but looking into getting a standing desk.
Anyway, thank you all for reading this. Right now I guess the next plan of action is to see a surgeon (for some reason my PCP said it has to be a general surgeon not a CRS?). If anyone has any recommendations for CRS surgeons/specializing in AF or LIS in Northern California, please let me know. Bay Area preferable. I don't need a referral for my insurance so I can see whoever I need.
I've been depressed/anxious and its so hard to think about anything other than a BM and my fiber intake for these last few months It has been really hard to remain hopeful and optimistic that things will get significantly better, but I'm hoping to find a little support in these forums. Thanks everyone.