Hi all! I posted a bit about my background in the new to the forum section, and I just need some desperate help so I'm posting here. I feel relieved that this forum exists, up until this point I felt completely isolated and hopeless about my fissure (note, I'm trying to be hopeful , although it is so difficult at times :( )
I have so many things I'm confused about, maybe I'll just outline it in a way that'll make it easier for you to read!
1) Medicine !! - My doc gave me nitroglycerin a while ago, and boy did it ever kill! It actually stung a LOT when I put it on (I was jumping up and down like I had ants in my pants ). I also experienced itchiness at times. The headaches were unbearable with school, I could only put it on at night before sleeping so I wouldn't feel dizzy (I have low BP already, the medicine made me feel soo much more lightheaded!).
Now I've gone to a specialist, and he said he doesn't THINK my fissure is chronic (PHEW) but it may be. I think it's at least 4 months old, but I just started thinking about treatment halfway through. The specialist prescribed nifedipine, and my mom's going to pick it up now . Has anyone else taken nifedipine? Do you know if it hurts / stings when you put it on? What about the headaches? I'm so hopeless! Does this medicine even work?
2) Water!! - I've been drinking so much water lately - probably at least 6-8 TALL glasses, I'm going pee all the time! It's not really helping making my stool softer though, I don't know why :pale: I never thought I'd get sick of water but it feels like I'm ALWAYS sipping it! Is that normal?
3) Fibre?? - I've been taking 2 teaspoons of Metemucile mixed in water at least twice a day and it doesn't seem to help. I've had recurring, chronic constipation for the past 5 or so months, and increasing fibre DOES help me go to the washroom, but my BM's are so so hard - ouch... I've been trying to increase my Fibre content to the max, I actually get stressed out about my sickness now and try to eat enough Fibre (Raisen Bran, bread, fruits and veggies), etc. but my stool in the past few weeks hasn't been soft, it still hurts... Any suggestions? I think my biggest problem right now is the hard stool.
4) Stool Softener? - I havent bought any stool softener yet, because I am a strict vegetarian and all the softeners I see either have gelatin (animal product) or alcohol (which I also don't have). I live in Canada and don't know if any other softeners are available here. Should I just go with a laxative? The problem is mostly with hard stool, as I am able to have BM's at least once a day (but sometimes I go once every 2 days).

5) Baths? Toilet Paper? Do warm baths really help? I usually just take showers, I've never tried bathing after a BM. In my home country people don't use toilet paper, they just wash themselves with water after BM's! Do you guys think that'd help? And about toilet paper, I would be too frightened to use sanitary wipes - they would probably stingggg me! I have such a sensitive bum because of this fissure!
As you can probably see, I'm desperate and pretty confused! Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have had a few weeks off from school and am lucky because I have not had too much stress, and am able to relax for most of the day. I am starting again, however, in about two weeks and I am worried I will not have time then to make sure I eat properly - I get so busy with school! I would greatly appreciate any advice, I feel so hopeless :pale: Bless you all

Hi Sweetie,
You're going to be okay! You are doing the right things. Let me go through you concerns/questions one by one.
Medicine: Nitro is pretty funky for most people but the Nifedipine doesn't have the same effects. It is a calcium channel block and helps to reduce the resting pressure of the anus. I used something very similar and that helped me heal! I am glad your fissure doesn't appear to be chronic-that is a Major Plus!!!:)
Water-2 liters a day is ideal. Take it with you and just accept that we're going to have to go potty all the time! It will help keep you stools moist.
Fiber-Aim for 30 grams a day. See if your mom can get you some All Bran Buds cereal. If you have a big cereal bowl like I do you will probably get 20 grams of fiber just in the morning. I like to have a vegetable stirfry for dinner. The other thing that helps is to take flax seed oil and/or fish oil. That will make your BMs (bowel movements) kind of slippery so you don't have to push hard. And the Omega fatty acids are good for you anyway. They will help you with brain power you need for school!
Stool Softeners: There is a brand that is not coated with gelatin. It is a powder called Miralax. It used to be just prescription but I saw that it is over the counter now. I don't know if they have it in Canada but I can send you some if you need me to.
Wipes: Yes, use wipes. They won't sting! Or if you are very sensitive you could wet down the toilet paper and try to pat rather than wipe hard. I love my wipes! I don't go anywhere without them. Do you use a bidet at home? Yes, the baths help. I would also try using Epsom salts in the tub. They will help pull out some of the inflammation. I noticed that epsom salt baths helped more that just regular baths. But yes, you need to soak your bum 2-3 times a day and definitely after going to the bathroom.
I know that is a lot to do when you are a busy gal but it will help you heal. I take a book in the tub with me and read. I wish I could get a tv in there-I might never leave!
Stay hopeful!
Lecia

Nefedepine: I used it and it does work for some but not everyone. But if you keep using it, it will give you gobs of relief eventually (2-3 weeks) so it's worth it for me! Put a nice sized amount as high as you can. You want to relax the sphincter, which is up above your fissure/anus. So don't just "put a dab on the fissure." Put a nice little gob of it up higher than the fissure, into the sphincter area. It will work better that way.
Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily to assist the fiber. The fiber won't work well unless there is water present. You don't have to drink gallons and gallons of water! Just 6- 8 8oz. glasses as day.
Avoid alcohol and, probably, don't overdo the caffiene as it may tend to dehydrate you a bit.
YOU NEED THE STOOL SOFTENER! And you can take a tad more than the bottle recommends. Don't overdo it, though. I took two colace at 3:00 PM everyday, then two more at night. Long term use is safe.
Avoid laxatives. Anything that gives you a runny or mushy BM, like laxatives, cantalopes, etc are to be avoided. Soft, runny stools can burn you terribly when you have a BM and you will be setting back any gains you may be making towards healing.
Avoid toilet paper. If you don't use it already, just water, that should be OK. Most of us used feminine/baby wipes.
Hot baths right after a BM and twice more later in the day will really feel good and help aid the healing process. Soak your tail for at least twenty minutes, keep the water warm if you need to.
Fiber: Get your recommended amount 25-30 grams depending on your weight. The more you get from food, the less you need from fiber supplements.
Eat lots of fruits and veggies and you will hit your fiber mark. Avoid red meat. In fact, eat less meat, period.
Please continue reading over the posts because there is so much information here and I know I won't be able to cover every base. But we we will take your questions one at a time, so you should be like you're getting informedI
Good Luck!

I think Kim meant 2-3 weeks not 203 weeks....I'm just guessing though? Right, Kim?

Good guess - I have fat typing fingers! I went back and edited that! Thanks, Leish!

Thank you both very much. I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining, I think when I'm at home and realizing the pain more than regular, I feel like ripping my hair out more!
Lecia, that's a great suggestion (the stool softener without gelatin). I was wondering if there is any vegan vitamin shop anywhere here (I live in the Vancouver area) - but I don't know how I would find that. So far I've tried searching for liquid and capsule forms of stool softener and they've all got some type of animal product. Miralax sounds interesting!!
About soaking the bum, I usually don't have time to do it for 20 minutes at a time (just because of school, I'm looking for a new job, etc.) - but I just took a bath and noticed that running warm water over the area sooths the pain a lot.
Do you guys know if it's ok to apply medicine right after a bath? I read somewhere that you shouldn't, but could be wrong. Thanks again for all your help..:)

P.S. In the country where my parents were born (India), they have these tiny little pipes hooked into the toilets (the rich homes at least!) - and after people have a BM, they turn the tap and get a warm, gentle rush of water cleaning their area! Lol! Kind of funny but I'm only wishing I had that here

SunshineHope,
You hang in there girl. You are by no means a baby-this pain is unbelievable and your dealing with it for the time period that you have is incredible. The stool softeners are very important, I am taking miralax (prescription) but I think it can also be purchased over the counter. No animal bbiproducts therein. Colace also has no animal matter to the best of ;my knowledge. I take a dose of miralax in the AM (per Dr. orders) 17mg in 8 oz water , two colace,(on my own) two more at lunch and two more in the evening. As Lecia and Kim told me a few weeks ago the softeners or things you will have to experiment with a bit ( the surgeons nurse also told me that) YOU MUST GET THE STOOL SOFT AND KEEP IT THAT WAY OR YOU WILL NOT HEAL. But diahrrea is almost as bad.
I am taking diltiazem 2x aday. similar to nfiidipine, acalcium channel blocker in cream form. I've been on it for 13 days along with valium as needed for spasm at 8 hour intervals.
I think, and hope , and pray that it is doing some good.
I will be Praying for your recovery as well as my own and for help and mercy for all those on this forum.
God Bless You and Help You!
WA

A" Bidet", my GP is from India and he told me that is the best way to take care of yourself after having a motion as well. He commented that he is surprized they are so rare here in the USA.

Sunshine,
I highly recommend that you *do* apply the cream just after the bath. That shouldn't be much different than applying it any other time, except of course, right before the bath, when it would get washed away, in all likelihood. If you can apply the nefedipine an hour, or even thirty minutes, before the BM, that seemed to help me more, too! You are trying to relax the sphincter before it endures the stress of the BM.
Remember, you probably won't get any immediate relief from the nefedipine, it will come slowly. But do continue to use it, two or three times a day! I believe your odds are about 50%-67% that it can eventually heal you, if you can get your BMs to be soft but formed on a consistent basis. That is the key, but it is so difficult to achieve.
I got great relief using the cream, and although Lecia was on a different one, diltiazem, they are both basically the same calcium channel blocking blood pressure meds. Lecia can correct me, but I'm sure her cream played a major role in her healing without surgery. Which is wonderful!