Hello -
Add me to the group of fellow sufferers. I'm really glad I found this forum, and I've got a bunch of questions that I hope someone will have some time to answer. I've done some reading, but there are still some things I wonder about.
I've been in pain now for about 6 weeks. It's gradually been getting worse. Now the pain lasts more or less all day, and I feel I can't really go to work and bear this pain. Luckily, I have a job where I can work from home quite a bit.
Ok, history of my AF. Started having problems 6 weeks ago, thought it was mainly hemorrhoids, and was using cream and suppositories with lidocaine and hyrdocortisone. The pain just started getting worse about 4 weeks ago, which sent me to the doctors. I haven't had any bleeding the whole time either. She said I had hemorrhoids and a small fissure, and was puzzled as to why I had so much pain. She prescribed suppositories with prednisone and lidocaine. I had a feeling it was just making things worse, so after 8 days, stopped taking them.
Anyway, I find it difficult to walk now. Do 1-2 BMs a day, and have pain mainly for 4 hours afterwards, or else for most of the day. It is hard to pass any gas too. I'm doing the sitzbaths. Sitting on a heating pad most of the day. Trying to walk at least 30 minutes a day. Taking probiotics, ibuprofen, and a fiber powder (some strange thing that turns to gel and says it increases the volume and softness of the stools). Cutting out white bread, white rice, and drinking at least 2liters water per day, plus eating fruit (kiwi, apples) and All-bran and yogurt.
I can mention that I had what another GP said was a big fissure 4 years ago, but didn't have this pain at all and everything healed in one week.
-I've read that some people have cut out chocolate and sugar? Why are those bad?
-Also, I just got some Movicol (thanks for the European translation of that medicine) - here (I'm in Scandinavia) it is called Moxalole. I wonder if taking this together with the fiber powder I've got is a good idea?
-How "soft" is soft (referring to stools)? I know this is an explicit question, but, well, I wonder... The nurse I talked to first said that it should be about like the consistency of cooked oatmeal - is that about what everyone means when they talk about "soft"?
- How much do you others walk? And can walking re-tear? It sure feels like it...
I was referred by the GP to a surgeon (since I've had the pain for a longer time), and will meet them sometime "soon". I appreciate the information I've read here about LIS and the need to have a colo-rectal surgeon.
I really appreciate the fact that there is a forum to get this invaluable information!
Thank you!
Bumbutt