Ok, slightly rhetorical question, but I do want to know.
A week ago, I was in agony. I couldn't sit for long periods of time, I was passing razorblades in agony and it looked like a murder had occurred in the toilet bowl. To me, it felt like I had two tears: 1 internal (which was the most painful) and 1 on the opening. Then, a week ago, (after advice from here on what meds to ask for) I went to the GP and was given movicol and rectogesic. I cannot believe the difference, and am passing BMs without pain and gritted teeth, with no blood.
On Monday I went back to the docs, because of the headaches, and was told to perservere until today (so I'd been using it a week) and he gave me some more Proctosedyl ointment, to use from today onwards.
Meanwhile, the appt with the consultant was brought forward from mid-May to today. He was pleased the rectogesic is working, but has prescribed dia-something to use instead (though I can't collect it until a week's time as the hospital pharmacy had run out). He did say, though, that the procto won't work (which entirely agrees with my experience of it) and he has no idea why the gp has given it to me twice, nor why the GP said to stop using the rectogesic after 1 week.
BUT when he examined me, he could find no sign of AF at all. He also did another internal, but still couldn't find anything. He says to continue with the movicol and rectogesic/dia-whatever for 8 weeks, and then I'll be invited back for another appt, and hopefully it will be healed.
So, no botox, and apparently I'm practically healed already. Surely that can't be the case? Whilst I'm not too bothered atm (because BMs are not painful right now), I am worried that in 8 weeks time, I'll be declared healed, stop using the rectogesic and the AF will reappear and be back to square 1.

Hi Bernie!
How fast can an AF heal? Not fast enough. Sorry to be silly, but you know what I mean. Actually the rule seems to be that it takes 1-2 years for the tissue that's been torn to regain most of it's strength. So even though you're feeling better, I'd persist with the rectogesic for as long as you can. And watch your diet, water intake, etc.
As far as having the AF reappear and going back to square 1, yup, unfortunately that happens and it's happened to a lot of us. It freaks people out when I say I'd had fissures for 5 years before I got the surgery, but they would heal on their own, and stay that way for months at a time. So most of that time I was rarely in pain, up until the past year or so when it became relentless. But anyway, if you're more comfortable now, then that's the important thing. And if by chance it does take a turn for the worst, then at least you know what your treatment options are.
All you can do is continue with what's working right now, and keep following up with the doctor. I don't know what the Proctosedyl ointment is, but if it's a steroid--throw it out! You need the rectogesic to relax the muscle. And honestly I think I'd keep taking the movicol for longer than 8 weeks too (maybe even the year that it takes for the tissue to regain its strength).
I hope your path of healing continues!

I have had hemmerhoids for years before I got an AF and proctosedyl was ok for those but once I got the AF it made it worse, I think now it helped my AF become CHRONIC so DONT use it for AF. It definately helps hemmerhoids but nothing else. And it's definately a steroidal ointment which can thin the skin....
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of pain, it takes a long time to heal an AF, not that I've ever healed one, so sticking to fiber and high water intake is a must! But good for u that the pain has eased. I have two weeks to go til LIS I'm looking forward to healing!

Thanks for your replies, because you're agreeing with what I thought. I had an AF before, had it for 9+months, then had botox, which seemed to work, though I continued taking lactulose for a further 9months.
That's why I'm surprised that after a week, there is supposedly no sign of a second fissure(s) that I've had for nearly 8 months now. So, if proctosedyl is for hemorrhoids, why the hell have I been prescribed it (twice!) for an AF that was diagnosed last November?
The little faith I have in my local GPs (because I don't always see the same doctors), is eroding even more.
And no, I'm not planning on stopping the movical or rectogesic any time soon, which is why I questioned the 8 weeks, as even that seems very soon for me.

Sigh....
Most doctors just don't know what they're doing when it comes to treating AF's. I too was prescribed the steroid ointment, and I think it made things much worse. I started getting lots of little fissures here, there, and everywhere which I think now may have been because the cream was weakening and thinning my skin.
GP's ABSOLUTELY don't know what they're doing when it comes to this...and gastroentereologists aren't much better.
Luckily I found a good CRS who didn't hesitate over doing his job, and performing the surgery on me. One weird thing though, was the post-surgical list of suggested ointments they gave to me included 1% hydrocortisone! Maybe they meant to have patients use it for just a day or two after surgery, to bring down swelling?
I really hope you can keep it under control. Is Movicol available without a prescription for you? If so, it's an easy thing to take every day to hopefully prevent a recurrence.

After having the fck'er since August, I feel I'm healing, though I know I'm in danger of "fall-backs".
Short history:
August 2010: AF diagnosed. Was given sphincterrelaxing injection (not botox) and started eating HUSK. Pain was reduced for some time, but not gone, and bleeding went on.
September 2010. Was also diagnosed with a hemo, for which I got Doloproct. Also experimented with other ointments, a German one called Haenal Akut worked maybe a bit.
Slowly the worst pain disappeared, but for the next month my ass continued to behave like a wild animal inside of me whose behaviour I could never predict. Pain, blood, itching on and off. Mostly on ... :-(
December 2010. Another injection as the above mentioned. Helped a little for some days, then back to "normal" which at this time was pain, itching during and after BM, but not bad during the most part of the day. Slowly I felt I got into a chronic situation with pain and blood around toiletvisits, but apart from that rarely anything. But that sight of blood on the paper, man, it pulled me down: "I'm SICK ... Will et ever end? Did he overlook that cancer?" Nice thoughts like that really haunted me quite often.
February 2011: Since no healing seemed to be taking place, I was being put on diltiazem gel.
And told that if that didn't do the trick, botox and surgery were next to come.
March 2011:
I discovered this forum and the existence of Movicol, which I started taking daily. At the same time I bought a baby-tub to bathe my exhaustpipe in - and an electric hairdryer to dry it before applying the dilti-gel.
April 1st, 2011:
Finally without symptoms from April 1st. Continued with the gel and Movicol and the baths.
April 14th, 2011
After 8 weeks on diltiazem and now in all for two weeks: No symptoms.
One week now without the dilti-gel, but I still take Movicol and dip my behind in whatever warm water is within reach.
So it's been 8-9 months for me. And of course I'm not sure of anything. (Had some itching today, but neither blood nor pain) My specialist doc told me to expect a year or more.
Guess I'm lucky. And I pray and thank the saint of the assholes for every beautiful day I live through without this pest!
Yippiiie!
Gook luck to all. Hope is there; healing can actually take place!
Martin

You people need to stop making me laugh as it hurts down there. "thank the saint of assholes"...

A saint of assholes! perfect! People could say "I graduated from Our Lady of the Burning Butt" (sorry ... former Catholic school girl here)
I can't believe how doctors prescribe exactly the wrong thing for fissures! Your stories sound a lot like mine. I'm sure that all the steriods I was told to shove up my ass for seven months actually caused tissue damage.
Bernie - I also think that a superficial fissure can heal pretty quickly, but re-tear very easily. I'm pretty sure I had a second fissure for a while that my doc didn't see on Tuesday. I am also on diltiazem - I hope it works for both of us! :D

The CRS who I saw recently actually told me, just as I was heading out the door, that I could could continue using Analpram that has hydrocortisone in it. I already ha e thinning skin down there, and he had seen that, but still said it was okay! Because I am in pain every day, and I don't see much improvement after using the Nifedipine as yet, I have used it twice in the last couple of days, and it does seem to help me. But, might just be sheer chance!
Just get desperate when I feel there is nothing to relieve the pain! What a pain in the ass (pun pun) this all is.

Hi Bernie
I also have just been diagnosed with an AF, had the pain since before Xmas 2010 and have to wait until 21st June 2011 for my Botox treatment
I am also getting lots of headaches, is this due to the AF or the treatment that i am on, i am also using movicol and Diltiazem Hydrochloride cream, but this hurts like hell when applied!!!
Hope you are feel better soon, i am in so much pain everyday and the 21st June seems so far away!!
Andy