Hi, I'm a 30-year-old woman, and I just was diagnosed with a fissure today by a gastroenterologist. I did suspect that was what was going on--blood in the toilet bowl and on the toilet paper, agonizing pain during and after BMs, and pressure and discomfort all day (esp. when sitting in a desk chair). I've had a couple of episodes of bleeding over the last year or two, but this time it has gone on for weeks and it is unbearable.
Back in April I was on antibiotics for a sinus infection, and I believe the loose, frequent stools I had as a side effect triggered my fissure. It got better briefly (which I suspect had something to do with being on steroids for a bad case of poison ivy), but in the past 2-3 weeks has worsened to the point where I have gotten very depressed and almost suicidal. I was doing everything I'd read as "home remedies" for fissures--warm baths, Prep H cream, eating more fiber and taking fiber supplements, drinking lots of water, etc. but have not seen any real improvement.
I finally went to the doctor this week, and to the GI doctor today. He prescribed nitroglycerin cream, and I'm hopeful that it will work.
So glad to know that there are other people out there who feel the way I do! Other than my doctors, the only people who know what's going on are my fiance and my mom. It's so embarrassing to talk about.