Hi All,
I had anal fissures now for 4 years and I'm feeling really fed up with it all. I'm in my mid twenties and from the UK. When i first began bleeding I went to the doctor, who referred me to have a colonscopy to check it was nothing serious. I was then referred to my local hospital to see a specialist who told me there was nothing they could do as i was too young because of the risks.
That was 3 years ago now and I've still got fissures. It's the blood i find that really upsets me. Somedays i only had a small amount and others (like today) i have so much the toilet pan is bright red. I'm not sure what to do now as the doctors don't seem to care, so i don't bother going back to see them. I feel like even after 4 years i still get very upset about this and need help accepting the problem i have. I get so upset and worried i give myself an upset tummy and this causes a vicious cycle as my fissure can't recover.
Any ides of ways I can accept my problem?
Thanks for reading this and any help given

Saw,
I'm from the US and not really familiar with the health care system in the UK. Hopefully others can advise you better.
I wouldn't just accept this problem. I would find another CRS and get surgery. We have many boardies from the UK who have had LIS. I wouldn't accept one doctors opinion of you being too young. Personally I think that's a load of garbage. I'm not sure how old you are but age really shouldn't be a factor with a well qualified surgeon.
Hopefully others will come along soon and chime in...

Saw, I wouldn't accept theres nothing you can do. I am in the UK and have had a fissure for almost 6 months and have been treating it with cream which hasn't helped. So at the hospital they have discussed botox with me. They are doing an examination under anaesthetic then if nothing is wrong will go ahead with the botox injections. They have said to me surgery is a last option so trying other stuff, but god if you've been suffering for this long its not fair. Go to your GP and request a referral to a CRS. Can you afford a private consultation then go back to the NHS? This is sort of the route I have taken. I am back with the NHS now at the minute. I am 27 (nearly 28!) and just because we are younger it doesn't mean you have to keep suffering. Val is really good with information so hopefully she can advise you too. Good luck and don't give up! Easy to say I know, I have been very low so can't imagine what you must be feeling after 4 years

If you have been suffering with a fissure for 4 years, it has become chronic, and will have built up scar tissue, so any healing creams are very unlikely to heal it. However, there are always exceptions to rules, and they do help with spasms, so they are worth a try. Ask your gp for anoheal, or rectogesic.
Also DEMAND (be prepared to sit on that chair, and do not move until they agree) to see a colo-rectal surgeon.
If you see one privately, it will cost about Ј150. You will see a top surgeon who usually works in an nhs hospital too. They will be top of their field, and because you are paying them, they will give you time and good advice, and wont fob you off. If you like their idea of treatment and like them, they will possibly refer you back to them on the nhs. Although, that sometimes is a difficult process, and might be easier to go back to your gp and ask to be referred to them, as some hospitals dont let the surgeon refer you back to themselves. Once you're familier with how their system works, you can work it to your advantage, but be prepared for lots of phone calls and complaining!!
If that doesn't make sense, then just ask, and I'll go through it again!

Oh, I forgot to say...
there are CRSs who refuse to do surgery because you're too young or too old - really, what's an ideal age to have a flippin fissure!!
That is just rubbish and an excuse because they are not competent enough to do LIS. A good surgeon will have done thousands of them with absolutely no problems. If you ask a competent CRS how many people he has left incontinent, they will say NONE!
A CRS who says they cannot perform LIS is like a dentist who says he has never taken a tooth out.
The moral of that story - AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!

Hi Saw, so sorry that you've been suffering with this for so long.
I'm 25 so a similar age to you and also from the UK. docs I have spoken to have been wary of performing LIS on younger women, without ruling out other alternatives first, just because of childbirth in later life etc but NOT against doing it all together. That's madness! If you've suffered for four years, that's waaaaaaay too long top deal with this with no help whatsoever.
Just to support what Val's said, I did exactly that yesterday- paid for a private appointment with a great CRS who actually practiced at my local NHS hospital so I can see him there. This has come after months of crap doctors and feeling like I wasn't being taken seriously at all, so don't despair! Would strongly recommend doing the same :)

PS. The whole thing about risks with childbirth really confuses me anyway...surely if you have a chronic fissure and have a natural birth while suffering with it, you stand the risk of causing yourself some serious serious damage?