First of all, I would like to say how much this forum has helped me through this terrible experience. I stumbled upon it during a desperate search, and am so thankful that I did.
I am a 27 year old woman living in Canada and have never experienced anything like this before. My story started the last few days of December. I got food poisining and was running to the washroom for about 3 days with violent diarrhea. Needless to say, my bottom was a little sore. I have had hemmorhoids in the past, and I normally apply a bit of Anusol, and they resolve themselves in a day or two. Well, when I woke up on Jan. 1, I was in excruciating pain. My husband and I went to a couple different Emergency Departments and surgeons over that week, and I was misdiagnosed or not given an answer until 6 days later when I was told by a surgeon that it was an infected anal fissure. He suggested that I try healing naturally and consider surgery as a last resort.
Over the past two weeks, I have been taking all the neccessary steps: rest, soft diet, increased fibre and water, stool softners, sitz bath, heat therapy, advil, diltiazam and lidocaine ointment. And except for the rare times when there is blood in the stool, the pain seems to be decreasing (Or I could just be getting used to it!! ).
My question is this: I have had this problem for just over 2 weeks now, and it seems to be healing, but I have two nast sentinel piles! They are not painful, just a bit uncomfortable thats all. I know these are normally a sign of a chronic fissure, but I've only had it for 2 weeks. I have also read that inthe case of a chronic fissure, natural healing is unlikely. So I cannot figure out if it is healing (pain has decreased, but occasional instance of blood - about twice a week). I have an appt with a CRS this month, and would like to avoid surgery if I can.
ANY THOUGHTS? Could it be healing even though there is blood and sentinel piles or should I consider surgery?
I know how difficult this expereince has been for me (pain, scared to eat, fear of the toilet, mental breakdowns) and i have only been struggling for a couple weeks. To all those who have dealt with this for extended periods of time, you have no idea how tough you all are. :D