I have been lurking around for sometime now, gathering info and any advise I could.
I have had a fissure for a while now. I think it started when I had my son in Oct 2008. He was a HUGE baby who caused me a double third degree tear and a cracked tailbone. I had painful bowl movements on and off for a few years. The last 6 months have been hell. I have razor sharp pain with a BM, bloody stools and what I now know are spasms. I was way too embarrassed to go to the doctor. A month or so ago I bit the bullet and went to my family doctor, she did a brief look, externally, and said it's 2 hemorrhoids and a skin tag, no biggy. She gave me hydrocortozone creme (proco-something) and sent me on my way. Well that did not do crap, and I knew I should have pressed her further. Next was a visit to the ER. Humiliating. But the doctor said this is nothing compared to what he's seen! He said it was a "pretty good" fissure. Script for nitro-gel, lidocaine, stool softeners and a referral to a CRS.
I have to be put put of my misery! This SUCKS! My appointment is not until the 30th. I dread having a BM since I will be in the 7th circle of spasm hell for hours. I cannot take an NSAIDs due to a pancreatic problem, so Tylenol is it. I spent 80% of yesterday in the bath , the only thing that made bearable. How the hell do you live with this? I've got 2 kids under 3 and a sit down job!
I know I need to wait to see the doctor, but I wanted to vent a little!
Sara

Hi, Sara -
Aw, bless your heart. You came to the right place! You vent all you need to. --- I feel terrible for you, because I know the h*llish misery you're going through.
Have you started the stool softener (and fiber)? Stool softeners are essential, IMO. I don't imagine that a person can heal, especially if the area keeps getting traumatized by a troublesome or large BM. Also, watch what you eat - you probably already know that.
I'm doing all of the above and am still trying to heal. It takes awhile, even under the best of circumstances.
We all just have to keep trying. It's hard, though, I know.

Hey Sara...sorry for your pain, but you are in the right place. It is hard to wait when you are in so much pain, but you definately want to see a CRS for this!!! If you have been having problems since 2008, your fissure is chronic!! If you are not taking Miralax that should be the first thing you pick up. It works really well!! also diet high fiber food, lots of water and take some nice soaks in the tub for 20 minutes a few times a day, and use your cream. I know it sounds like a lot, but having to wait for your appt for a couple of weeks, this will indeed help. As I've said to the other young mothers on here, I don't know how you do it with young children!! It will get better, hang on

Thanks so much! I am loading up on all things softening.
It was bad after my son, but it all was down there. It's been on and off, only when constipated, then it would be OK for weeks/months. I had surgery in Sept and the pain meds gummed up the works. Since then it's terrible!
I also spend at least 15 min in the tub 2-3x per day, best relief yet!

Sara - we hear u sweetie :( I know it's hard n painful n having ur precious babies to take care of. God bless u n heal u. Read posts here that have been helping alot of us. Our prayers with u n pls keep us posted. We care

rugbybaby -
What kind of surgery did you have? Was it an LIS?

Oh no, just my shoulder. :D

Oh . . . okay - so you had shoulder surgery, and it made your AF worse?

I think she is saying she had shoulder surgery and was on major pain pills and they constipated her and that made her fissure worse.

Ah, okay.
Geez, so many things can cause constipation - or diarrhea - and traumatize things below.