Im 23 years old, and I finally went to the doctor this month after having fissures since I was about 10 years old.
My doctor prescribed me a cream to use once a day on the fissures, and told me to drink citrucel daily.
After paying close attention to the fissure the last couple of weeks, I noticed something different. While often the blood comes from the actual fissure itself, I have noticed that there is a very small thin patch of skin extremely close to my anus and blood seems to just seep thru the skin. I also notice there is watery puss on that thin skin.
Is this something to do with the fissure? Or is this something else?

Hi MR3350
Is this blood/puss coming from a small swollen spot near the opening of the anus? Are you experiencing pain from this area? If so it could be an anal fistula.
An anal fistula is a small channel that develops between the end of the bowel, known as the anal canal, and the skin near the anus (opening where waste leaves the body).
On the surface of the skin around the anus, one or more of the fistula ends may be seen as holes. An anal fistula is painful and can cause bleeding and discharge when passing stools.
Obviously i am no medical professional and your symptom maybe something a lot simpler than this but i would probably go and get it checked out by a doc/CRS.
Davo

hi mr,
It's really impossible to diagnose through email.
Is it a GP who you saw? I would recommend going back to the GP and getting a referral to a specialist. You have suffered long enough and need someone with more experience in these matters to take a look. You'll want to see a CRS (colorectal surgeon or a proctologist if you are in England). Not that you need surgery, but they are the ones who deal with fissures day, day out.
Any sign of infection needs to be taken seriously.
Have you searched around the forum at all? There's lots of good info here. You can use the search at the top of this page, or go to the 'portal' section. At the bottom of the page, left side there is a search box with different options to adjust your search to be topic only or inside the topics for even more info.
Let us know what the doc says. Once you have a diagnosis from a professional we can help you better.
Hope it turns out to be nothing!
-Tanya

It sounds suspiciously like an anal fistula, as mentioned above. The classic symptom of an anal fistula is either bloody or yellowish discharge (puss), as well as pain and itching. If it is an anal fistula, surgery is usually (but not always) required. I have never had an anal fistula but I have been thoroughly checked for one by several colorectal surgeons (CRS), so I have asked a lot of questions about it.
As mentioned by workingonit, if you are not going to a CRS you should definitely make an appointment to see one ASAP. You want to go to a doctor that deals with anal issues like this every day, all day (not a family doctor or general surgeon). They should be able to make a quick diagnosis for you, as well as a treatment plan.
Good luck!

I will parrot what the others have said about consulting with a Colorectal surgeon. This last time, out of shear agony, I went to an Immediate Care facility where I was seen by a PA and a general practitioner. I was incorrectly diagnosed and given meds that are counterproductive to healing a fissure. My own doctor did correctly diagnose the problem, but gave me a version of Nitro that was far too strong for the purpose. It wasn't until I saw the CRS that proper treatment started. I eventually had LIS (Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy) and am now on the path of healing.
I wish you well and also minimum pain.