Hi everyone, I recently finally found out that I have "multiple" fissures which has been causing the irritation around the anal area on and off for probably 10 months. The strange part is, I have no pain during the bowel movements. I only have irritation and discomfort in the anal area after BM and when i have been on my feet/walking for a extended period of time.
It seems to me that I may have gotten the fissures from the variety of different antibiotics that i have been on in the past year. I was diagnosed with nonbacterial Prostatitis in which urologist attributed to my perineal and anal discomfort. Nobody figured I would have a fissure until i went to a GI and he felt and saw them. The reason I think antibiotics caused them was because i wasnt really having too much discomfort down there until i got off my most recent week long dosage of antibiotics.
Either that or maybe muscles down there arent relaxing which has lead to straining / fissures. I dont recall having any hard stools that would rip the area
Anyway, my GI doc, told me I have multiple fissures. He didn't tell me where they were or how many. Which is really stupid now that i think about it. He just gave me nitroglycerin and told me to apply it and sent me on my way. I still have yet to figure out where my fissures are when applying the ointment. Will definitely be looking for a new GI.
So, it seems like its not very common to have multiple fissures. Anytime I hear my intestines making noise or anything I get scared to death i might be developing something like Crohn's(since multiple fissures are a sign of crohn's). But my GI never mentioned anything like that, whatever
Anyway thanks for listening to my ramble. I'm just a guy searching for answers like many of you. Let me know if you have any knowledge on any of these assumptions i have...

Hello,
One thing I can offer to you. Now that you have had that visit the next time you go, bring a list of questions. I jot down questions that come up so that I don't forget to ask about. You now have a bit more information and with that comes more questions. It's also easy to get side tracked in the doctors office so having a list there with just some key words maybe. It also sometimes leads to even more answers you did not expect.
I am new here and have been reading around on this forum, I have read, about others fissures being deep.
take care of yourself

Hi and welcome
Sorry to hear your dealing with other health issues, as well as fissures :(
I can relate to the no pain during bm's...that has not been a problem for me either. My pain, too, would come after a bm, but would be pain from a relentless spasm and lasted for hours on end
I'm sorry I can't help much with knowledge of multiple fissures....but I do think your next course of action should be to make an appointment with a CRS (colon rectal surgeon). This would be the physician to see to get a
proper anal exam and diagnosis. You should be able to get your
questions/concerns addressed/answered and get a treatment plan in
place from a specialist in this area. :D
Best of luck to you and please let us know how everything progresses
Angel

Hi there!
Well, multiple fissures aren't all that uncommon, but multiple fissures, along with ones that appear in the lateral position (on the sides) rather than in the posterior or anterior position, can raise some questions as to whether there is Crohn's disease. But it still doesn't mean you have Crohn's disease. If you get a fissure and it causes the internal anal sphincter to go into spasm, it can also make you vulnerable to developing another fissure as the tightness of the anal canal makes it more vulnerable to tearing. I agree with Angel. The best thing to do is have a colorectal surgeon examine you as that is the specialist who is most experienced in fissures and can give you a plan on what may be needed for further investigations and treatments. In the meantime, keep stools as soft as possible to avoid straining and further trauma, use sitz baths to relieve pain, especially after bowel movements, and try to find ways to relax as much as is possible, as the stresses of worry will aggravate your fissure situation.
Best wishes to you!

Thank You everyone for the kind words and support. It really means alot. This is not the type of condition that you can talk easily with people. lol
So i guess for right now i will continue to use the nitoglyercin ointment twice a day for 1-2 months and see if that works(and sitz bath after BM like always).
If it doesn't improve i will definitely look into visiting a colorectal surgeon. Its probably better to skip the GI's and go straight to the specialist like you guys said. Thank you for the advice. I will keep you guys updated.
Any other opinions/advice is welcome

If it's any consolation, my CRS noticed multiple fissures. When I asked if he felt any additional tests (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, etc.) were necessary, he said, "Absolutely not -- you just have fissures." Obviously, those would be the two tests to check for Crohn's. So since he wasn't concerned, I wasn't concerned.

I agree with Angel and JR, I would get to see a CRS. I began with one fissure and ended up with multiple fissures. I used the GTN cream for 4 months and was then referred for botox (which has helped in the long run). Whilst under general anaesthetic they looked further inside and found no colitis or crohns. I have since been for another consultation and he said it is not necessary for another camera as it may cause more problems. I am having a general clean up of the area, more botox and applying GTN at the same time soon as I have healed suddenly which has left a gap underneath. My advice would be try the GTN for 2 months, if it is not working you could try botox and ask them to check for crohns at the same time. Not sure where you are but I am in the UK and they put you under general for botox anyway. Just my opinion after 16 months of this lot!! Good luck! You may heal with GTN alone, it is possible :)

I had tried GTN for quite a while, for me it was very annoying as I got really bad headaches that lasted for a while but the first 1/2 hour was bad! So if you get em you know why.
Also apply the amount the dr specified. Normally a pea size amount to the area. The exact location on the anus isn't necessary because as u will realize it not only absorbs to the area but enters the bloodstream quickly too! So once the area gets it you are alright.
Don't be afraid to get another opinion. I waited so long and apparently I developed another fissure while treating one.
As stated before try to keep those BMs soft and do the sitz bath as told by the Dr and hopefully it works.

whatisthis wrote:The strange part is, I have no pain during the bowel movements. I only have irritation and discomfort in the anal area after BM and when i have been on my feet/walking for a extended period of time.

This sounds very much like my problem. I often don't have any pain during the BM (not so much the case now as I'm in a bad spell) but the pain and discomfort comes about when I walk for too long. Do you have itching, that turns to pain? More on my experiences here
I too have been told I have had multiple fissures at various points during the last 2 years. They have moved around and have been in various places.
Also this is probably not as pertinent, but I've noticed a funny 'fullness' like pins & needles in my perineum after sitting for long periods. Have at one point taken antibiotics for a prostate issue (to do with 'calcification' if I recall correctly) The symptoms of that died down as to not be a problem and I've not thought about it since...
Anyway I found your symptoms interestingly similar to mine, and not a lot of others on this board are like that. I'd be keen to know how you get on :)