Hi There,
I've been reading this forum for a few days now... and boy do I feel like a whiner. I'm a healthy 43 Y/O man. I had my first anal fissure "episode" about a week ago. The usual thing: pain... oh wait... more pain... hang on a sec... oh yes... new adventures in pain! It's only been a few days for me - I can't imagine how some of you manage, you have my undying admiration! I haven't gotten out of my PJ's for the last 5 days!
I'm hoping that what I have is an "acute" AF which is supposed to heal in 4-6 weeks... however, after 8 days with NO improvement, I'm starting to get pretty scared (did I mention that I'm a whiner!). I'm doing all the usual things: baths, high fibre, laxitives, a cream of lidocaine and one of those Calcium blocker thingies (sorry to get technical there); and about an elephant-weight of Tylenol (paracetamol for those foreigners). No noticeable improvement - although my stool is starting to soften. There's nothing like red-hot poker pain to encourage constipation.
I don't know what I expect here. Some re-assurance? Or some hope? Or maybe just someone to go through the journey with me? (my wife is as supportive as she can be, but she's busy, and we lead busy lives). Right now, all I can see is months or years of excruciating pain followed by painful surgery with a so-so success rate. I know I haven't really given it a chance yet, but it's such a scary life-changing moment going from healthy to... AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!! (that was me trying to poop and screaming like a little girl).
Feel free to diss me for being a wuss-bag (I know most of you have it a lot worse), but I couldn't help making myself known... you may become my only truly understanding friends in the weeks or months to come...
Cheers...