New here, Advice and support?

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New here, Advice and support?

Postby gillustration » 30 Dec 2012, 06:06

Hello There,
okay so I'm a 20 year old male, and I feel like I've been suffering from anal fissures for literally years now. I'm from the UK btw. I went to see the doctor last year about it, a couple of times. I did the usual 'I'm here for something else, but there's also this problem' because I was embarrassed and scared. The first time it was a nurse who was nice but just said the usual eat better and it should clear up if not come back, something I had been doing for ages and it hadn't worked. So I went back and this time saw the main doctor who inspected me (big step for me, I was really worried about this) just just took a quick look and dismissed as a cut and said eat better and gave me some generic cream. Since that year it's been on and off... it heals a bit when I'm super good at eating well, but a few mistakes and it'll reopen ever month or so? It can be really painful usually hours after a BM.
I'm just lost what to do... I feel like because I'm young and otherwise healthy, the doctors just shrug me off... I feel like this is seriously effecting my life, more my attitude... I don't want to go out when it's bad, no motivation to do anything.
I'm also bisexual, and people can usually tell. But I've honestly never had anal sex and I feel like the doctors might just think it's that causing it and dismiss it... when It's 100% not.
need a little bit of help to be honest :(
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby Neen » 30 Dec 2012, 09:37

are you taking any stool softeners or movicol? It will really make your bm soft and might be just what you need to heal it completely in addition to eating well and drinking lots of water. I think doctors have no clue as to how a fissure messes up our life. Try the stool softeners and movicol and see if that helps. Good luck!
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby gillustration » 30 Dec 2012, 10:55

Neen wrote:are you taking any stool softeners or movicol? It will really make your bm soft and might be just what you need to heal it completely in addition to eating well and drinking lots of water. I think doctors have no clue as to how a fissure messes up our life. Try the stool softeners and movicol and see if that helps. Good luck!

Thank you for the reply.
It's nice knowing I'm not alone!
and no I haven't been, I'm not sure I'm not sure where I can get some in the UK? I'll do some googling. Can they be used all the time without side effect or just on and off when needed?
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby owmybum » 30 Dec 2012, 11:24

I am in the uk. I use lactulose... Which can be bought in any chemists. There are lots of others around but it would be better for you if you went to your doctor and see which one they suggest. You must remember to drink plenty of water whilst using a stool softener as they draw water out of you to keep the stools soft.
I would go back to the docs and ask to try some different cream and be referred to a proper crs (colo rectal surgeon) these doctors specialise in anal problems and have seen it all before heaps of times.... And your sexual preferences are nobody's business but yours.. Don't even worry about what they are thinking... It's time to get the help you need.
OMB xxxxx
fissure after hem banding and tag removal feb 11
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby gillustration » 30 Dec 2012, 11:30

owmybum wrote:I am in the uk. I use lactulose... Which can be bought in any chemists. There are lots of others around but it would be better for you if you went to your doctor and see which one they suggest. You must remember to drink plenty of water whilst using a stool softener as they draw water out of you to keep the stools soft.
I would go back to the docs and ask to try some different cream and be referred to a proper crs (colo rectal surgeon) these doctors specialise in anal problems and have seen it all before heaps of times.... And your sexual preferences are nobody's business but yours.. Don't even worry about what they are thinking... It's time to get the help you need.
OMB xxxxx

Thank you for the reply, it means a lot.
I completely understand, and if it were someone telling this to me I'd tell them the same, It's just difficult when it's happening to yourself! I will after the new year. I've been using wheat-grass cream and I've been fine for a month or so until the other day, I thought it was working. I'm going to bite the bullet and go back to the doctors after the new year when it's open again. Is it just a case of asking to be referred to a specialist? Basically "Thank you for helping but I'd really like to see a specialist, It's really effecting my life and bringing me down"? I don't want to be rude and offend their professional opinion! :(
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby owmybum » 30 Dec 2012, 12:26

Yes.... That's just the right thing to say. The dr won't be offended at all... You need to be seen by someone who specialises in anal afflictions and get your self back on track.
Af's are a horrible affliction... Both mentally and physically... They take their toll on all of us and it feels like to get them sorted is an endless yo-yo.
Seek help as soon as possible... Maybe go and buy some lactulose... I get mine from asda pharmacy.... Drink plenty of fluids ... Put a dab of Vaseline on your anus just before a bm..... And know you are not alone.. We are here. Xx
OMB xxx
fissure after hem banding and tag removal feb 11
Pelvic floor therapy
Diltiazem
Botox June 13
Nitro
Internal flap July 14
EUA and polyps removed Nov 14
Diagnosed with neuropathy Jan 15
Diagnosed with HS EDS type 3 (causes poor wound healing )
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby Lauren12 » 30 Dec 2012, 12:50

Hi gillustration
I understand you don't want to be rude and offend the GP's professional opinion - just be polite but persistent. Point out that this is a long standing problem that hasn't been completely cured and keeps recurring. Say that you've changed your diet and followed their advice on two occasions but it keeps coming back, also that you're suffering pain and it interferes with leading a normal life. Ask to be referred to a specialist.
It seems that either you may be developing a series of fissures - for example one heals, but then later on another develops when you have a less than optimal bowel movement - or it's the same fissure which is healing to a degree, but then reopening with difficult bowel movements. Either way, it's been an ongoing problem and you deserve to have the doctors address it properly.
Those of us who develop recurring or chronic fissures (and I was one!) tend to have quite high anal muscle tone. I thought high muscle tone was a good thing until I found it gave people a tendency towards fissures! That's why all the treatments for this condition are aimed at reducing the anal muscle tone. In the UK, doctors tend to start out quite conservatively, first prescribing creams to see if this will fix the problem, and moving on from there if that doesn't help. Some people do develop a fissure once, manage to heal it with the creams or self adminstered treatments, and never suffer again. However you're describing an ongoing problem so it would be helpful to see a specialist in my opinion. A specialist can provide a proper diagnosis. GP's often miss fissures - my GP couldn't see my fissure at all, even though it was a centimetre long and down to the muscle - and prescribed me treatment for haemorrhoids, even though she couldn't see any thrombosed haemorrhoids either! Your doctor might say you have a cut, but often they don't understand how painful and debilitating this can be. I can't see any reason why your doctor shouldn't refer you to a CRS as the treatments they've provided so far are not working. Again, I don't think they'll judge regarding sexuality or sexual activity - they just view it as a medical problem. There are several potential causes of fissures, so don't worry about them forming any ideas on that!
Also, take hope. This is a treatable condition. I had a fissure for two years. Eventually I had the surgery and I'm completely cured now!
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby Lauren12 » 30 Dec 2012, 12:51

Whoops, cross posted with omb :)
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby gillustration » 30 Dec 2012, 14:03

Thank you all for the replies!
It's just so so reassuring hearing that there are people out there who have been through the same thing... I was starting to think I was going to be like this for life! and not have anything done about it :(! I felt too young to be going though it too but it seems after some research it effects teen/young adults often!
Yes, I'll just have to go to the doctor, I'll just get it over with and I'm sure it'll improve my life and face my fear.
Can the nurses refer you to a specialist? or does it have to be the Doctor, I just feel a bit more comfortable speaking to the nurses.
Thank again!
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Re: New here, Advice and support?

Postby richibeno » 30 Dec 2012, 14:55

Hey gill
Great advice from the guys already
Keep your food soft drink loads of water take a stool soft er I use movicol you can but it over the counter at boots ect' see your doc a soon as ask for a referral to a good crs he may know of one's
If your are working you may have private health at work use it you will b seen quicker '
Also ask for some nitro cream think its recto something
Goodluck
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