Hi,
I recently had an MRI to set to rest concerns about a fistula -- instead, the MRI just said that I had an inflamed area that 'could' be a fistula. So, I'm wondering if this abscess-like circle (puss and blood and inflamed) at six o'clock behind my anus could be a fissure? It is at about six o'clock...maybe an inch or so behind -- posterior -- to the anal 'hole' -- what do you think? Could anyone else here share the location of a fissure?
Also, has anyone else here had an 'infected anal fissure'? If so, what did it look like/do? How did it heal? Did you need some doctor to lance it open?

Mine is right at 6 however its a common place to tear. If your going to tear chances are its the 6, 12 or both.

aji1239,
I just had non-elective urgent surgery for this because it got bad fast. First, it started with a chronic fissure. Around June, while on vacation it flared up but I somehow ignored it. It went away. Then around November, I wasn't feeling good one Friday. I was running a fever, severe anal/rectal pain, dizzy and alot of drainage. I went to the bathroom and found a fissure about 6 o clock and a bump near the fissure. I finally scheduled an appt with a rectal surgeon who ended up draining the abscess from the inside. They sent it off for further testing. I was started on antibiotics and several creams/supposorities. The surgeon saw me about every 2 weeks. It was finally decided in early December that I had to have surgery because the abscess would fill up and drain. I also was getting pus from another hole on the outside. Plus, It was not getting better and antibiotics was keeping the infection under control.
If you seriously have an abscess, get in to see a dr. The longer you wait, the more damage will be done to the tissues/muscle around it.
As I mentioned earlier, I had surgery. They drained the abscess, repaired the fissure, laser some hemmorhoids and found and laid open the fistula. The surgery would have been less involved if I didn't wait so long to fix it.
thanks
jennifer

I think I have had an anal fissure for way too long thinking it was just an internal hemorrhoid, because I had problems with hemorrhoids in the past. And it's exactly at 6 o'clock.
Could anybody please explain what an anal abscess and fistula are?
My life is unbearable, I can't take it anymore.

A fistula is a tunnel -- usually from an opening in the anal canal to another opening (might appear like a bloody/pussy skin tag) outside of the anus in the cleft/butt crack. An abscess is kind of like an area of puss and infection under the skin. I thought I just had an anal fissure, but actually had a fistula. The best thing to do is to see a colorectal specialist surgeon (not just a general surgeon). So many doctors are confused by this all!