by Ever the Optimist » 18 Sep 2013, 15:14
Hi Rw,
No it takes a few days to really kick in and if you are already feeling less pain, that's a great sign. Honestly, just stick with it & have faith it's working for you......
I also understand where you are coming from with distinguishing between gas and the need to go with a fissure because of the intensity of the spasms and that "pressure feeling" it causes in your bottom! I actually found for a while that I was unable to pass gas properly when that was really intense - I don't know why - perhaps because things were too tight/ tense down there that I couldn't even pass gas properly??.....but this does pass.
To get through this stage, I worked out when I generally had BMs in my day and kind of stuck to those times (the morning was always easy because I've always been as regular as clock-work first thing!) I used to struggle later on in the day....Key for me was being relaxed and trying not to worry & stress about it - I've also learnt now to try not to anticipate BMs because they only come out when they are really ready and you should be able to feel the natural urge when you really need to go. If you've got a good soft stool diet going then it will naturally fall out anyway and you shouldn't need to be excessively straining too.
If I was unsure, I would just go to the toilet anyway, take a few deep breaths and if nothing happened after a few minutes, I knew it wasn't time and I'd end up going a little later.......Being relaxed really does help the process and plotting times when you think you are generally more likely to go in your day...
Chronic Fissure diagnosed December 2011
Healed by Diltiazem around Feb 2013
Anal Fistula followed burst abscess in June 2012
2 internal troublesome piles remain & suspected, but undiagnosed, ongoing Levator Ani type symptoms & flare-ups