I have been reading that people on the forum report their CSR's looking at the fissure (both pre and post surgery), but my CSR could only "feel" it. He had to do a digital rectal exam, and told me that it is inside the anal opening, and not visible from the outside at all. Are most fissures able to be seen by both the poor sufferers and the CSR's?

This also makes me wonder how to keep it clean, when it's inside and not able to be washed?

Am I the only one with a fissure on the inside?

It is common to have them not visible. That is often why an EAU (exam under anesthesia) is required.

Thank you for the response and very helpful information!

Mine was visible externally to the doctors but I'm not able to see it myself. (Maybe if I didn't have the skin tags - but maybe not even then.) Crazy how such a small little wound can shoot pain through your whole body!

Thanks for the info, msimon. I didn't know that, either!

to see mine the skin has to be pryed. sometimes they are just inside the opening. I have heard they only go up to the dentate line (that's about 1 cm in). some Docs are quite good at doing this and others just make the injury worse, like the one I just saw. Grrrrrrrr!