Hi all, I'm new here but have been dealing with my issue in and off since last winter. I'm a very fit mom, 41 years old. My diet is very healthy and I either run or do crossfit 5 days a week. Anyway, I've had some small, intermittent problems since I've had my kids but last year I came down with 4 stomach bugs (yes, 4!) and the rest is history. I've had on and off most likely hemmy/fissure issues since then and I tend to exhasperate everything because I'm constantly poking around back there in hopes of making things better. I finally went to my GP last November who wasn't overly concerned (after the old finger in the bum and quick blood in the poo test which was negative) and gave me hydrocortisone suppositories. She said she could order a lower GI scope but also said it was not necessary so I didn't push it (I have had lifelong illness phobia so I really try to be conscience of my inclination to overtest and put myself through stuff that isn't needed). So, the suppositories did nothing but coincidentally to everything, I got a sinus infection and had to go on an antibiotic for a week or so which gave me diarrhea and also completely seemed to heal my problem! Horray!! For 4 months, I felt great and tried to keep things that way. Tracked my fiber, drank tons of water and even through out my arsenal of elixirs! Literally a week after emptying my cabinet, the symptoms came back! I'm so upset.

I have tried everything over the past month to get rid of this situation to no avail. I do not have spasms but it feels like my bum is getting cut every time I go no mater what condition the poop is in(sorry!). It just won't heal! Sorry, TMI but when I've examined inside I do feel a thin ridge of skin that is horizontal and when I go across it, it feels tender. I am also sure that I have a vertical cut closer to the opening (again, sorry!!)

Now after looking online last night, I've scared myself I have a melanoma back there because, yes, apparently you can get aggressive melanoma in your bum or in your nose!! I know I most likely do not have anal cancer because I am HPV negative but now I've read about this melanoma thing and I have completely worked myself up.

Please, someone, talked me down off the ledge!!!

I am also prone to panicking about possible horrible medical issues. Melanoma seems like a very unlikely thing, so I'd just try to put that thought aside, get to your doc ASAP and ask her to investigate the ridges that you feel "down there". Until then, get back on your fissure diet/medicine and be thankful that you don't have spasms!

hi, I had pre cancerous cells found after a hemhoroidectomy so get that feeling too - only thing that helps me is reassurance from the doctors, I have to gather my thoughts for a couple of days and go and talk to him in a nice calm manner - relay all my thoughts and get them have a look. I am under a crs that I go and see every 6 months but still panic in between when something flares up so this time I went to my local doc as well who diagnosed my fissure. Go see your doc and good luck xx

Hi there! I would ask your gp for a referral to a Colorectal surgeon - not necessarily for surgery though!!! They are just specialists at dealing with fissures, hems, etc. GPs tend to do a little too much guessing from my experience.

The next step would likely to be to prescribe you a cream called nifedipine or nitro - it helps increase the blood flow and healing down there.

Other recommendations are (if you're not already) to do a sitz bath after you go and keep stool soft with stool softner like miralax/restoralax.

As others have said - good news you don't have spasms! I bet with a bit more help you'll have this thing under control.