Hello everyone! I am so happy to have found this forum about AFs. It's been helpful reading all of your stories about recovering from AFs and living with AFs. I am on my second round of AFs. My first started when I was in high school and lasted until I was about 22. During that time period most of my pain was during the BM, not a lot after, but some occasionally. I went to see a Gastrointestinal specialist during that time. I had been thinking hemorrhoids were the culprit, and the doctor performed a colonoscopy. After the procedure he told me that he didn't see any thing hemorrhoid wise that was causing all of the pain, but that I had a tight sphincter. He said that it clenched very tightly and probably was causing the pain during the BMs. He said this was a condition that I would grow out of, and there was nothing more he would do for the condition. Ok... so I lived through it. I thought that was alright, I could live with the pain during a BM. Then at 22 I started having lots of pain during and following a BM. I went to see my GP about what was going on. He didn't look at anything just subscribed hydricortizone suppositories. I used the suppositories and miraculously the pain was gone after a few days. Still thought hemorrhoids were to blame. The pain free life lasted until just about 4 weeks ago. I'm now 25 and just had a baby 6 weeks ago. Upon coming home I was having regular BMs so I stopped taking the stool softners. BIG MISTAKE. I had one very painful BM and have been in pain since. I called my doctor and told them that I thought I had a hemorrhoid. They told me the regular stuff... prep H, sitz baths, etc. I called the office back two more times that week telling them that the pain was crazy and I was going out of my mind. They then referred me to a CRS. I went to the appointment and he took a quick look and said AF was to blame. Okay, so now I finally have a diagnosis for this pain. I'm not just crazy! He prescribed the cream many of you have talked about Diltiazem. I have been using it for about two weeks. During the first 10 days no relief. I called the office again and told them how miserable I was. I have a newborn baby and can hardly stand to sit for 20 minutes to nurse her. They said to give the cream time, so I'm trying. The past four days have been somewhat (barely) better. I'm still have strong pain and bleeding during BM and still having pain after BM, but it's not as bad. I'm using the cream 3x's a day as prescribed and taking 2 sitz baths a day. It's really hard to fit them in with a newborn at home. I find myself trying to arrange my BMs around her naps which doesn't really work. I really am hoping that there will be some type of relief soon! Btw... I have also changed my diet to include more fiber and less dairy & red meat. I eat fiber one cereal in the morning and fiber rich foods throughout the day. I also am taking Doculax stool softners again. I feel like I'm going out of my mind at times. The pain is so terrible! Anyway, I have a few questions for those of you who have also suffered from AFs...
Has anyone had a successful recovery just using the cream Diltiazem?
How long did it take for you to have success with the cream?
To those of you who have had the LIS surgery or Botox...
was it successful?
would you recommend it?
did any of you have recurrences of the problem after the surgery or Botox?

Mechelle,
I healed with only using that ointment (Diliatzem). It was about a 2 year struggle up and down. I cannot comment about the LIS or Botox, but I was going to try Botox if the ointment did not heal me. I'm sure others will add to my comments. Also there are some sticky threads that might answer many of your questions and give you more info from past responders. Good luck!
BTW, I like other Midwesterners! (I live in Illinois, but went to college in Indiana!)

thanks for the quick response! how long did you use the ointment for when you started noticing results? were you using the ointment throughout the 2 year period?

Mechelle,
I think I used it for at least 2-3 months, then tapered off using it only when necessary during the rest of that period. It takes awhile to work, especially if you've had your AF for awhile. But everyone is different!!

Thanks Cheryl! I have been feeling a little better the last four or five days, so hopefully the cream is working. I just don't want to get my hopes up too much. I'm also working really hard with my diet to make sure that I'm not eating foods that would aggravate things.
Praying that this will be a memory sooner than later!