Hey guys. I'm new here but I stumbled across this excellent forum and you all seem to be lovely people!
I just wanted a little bit of advice - as you guys are the dons of knowledge on anal issues!
Basically I have had an annoying anal itch for 6 months now, that came on suddenly, but no blood or pain in my stool.
I have used prep H and all that stuff, but to no real avail.
The reason I am on AF forum is because more recently I have noticed blood on the paper after a very slightly painful BM. I have seen 3 doctors, none of whom can see haemorrhoids or fissures, even with a proctoscope, but I'm convinced I have one! The itching is the worst thing really, as it is completely related to how hard I wipe and how clean the BM is.
I was wondering if this is early signs of a fissure and if so what I should do to nip this in the bud.
Many thanks to all you wonderful people!
(oh I'm 22 btw and I have never been constipated AFAIK)

It definitely can be a fissure !!!! Sometimes they can not be seen when they are hidden between many folds and tiny - they are basically a "paper cut" thin in many cases. Mine fissure was not seen by 3 CRSs but the third one was sure I have it due to the symptoms I had. He did a colonoscopy and found it and made a photo of it for me to see !!!! I wish I took it to another two CRSs who told me I do not have it *ugh !!!!! I also was never constipated in my life.
Anyways - for starters - are you on a healthy diet and stool softeners and taking warm butt-soaks ??? You also might ask for a Nitro or Nifedipine cream to try !!!
Did any of your CRSs make any comment about your butt being too tight, perhaps ?
Also - stop wiping your butt if you can and clean yourself with a shower head or in a tub !!! Rubbing that sensitive are can do major damage : (((. After you wash yourself , dry your butt with a fan and than put some Vaseline to protect your skin form any further irritation.
Try all of the above and let us know if anything helped

Thanks for the reply Fiss!
I am on a moderately high fibre diet, but the thing is I have never really had to strain and I don't get this searing pain that unfortunately many people on hear seem to have.
I have put some prep H on today after my BM and have no itching. It seems to be made worse by heat and movement.
I have only seen 3 family physicians and they have said they can't see anything. I can go days being OK and then I get this horrendous itch. Also my butt can be a little moist when I wake up in the morning.
It seems insignificant compared to some of the people on this forum but I obviously want to get it sorted as best I can before it gets to that stage!
Did your AF start off with pain, or just the itching?
Many thanks!

My fissure started with me forcing my BM in a public restroom. I wanted to go, but my sphincter was clenching since I can not relax in public restroom (never use them for that reason). That day I just was eager to do it anyway and pressed to hard . My poop was soft but still formed and my pressing caused mayor damage : ((( since my sphincter was closed as tight as a clam . Oh well... live and learn, I guess...: (((
You know, there is a condition called Anusitis - inflammation of the anus membranes. It can cause symptoms that you have .
I would suggest you see a specialist, like colorectal surgeon or GI !!! GP's are mostly useless with butt problems *sigh
Since Prep-H helps so much - it could be local inflammation going on
Best of luck !!!! I am sure you will find a solution soon , just do not give up and go to somebody who knows more about butt-problems ; )))

Many Thanks Fiss.
Just knowing that there is a great support network via this forum is a relief! I'm sure that a massive majority of it is mind over body!
I read an article on anusitis and it seems very close to what my symptoms show.All the doctors have said the area looks sore, but can't see any piles or fissures. I've had a good look myself and it looks OK, just a little sore.
Anyways as a student my main drinks are coffee and beer, and these seem to be the precipitating factors.
I will keep you posted on how it goes.
The doctor gave me hydrocortisone cream to help with the itching (my only real symptom) but having read a lot of posts on here about thinning of the membranes. Should I try it or should I avoid it.
I can't thank you enough for replying!

You are very welcome
You know, little bit of cortisone for a week or two will not cause any thinning. It is associated with long term use.
Are you in GB ??? I read on the net once that there is an anti-inflammatory cream available in the UK based on Ibuprofen ! Also, there is a medicine named Canasa, that can be used for local inflammation that is not based on steroids , but it is for more serious cases :roll: .
Yes, try to take care of what you eat and drink and try to protect that area with Vaseline or zinc-oxide creams also. First put some cortisone and after an hour or so put a good amount of Vaseline and see if it will make any difference

Well it's been a few weeks now and I thought I should say how things are at least for completion's sake.
I don't think I have a fissure; I rarely if ever have pain on pooping but I still have this itchy butt after BM. I think, well I'm nigh on sure that this is to do with the poop not exiting properly and leaving bits behind, resulting in lots of wiping and subsequent itching. I get most of it out, but the rest I just can't get out so it almost gets "chopped off" mid BM.
No BM = no itching, in fact the harder the poop is, the better my day is.
Just thought I would add all this so that anyone reading could see what happened.
Thanks for the support people, if it turns out I'm wrong I will be back.
If anyone has any suggestions to get a BM to exit smoothly with minimal wiping I would be very glad to hear it. I don't know whether to eat fibre or not, as a solid poop requires less wiping lol.
Thanks a lot guys and best of luck with your efforts!

Hi
I saw my CRS recently following surgery and he noticed that I have a few blisters from over wiping and he suggested washing the area with aquaeous cream and using metanium cream (used for babies nappy rash). He said that metanium was the best barrier cream. I use the aquaeous cream in the shower with wet wipes. This has definately helped. May be worth a try?

Definitely can be a cause for itching !!!!
Anybody who has a fecal matter "lingering" there will have irritated skin - same way the babies do when diapers are not changed on time
Soft poop is not only hard to clean completely - it also has a tendency to "leak" a tiny amount later on and cause irritation.
I would suggest to shower after the BM every time (if possible) , or just wash with water in the tub, or any basin (sitz-bath) etc. and than apply ANY good barrier cream. Vaseline works best for me as well as Olive oil (for some reason ). Vaseline has NO ingredients but petrolatum and is thus absolutely inert cream with very little chance of causing allergy or any further irritation.
NEVER rub your butt with a toilet paper - just dab-off the BM particles and than WASH : ))) !
If you are not at home and need to go, than use baby-wipes with some Balnol lotion on it and it will work well until you come home and take a shower.
Hope it helps : ))) and be careful since irritated skin equals fragile skin. Your poop needs to be normally formed but not to the point when it needs "pressing out" , at the same time, it should not be too soft either since it can be causing tiny "leaks" :roll: .
Your best approach would be to IMO to wash with water, put some barrier cream, and keep poop normally formed. If you do not have a fissure and have BM at least once a day that is not stiff as a rock - I think you will do just fine with a "normal" poop - no need to keep it "pasty" ; ))

I usually remove any left over poop in the rectum with my finger, I cover it in vaseline first, I know there's left over poop still lingering in there because it irritates my fissure and hemmorhoids, unless I have a really thorough evacuation then this is the norm for me