I'm new here and been all over the internet to find a solution to my AF. I'm 39, regularly exercise until I was diagnosed with sciatia about three months ago, and I eat a pretty healthy diet. I had my gallbladder removed last year. Seven days ago, I experienced the most horrendous burning BM. Next day, doctor said anal fissure, prescribed hydrocortinzone 2.5% cream. Three days later, pain after a BM was so bad, i was at the ER and got a script for Anusol w/ hydrocortinzone suppositories. After that, I sit in a donut cushion, either warm shower or soak after a BM, use medicated wipes, and reduce my diet so I only have one BM per day, as well as increase fiber intake. Yesterday, I went to a gastro-specialist surgeon, who just peeked at the fissure and said to make an appointment if my symptoms don't improve over the weekend. I'm having some sort of smelly fluid seeping out my bum and the hole is painful to the touch around the 5 to 9 o'clock area. I've got a bit of blood with my BM's too. The only practical advice i got was to pick up some pantyliners for my leaking bum and just wait it out. My work and quality of life have descreased dramatically. With what I'm experiencing, is it normal? Any info will be greatly appreciated!

Welcome to the boards Boxxer and I Feel for your current struggles.First off I would advise you not use any hydrocortisone cream.It will only provide short term relief but prolonged use of it can thin the skin and I just don't want you to go through what I went through which is a constant re-tear of the fissure because of the use of Hydrocortisone.Unfortunately most doctors are unaware of how to properly treat AF and always give you meds to treat hemorhoids.It seems your at the early phase and if properly treated you can heal it before it becomes chronic.You should find a good Colorectal Surgeon around your area and they can provide you with the proper creams and answers that can help you heal this.Are you taking any stool softeners?Colace(docusate sodium)and Miralax is the prefered brand in these boards and it should help you get some control over the fissure.Make sure you get around 20-30 grams of fiber and take a couple of sitz baths a day and after each bm's to soothe your bum.I would avoid sitting on those donut cushions because they cause the fissure to split.Explore the forum and you will find helpful tips on how to deal with AF.

Thanks for the reply! Nice to know others have felt my pain. I consulted with a surgeon who does colonoscopies; he removed my gallbladder too, but I don't know if he qualifies as a Colorectal surgeon, but I assume he is. He recommended only lindocaine jelly,sitz baths and massage the muscle. As for stool softeners, not having a gallbladder with increasing fiber, my stools are already so soft that they dissolve once they hit the water. I'm also an amateur boxer and ever since my cholecystectomy, I thought I knew what pain was. Thanks to AF, now i know what pain really is. Now I must grit my teeth and buy pantyliners to take care of this awful seepage. Really couldn't find to much about that on the forums. How long does seepage/discharge last?

Yes - I would also suggest you go to CRS and a GOOD one. No other doctor (not even gastro) will know about proper fissure treatment !!!!!!!
You need special creams that will relax your sphyncter (like Nitro, Nifedipine, etc.) or Botox and such and no cortisone cream will ever do a trick !!!
Take soaks 4 times a day , 20 min !!!!! It is a lot, but it is needed to start correct relaxation and blood circulation ! Use an electric heat pad to sit on if 4 soaks in a TUB are not possible. Sitz-bath will not do anything : ((((! You need to be 20 min in very warm water - submerged butt, to get effect.
Since your poop is soft, that is GREAT !!!! One obstacle less !!!!!!
Please be vigilant and go to CRS since you do not want to get in to "chronic" phase : ((, trust me : (((.
With PROPER creams and soaks you have about 80% of healing that fissure without any further procedures.
Now- that drainage is worrisome to me. It is not a normal to have any drainage with fissre except a fresh blood on occasions. I hope it is not infection starting : (((.
All in all - find the best CRS in your area and ask if they offer creams for fissure and Botox - if not - seek till you find !!!!!!!
Best of luck with it all

Thanks for all the info! I've been soaking my bum in a plastic basic, submerging it in warm water. I'm amazed how much relief it provides. My surgeon mentioned Nitro, but wants to wait a few days and see if my symptoms improve. Lidocaine jelly helps with the pain. As for the seepage/discharge, Dr thinks I might have an abscess which is draining. To deal with that, I suppose wearing pantyliners will get me in touch w/ my feminine side. Problem with finding a devoted CRS, I'm in the boondocks and the nearest one is over an hour away.

For an acute fissure sitz bath,high fiber diet and stool softeners will heal most people.Good thing your stools are already soft so give that conservative measure a shot and let us know how it goes.Good luck.

Dr thinks I might have an abscess which is draining.

Oh my, Boxxer, that is what I was afraid of : ((( ! I do not understand why your doctor is taking that fact so nonchalantly : ((( !!!! If you have infection you need to address that ASAP before it becomes real fistula : (((((!!!!
Please go to CRS even if that takes you a day of driving - we had members going to other states to get a proper treatment !!!!!
If I were you, I would change a doctor immediately

The doctor who thought it might be an abscess didn't check internally. I saw my primary doctor today and described the seepage to him. It's reddish-brown. He nodded and said it was mucus from the colon. Had quite a reduction of seepage today and my daily pain isn't that bad, but I haven't had a BM yet. It looks like it's improving. Although I doubt I'll ever look at a toilet ever in the same way again.

I never had any discharge during my 1,5 years "battle" with a fissure except after the surgery and that was minimal and gone in about 2 weeks
Best of luck with it all

My abcess/fistula was draining reddish-yellow.It always seems to be about 50/50 in it's color.So the seepage is coming from your rectum?Even though abcess can form in any part of the body peri-anal abcess is usually located right beside the anus.Hopefully it's not an abcess because they are tricky,once you have it drained and think things are getting better it fills up with pus and gunk again.