Hi I am a 41 year old married mother of two teenage boys. I have been suffering with anal fissures for a few years now. The first time I had one it seemed to last forever and would have good days and not so good days. Over the last few years it has reoccurred but not as bad as the first instance. It has reoccurred in the last couple of months and can't seem to get any relief. The burning drives me insane. Does anybody have any advice? Thank you and I am so glad that I have found this forum I always need someone to talk to and people just can't relate.
Quiggles :D

Hi Quiggles! I am a 40 year old mother of two also. And I am having the same pain from fissure as you. I am fairly new to board and don't feel comfortable giving advice as yet but I am certain other will chime in shortly to help you. I am writing just to let you know you are not alone even though it can certainly feel that way. I was having a horrible time until I found this place. The support from others as well as the great info on threads has helped me a lot. It's true that others just don't understand how painful this is. But believe me everyone here does. Somehow that helps a bunch! Nice to meet you! Deb

Hi Quiggles,
Welcome to the forum! Have you considered having the LIS surgery since you have suffered off and on for so long?

I have actually not considered the LIS but this time I think I may as this is obviously chronic. I can't seem to win. I have irritable bowel so I tend to take a lot of Immodium when I travel so I think I am literally messing up my system go from not going at all to too much and that is not good.
Thanks Deb for replying. I found this forum today and I am feeling so much better. This burning is the worse of it and literally drives me batty. You tend to start thinking something else is wrong with you but I know it is a fissure as the doctor told me that years ago but it doesn't help until you start reading other people's stories and they have the same symptoms. I know this is going to be a great relief for me :) Nice to meet you.

Hi Quiggles, welcome to the forum!! Sorry you had to find it as the rest of us did when we were searching for answers on how to deal with this pain. I have been here for a few weeks and it has really helped me deal with this whole thing. I have been suffering for a few years too, with this last tear being the worst!!! I have read so many threads about diet, food, and surgery. I know my AF is chronic and I finally found a CRS 2 hours away. I have an appt 12/1/11 for consult. My AF is soooo much better than it was 3 weeks ago, but if the Dr says surgery I am doing it!!! I also have a skin tag that drives me insane. At times it hurts more than the fissure itself. I know the fear of feeling like something else is wrong, but we know what it is. Keep your BM's soft, lots of high fiber foods, lots of water and whatever works for you, Miralax, MOM, colace. Good luck and read, read, read. Lots of great info on here!!! Dawn, Tonystone, Val, Lurker, PITA, Dwarfs all have great info and have helped me alot

thanks Sue I appreciate it and I have been reading LOL and lots can't seem to get off this forum now. What exactly is a CRS? It just seems the cream I was using doesnt do it and this burning sensation drives me nuts :(
Thanks again :)

Hi Quiggles. A CRS is a Colo-Rectal Surgeon. I am also off to see one, on the 22nd of this month, for a consultation.
You mentioned the burning. Are you soaking in a Sitz Bath after each BM? I have just started to have some relief with doing this, 10-20 minutes at a time, twice a day (for me, as that is the number of times I go...sorry if TMI (too much info) ).
Burning, together with spasms are no fun. I use Vaseline after soaking, and I use nothing in the warm water.

No its not too much info and I try to take the baths often but it seems a few days ago had a touch of the flu and was on the toilet alot and since then the burning drives me. Hard with certain clothing too....it's irritating :(

Quiggles..

I can fully sympathize with you, as can most on here, the burning does drive you crazy, you really need to see a CRS or your GP for some creams or ointment such as Nitro or Diltiazem, these will help with the spasms and may alleviate the burning sensation also, I find that when I'm having bad burning issues a warm bath 4 times a day take the severity of it down to a more manageable level, basically though it's a case of riding out the pain, something that few of us have become accustomed to.
I would consider LIS as a permanent solution to your problem, please don't suffer any longer than is necessary
Good Luck

Thanks a lot for the post :) I have been having frequent baths the past few days and using some witch hazel on the area and medicated wipes and this seems to have made the burning subside. I was using the Nifedipine but it isn't soothing the burning. I also sit all day for work as I am a dictation typist and this aggravates me so started using a donut LOL!! The doctor is referring me to a specialist and I think I want the surgery. When I went to see him Monday he put me on antibiotics not sure why and this hasn't helped.
thanks everyone I love this forum and the support the last few days have been depressing and the more I worry about it the more it irritates me.