Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for opening this forum. I feel like I've finally found my people! Just to have people who understand and relate to this AWFUL problem has already made me feel a bit better.
So, I've had fissures before when I was younger but nothing lasting more than 2 or 3 days.
BUT... After the birth of my first baby 6 months ago I've been breastfeeding and I believe this is the cause of the constipation that gave me the chronic fissure I now have. I'm 5 months with this tear now.
I'm no stranger to pain - have suffered with gallstones... had a natural birth and choose to take no form of pain relief the whole way through my labour... BUT... lord, this fissure is agony. I don't know where to begin... and I know you all understand. The other day I caught myself thinking "Well one day I will die - at least then it will be over". Isn't that awful? I have a lovely family and beautiful new baby... it's unbelievable a tiny tear can cause such incredible pain.
There have been times I've had to leave my baby crying on his own whilst I've jumped in a hot bath to try and ease the unbearable pain after a bowel movement. My partner and I are suffering as I am a heap of misery and he is struggling to hold our normal life together. I can't sleep for the pain. I live in fear of the next bowel movement.
I've tried over-the-counter creams, became dependant on laxatives and had to shake that, tried diet, exercise, sitz baths three times a day. etc. etc.
The doctor presecribed Proctosedyl. It did NOTHING. Prune juice has been a bit of a breakthrough. It keeps my bowel movements soft and regular - I have three glasses a day and hot water with lemon in the morning, lots of apple juice and water etc. etc.
However, I'm still not healed. BMs are just excruciating. If I'm lucky the pain clears up before bed time and I get some sleep before the whole thing starts again the next BM. On a bad day, it feels like I'm back to sqaure one. Sweating and whimpering with pain night and day... you know how it is.
ANYWAY... yesterday the doc gave me some Rectogesic. Headaches have been quite light, luckily. Had a BM this morning and it was VERY painful for a little while after but the pain subsided quite fast. Oh, I hope this works for me. Has anybody had any luck with it??
So thank you - and I'm so grateful for you! Sorry if I've gone on and on in this post but it's such a relief to find this forum and be able to speak openly to people who will understand!
Wishing you all the VERY best. Always here to lend an ear. xx