Hi! I was just given the news I had Anal Fissures yesterday. I've been in a lot of pain since October. I kept hoping it would get better and since it didn't I finally decided to go to a Doctor. My Doctor barely examined me and didn't even care that I've been complaining of Hemorrhoids as well. He only gave me ointment for my Fissure and told me to come back in 4 weeks. I'm a 29 year old female. I'm extremely healthy. I have a high fiber diet. I work out regularly. I'm nervous that this is a bigger problem than what my non-interested Doctor had to say. I've made an appointment to go to another specialist next week. I can't take the pain, blood, leaks, and smell any more. Someone please tell me this gets better????????????????????????
PS- Very glad to have found this forum!

Hi Ouch,
Glad you are getting a second opinion with a specialist. Is it a CRS (colon rectal surgeon)?
Your doctor sounds like an ass.
What kind of ointment did he give you?
Anyone here will tell you the first step to healing is to make your BMs soft like toothpaste or soft-serve ice-cream. So probably softer than what you normally have. You could try adding some prunes or prunejuice to your diet, and magnesium. Some people do milk of magnesia (MOM), and some do a softener called miralax (has other names outside of the states).
You may not have hemorrhoids. It may just be the fissure. I thought mine was a hemorrhoid until I saw a CRS and found out it was a fissure with a sentilel (or anal tag).
I'm not sure how I got mine. I'm pretty healthy and i exercise regularly too. I have had a lot of stress in my life the last few years though. Wish I knew.
So basically get your BMs softer, skip alcohol and cut back on caffeine. Don't use soap in that area. Be very gentle wiping. A lot of people use wet wipes here or moistened tp. Some also jump in a sitz bath after too. I use moistened tp.
Try to do more gentle exercises til it heals, like walking. Walking is actually great for bringing blood to that area which will help it heal.
Sitting on an electric heating pad is very soothing for pain and spasms. Sitz baths are good for spasms too.
Hope you feel better soon!
-Tanya

Thanks for writing! My first Doctor was a CRS. He just didn't seem that interested! I like the ass pun :) He did give me NIFEDIPINE. I've only been using it for a day, but I hope it will help. I'll see a different CRS next Friday. I won't be pushed out of that office! I'm bringing a list of ailments and questions. I want to get to the bottom if this.
I think I have hemorrhoids too because it hurts everywhere. The last Doctor told me I probably do have them, but "so does everyone and if I do they are internal." He didn't even look.
I've been taking sitz baths, using wet wipes, Preparation H, Witch Hazel, Vitamin E.....you name it, I've tried it.
This started in October. Unfortunately, I can't tell my doctor that because I have a "pre-existing" clause on my insurance (New insurance that started in January).
I really appreciate your advice. I've felt so alone. I didn't even tell my husband until last week because I was so embarrassed.
How long have you had yours? Any end in sight?

Internal hemorrhoids wouldn't hurt. And it's true a lot of people have them, but most don't know it either.
I would just stick with the nifedipine IMO. Prep H isn't going to help and witch hazel will irritate. Vitamin E might help.
I thought Obama outlawing that pre-existing stuff. I don't think they can hold that over your head anymore.
But I don't think you need to tell them how long anyways. It doesn't make a big difference to their diagnosis at this point.
You know you can say anything on this forum, and really, I think you'll need to get over the embarrassment thing too. Once docs start looking up your bum, well, what's left to be embarrassed about ? lol! :)
It would be good to find a CRS who treats you with respect. Let us know how that goes next week.
The pain is likely from spasms. They are quite common with AFs. I fortunately don't get them, but lots of folks here do. Just use the search box on this page and read some of the other posts about it.

I've had mine off an on since last June. Not really sure though. For ages I thought it was an external hemorrhoid until I saw my current CRS. I'm not crazy about him, so I am going to get a second opinion too. I have to go through my GP for another referral, here in Canada. SO I see her next week. But actually I have had some improvement the last 10 days or so. I think it is the lanolin I am putting on my fissure before I put the nifedipine on. I use lansinoh. Works for me anyways.
I've been on nifedipine for about 10 weeks now.
You mentioned a smell?
If you don't mind my asking, is your af at the front or the back of your anus?
Hope yours heals quickly!
-Tanya

I think I have AF both front and back; however, the only one my first CRS diagnosed was the back. He didn't even look towards the front. Again.....something I'll address!!
Yes....the embarrassment is now officially over. I feel like telling everyone about my butt after having 2 different doctors checking out my goods :)
I had know idea about the spasms. Yikes! I can't wait to meet with my new doctor.
I hope you get a referral soon! Keep me posted on what you hear!
Good to know about the witch hazel. I'll stop that! I'll look into the Lanolin too.
Really....you've made my day!
I hope your AF's keep getting better.
~Rebecca

Oh Rebecca,
I was just reading that a small fraction of the population is allergic to lanolin. So if you have trouble wearing wool...
You might test it on the inside of your arm first, just to be sure.
SO glad I could help. It's always nice to 'pass it on'.
-Tanya

Hi Rebecca...
Sounds like Tanya has it covered on the advice! Just wanted to say hi and welcome and we all understand your pain here... There is pretty much nothing that embarrasses any of us any more. With this much pain, it just sort of strips you down in more ways than one.
Some people experience the feeling of spasms, and some people don't. But what is common in most of the longer term fissures is that the internal anal sphincter is tightening in response to the presence of the fissure. This tightening effect or spasming effect causes many problems. First, it literally physically pulls on the edges of the fissure wound and can make it bigger. Second, it decreases blood flow to the area, impeding healing. Third, it can lead to constipation due to the muscular tightness, and constipation is deadly for healing fissures. The nifedipine your doctor prescribed is a medicine that will both help to reduce the tension in the internal anal sphincter and also promote increased circulation to the area. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It is important to be patient, and you may find that even if you've been regular in the past with your BMs that you might need to do some experimenting with different things to get you stool soft enough. Fiber, water, stool softeners, Miralax, prune juice, magnesium, etc. all work differently in different combinations for different people. Between what goes on in the kitchen and what goes on in the bathroom we all become mad scientists to some degree or another.
So hoping you are on the speedy road to recovery.
j