Anal Fissure Support Forum

[Neverending.pain]

I’ve got a chronic fissure that’s been around 8 months officially (potentially a couple of years unofficially?!)

I’m finally seeing a consultant, who off-handedly threw me a prescription for GTN Rectogesic ointment but said it won’t work, we’ll have to do surgery. But he hasn’t booked me in still after waiting patiently for over a month for him to look at his diary. Anyway I’d love to avoid surgery if possible.

Right now, after copious research, my routines include:
1. The GTN ointment x2 a day
2. Copious coconut oil, esp pre BM.
3. Careful diet, stool softeners x3 per day.
4. Massage and bum exercises.
5. Lots of hot baths.
6. Try to get position right during BM.

It feels way better than it did after a month. No bleeding, lessening pain after BM (although stinging on the odd day). But my sentinel pile, which has been the main source of my grief, KEEPS swelling. It’s so upsetting. I don’t want to sleep with anyone because it’s embarrassing and painful. Sometimes it’s bad to walk. It’s so erratic, I think it’s getting better then it suddenly gets worse again.

Back when I thought it was a haemorrhoid I shrunk it with witch hazel. I’ve since read you shouldn’t put WH near it because it’s too harsh, so I have stopped that. But is this wrong? Or is there ANYTHING that can help? I even stopped eating for a few days to see if it improved, it did a bit but not sustainable of course. I’ve lost quite a lot of weight recently too with this diet, and I didn’t have too much spare to start with.

Anyone have thoughts or positive remedies?? I’m so desperate!

[AF3]

Hi Neverending.pain,

I know exactly how you feel about the sentinel pile. Mine kicked off after I had been given botox and the CRS was very dismissive of it in that she 'laughed it off'. Mine would fill up after ever BM and the more difficult the BM, the worse the swelling. I would lie on the couch for a few hours afterwards until it settled and even then it felt terrible.

I found walking very uncomfortable and also had to stop any form of exerise. During that time I gained weight - the whole thing was horrid.

I also saw three CRS about them and each one had a different view, one more complex than the other. One said they were haemorrhoids and that the would not go away therefore. Another said they could go away but with some crazy sounding surgery for the fissure.

The swelling / filling up went on for about 9 months, and over time they gradually swelled up less and less. I started applying a few drops of calendula oil alternating with CBD oil and that is what worked in getting them down. I didn't feel happy with what the CRSs said and they all paid very little heed when I kept saying that it started with the Botox. The piles are there to indicate that "something is going on there" as my current CRS puts it and I know of one other person who said they also had these skin tags that would fill up and subside and fill up again after a BM. I think mine were as a result of inflammation (and I'm sure that's common) and the anti-inflammatory oils really helped. I'm happy I ignored the CRSs in that instance. Also, removal of the tags can themselves cause fissures so it's a very circular thing.

The very best of luck with your healing journey!

[vasilisa]

I’ve got a chronic fissure that’s been around 8 months officially (potentially a couple of years unofficially?!)

I’m finally seeing a consultant, who off-handedly threw me a prescription for GTN Rectogesic ointment but said it won’t work, we’ll have to do surgery. But he hasn’t booked me in still after waiting patiently for over a month for him to look at his diary. Anyway I’d love to avoid surgery if possible.

Right now, after copious research, my routines include:
1. The GTN ointment x2 a day
2. Copious coconut oil, esp pre BM.
3. Careful diet, stool softeners x3 per day.
4. Massage and bum exercises.
5. Lots of hot baths.
6. Try to get position right during BM.

It feels way better than it did after a month. No bleeding, lessening pain after BM (although stinging on the odd day). But my sentinel pile, which has been the main source of my grief, KEEPS swelling. It’s so upsetting. I don’t want to sleep with anyone because it’s embarrassing and painful. Sometimes it’s bad to walk. It’s so erratic, I think it’s getting better then it suddenly gets worse again.

Back when I thought it was a haemorrhoid I shrunk it with witch hazel. I’ve since read you shouldn’t put WH near it because it’s too harsh, so I have stopped that. But is this wrong? Or is there ANYTHING that can help? I even stopped eating for a few days to see if it improved, it did a bit but not sustainable of course. I’ve lost quite a lot of weight recently too with this diet, and I didn’t have too much spare to start with.

Anyone have thoughts or positive remedies?? I’m so desperate!

hello, did your sentinel pile settled down? my one is super huge and each time it prolapses on my BM and stays sore for hours !
Mentally I am deteriorating with weeks - on 18th September I will see 3rd psychologist but I have no more hope...

[Neverending.pain]

Hi!

So yes my sentinel pile did finally settle down. Once I started properly treating the fissure/s rather than the pile itself, things started to slowly improve.

I found coconut oil wasn’t quite strong enough in the end, and also stopped using the GTN ointment as much (When I did, it was pre-BM to prevent more damage). I found zinc oxide creams so so good, and didn’t look back after them.

I was worried the pile wouldn’t go and honestly it did take a while. It began to recede further towards my bum, which felt even worse and more uncomfortable and damaging to the whole situation. But eventually it receded in even more and that got better.

Now I’ve just got a loose bit of skin really. I’m not 100% healed, I know my pressure is still really high, and some things like vaginal sex can put me back a few weeks. But thank GOD the pile has got better. Despite having read that it might not, that it might have to get removed…

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any more questions!