by Scientist2516 » 14 May 2015, 07:48
Hallo Mainst74,
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry you needed to find your way here and so glad you did. Thanks for introducing yourself. This forum has been a lifesaver for me, and so even though I'm healed now, I stick around to try to help and encourage others.
Isn't it lovely to think that the specialists might have caused your pain! Still, you had something wrong before, so maybe it would have happened anyway. It does sound as though you are on the right track with diet, laxative, pain control and GTN.
A word of caution - narcotic pain relievers like Tramadol are constipating and addictive. The laxatives are hopefully taking care of the constipation, but you should probably look to be on Tramadol for as short a time as possible. Ibuprofen is safe, but less effective. Still, for me it took the edge off and let me function.
If you get tired of hot baths, try a hot water bottle. Not too hot, and not too full, because you are going to sit on it, and you don't want it to burst. I sat on a hot water bottle for hours every day for weeks and it was enormously helpful. If you can't sit, you can lie with it tucked between your legs or under your buttocks.
Also, if you find that GTN isn't helping, there are two other drugs to try: diltiazem and nifedipine. Dilt. can make some people itch, but nifedipine seems to have few/no side effects. That said, GTN was most effective for me and maybe it will be for you.
Mainst, this may take a very long time. Be mentally prepared for a long recovery period. After three months you will hopefully see enough improvement that your doc can recommend NOT having surgery. I'll just say that in my case the worst was over after three months, but I did have significant pain for several months after. It got less and less painful and less and less frequent, and it was at a level I could live with. Improvement was gradual and frustrating, but now I'm better. The whole journey took about 18 months, but the last 12 of those I was fine most of the time.
I'm not telling you this to scare you, but to let you know that no matter how bad it is now there IS light at the end of the tunnel. It's important not to get depressed. In the bad times you can't imagine how you will get through it, but you WILL. You have people to support you, and that is fantastic. It is really a great idea to tell people, because a fissure can be very isolating. Nobody understands until they've had one, but at least if people know you are in pain, they can be supportive.
Good luck Mainst, and come here as much as you like to ask questions, vent, keep a diary of your progress. We are here to help each other.
Nifedipine/lidocaine, no help
Diltiazem, effective, but caused major rash
Nitroglycerine, effective.
Topical estrogen for final healing.
Gentle heat to bottom - pain relief, muscle relaxant
Kondremul mineral oil
Time - lots of time.
Status - Healed!