First of all, I must thank the creator of this forum for doing just that. It has become (in my humble opinion) a source of practical information on coping with with Anal Fissure. I have learnt things here my doctors, pharmacists and other health care providers are simply ignorant of.
I also should thank all members who unselfishly share their experiences here. Reading what works and what doesn't does lead to huge savings in the cost of managing this painful illness (and I dare say, it could be life saving in some cases!)
I live in Nigeria, West Afica and have a stage 3 hemorrhoid plus chronic anal fissure. I have suffered from the painful fissure for approximately 2 years.
Out here, there are no medication readily available for anal fissure. My visits to several hospitals and drugstore shows that anal fissure is routinely misdiagnosed as hemorrhoid (pile) and, quite unfortunately, treatment options are limited to Anusol, Scheriproct, Preparation H, Daflon 500mg or some local herbs along with Sitz baths with table salt. When these fail to provide relief for the anal fissure (as they most certainly will) the doctor suggests a costly surgery.
Perhaps it begins to be clearer why I have found this forum so helpful and I can't say thanks enough to both its creator and its contributors. I have ordered two tubes of Anoheal and here is hoping it works for me as it has for some who have posted here.
Managing BM pains
I hope this helps someone. I have found that taking 150mg of Voltfast (a powdered Diclofenac Potassium NSAID from Novartis) about 15 minutes BEFORE having a BM reduces the post BM pain to a "very bearable" level.
My post BM pain used to last up to 8 hours before reducing to a throbbing and smoldering turture. That was when I took the Voltfast after the BM. But yesterday and today, I had only little pain after the BM, because I took the Voltfast BEFORE having the BM.
But please check first whether your overall health condition can tolerate Potassium Diclofenac. I must also warn that 150mg is a really high dosage of the drug and prolong use can give you gas, which will mount pressure on your internal sphincter leading to more pain. But I counter these side effects with 400mg of Cimetidine taken right after meals. That helps me keep the gas low.
I do hope to get off Voltfast (or any other NSAID) with the Anoheal, a prospect I only first learnt about on this highly informative forum.