About 3 weeks ago, I got really constipated, which does not happen often for me. I must have pushed too hard, because after that, I had HUGE hemorrhoids (I've had them on and off since I gave birth to my 3rd in 2012). I was able to rest and get them down to normal, or so I thought. But a few days after that, I noticed it hurt when I pooped, like a stinging feeling. I got some prep H wipes, tucks, and ointment, thinking this would do the trick. Well, things didn't get much better, but I was tolerating at least. I ordered a sitz bath because I heard those also help, so I started using those about 2 1/2 weeks ago, twice a day, with warm water. When things didn't improve much, I began to search more about hemorrhoids, and came across anal fissures, which I'd never heard of before. I suspected that I might have them, and read that it could take up to 8 weeks to heal on their own, and let's just say, that wasn't comforting. I started using a stool softener at night and a fiber pill (2mg) in the evening before bed, but this did not regulate me at all. I got bad diarrhea, which I think actually made it worse. Stupidly, we decided to go on our 10-hour road trip to see family for Thanksgiving last week. I survived the drive there, somehow! But the entire week, I was in pain for hours after each bowel movement. I was still doing a stool softener in the morning and fiber at night. I could not regulate my bowels no matter how I tried! Thanksgiving meal probably didn't help much, but I ate very conservatively.
I came across this site the day after Thanksgiving, when my pain was at it's worst after a BM, and I was laying in the basement of my mom's house while everyone else was enjoying being together. The more I read the threads on this site, the more hopeless I felt. We survived the drive home this past Saturday, and on Monday (11/27) I went to urgent care to hopefully get a diagnosis. I told her I might have an anal fissure and that I am in pain after a BM. She prescribed hydrocortisone cream (2.5%) to shrink the hemorrhoids and told me to use bacitracin, because I could be infected. She referred me to a GI specialist, but I can't get in until Jan 3. I will NOT survive that long! I have three kids with a crazy schedule and a husband who works full time and no family close by to help. I started using coconut oil yesterday, even in my sitz bath, and it is very soothing, and yesterday I had a great day because I didn't have a BM! I switched to miralax/mineral oil mixed in applesauce and took it around 2:45. I tried to add more fiber, but not too much, because the BMs always hurt badly! Then the BM came this morning, and my butt will not stop stinging. I put coconut oil on it, Vaseline, and did my sitz bath in the morning. So here are my main questions at this point:
1. What is the best way to regulate your BMs to where you only have one each day? I'd prefer night so I don't have to be in pain all day--rather heal while I sleep. Can I eat whatever I want (in moderation) while on miralax/mineral oil? I also added 1 tsp of coconut oil to my oatmeal this morning. I will NOT even begin to fix my fissure until my bowels are regular, and it's taken me 2 weeks and I still can't get there!
2. What is the best thing to put on your fissure right after a BM, when the pain is at it's worst? This is my biggest problem and fear right now. I just can't live like this anymore!
3. Is there something to take for the pain that really helps? Something that could be prescribed but won't constipate? Nothing I put on my butt makes the pain go away. I've tried lidocaine, and it helps some.
Basically, I want to have a tried and true regimen that I can follow every day so I know I'm on the road to recovery. Right now, I feel like I have one or two good days and lots of bad days a week, and I just can't do this anymore. I have plans for my life (I'm one semester away from graduating with my 2nd bachelor's) and my kids need me! My family needs me, and I want to have hope again! Please, please help. What has really worked? I've read so many different methods on this site. Should I push to be seen by the GI? Call them up again and cry?