I have been diagnosed with ALS. I can still move around but I have a lot of pain and limitations.
Due to the meds I'm taking, I've always had to take magnesium and psyllium to combat constipation. Until about six months ago this has been working.
I developed three internal hemorrhoids and thought they were the source of my constant rectal pain. Upon examination, my gastro said I had a small fissure and he did a sigmoidoscopy to laser the hemorrhoids and get a better look at the fissure.
The after care involved things that I was already doing and he added a stool softener hoping the fissure would heal. It did not.
I went back today and he added Linzess 72 mcg once a day and nifedipine 0.2%/lidocaine 1.5% rectal ointment to see if that would heal the fissure.
I'm going back in six weeks. If I'm still in so much pain and it has not completely healed, he will refer me to a surgeon for LIS surgery.
When we talked about the rectal ointment, he told me I should put it on my finger and make sure it gets on the fissure but when I read anything about it, it says "topical" and implies it should be put on the outside skin around the anal area. Can someone enlighten me?
I'd also appreciate any feedback from people who have had the LIS procedure.
ALS is a terminal illness. I'm progressing very slowly but don't want to be incapacitated and then have the excruciating pain of a fissure on top of everything else.
Thank you for any info.