by FissureFighter0122 » 18 Nov 2010, 23:35
Hi everyone,
I am relieved to find such a great website, because I have never felt so alone in my whole life, than I have in dealing with this pain in the a$$.
My AF began 10 months ago when my beautiful baby boy was born. I am told it was the result of the difficult labor, and episiotomy I received. I thought the pain was related to the fact that I had delivered a 9lb baby, so I tried to give it some time, but weeks later, I noticed a burning sensation after bms. Being an exhausted, and very busy new mom, I would forget about the pain as quickly as it came, and forgot to get it checked.. That was until one day, I couldn't ignore it anymore. I was going about my business, and it was like passing a ball of razor blades.. I was in the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced (yes, more painful than childbirth) and then I noticed the blood. My husband wanted to take me to the ER, but I just laid in bed and cried for hours. He didn't know what to do, so he called my mom, who came and stayed for a few days through the worst of it. I went to see my Dr, who diagnosed me with hemorrhoids and prescribed a Hydrocortisone cream (big mistake) and stool softeners. After a few days on the softeners, I was noticing things were getting better, and thought I would forever be rid of this horrid problem.
I was wrong... Off and on for the past 10 months I have been re-tearing, and suffering, and healing, and re-tearing, and suffering. I finally caved and have been seen by a surgeon. She prescribed 2% diltiazem ointment, which, was working quite well for a few weeks. Things are quite bad again right now, but I do have a theory..
Ever since this awful problem began, I have been consuming 30-40 grams of fiber per day, drinking a ridiculous amount of water, eating lots of fruits and veggies, avoiding cheese like the plague, and other measures to avoid making matters worse. All the while I have been breast feeding my son, and I now have a suspicion that my AF is recurring due to hormonal imbalances. I have begun taking a birth control pill and had some spotting and bam.. AF was back! Got my period, and bam, it was back. I recently switched pills because my last one was causing too much spotting, and yikes, it has been hell, but I have noticed this pattern all along, but have been dismissed by Dr's.
I read on another self help page that some nursing mothers had to fully wean their babies before they could completely heal, so that will be my next step. Anything to avoid surgery at this point. I am booked to meet with the surgeon again in a few weeks, but was wondering if anyone else had any tips or tricks to help them heal other than the obvious things to try?
My heart goes out to you all.. I had no idea such a terrible problem existed until I experienced it first hand, and feel that even though my husband and family try to be supportive, they will never fully understand how painful and all consuming this problem is. I'm sorry that all you guys do, but I am happy to have a place to vent, and chat, and get some new info and tips!