by thisfissurecankissmybutt » 28 Mar 2012, 09:27
I am sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I haven't personally had Botox, but your experience of post-Botox pain is similar to those of many members of this forum, unfortunately. Be sure to search around this site (use the search box at the top and type in BOTOX). There is some great information on here and you will receive some great support and advice. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone can be a great help.
According to my CRS, the general rule with Diltiazem is that you should start seeing significant improvement within 2 weeks. If you don't see significant improvement within 2 weeks, it probably isn't going to work for you. If you do see improvement, you should continue to take it for at least 6 weeks (or whatever period of time your doctor prescribed it). In your case, I would continue to take it regardless. It is possible that the Diltiazem is working, even though it may not feel like it, if the pain you are experiencing is related to the Botox and not the fissure. However, if you aren't seeing any improvement after 2 weeks, or if your pain gets worse, I would go back and see your doctor.
In my opinion, it is a reasonable expectation to experience some pain when applying Diltiazem if you apply it directly to the fissure, as this can temporarily irritate the fissure. Imagine if you had a cut on your arm and applied medicine directly to it - it would likely hurt for a few minutes afterwards. However, the pain should subside shortly (15 minutes or so). There is a debate among doctors on whether or not it is necessary to apply the Diltiazem directly to the fissure or just around the anal opening. I use Nifedipine and I make sure that I apply it directly to the fissure AND the base of the anus. Sometimes I do experience some minor discomfort after applying it, so I just try to be as gentle as possible. I use my pinky when I apply it, and that works well for me. Some people use a Q-tip.
What else are you doing, other than taking the Diltiazem to help your fissure heal? If you tell us what you are doing, perhaps we can offer some additional tips to help you.