Hello friendly fellow butt sufferers...I just joined after lurking for a few days. I have Crohn's disease, fully remitted at present (no symptoms) but found a skin tag last spring. This next part may gross you out (yeah right), but I had a "very good friend" at the time tie it off for me. We didn't get the whole thing, but most of it. It had no feeling then, just extra skin that I didn't like. Now it's a real fissure "with residual tag," I think it's a new tag, and maybe 2. I see a lot of you have spasms and pain, mine is more just a crazy itch. First visit (ever) to CRS has confirmed that I need an internal sphincterotomy, scheduled for May 8, but I don't see how I'm supposed to wait that long. I'm doing my best to not scratch because it makes it so much worse, but also gives me a great couple seconds of relief. I've been scratching it while I'm sleeping which I can't really help. I got a Kabooti pillow (like a hi-tech donut) a few days ago and am using it in the car and at home. I like it.
I've always had great success by using Nupercainal for any pain caused by irritation from too much Crohn's diarrhea, but it's not helping this--this is a different animal. CRS prescribed Proctozone (Anusol) which is also not helping, just makes a bigger mess when I scratch!! I've been waking up in the middle of the nights to take warm baths but I wonder if the heat makes it worse. Last night I slept with an icepack and it felt wonderful, but it's a bit awkward. Still, if it's the only thing that helps, I will keep it up. Yesterday was the first day I really felt like it was affecting my life--I was grumpy while out with a good friend, and she doesn't deserve that. Today I cancelled plans with another friend. I'm supposed to go on some long road trips (two in April) that I'm hoping not to need to cancel.
I've been reading all your things about fiber, Miralax, prunes, vaseline before poops. I've been eating a LOT of prunes (thought I'd try that in lieu of Miralax) which has definitely softened things and I'm not bleeding when I poop anymore, but the itching is worse. I'd rather hurt and bleed than itch. I haven't tried the other tricks--but ANYTHING that will help itching would be most welcome. I think the skin around my butthole is going to break down if I keep this up.
One more thing--surgeon (of course, this is how they think) said that he'd only be making 2 tiny cuts that should heal in a few days. Only part of me believes that, especially after
reading everything here. But he says that he doesn't go all the way in and do 1/2 inch or more. Kind of just like papercuts. I have become an unreliable friend lately and I don't like that.
Thanks for listening, I know this was long. Glad to know you guys are out there--although sad that we all have to go through this.