I'm so happy to find forum.
I've been struggling with AF for about 7 years but they were dormant for about 6 of this years. At the end of last year I started experiencing a lot of GI issues (chronic pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea). On top of all of those issues there have been the fissures. i've also recently lost a large amount of weight.
I've seen 2 GI's and a CRS. The GI is testing me for a IBD and the CRS has said that she doesn't think I need surgery right now. i've used the nitro ointment twice the first time it worked awesome. the second time ...not so much. The CRS gave me niphedrine ointment which had to be filled at a compounding shop. I've only had it since Tuesday but I can't tell of it's working.
Here's my thing. I eat very healthy. I also take fiber, stool softeners, miralax, probiotics, enzymes. I was also very active but since the fissures have flared up I haven't been able to run or really walk because the pain is so bad.
I've tried sitz baths, hot pads, Tylenol, lidocaine cream. I can't seem to shake them. Everytime I go to the bathroom it feels like it tears the fissure right open again. sometimes there is blood, sometimes not. But i am in excruciating pain for hours after hardly able to do anything.
I am beyond frustrated with this and am missing my former active life where I wasn't constantly worried about this. It feels like whenever i workout it makes the fissure worse and i'm in a ton of pain. I am going through a particularly bad flare-up right now. I travel a lot for my job and am worried how to deal with this.
Any other tips, tricks, thoughts would be super helpful and appreciated.