Hello --
I have been suffering from Anal Fissures for approximately two years. I have read many posts on this website and while I am glad I am not alone, I am so sorry that you have suffered from this insidious condition -- I would not wish this on my worst enemy! I decided to make this post as encouragement for myself to make a final push to get treatment. Here is a log of my nightmare: http:/www.docs.google.com/document/d/1Yl0T9lCb-59bpsfvejYeZg-VBvB6UvagZW3J86UgcwA/edit?usp=sharing <-- Link
I have been begging for help with this problem since about January 1st 2013. Before this I had Botox in October of 2012 (which wore off by Jan) and before that I used nifedipine tid (three times a day). I seriously believe the medical system is completely broken. Getting an appointment to see a CRS has been a complete nightmare. Instead of actually treating my fissure, I am taking tramadol and diazepam in order to "hold me over" until my appointments. In early March I finally got an appointment with a CRS for the last week in March. I felt that even this was too long to wait, but my PCP and I decided that this was the best option because I had built up a rapport. On the day of my appointment, the office calls me and explains that the CRS had an emergency and would have to reschedule... I thought to myself this was quite unfortunate, but emergencies happen... Then they told me the earliest they could see me was the last week of April!!! Insert your own blaspheme. Anyway, I went back to my PCP and explained I really needed to see someone else at a different hospital. Another week goes by with no referral... Finally today (4/8/13) I made some progress and got a new appointment but it was for mid-May. I was very happy because I got my foot in the door to a new place!! I called the office and asked if there might be an earlier appointment? No. Can I leave a message for the doctor? No. Is there any way I can contact the doctor? Well you can try email. Great! So I emailed the doctor and explained I was a medical student... 10 minutes later the same secretary calls me back sounding very annoyed... I was told to move up your appointment. I will finally get to see somebody on Friday!!
Thank you for listening. Even for all the pain I am in, I have high spirits and am certain there will be an end to this madness. Some days are really bad and many days a week there are 4-5 hours where I am incapacitated with pain. (It is really strange going from feeling like you want to die to feeling like a million bucks later in the day.) I hope you won't hold it against me that I used my status as a medical student to cut the line. I am absolutely desperate for help and I am at my wits end. I had to use my connections to get an appointment in a reasonable time. Maybe I can even offer a unique perspective.
I will try to update my BM Log and hopefully someday I may be able to write a success story.
Thanks again,
J