Hi everyone,
First, I'm so glad that I found this site! I am feeling hopeless at times although I know that a fissure isn't serious and I'm grateful for that. I cannot believe the pain and how debilitating this fissure is. Here is my story in a nutshell:
I have been constipated my whole life and have had hemorrhoids since I was a baby. About 10 years ago I had a terrible bout from pushing.....the result was very aggravated hemorrhoids. I went to a proctologist and she said that I also had a fissure, along with hemorrhoids inside and out. Since this was a while ago, I don't remember everything but I do remember the pain. I changed my diet, lost some weight as a result and since then have been fine. I generally eat balanced and get lots of exercise. (I'm a runner, and do lots of walking)
A few weeks ago I was pretty stressed, got sick and that threw my stomach off a bit and shorty after this I started having pain which I thought was my hemorrhoids. Since I have had these a while, I focused on eating lots of veggies, fiber, water and got preparation suppositories which I think aggravated the fissure. Finally I realized that this pain not just be hemorrhoids. I went to a doctor and had a very painful exam. He said I had a fissure and gave me nitroglycerin, told me to take baths, hot water bottle and tylenol. This was 3 weeks ago and it has been a lot of up and down. I have had to take some days from work because the pain was unbearable at times. I find this so debilitating and depressing. I feel like my life is revolving around when I have BM. I have a whole routine: go to the bathroom, soak and then use the nitroglycerin. (which does give me relief but I can only use it twice a day) I have also been using aloe, drinking aloe vera juice, rubbing coconut oil, and I got these suppositories that are supposed to heal a fissure but I'm not sure they are doing anything. I am waiting to get a cream from DR Wheatgrass)
I am supposed to have a colonoscopy on Saturday and I am terrified that the cleaning out will really aggravate the fissure. I have never had one before. Part of me wants to do this because it seems to be the first step before anything else is done. Since I had a similar bout 10 years ago, does that make the fissure chronic? How are you guys dealing with this? I also have an 18 month old and it is so hard to care for her at times when I am in this pain. I feel like no one really understands this pain. I would love any suggestions/advice/anything!! Thanks for reading this :)