Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Question for Stephie...

Hiya!

Youch, I definitely feel for you! What an awful, awful thing to have! My sister got one right after she delivered her daughter and she was like, "They couldn't put it in a worse place, could they?!" It's sort of funny, but oh so embarassing!!

Okay, well, when I went to see a doctor the first thing I got was a sort of hemmorhoid cream. It didn't do much, but it's worth a try. Then I got a cream that basically helped to numb the area because I was just in sooo much pain.
Okay, then this is sort of weird.. My doctor in the UK prescribed me this cream, but I never used it. It is used to treat angina(sp) but the one I got prescribed was far, far, FAR less strong. I guess the idea is that it relaxes the area and gives the fissure time to heal. Like I said, though, I never used it 'cause it freaked me out.

When I got back to Canada, I was in SO much pain with it that my doctor sent me to see a surgeon. The surgeon suggested that I either have the surgery they do for it (I can't remember the name) where the cut a small piece of the muscle inside so that it gives the fissure time to heal. The other option was Botox to freeze the muscle temporarily - I got Botox. Needle right in the bum. Not the most pleasant day of my life, but it seemed better as it would only last 3 months (hopefully long enough for the fissure to heal up) and then wear of, whereas the cutting is obviously permenant.
I found that the Botox worked alright, but I still obviously had the fissure. Over time, though, it got less and less painful and now it only really bothers me if I have a really bad attack.. and I think that might be more hemms than anything else.

Using baby wipes instead of toilet paper is much more soothing, and you can get those Tucks pads and things which are good. I was also advised to take lots of warm baths with epsom salts. Any hemmorhoidal cream might help as well with any discomfort and swelling.. I think usually the hemms and fissures go hand in hand.

Good luck!!
--Steph

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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.

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