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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Anal Fissure?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin Pho, MD
Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/ Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Anal Fissure?
by grump123, Jan 22, 2006 12:00AM
Hello, I have had problems with what I was told from my doctor years ago was an anal fissure. I am now 31 years old. I first noticed blood on toilet paper and streaks on outside of stools about 9 or 10 years ago so I would have been around 21. He said it was nothing to worry about and to just add more fiber to my diet. It would go away for awhile and return. Sometimes it would barely be noticeable other times there would be a lot of blood on toilet paper. If I pass a soft stool it usually does not bleed but if the sool is large and or hard I can feel it tear and then see the blood on paper. My question is should I have anything done since I have had it so long or should I not worry about it and try to again add more fiber in my diet, which Im sure I dont have enough? By the way lately I have changed my diet and gone from frequent soft stools to harder and larger so it has been bleeding quite regularly. thank you for your help
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jan 23, 2006 12:00AM
, Jan 23, 2006 12:00AM
There can be various medical therapies for anal fissures.
This can include topical nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers (like nifedipine or diltiazem), or an injection of botulinum toxin to the anal sphincter.
If these options cannot help with the symptoms, you can consider a surgical referral to explore surgical options.
With the symptoms you are experiencing, I certainly would discuss these treatment options with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
This can include topical nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers (like nifedipine or diltiazem), or an injection of botulinum toxin to the anal sphincter.
If these options cannot help with the symptoms, you can consider a surgical referral to explore surgical options.
With the symptoms you are experiencing, I certainly would discuss these treatment options with your personal physician.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
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Last year I had two of these bad boys, one of which was the "Worst ever seen" by my colo/rectal doctor, and she has been doing this for 18 years.
I can tell everyone that I was in extreme pain before surgery, she supplied with with lidocaine to help with the pain. Surgery day came and boy, what a Breeze! I was somewhat uptight and worried, and scared - but I can say that it never hurt after surgery! Of course I kept myself doped up for a few days, but still, even when I had my first BM, no pain.
If I would have known it would have been that easy, I would have had it done long before.
I encourage anyone reading this to go see your doctor and dont put off getting this corrected, you will be glad that you made the decision!
I had no problems some months and other times it would bleed a lot. Since it was mostly not a problem I didn't bother to do anything about it. I just tried to eat a good balanced diet with high fiber. I was pretty regular, but now the anus has devloped scar tissue and I can't get the anus to fully open like normal. It's getting increasingly more painful and I'm having other pains all over down there. I am having to get an operation next week and dreading it.
What ever you do...take the fissure seriously and get it healed now before it gets worse or other fissures develop. Facing a surgery is frighting to say the least especially when 10% of them leave the patients with leakage issues. enough said! Go get help!