Anal Fissure

[j1sc2000]

I've been dealing with what I'm sure is an anal fissure for the last few weeks.  (I was taking a codeine-based cough syrup for bronchitis that caused constipation - hello fissure!)  The first few days brought discomfort with a BM, then itching and burning for a little while afterwards.  That led to the inevitable constipation.  I've been taking a basic stool softener without laxative twice a day, drinking plenty of water, and I've seriously increased the fiber in my diet.  Now, due to all of this, my BM's are pretty soft and I only have an occassional itch and discomfort from the fissure.  I saw a couple spots of blood when the problem first began, but nothing since.  I feel as if I'm healing slowly, but I'm trying to be extremely careful with my diet.  My question is whether it's ok to keep taking the stool softener.  Is it safe to use this until I'm completely healed? At what point should I take the chance of stopping it and seeing if diet alone will keep the stool soft?  Is there anything else that I should be doing?  If the problem seems to be healing, at what point should I stop the home treatment and see my doctor?  Thank you for your help.

[CalGal]

You description sound a bit more like hemorrhoid discomfort than a fissure. Most people with fissures describe it like 'shards of glass' in the rectum. Itching and burning are descriptions that usually are mentioned with hemorrhoids.

You can take stool softeners for extended periods of time with no problems, so it's safe to use them until you're healed. If the problem heals, there's no need to see your doc.