Conditions
Anal Fissure
An anal fissure is a small tear of the skin just inside the opening of the anus, which are very common in people of all ages, but are most common in teenagers and young adults. Frequently no cause is found for an anal fissure, but they can occur on other parts of the body (the image above shows one on the tongue). However, it is commonly linked to constipation, where straining on hard stools (a feeling akin to trying to pass a house brick) can tear the skin of the anus. The resulting fissure can cause a sharp, knife-like pain, especially when opening the bowels. It may also bleed a little and stain the toilet paper with bright red blood. But before you declare the toilet a crime scene, it’s worth remembering that an anal fissure, whilst painful and sometimes upsetting, is very rarely serious and will usually heal on its own in a couple of weeks. But if it doesn’t, then get your GP to have a look – they’ll have seen it all before.
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I had my first anal fissure age 18 after a very severe bout of diarrohea. I have had them since then and I am now aged 46. Five years ago I had a lateral internal sphinterectomy and all was fine, no fissures, until November 2009. I then tried GTN to no avail, sheriproct and am now on diltiazem. I can empathise with anyone who suffers from fissures. Mine have impacted upon my daily life so I have not wanted to go out due to the pain and fear of needing to use the loo. Also, drinking 2 litres of water per day results in always needing to feel am near a toilet. People seem to think anything to do with our bottoms is funny but fissures are anything but. My advice is to go to your GP and persist with getting treatment. Look on the internet on reputable sites for information so you can use self-help strategies to like keeping the area clean and dry, what diet to follow etc. There are some self-help groups on the internet too so you are not alone with this proble.
I dont really know what to say other than I understand where eveyone is coming from. I had an one when I was 25 for a few months and thought it was piles. I just got on with it and it cleared up. I'm 29 now and got a second one just after xmas. Since then I have spent a great deal of my life led in the bath or face down on the floor. The pain this time round is off the scale and will break out in sweats and shallow breath when its really bad. Im a vegitarian, exercise everyday, drink almost a gallon of water and go to the toilet 3-4 times a day. The Dr has so far given me pile treatments but is now refering me to a surgion. I'm off work and everything now and am totally frustrated and depressed. Its likely that is it continues like this then it will have a harmful impact upon my career.
Hi, I've got a chronic anal fissure, that i've had for 2 and half years, since the birth of my baby. I've tried the GTN cream (awful headaches as a side effect), Anoheal (diltiazem cream), both of which didn't work, i've had 2 anal dilatations under anaesthetic, which obviously didn't work. My consultant is now talking about a lateral sphinterotomy, however, after watching last Friday's embarrassing bodies show, Dr Pixie showed members of the public that if they raise the level of their feet whilst having a poo, this helps the internal sphincter muscle from going into spasm (which causes a lot of the strain when pooing, causing the fissure to tear open again. I thought i'd give it a go. I'm now shouting from the rooftops!!! I HAVE HAD 5 PAIN FREE POOS!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!! All I do is sit on the loo and put my feet up on the bathroom pedal bin. I'm now hoping and praying this has solved the problem long term without the need for surgery. If by writing this i've helped just one person, then it's worth it. I'd like to say a very big Thank You to Dr Pixie!!!
i have been suffering with the same thing for three months and im in agony.i watched the show last week but havent tried raising my feet but im glad i read your comment i will try this now thanks.
I have had an anal fissure for the past 3 years, i have been to the doctorsand to a specialist about it but they keep saying it'll be fine! it has got better but is still there and cant still be very painfull. it has caused me to put on weight as i dont go to the toilet as much, it has affected my social life as i dont want to stay at a persons house because it itches more at night and its generally just really upsetting me. I have been told botox on the area can cure this but currently anything will do!
Hi there, I have had an anal fissure for about 8 months and have tried all sorts of prescribed creams nothing worked. I had the Botox injected into the anal sphincter about four weeks ago and initialy it got worse I THINK (fingers crossed !!) that it is beginning to work but to be honest with you so far there is no dramatic improvement, maybe I need to give it more time. Must try your tip though about putting your feet up while going to the loo, anything is worth a try !!
I feel totally lost and don't know what to do - I am almost 60 and have had a long history of problems starting with very painful periods from the age of 12 several D & C ops in my 20's difficult childbirth,ovarian cyst, Endometriosis, total hysterectomy and ovaries removed at 33 Further operations prolapse bladder, colon, vaginia - now severe diverticulitis which meant part of my colon was removed 3 years ago. Since then my life has been hell. I suffer from painful bowel movements every day - fissures that never heal! blood in my stools, blood clots, now painful urination and sex is history. It is too sore and painful. I live on a diet of lactulose, suppositries,, veg soup and fruit but it does not heal even with all the creams etc.What is wrong with my body? It is sore, painful and embarrassing and costing me a lot of money to get help only to be told it is polyps or another anal prolapse - Can you help or tell me who can help me?
I'm 17 and I think i have anal fissure but have been too embarrassed to say anything about it, especially when it really hurts. I've told my mum but when she asks me if it's ok i just say it's fine when it's really not. I've had it for about a year now and sometimes it hurts more than others, to the extent that i dread going to the loo. I am going to be brave though and go to my GP because i really want it to go away, you all should too because that's what the doctor's there for and they've seen it all before. I'm just happy that i'm not the only one going through this!!
I started to feel pain and bleeding when going to the toilet and I was scared to the point that I refused to see the doctor. I left it for a few years and finally plucked up the courage to go a few weeks ago. I described the pain as trying to give birth to a water melon from my bum with an after burn as if I had eaten 17 curries the night before. The doctor advised it was an anal fissure caused by straining to go to the toilet, it is a small tear that apparantly takes 6 - 8 weeks to heal. I was advised to try a high fibre diet with plenty of water and was prescribed lactalose to soften stools making it easier to go to the toilet without screaming in pain. I also use Sudocrem (baby's bum cream!) which is antiseptic and seems to be helping with the healing process. Please don't suffer when you don't need to..... although the doctor will have to examine you, to finally get the treatment you need is well worth the embarrassment, trust me x
I'm a 22 year old female and I think this is what I have. I'm going to the doctors tomorrow about another problem but am trying to build up the courage to ask about this! It seems so many people are affected but very few are brave enough to ask! I really don't want anyone looking around down there! Will let you know if I have the courage to ask!
I saw your show a few weeks ago and it featured a woman with an anal fissure. It was said on the show that it should clear up after a few weeks as it heals naturally. I have been suffering from a bleeding anus since last august whenever 'open my bowels'. I am a 16 year old female and have started to see bits of tissue like a period bit on the toilet roll and also it has started bleeding so much that the water is becoming red with the blood. It is bright red fresh blood and I have been too embarresed to talk to my parents about it or see a doctor. It's becoming painful to sit for several hours after and is starting to affect my social life aswell as my personal life. How worried should I be?
I'm the same age as you and i'm female. I understand how embarrassing it may be as i think i have an anal fissure too. I have not told anybody either as i find it extremely embarrassing. I dont seem to have it as bad as you but its slowly getting worse. But when i go to the toilet, mainly after a number 2, it bleeds, sometimes very little and sometimes more. I can also sometimes feel it whilst sitting, sort of like a very slight stinging. its not pain, its just discomfort. I dont know what to do either! x
Im exactly the same as you, im 16 too and have had mine for about 4 weeks now.. im way to embaressed to tell my parents, and cant even imagine having to explain it to the doctor! Its really getting me down, i just want to have normal bowel movements again.. im also worried, as im going on holliday soon, and i dont want it to ruin my holliday. I just want something that easy to buy in a shop which will make it better, id rather that than having to go to a doctor.
See your doctor and dont be embarresed I have had a fissure the pain was so bad I ended up in A&E more than once .See your GP and ask to be refered I have had a operation to sort this out There was very little pain and I was only in for a day . You must get help as they dont always heal by themselfs . just think would you rather be in pain or do you want to get better . if its the latter see the doc they have seen it all before and it only takes a couple of minites . good luck
I'm 17 and I think this is what I have....I've been suffering from it for several years and it sometimes gets to the point that I'm scared to go to the loo because I'm usually in so much pain....I'm way too embarressed to go to the doctors or to tell my mum....is there any way I could deal with this problem without going to the doctors :/
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