A couple of months ago I began to feel a sharp knife-like pain around my anus every time I had a bowel movement. The pain would continue long after I was done with the BM (usually lasting 24 hrs or so afterwards) There was also some blood on the toilet paper (not the stool though).I was also dealing with constipation in which I only had a BM 1-2 times a week. Such symptoms lasted for 4 weeks or so and since then my body was able to have a BM once every 2 days or so. Also, the sharp pain is not as often as before, but does exist occasionally. Now, everytime I have a bowel movement, I experience a lot of soreness afterwards that usually lasts for 12-24 hrs after BM. I'm not exactly sure what the problem is with me: if it is IBS or an anal fissure or whatever. I haven't seen a doctor yet. I'm 21 years old and female, and the only gastrointestinal problems I've had are inflammation of the stomach and esophogas (whihc occurred when I was 17 yrs old) and have been on nexium since. However, I began to stop taking nexium on a dialy basis a few months ago and wonder if that has caused this problem...Any help on what these symptoms might mean or guidance on how I can relieve the soreness would be helpful. Thanks!