Hey all!

I am having some real icky problems passing stools at present. It feels like I am passing shards of glass that are embedded in cement. Most of the pain comes from the right side of my bowel/anus. There is bright red blood occasionally in the stools/on the toilet paper. My anus feels REALLY swollen and unusual. Today, the pain was sooo bad after passing a stool that I nearly passed out! I am getting severely constipated/backed up because I really can't pass stools ... there seems to be a LOT of swelling going on.

I also experience pain there when I wee, sit on it (feel it in the tail bone) and when I pass gas.

Is this an anal fissure do you think? I reaaaally dread to go to the docs about this one, and have them stick a digit up my anus! Ick! :eek: :eek:

Advice would be appreciated!

I will respond since looks like no one else will. That's exactly how my fissures felt. So very likely.

AussieTam,

Sounds like you have a fissure. You need to avoid the constipation and get your stools to be soft and self moving. Drink plenty of fluids daily, eat lots of fiber and try taking a fiber supplement to help. Personally, I use Citrucel, no gas and bloating, at least for me. I don't know how long you have been experiencing this but you definitely want to do everything you can to heal this as soon as possible. I had one last year that went on for 8 months before I finally decided to have surgery. These things stand the best chance of healing on their own if you catch them early on. You need to keep your stool soft and you need to get regular. Fiber really helps to do this as does the fluids. Do not count coffee or any other beverage that contains caffeine in it as they are natural dehydrators. If you haven't seen a doctor yet you might want to soon just to make sure and rule out anything else. If it is a fissure, most doctors will not be cruel enough to try and perform a rectal exam on you. Most fissures are visible simply by parting the anus and there it usually is. If conservative methods do not work (as explained above) then there are medications that the doctor can give you to try and aid in the healing. You might even want to try some stool softener for awhile. You need to be patient and give these things a chance to work. Everyone is different so it could be a few days to a week or so before you see any results but the key is to not give up early on, have patience and I know that is hard given the pain you are experiencing, remember, I have been there. Being constipated, passing the harder drier pieces of stool have overstretched your anus and caused the tear (fissure). You can even try sitz baths a few times a day especially after having a bm as they help to relax the sphincter muscle and they also help to keep the area clean. I hope you find this helpful and have success. Remember, you should see a doctor soon, anyway. I suggest a colon rectal doctor. You are in my prayers.

Thanks guys - sound advice. I will get onto the water thing straight away, and look at stool softener ... I want to see my GP, but I've had so many psych/neuro/misc appointments lately, I don't want to annoy my employers by booking yet another doctor's appointment this week, LOL.

I think my IBS has got to have something to do with all this :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ... It is such an annoying condition!