I was just told by my doctor that I have a pretty nasty fissure. He wanted to try some medicine treatments before going to surgery though, which I agreed was a good idea. But was surprised when he prescribed me Nitroglycerin to apply to the anal canal. His explanation for why it would work makes sense, but after using it....I'm not sure how safe it is. I get systemic symptoms (pounding heart, headache) whenever I apply it.

Is this really a safe treatment? Anybody else had a doctor try to use it to treat anal/rectal problems?

Thanks!

I was just wondering if you ever got your fissure healed? I am also trying nitro ointment, and experiencing immediate headaches after applying. I am still hopeful this will help, as I've had trouble with fissures for about a year. The studies I've seen online seem to say that there is quite a bit of success with the ointment. I see a surgeon in a couple of weeks. Even if I get some healing with this treatment, I want to have at least one of the large tags removed, as I feel this is causing more discomfort (it swells, is hard to clean around, and hurts).

Let me know if you've gotten some relief!

Hi, I tried nitro too and it also gave me headaches so I took a little of the nitro and added some vaseline to cut the strength and it helped. It didn't heal the fissure though and I had surgery a few weeks ago. As for removal of your skin tag, I don't think they'll remove it unless your fissure is healed. Skin tags are caused by fissures, it's kind of their protection and they will keep coming back as long as the fissure is active. Fissures are painful, nasty little buggers and until I got one I never knew how much they could disrupt your life. Good luck with yours, hope it heals soon. Suzy

Thank, Suzy. These fissures have really been running my life, lately. It's terrible to be so consumed with what I'm eating, and trying to get them healed. The headaches have diminished GREATLY, and, I've been not using as much of the ointment each time. Maybe that has helped.

I feel like I go two steps forward, then two steps back. Over and over, again. I thought I seemed better with the ointment (everything was much less swollen and angry), and I'd really been focusing on not rubbing the area with wipes, etc. (even though it itches like mad!). But then, last night, after a BM, and cleaning the area, I could feel the darn stinging, again. Back in the tub for me...for the third time that day.

I really feel like I'm getting depressed with this. It has robbed me of my confidence and any feeling of femininity I may have had. I just feel gross all the time.

I have an apt. to see a surgeon in two weeks. I'll be ready for the surgery for sure, if this hasn't made a significant difference in things down there.

How are you healing up? Did you have any incontinence afterward (temporary or otherwise). How long has it taken you to "get back to normal". I really just want to feel normal again!!!

diana, After my surgery (October 30) I have had no issues with incontinence. As far as feeling normal again after surgery...about a week. But to be clear, the discomfort after surgery is NOTHING like the pain of a fissure and having a BM is once again not a scary moment, in fact it is now easier than I ever remember. I also had a skin tag removed and that took about another week to heal to the point that I no longer felt like something happened down there. It wasn't painful, I was just aware of it.

My research indicated that nitro wasn't effective in healing chronic fissures and that most people who have tried the treatment eventually ended up having surgery. Though I think it does help heal acute fissures. For me, surgery has made me better than I was before and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I am especially glad that I chose to have the skin tag removed, so if you are up for a bit more discomfort I would say have those removed as well since they really seem to bother you.

Thanks, Ruby. You have given me some hope. I'll try to post, again, after my consult with the surgeon on the 9th. I will for sure be asking/begging for the tags to be removed. I told my husband, that, if the doc would go ahead and do LIS and tag removal THAT day, on the spot, even with only local anesthetic, I'd do it! The surgery doesn't scare me, I've had several MAJOR surgeries....I really do well with pain, and recover fast. I guess the biggest fear I have is the incontinence thing. I can deal with pain for a week or so, if I know there will be an end in sight! I don't want to "leak", though. :eek: Good to know that you had no problems with that. Most of the posts here seem very positive about surgery....but I have seen at least one that didn't turn out well.

I'm glad this board is available....this in not something most people can relate to!

Thanks, I'm healing slowly. The surgery relaxes the sphincter muscle so the fissure can heal. It doesn't heal right away. I have some trouble with the skin tags swelling but I use sitz baths and it helps. At least it's not as bad as before the surgery. The surgery made me more gassy than before but I can live with it. I just have to remember to keep my bms soft and strain free so I take miralax before I go to bed and a 1/2 T. when I get up in the morning. If I have to do this forever I will. I eat a higher fiber diet too but that's easy now with all the high fiber cereals and breads, I even found yogurt with fiber in it. I had my surgery Oct. 17th and I had other butt issues too. I have some pelvic floor problems too. I'm a slow healer but I'm able to do more things now. I can actually sit which is a big accomplishment. This does take over your life at times and can make you very depressed too so you're not alone. I know when I tore a stitch I was hurting for a week and got down again but I just try to keep myself busy. After surgery I had mostly gas, but I could control it. The only problem I've had is that sometimes you can't always be sure it's just gas and a little stool might come out but that can happen to anyone even without surgery. Try not to be afraid. If you trust your surgeon and you like him you should be fine. Good luck Suzy.

Suzy & Ruby,

Thanks for all of your advice!

I just keep on with the nitro, and with the fiber, etc. I am cautiously optimistic about some healing, especially over the past couple of days. I have had FAR less itching and burning, and have almost felt "normal" (dare I EVEN say the word?!), for the past day or so! My ultimate hope would be that I can heal the fissures with what I am doing....then just have the tags removed without the LIS. This is, honestly, the longest I've gone in a LONG time, feeling this "good". I am really dreading the enema prep for the surgical consult, as well as the scope. The combination of those two things really messed me up in April with my first surgeon visit! I just hope that it doesn't "undo" any progress I've made. I feel like this is the most delicate thing to try to heal! Like if I do ONE little thing wrong....I suffer the consequences for a week! I've been trying the more conservative "just leave it alone" method....no soap at all, fewer sitz baths, and using a "lotion" cleanser for when I wipe (this has been a real plus), rather than wet wipes. I think all of those things have helped, in combo with the nitro ointment.

But...if he does still think surgery is warranted, I will go ahead with it. I'm tired of being so consumed by this! Even now....I have twinges of itching, and want it to just STOP!!:dizzy: What is it like to go to the bathroom, and not fret over just trying to wipe?!! I never have had such uncomfortable pain that I can't sit! Just itching....all the time!

Do you itch much, now? As you are healing?

I have also had levator ani syndrome (spasms of one of the rectal muscles), and I wonder if it's related to my fissures, as well. They were TERRIBLE! I had one in the middle of the night that woke me up, and sent me pacing, in pain, to try to use the restroom (to no avail). I was literally in a sweat, and having waves of "bear down" pain....like labor. So....I went to the doc several years ago, and got a "nitro-type" pill (under the tongue), to take for those. I have them very infrequently, now, thank goodness! Have you had trouble with that? The funny thing about those are....several of my lady friends knew EXACTLY what I was talking about, when I mentioned it, after seeing the doc! I imagine A LOT of this is more common that we think!!!

It's lovely being a woman over 40!!! I haven't started peeing my pants, yet! Ha! I guess that's a positive!:D