TMI - Anal fissure after giving birth
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Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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Topic: TMI - Anal fissure after giving birth
Posted By: melopop
Subject: TMI - Anal fissure after giving birth
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 4:01pm
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Hey ladies,
My little man is 4 months old now, and I've been suffering with an anal fissure for the last 3 and a half months. I've been to the doctor/specialist/hospital and tried LOTS of different things to get rid of it. Dispite it few weeks where it was getting better, I seem to have had a bit of a relapse and am in lots of pain again. The specialist said to expect this, but it's not fun! Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if so, how long did it take to recover fully? Uurrgggh..Just want to enjoy my precious baby without dealing with pain and having people poking and prodding at my butt  Honestly, I've lost all my dignity!------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 4:17pm
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I feel your pain - literally! I havent found anything that works yet but ive only seen my GP. There is a 'minor' operation you can have if its not healing but I thought that would have been offered to you by now?
I drink heaps of water, like 5 litres a day and have tried all sorts of prescribed/natural remedies but nothing has worked  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 4:47pm
I feel your pain too! 
After seeing lots of Doctors I was booked in to have the botox injection (which stops spasams and relaxes the muscle to give it a chance to heal) It involves going under general and I had to get DP to take time off work, I went nil by mouth etc and got to the hospital was just about to have the op when the surgeon said "Oh, I see you are breastfeeding. You can't have botox while you're breastfeeding" She sent me home in tears  No one had put two-and-two together and realised I couldn't have the botox done.
There is another op which involves cutting the muscle - but I so don't want to get that done! The specialist said the only thing that will really heal it is time - it can take ages. I'm trying to get lots of fibre and drink loads of water. Also taking some prescription meds and metemucil and lactulose. So over it! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 4:52pm
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Ouchy. I saw my gp after 3 months, was prescribed lactolose and told to give it another 3 months. But moved over here during that time and didn't bother talking to a gp here.
After 6 months it was a bit better, I really had to watch my diet though. Had bran for breakfast, no white bread, lots of water and prunes etc. Slowly slowly I felt better. The biggest change was actually when I stopped breastfeeding at 13 months. I have no idea why but it seems to make all the difference. I still bleed a bit most times I 'go' but it is nowhere near as painful as it was for the first 6 months. Oh!! The most helpful thing I found out was from someone on here. Sounds really odd but as you go #2's close your fist and breath out through your fingers. I know it sounds crazy but by relaxing your fingers a bit when you breath through them it's meant to help relax other muscles IYKWIM? I hope my ramblings have helped a bit... -------------   
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Posted By: bopmum
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 4:52pm
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Oh how heartbreaking for you Melopop - getting all that way only to be told you can't have it! What about Arnica drops in your water? Found it helped me when my 3rd degree tear was healing and it went just about all the way back! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 5:16pm
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yes i got this with #1 and they eventually healed after a year or so - not always painful but came and went. Then got preg again and constipated so they are back. Time, bran and water seem to be the thing. My gp swore by rectogesic but i never botyhered with it.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 6:14pm
Hey Chickoin, come to think of it, it was when Chelsea stopped BFing at 13months that I noticed it didn't hurt to do #2s anymore. I never went to a doctor though, so don't know if that's really what was wrong with me, (didn't know there was anything they could do!) just put up with the pain and grit my teeth  good on you trying to get it sorted 
Oh I used metamucil when I remembered which helped a bit just to make it, err, softer... ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: mollycat
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 8:27pm
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I also feel your pain! It took me ages to figure out that I had something other than hemmorhoids. The thing I found that helped was a natural fruit laxative called Nutralax I think. I got it from the Warehouse and it's in a green and yellow box and only costs about $7.50 or so. Basically I gave myself quasi diarrhea (sorry TMI but I figure we're sharing!) for about 4 months which gave the area a chance to heal cause nothing was ripping down there. I still have a bit of drama every once in awhile but nowhere near where it was. ------------- http://tickers.cafemom.com"> 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 9:06pm
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At the 6 week check the GP had a feel around up there, DP thought it was hilarious (prick), anyway she said I had anal fissures and gave me a prescription for suppositories, but she also said I was a bit constipated and to try drinking more water etc, so I tried drinking water first and it seemed to disappear in about a week, so I never had to use the suppositories which TBH I wasn't keen on using!!
I thought I had haemorrhoids because every time I went toilet for number two's there was blood ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 9:20pm
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Although I really feel for you poor ladies having to deal with pain, it kinda feels good to know I'm not alone!
Lisette - good idea about the arnica - I'll have to try that. Also the nutralax Mollycat - will look for some of that too, I'll give anything a try! Chickoin - thanks for the advice. It's like being in labour again everytime I need to go number 2's!Wow, it's taken ages for it to get better for you! I guess I have to accept I'm in for the long haul and there is no real quick fix. Thanks guys ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 8:30am
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I think with breast feeding it dehydrates you a bit - well it did for me, almost to the stage where my GP suggested I stop. That was right in the heat of summer and I just couldnt drink enough.
My midwife prescibed lactulose which did nothing. Ive also tried metamusil, phloe, ultraproct all with no success. I dont eat white bread and was eating heaps of fibre but that gave DS wind. Melopop - Thats so bad about the botox! I wonder if thats just initially, or until it wears off that you cant breastfeed? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mollycat
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 3:51pm
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yeah ultraproct was a laugh for me - both the cream and the suppositories. Did absolutely nothing.
The nutralax was the only thing that worked for me and you have to keep using it well past when you think things are getting better to give things a chance to knit back together. Also, don't go cold turkey on it - wean yourself off on smaller and smaller doses or you end up getting constipated and ripping everything back open!  ------------- http://tickers.cafemom.com">
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Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 5:47pm
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Thanks for the advice mollycat! Am going to go looking for nutralax tomorrow.
The specialist said that they didn't really think any of the medication available actually worked (Nice to know after spending a fortune on un-subsidised prescriptions!) and that the only thing that would fix it was keeping things nice and soft and time. Interesting that some people found it got better after they stopped breastfeeding....I guess BF sucks alot of moisture out of your body....must drink more. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mollycat
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 6:06pm
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melopop- I'm not 100% that's the name of it but pretty sure. Just look for the all fruit laxative - I know it's in a yellow and green box. It's this foul looking fruit paste that's a pain to store and you have to take 1.5tsp of it for a dose. It certainly does the trick in clearing things out.... ------------- http://tickers.cafemom.com">
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Posted By: fallen
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 8:53pm
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Its Nu-lax. Its sold in pharmacies too. ------------- |
Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 9:40pm
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Try wizards ointment you can get it from a naturopath and it works wonders, I have had fissures many times not from child birth but constipation and its the only thing that has given me some relief, if I put it "on there" where its blardy sore and keep up with it 3 - 4 times a day they seem to heal up really fast and I also up the water, and cut out sugar as these seem to make things worse for me. Also kiwicrush to get things "softer"
Oh and wizards ointment also works wonders on nappy rash, and is safe for use in pregnancy and when breastfeeding. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 10:46pm
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I suffer from these too, mines not from birth as my babies were C Sections, mines from constipation which runs in the family, lovely huh!
Anyways, me and my brother get them, him more than me, hes had an op for hemmies and the fissures
Mine only flare up when I get constipated and when I get the runs, its sucks! and they hurt for days! I use that Ansoul cream for a few days and it helps. But the best thing is trying to keep regular and having soft stools. I try and rink plenty of water and stay away from food that bung me up. ------------- |
Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 30 April 2010 at 5:33pm
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Got the nu-lax - weird looking stuff! Looks full of fibre though! Are you supposed to just eat it off a spoon or add it to something?
hhhmmm...might google it! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 30 April 2010 at 10:57pm
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I've had mine since I was a kid... I always hated going #2's cos I knew it would hurt... only prob is I would hold on and hold on because I knew it would hurt, but that would just make it worse!! These days I try to drink as much as poss, and eat lots of fruit to prevent constipation... still hurts like hell when its been hot and I've forgotten to drink more to account for it... Havent had that prob lately as my gallbladder op gave me the opposite prob!! Still hurts then cos the acid eats into the healing area instead...
Had no idea there was anything that could be done about it! ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: Angs1982
Date Posted: 05 May 2010 at 8:28pm
| What's the difference between anal fissure and Hemorrhoids? |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 06 May 2010 at 12:52pm
fissures are like little cuts/splits that hurt like hell open up and bleed when you go loo, hemorrhoids are lumpy grape looking things(veins) that swell and bleed, also very painful.
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Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 06 May 2010 at 4:43pm
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hi ladies! The Nu-lax is working a treat. Keeping everything nice and soft which is good - thanks heaps for suggesting that.
Still in lots of pain even through the day and it's hard to sit and breastfeed sometimes - but staying positive and hoping it's gonna get better soon! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mollycat
Date Posted: 06 May 2010 at 8:32pm
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Oh yah! I am so pleased to hear that melopop. Hopefully you'll get a reduction in pain over the next couple of weeks and then it's just a matter of riding it out until they heal. Based on how painful yours sound I would probably say you are looking at around 6 months of Nu-lax. I know that sounds ridiculously long but I think I gave it a good 3 months and I caught them pretty early and they weren't too severe. I found that things felt completely healed and I'd wean myself off the Nu-lax, have one solid movement and rip everything to hell again. It really takes a long time for the existing scar tissue to knit firmly back together again. At least the Nu-lax is natural and pretty cheap aye!
I have my fingers crossed for you! ------------- http://tickers.cafemom.com">
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Posted By: Jelly
Date Posted: 07 May 2010 at 2:59pm
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Uh oh, that sounds familiar... I asked the midwife about the blood and splitting feeling and she just said I must be constipated. Can they heal without help?
I haven't been in real pain for a week or so now but that's cause the bakery over the road seems to make me go softer and more often. Maybe they bake with lactulose?  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: mollycat
Date Posted: 07 May 2010 at 7:47pm
Jelly - the only way they really heal is if they don't get split back open again and have a chance to knit back together. So that means you've got to have soft movements for a long time. Who know a bakery would be so good for you??  ------------- http://tickers.cafemom.com">
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Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 07 May 2010 at 8:56pm
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Jelly - ha, maybe the sneak metamucil in their baking! Sounds like my kind of bakery!
Jelly, it's great that the pain seems to be going away. Keep on top of it now so that it can heal and not get worse - drink loads and keep up with your fibre intake. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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