Postby SoCalSaz » Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:44 am
Hi BB,
Coming out of *lurk* mode, as a long-time (chronic) fissure sufferer, to commiserate and also to offer the suggestion: see if your doc will prescribe diltiazem cream. The diltiazem helps promote healing, and it often comes with lidocaine to help bring down the pain a half-notch. It usually has to be compounded specially. I recommend putting it on after a warm sitz bath, or after sitting on a heating pad for a little while. (In fact, I recommend sitz baths and heating pads as much as possible while you're going through it!)
I also take Percocet for my pain when it gets really bad; the fact that it's a little constipating is usually OK for me, as I find that my fissure gets aggravated more when my BMs are too soft/sticky rather than when they're a little firm, but of course your mileage and personal needs may vary on that score.
Calmoseptine and wheatgrass cream have also helped somewhat for me. Also, I use moist wipes instead of toilet paper (but not the witch hazel ones, which can be drying, I find). Most of the time when my fissure flares up it's manageable for me now, though this past weekend I had a bad 24-hour patch. And yes, when it really flares, I find that there's swelling/inflammation. (So ibuprofen and ice, alternated with heat as necessary or as you find soothing, can help on that score.)
Hope you're feeling better soon! As I said, my fissure is chronic now -- all that frequency of BMs in the first year after reversal did it to me -- so I really hope it heals up and stays healed for you!!
53; Ileocolectomy for cecal bascule, 10/2022
dx RC 3/2010
T3N0M0
5 wks chemoradiation 5/2010
LAR 8/2010, ileo rev. 10/2010
2 rounds XELOX 4 rounds Xeloda 11/2010-4/2011
LIS surgery for fissure 2013
Thyroid cancer 1997; bleeding/connective tissue/autoimmune disorders
