Hello, all. I've been really getting the hang of all of this, but have a couple of things that have popped up and are quite annoying. I've run out of ideas, so I'm hoping someone here can help.

First: the butt itch is back and is getting painful! It's definitely not BB, it's an itch, but VERY intense. I do have a teensy fissure, but nothing like others I've had which have never caused this much BI. The zinc cream helps a bit, but not lasting (I'm applying it every hour or so), and sitz baths do nothing. I think there might be a hemorrhoid, but, honestly, I NEVER push, so where would that come from? Diet is better than it has been. Can't figure anything out.

Second, I have occasionally been getting these sharp pains in my right side; one is like a knife has been shoved through my ribs going down toward my gut and the other comes in from the side at about hip level. They always occur concurrently, don't pulse, HURT like heck, last for several hours, and do not seem related to excess gas or what I eat. Any ideas? They recur about every 10 days or so.

Any ideas would be welcome -- and thanks!

Gin

Could the itching be a yeast infection? Try getting some otc cream for yeast infection,like monostat, put some on a piece of tp and slather it on. I tried that when nothing else would help. Worked great, couldn't hurt. Hope you feel better soon.

I know what you mean regarding the BB and itch. The INTENSE itch - get it frequently, though things are going well right now.

My theory on the BB and itch? I have come to the conclusion that it is related to the acidity of the stool and not much else. I think sometimes fissures do cause the intense pain, but even without them I can have the bad burn and itch at times.

The things that have seemed to help me tremendously:
1. No pushing. I'm afraid the fissures result from that
2. Lots and lots of good bacteria. I upped my VSL intake from 1 sachet to 2 and it really seems to have helped
3. Metamucil wafers. I upped this to one wafer per meal and it has also helped a lot

Less frequency and less acidic stool has meant less burn and itch - a lot less. That's the only thing that has really helped me.

Well, I started Monostat last night and had a marked improvement in the BI IMMEDIATEALY! Also, I took an immodium last night -- haven't for several months as my surgeon urged me to try and get off it, but did last night and had no 5:00 a.m. desperate rush to the bathroom with really-runny-almost-can't-make-it-stool, AND no pain and extreme burn/itch afterwards, so I think I'm going to (symbolically) thumb my nose at that advice and go back to one immodium at night.

I meant to start more on the metamucil today -- I mean, I meant to try to be more regular with it (no pun intended!) but got stuck at a 4-hour meeting this morning followed by another 4-hour meeting, both off-site, both unexpected, so my metamucil sat all alone in my desk drawer. lol

I'll try again tomorrow... And am keeping up the Monostat for another day or two at least! Thanks for the tip.

Any thoughts on the side pains?

Gin

Do the sharp pains come after any type of movement? I know what you're talking about- I used to get the same exact thing in the same places when I rode horses. The up and down movement of posting while trotting gave me what I thought to be just normal side stitches. They usually went away when I took the deepest breath I could and stretched.

Might be two completely different things, but you mind as well try it.