Fissures are so much worse with a j-pouch than with a colon! The last time I had them was over two years ago (with my colon) and the only way I got rid of them was as a nice little extra my first surgeon did during the colectomy. So I've never previously put prescribed medication on the affected area, but now I'm using Diltiazem 2%. The pharmacist said three times a day and after a bowel movement--so I'm putting it on well over three times a day. Does anyone else have experience with this? I am lucky enough to see my gastro in a couple weeks and my surgeon in a little less than a month so I can definitely get things figured out for sure then. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced any of these symptoms, with either a fissure or with using diltiazem ointment, for this painful interim period...
First of all, I am losing weight, because I'm afraid to eat--because I am afraid to poo. It always hurts and spasms, on top of which I have to lean forward/move around to completely evacuate my bowels so my *stuff* is everywhere. I feel so bad for my boyfriend, I never want him to clean the toilet. It takes me an extra five to ten minutes to get out of the bathroom because I'm wiping my crap off the wall. Which is the worst, because thanks to my awesome body I know have a weak stomach, so I either start to cry or get nauseous--or BOTH, of course!
After I put the ointment on it burns for like ten minutes and I get a headache. This ointment also interferes with me using soothing topical creams like Calmoseptine, my favorite. Cream and ointment don't mix, so instead of soothing menthol and calamine, I have stinging. Admittedly I have previously used calmoseptine instead of my medication because of all the pain I had down there. Having a painful bowel movement is bad enough, but on top of that I then apply stingy ointment to the "affected area" afterward!
Has anyone used Diltiazem before? Does it seem like it's helping more than hurting at this point? I could definitely get more fiber, but I am still taking extra fiber, it just doesn't seem to help anymore. Citrucel doesn't seem to do anything for me, but metamucil gives me lots of gas, which is also horribly painful with the fissure. Is this pain worth it?!
I read it can take up to two years to get rid of a fissure. I can't put up with this for two years! It's been about four weeks and I don't seem to be doing any better, though I haven't done a sitz bath in over a week either. Is there something else I should do or something I haven't tried? I appreciate any feedback, thank you!
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I finally gave in and asked for a pain med they gave me lortab which is nice because it slows things down. Doctor at mayo also gave me nifedipine 2% which seems to work pretty well you may want to try this. Good luck!