Fissures

maybe bag balm?

Your fissure is in the perianal region, outside the sphincter muscle, right? It has probably nothing to do with Crohn's. Reasons for fissures are stressed skin (because our stool is more aggressive as that from a colon and we have more BM than other people) or reduced blood flow due to spasms / muscle contraction in the sphincter area. They can also originate from very hard stool stretching the anal canal, but that does usually not apply for j-pouchers.

It should be ok to try that ointments for some weeks and hope that it heals. It is strongly recommendable to keep the fissure clean after a BM by cleaning it with a water jet. Have you looked up the posts in this forum about bidet attachments for the toilet? There are also several posts about anal fissures, perhaps you find some insights there.

If it does not heal, you will probably need a minor surgery to remove the scar tissue that prevents the fissure from healing.

I have noticed that warm water enemas help the fissure heal quicker, though it's not much fun inserting something into the anus when it's sore like that.  But totally worth it.

Jaz,

Google “sitz basin”.  Yes, that’s the way it is spelled. It’s a small plastic wash basin that you sit in. I had awful fissures early on and was desperate. My home care nurse told me about sitz baths. You can always fill an entire tub with hot water and sit in it, but a sitz basin is more efficient and doesn’t use as much water.

A sitz basin is a small plastic basin (similar to a basin for washing underwear or doing dishes, but a sitz basin has a cut out hole at the back end. You’ll understand why the need for the hole when you see it. You place the empty sitz basin on your toilet (put the toilet seat up so you place the basin securely on the toilet rim). Then, fill the basin 1/2 way with *very* warm water. Just plain water. No Epson salts or soap or baby oil or anything. Just warm water. Slowly lower yourself until you are sitting comfortably with your bum in the basin. Any extra water that you displace will simply flow out the little hole and into the toilet, no water will spill onto your floor. Your bum / anal area will be in the warm water which will be very soothing. Just sit and relax until the water cools. The very warm water increases blood circulation to that small area that is sore, raw, and burning from internal fissures. The increased blood circulation drawn to that area will help heal your inside / outside fissures. You don’t need to wash the sore area or do anything except sit and relax until the water cools. A plastic hose and bag comes with the basin so you can add more wam water.  

I bought my sitz basin from Amazon six years ago after my j pouch surgery. They are also found in bigger drugstores, or health care specialty shops where you’d find crutches or walkers or shower chairs, etc.  I used my basin twice a day for maybe one week. My fissures healed themselves completely. I’m not kidding. I never had to use the little basin again, but it’s in my closet if I ever need it. I tried creams, ointments, but nothing worked. The sitz bath worked. My fissures were so bad it looked like I had deep cuts around my anus. If your fissures are deep inside, then creams and ointments won’t reach it. Try to increase blood circulation by sitting in a sitz basin. I think it cost around $15 back then. Good luck. I remember what it was like.

When you are super sore, a bidet can be a bit strong. I use a peri bottle. It lets me control the pressure and travels well too.

Thanks everyone. I do have a bidet and use it after every BM. The fissure has seemed to heal a lot within 2 weeks, but after i went away camping on the weekend without my bidet, it got a little irritated. after being home it has been fine. thanks for all your advice

@kta posted:

When you are super sore, a bidet can be a bit strong. I use a peri bottle. It lets me control the pressure and travels well too.

Hi!  Is there any particular peri-bottle/portible bidet that you recommend?  There are many options...I'd love to have one that is compact for travel but still holds a good amount of water.

When you are super sore, a bidet can be a bit strong. I use a peri bottle. It lets me control the pressure and travels well too.

I just went on to Amazon and chose one. Make sure the squirting part bends so you can target the area you want. If I knew how to post a link, I would.

I saw some of those.  I wish they would make a bendy one that is both bidet and enema bottle.  They have some straight ones that are both.  Why not a 2 in 1?