I have started a new thread here to see if anyone who has had an anal fistula would share how they were diagnosed as well as their symptoms.

My rectal exam by my GI has not shown anything remarkable (although very painful) so I am having a pelvic MRI next week. I still have anal pain in the lower right area and lower back pain (no more bleeding). There is still an ongoing sense of irritation (slight throb) in the lower right anal canal and pain when passing stool by this area.

I am back on cipro so the pain is tolerable, just very annoying. I have had to insert rectiv with a glove and notice when I do this there seems to be loose tissue in the lower anal canal that is palpable (almost as if you can push it back up). Sorry if TMI.

I really do not think this is my cuffitis or a fissue and I have also experienced some constipation while back on cipro. If the MRI shows nothing, I am off to the colorectal surgeon for a more thorough anal exam to hopefully get to the bottom of this.

I will be very upset if this has been going on for a long time undiagnosed after all the scopes I have had in the last two years from this ongoing anal pain (and MRI last year).

Thanks for any responses.