How to distinguish cuffitis from a fissure and when to thow the towel in?

kjeane, I have been following your posts, and I am so sorry to hear that things just have not been improving for you. I had a fissure prior to my colon removal, and all I can remember is the severe pain, especially when having a BM. Like passing razor blades. You do not need this on top of everything else.

I hope you find peace with your decision. I consider it as well from time to time. It sounds like everyone who has made the same decision has not regretted it, and have been thrilled to get on with their lives -- I hope you will too. Best of luck --

kjeane-
Sorry to hear you are still suffering so much. My thoughts are with you as you work through this big decision. Have you considered a diverting ileo? It may buy you time to get your head around the idea of a permanant one and its not a big surgery.
As a new permanant ileostomate.. want to let you know that I lifted weights, did a pilates class, went swimming today, and ate a ton of great food- includng ice cream! All of which I couldn't have done with my jpouch intact.
We are all here for you as you work through your thoughts.
best,
liz.

Liz and Nancy...thank you for the encouragement.
This has been a very long year and I was hopefully optimistic by the end of it things would turn around. The only way I am really able to function is on 875 X 2 of augmentin and have needed canasa pretty much constantly this entire year which really does not work well for me. I am 49 and wondering what years on this med (let alone all the prior years on UC meds) will do to me down the road.

Today is my fourth day back at the full dose of antibiotics and although last night was very tough, I do feel better today. I am still dealing with the cuffitis and decided to stay away from any canasa for a few days as the irritation is painful.

I am trying to wrap my head around this and appreciate all the support on this site from others like you.

KJeane-

Do you have a bidet? I suffered with what the docs always diagnosed as chronic cuffitis for years-canasa did nothing, and they'd only prescribe the steroid suppositories on occasion or for short term use, so I just learned to live with it. Since I got my bidet (which has pretty high water pressure, and I use it to really squirt water up in there a couple times a day (biobidet i3000, $200 on ebay), I almost never have cuffitis issues anymore.

When I have had Fissures, they have been a little more external-probably TMI, but with a fissure, if I get down on the floor with a hand mirror, I can usually see the fissure (a small ulcerated spot on the skin-mine were always right in the folds of the "puckered" skin near the anus down there).

Best of luck-