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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/12/2011 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Recently diagnosed with crohns. I have a fistula and a fissure. Currently trying to get a handle on this flare, had my 1st dose of Remicade last week. My question is about the fissure. I would love to hear your experiences. Do fissures heal on their own, or should I just accept the fact that surgery is imminent? My gastro has eluded to the fact that I will need surgery, my surgeon is willing to give me all the time I can handle it so it can heal. I am using suppositories nifedip 2% lido 2%.
Posted 3/12/2011 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
I developed a fissure in 2004. I had a superlative colorectal guy. He said that fissures in Crohn's patients are extremely hard to heal, but he really hoped that mine would heal. He prescribed a topical antispasmodic, to keep the area around the fissure from seizing and cramping; I also made sure I had sitzbaths several times a day, along with one long bath each evening before bed. The fissure didn't heal. My doctor was disappointed for me--and he explained that he could close the fissure with surgery, but that then I would be incontinent! He recommended that I not have the surgery for that reason. I agreed 100%. So I still have the fissure. It's painful sometimes--particularly after bad bouts of diarrhea--but doesn't bother me much at other times. I'd much rather live with intermittent pain than be incontinent!
Posted 3/12/2011 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Nawlinscate
Thank you! Very encouraging. I really should get back into the sitz bath routine again.
Posted 3/12/2011 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
I had five fissues at one time during a bad flare. I was given lidocaine gel to insert/apply 30 minutes prior to having a BM. I was also given a steroid based cream that came with an applicator to use. It took a while but they finally healed. I hope that the remicade and suppositories do the trick!
Posted 3/13/2011 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
I had my colorectal surgeon give me a nitroglycerine ointment and he told me if that did not heal the fissure then I would need surgery. Luckily it worked
Posted 3/13/2011 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
The stuff that my guy prescribed, which helped a lot, is called "topical diltiazem." At the time, there was only one pharmacy in the metro area that could make that up for a customer. It was extremely helpful in stopping the spasms after straining, so that I really felt better, even if it didn't heal the fissure. If what you're on doesn't work well, see if your doctor can prescribe this for you, too.

Even if I didn't do sitzbaths regularly, taking a warm bath every evening (and reading a good paperback or magazine while I was in the bath) really seemed to help. At the very least, it made me relaxed--and helped me to feel clean where the sun don't shine. :) Which was really nice.

Good luck, Seriously Relaxed! I hope yours responds to your doctor's treatment and heals up quickly.
Posted 3/13/2011 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
I had a very bad fissure that i tried all the creams and nothing worked. I went to the colorectal surgeon and had the fissure surgery and it was great fissure healed nicely and it did not leave me incontinent.That was back in 04 haven't had any problems with it.I have recently developed a new one but it's no where as bad as the one one i had in 04.Wishing you the very best .


Kay
Posted 3/13/2011 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I had a fissure 22 years ago and it healed with no problems after about 2 weeks. Only had lidocaine suppositories as medication, not sure if they offered anything else at that stage. Was diagnosed with CD just before this happened. Hope yours heals up without any problems as well.
Posted 3/13/2011 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I am so glad my gastro suggested I look for a forum and that I found this place. It really does help to have people to exchange info about this dreaded disease. I think I am going to like it here! :-)
Posted 3/13/2011 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Had natural childbirth before I knew I had Crohns, Dr did surgery, had more fistulas, went to another doctor who said, "no problem" can fix this. After this surgery I went into a horrilbe flare and, do not want to scare you, but everthing "down there" disintigrated, I was left with a gapping whole as the doctors put it. It was awful I was incontinent, in pain,miserable. Went to another Dr who discovered crohns disease and was able to sew me up as good as possible and I now have a colostomy bag the rest of my life (which is better than diapers!). I only suggest to not jump the gun on surgery, but your doctors know you have Crohns, and Remicade will help..baths etc, all that was recomended. Get second opinions, give remicade a chance.... good luck.

Crohns DX
Pelvic Floor Tension
Pelvic Adhesions
Depression
Severe Scoliosis
Colostomy
Posted 3/14/2011 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
I have had a fissure heal on its own and did not have to have surgery. However it was a small one and I wasn't working at the time and spent a lot of energy on healing it.

What helped me the most was hot baths with epsom salts a few times a day, for sure after every time I went to the bathroom, a few times to help with the pain I went to the bathroom in shallow bath water. Also Calmoseptine really helped soothe and I think heal it. It says right on the tube it promotes healing, I think that played a big part because I noticed improvement within a week of using that cream.
Posted 3/14/2011 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Calmoseptine really helps me, too. Seems to work much better than lidocaine for me.
Posted 3/20/2011 12:12 PM (GMT 0)
I had a fissure too and started Humira and it miraculously went without surgery. I also had 3 fistulas and I had surgery on them and for 3 months afterwards it just wouldn't heal until I started the humira the wounds from the surgery close and it's been close to 6 months and I haven't gotten another fistula yet. So I hope the Remicade helps you as well.
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