One month post diagnosis

 

Hello all, I first posted around a month ago having just been given an intermediate diagnosis,

I have been on treatment for 4 weeks now.

I have been taking 2g of Pentasa orally twice a day and 1g of Asacol rectally once a day (sometimes skipped this early on because of being so sore).

My BM's are down from double figures to 4-5 times a day. Blood and mucous almost gone and stools are starting to firm up although still far from normal. Abdo pains less frequent and much less severe.

Hellishly tired all the time, I find I need 11 hours sleep just to even function at a basic level at work.

Had 2 complications around my rear end, the first was an abscess which seems to have cleared up after 2 weeks of metranidazole ( Not before it burst on me when I sat on the toilet one day though - boy did that hurt !)  The second, which I am none too pleased about is an anal fissure which wasnt there prior to my sygmoidoscopy and is likely to have been caused by the procedure. It aches like mad most of the time and is really sore after BM's.

I had my first monthly appointment yesterday and because of my progress I have avoided steroids for now but I have been put on the list for colonoscopy in 5 weeks time.

I really dont want to go through this proceedure, I am very concerned that if my fissure has healed by then it will open it again or make it worse if its still present.

If my symtoms continue to improve I am considering taking myself of the operating list when the time comes.

Well thats where I am now, any comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

 

Hi! I believe fissures are more common in individuals that have Chrons. It sounds like you don't have a definite diagnosis yet??? Is your GI aware of the fissure? I can't imagine they would perform a colonoscopy if there was any chance they could make your condition worse. What does he/she say? Glad you are feeling better!

Tabitha....you're probably meaning fistulas? not fissures.




RichardUK....great to hear you're having much improvement. It's a slow process. Anyone can get fissures...they're a tear in the anal folds and usually happen from wiping often or from multiple bms.
The tissue around the anus gets mighty irritated from multiple bms and wiping.

Prepping for a c-scope will definitely tear open a fissure...I would say it's more from that than from the scope itself.

I would suggest you call your doctor and ask for a prescription for protocedyl or something like that which used on the fissure will definitely help heal it. If you're uncomfortable with your scope in 5 weeks, call to make it a date a few weeks later.....although 5 weeks is a long time to heal.

Hope you feel better soon.
quincy

Hi RichardUk

I'm waiting for a colonoscopy for the first time too. And I first went to the docs with anal fissures - they are complete agony!!! Like passing a very large hedgehog... Proctosedyl helps as it contains a painkiller and some hydrocortisone so perhaps you could get some prescribed; it helps with any sore patches low down in the rectum too but don't try and reach too far!!!

Those moist toilet tissue wipes help too. I always laughed at the idea of them but they are very cooling and soothing when used after your normal bog roll.

Good luck with the colonoscopy, I would be grateful if you could let me know how it goes - might help me prepare mentally!

All the best

Louise