Has anyone ever had a fungal infection?

Ever since I stopped taking the Rowasa enemas a few months ago I started having pretty bad rectal itching. I told my GI doctor about it and he gave me a prescription for a cortisone cream to use. I used it but it didn't really help much. So I called and spoke to his nurse this week. She said the doctor wants me to see a dermatologist and they can do a culture for fungal infection. But I told the nurse I thought that was more the GI docs department since its itchy on the outside of the rectum as well as inside. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed of going to a dermatologist. Of course, the GI said that if the dermatologist can't find anything than he would be willing to do a flex sig on me to make sure I don't have a fissure. They are ALWAYS pushing more testing. I don't think its a fissure because I have no pain or tearing when I have a bowel movement. The itching seems worse at night and early in the morning. If I were the doctor I would check me for parasites too. But they don't seem to think that's worth checking.

Has anyone here ever had a fungal infection down there? Is there anything I can use over the counter? Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

I doubt it's from a fissure, I have a fissure that comes and goes and they are very painful, I think you would know if that were the cause. I think you can get itching if you don't dry off enough after a shower or from moist summer heat. You may want to try using yeast cream on that area or have your GI look for hemmies. I find that they cause itching. I'd be embarrassed to ask a dermatologist to look at my anus too, is that their area of expertise?

chrissy72,

a few weeks ago I had a similar problem and my gasteronlogist told me that it's common to have a fungal infection in the rectal area; he prescribed a cream for me, which took about two days to work. It will also kill an odor you may have there as well.

NBT