Extremely Embarressing for Me

Most days you are in pain, and you're worried about a little embarrassment? Get over it, dear, you're worth it - you deserve to treat yourself better. Get to a dr or nurse practitioner and get looked at. Chances are it is something that can be treated. You don't have to be in pain all the time and it just makes motherhood, which certainly is NOT for wimps, worse than it has to be!

You probably wouldn't develop anal fissures from a vaginal birth- that is more related to something coming out (or in as the case may be:)) of the rectum. Most likely it is a hemorhoid, which is normal and not unexpected in pregnancy and birth. You can see your doctor, or the best at home treatments you can do are witch hazel on a cotton ball to the hemorrhoid, soaking in a warm bath, and if you are not squeemish you can gently replace the hemorrhoid in the rectum while you are in the shower or bath which helps with the symptoms as well as healing. There are not a ton of other things a doctor can do except surgery in a really severe case.

To help heal, avoid constipation by getting plenty of fiber and water in your diet. Get plenty of exercise to keep your system going, and kegels can help by strengthening that whole area.

Good luck- this is one of this little talked about horrors of motherhood but as an OB nurse (and mother of two) I can tell you it is extremely common.

Ok, I will be embarrassed right along with you! I have had this problem for about the last 5 years (nothing related to delivery). My doctor gave me a suppository of cortisone basically, which I know if gross and something that none of us want to think about but it really did help. Another thing that he told me to try is to make sure that I am getting enough fiber in my diet, which honestly seams to help just by itself.

I know what you're going through and I am sorry you're going through this. It's not a very pleasant experience as I myself just went thorugh it. I first started having pains a couple of years ago. Like you I didn't know where to turn to. I made an appointment with my doctor and he lanced the abcess and it made the pain go away. Unfortunately it didn't make the problem go away. I had to have surgery. At first my surgeon suggested a new procedure where they plug the fissure and hopefully stop it. Well, that didn't work! I was back in surgery a month later. I had to have a fistulotomy. It was an outpatient surgical procedure and it takes about a couple of weeks for full recovery. My surgeon told me that thne possibility of it coming back was 0 to none. I was elated! Then about 2 years later which was late November 2007 I strated feeling the pain again. I had another abcess! I was so mad I didn't know what to do. I called my old surgeon and he told me that it was probably in a different area. Due to an insurance police change (HMO) I had to see another doctor. I was referred to a specialist that again suggested another surgery. I was floored! I didn't wnt to go through it again. But the pain was unbearable. I had surgery last month and is still recovering. This surgeon did a more intense procedure. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is it. They supposedly found remnants of a cyst and took it out. They think that it was the cause of all my problems. I suggest going to the doctor. Have it checked out. The pain of this fistula can become worse and by not having someone take care of it will only make it worse. I know the thought of having a surgery scared me too but it was better than being in constant pain. I wish you all the best! I'll be happy to answer your questions if you ever have any more regarding this issue. I wish I had someone to chat with when I was going through it. It is very embarassing but it is a serious medical problem that no one should take lightly.

Oh you women are going to hate me. I have had 4 and have had noting like this. BUT because of my first child tearing my three holes into one because the doctor was at a christmas party and keep delaying things and my body finally took over I ended up with a fistula between my vagina and my rectum. Sixteen years of the pain with every movement my current doctor noticed during my last pap smear tucked away in scar tissue there was a fistula. My prior doctor said the pain was just from scar tissue. I thought after kids the occational watery dark ozz was normal concidering the trama my peri area had indured during that fist birth. Come to find out it was stool slipping into my vagina with a movement. I'm so surprized I have not had more infections than I have had. In order to fix this I would have to have surgery to remove the biggest part of the scar tissue and be reconstructed inside. This is not something I am really wanting to do. I have lived with the pain all these years and doc can't promise me that removing this will lessen the pain much. Plus it could cause me to have hemmiroids due to having to remove some of the muscle. So Steph I would say get to your doctor and see what it will take to fix it now. Don't wait since you know what the problem is. Get it checked out now.

S. -
I commend you for asking for help for your delicate issue! My mom had a "fistula" which I think is the same thing. It happened during childbirth. I think it's pretty common, actually. They can repair the tissue. Maybe google fistula and see what comes up. I'm sure it's something gynes see a lot! Hope you get some relief soon!

M. G

After giving birth, nothing is embarrassing! Lol.

Call the doctor. I had bleeding hemmoroids after both of my deliveries. They can take care of it pretty easily and painless.

Just call. As the other poster said, they've seen it all!

T.

I don't know if this would be the case for you, but after the birth of my son, I had a prolapsed rectum. That was very painful and going to the bathroom was very difficult. I ended up having a rectaseal to fix the problem.

Go to the dr! I had a vaginal hematoma after my most recent delivery and it HURTS so bad to sit, but after going to the dr and having info about what it was and treatment options (I didn't take the meds after doing research, but still...) I felt better with just the KNOWLEDGE about what it was and that I was okay.
Congrats on your baby, and take CARE of yourself- don't be embarrassed- that's what they are there for, and they've seen it ALL!!

M.

That could very well be. Did you tear very badly, or did you have an episiotomy? I would definitely call your dr. I know that has got to hurt. How long ago did you have your baby? I remember when I had my first, who is now 12, I tore from hole to hole, not to sound gross, but it is the truth and let me tell you, by 8 weeks post partum, I was still having trouble sitting and still used a pillow too. With my other two kids, only a little of the scare tissue tore from having my oldest and I never experienced that with them, thank goodness. Take care and I would really call your Dr. You would not want it to get worse, or even infected.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

I had a similar issue after having my girls in May. It finally resolved itself after about 6 and a half months. I tried using suppositories, but it didn't really help, the pain just kept coming back. I almost went to the Dr about it, but then it went away. Good luck!

Hi S.,
First of all do not be embarressed to ask questions. I had a fissure due to my first birth of my 16 yr old daughter. I wish I knew more about it than. The first thing is that I would see a doctor to see how bad it is. That is what I did. Turns out not that bad. I did probably about 100 sits baths, but boy did it work. I am now not in pain and in the process had twin girls 8 yrs ago. Now I was terrified to have the twins due to tearing worse, but I did not. In fact I had the twins vaginially and everything has worked out great. So do not wait for it to go away.
Good Luck
C.

Hmmmm....This is my 3rd pregnancy and the first time I had that wonderful pregnancy constipation. I also developed one and it is in the process of healing. I was told to drink LOTS of water eat foods high in fiber and take a stool softener. I know it's painful, but after doing all this, it's become less painful!

Hemorrhoids are a pain the ... :) Anyway, I went all through my first pregnancy & birth, my second pregnancy, and then with the second birth (which wasn't as rough as the first) I got hemorrhoids from the birthing process (musta been the strain?). Anyway, they are horrible, and I thought that I must have an anal fissure too... I had my Mom look (she's an RN) and nope, just a bad hemorrhoid. Unless it gets worse (my first bowel movement was no joy) I would just keep with witchhazel pads (like Tucks) or that numbing spray, also may want to take a stool softener. Keep the area super clean with that peri bottle. If the pain gets worse or you spike a fever (or start oozing yucky stuff) I would see a doc. Make sure you do your 6 week (or however your doc does it) appointment. It can take some time to heal. With my first I wasn't healed up until about 7 1/2 weeks, but I had a forceps birth that required an episiotomy (my eldest son has a really big head). I hope you feel better soon. :)

Hi S.,
I had an anal fissure for 3 HORRIBLE years before I finally decided the pain overruled my the embarrassment of getting my butt checked out. The doctor put me on Colase stool softner. You can get it OTC at any drug store. It helped a bit, but I finally ended up having to have surgery to correct it. It was a really simple out patient surgery that I completely recovered from in only a few days. Trust me I know you don't want to go to the doctor, but it's well worth it! You'll be able to go to the bathroom without crying!