hemorrhoids & anal fissures while on chemo :(

2 chemo cycles ago, the steroids they give me with my chemo in office made me constipated, which incidentally led to the first hemorrhoid I've ever had in my life. also pretty sure I have anal fissures because it feels like shards of glass every time I poop. I absolutely dread going to the bathroom now, and regularly use prep h and anusol. unfortunately, I have 1/2 a colon so I go to the bathroom more often than most people. I am so depressed because it feels like I just can't catch a break. not only am I fighting cancer and dealing with the awful side effects of chemo, but for the past few weeks going number 2 has been agony. I'm afraid one of these times when I go to the bathroom, I am just going to faint from the pain. I've never experienced anything like this in my life. has anyone else ever had this problem? does anyone have any advice? this is literally ruining my life. I almost want it to end just so I can be free of the pain and subsequent sadness this is causing me.

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  • We are in exactly the same boat.   After my 6th chemo I ended up with hemerrhoids and fissures.  Pooping shards of glass is exactly how it feels!  I have been climbing the walls for 4 weeks now.  I did much research on it and found the best treatment is nitroglycerin ointment and sitz baths after every movement.  I too have many movements a day  that is why my pain last up to 10 hours a day. I just got my prescription yesterday and am praying this pain will cease and soon.  As you said, it's bad enough we have to deal with all the chemo issues, this just feels like hell.  Hope you feel better soon.

  • Chilly, PLEASE let me know if the nitro works for you! I was given anusol hc suppositories, and sadly I have to have my dear husband put them in for me. it's so painful for me to even do much down there. as of today, I can't even use my go-to wet wipes after a bm - the skin around is so torn up and inflamed, so now instead of wiping, I prepare a little sitz bath right after and just sit in that, dirty and all, because I can't handle the pain of wiping. even putting in the suppositories is an agonizing process, again because the whole area and inside is so inflamed. basically just sit there writhing in pain. this is seriously affecting my quality of life, which is already affected because I've been fighting this cancer for 2 years and every year it seems I get more bad news and more organs removed from horrendous surgery. :(

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  • Chilly, PLEASE let me know if the nitro works for you! I was given anusol hc suppositories, and sadly I have to have my dear husband put them in for me. it's so painful for me to even do much down there. as of today, I can't even use my go-to wet wipes after a bm - the skin around is so torn up and inflamed, so now instead of wiping, I prepare a little sitz bath right after and just sit in that, dirty and all, because I can't handle the pain of wiping. even putting in the suppositories is an agonizing process, again because the whole area and inside is so inflamed. basically just sit there writhing in pain. this is seriously affecting my quality of life, which is already affected because I've been fighting this cancer for 2 years and every year it seems I get more bad news and more organs removed from horrendous surgery. :(

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