Why does anal pain recur despite medication?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am having pain in my anal area during excretion for three years. After some days I consulted a doctor as the pain became unbearable. The doctor told me that my liver was weak and gave me some medicines. But it did not give me relief and so I consulted another doctor. He said that I was having anal fissures and gave me some medicines including one pill to keep in the anal area at night for 14 days. He also advised me some hot water sitz baths. I had only mild relief and so he suggested dilatation and I went for it. After some days the problem started again. Then my doctor gave me some pills. After a few days, I got to know that the pills were for the brain, to avoid pressure. I discontinued those pills as my mind stopped working and I was sleeping very much. Then I consulted a homeopathy doctor. Although his medicines got me some relief, they did not heal me completely. Then as there was less pain, I did not contact anyone and waited for it to heal automatically. But after one year there was severe pain and again I went to a hospital. They used to call me once every week and give me some medicines. They also advised sitz baths. But nothing changed. During this time I got depression as I was unable to sit properly and it was ruining my life. Then I went to a hemorrhoid specialist. He said that I have some allergies and hemorrhoids in three places. The doctor corrected the hemorrhoids with injections. He also gave some medicines and ointment for allergies. He advised me to consult a dermatologist. I was almost okay, but I was not completely well. During all this, I suffered from gastric problems and never felt hungry on my own. But itching in the anal area was my main problem. These problems kept increasing and decreasing depending on my allergy. All the doctors told me that I have an allergy near my anal area and gave ointments like Anobliss or Surfamix and also advised me to apply oil in that area to keep it smooth. Now it has been three years and I only have mild allergy and pain. But like before I have the same uneasiness and itching that increases after masturbation. As a teenager, I do it frequently. Along with itching, gastric problem and not feeling hungry also increases. I feel this problem increases during the rainy season. During this time, I noticed that I was allergic to ginger. Doctors advised me not to have ginger and spicy foods. I followed that for two years, but now I am eating both ginger and spicy food. It does not bother me. I had undergone blood tests and a proctoscopy.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

Our gut consists of an environment of microorganisms called gut flora. They are responsible for the proper digestion of food. Once this flora is depleted by toxins many gastrointestinal symptoms like loss of appetite, feeling of fullness, bloating, belching, etc can occur. I would suggest you take a good probiotic for two weeks. This will replenish the depleted flora. Once the flora is replenished intestinal motility and secretions will be improved. Along with it, digestive enzymes like papain and amylase can be taken twice daily before taking food for a week. Silymarin, a potent liver tonic can also be taken for a few days.

I suggest you follow a few instructions mentioned below.

Include a lot of fiber in your diet. Take 30-40 grams of fiber per day.
Have two teaspoons of Ispaghula husk twice daily.
Avoid burgers, pizza, over fried or spicy food.
Take lots of yogurt in your diet.
Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco.

The bacteria in our gut are considered beneficial and help in digesting all kinds of food. These bacteria also influence our maturation, immune system development, metabolism, and production of essential bio compounds. Moreover, it has been proven that some diseases are associated with changes in our gut bacteria. The gastrointestinal tract is a complex system that allows the body to digest and absorb food while moving wastes for excretion. For the intestinal tract to function properly, normal flora must be present. Intestinal flora are types of microorganisms known as probiotics that live normally as part of the intestinal tract. These organisms have several functions that help the body but also gain benefits from their hosts. For example, these microbes reside in the intestinal tract, where they receive nutrients for growth. Intestinal flora are found in both the large and small intestines. Intestinal flora might aid in food digestion to form other components. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus creates lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the intestine during the digestive process as it breaks down food. The resulting products might serve other purposes as well, such as immunity. Additionally, some intestinal flora might help with digestion by breaking down proteins or helping the body digest dairy products.

I suggest you avoid taking certain foods mentioned below:

Gas-producing foods like beans, cabbage, cauliflower, peanuts, etc.
Dairy products that contain lactose such as ice cream, milk, cheese, and sour cream.
Foods and drinks that are high in sugar, especially fruit juice, soda, candy, etc.
Foods that are high in fat like red meat, egg yolk, butter, oils, and anything deep-fried.
Sorbitol and xylitol are artificial sweeteners found in some sugarless candies and chewing gums.

You may try eliminating these foods or beverages one at a time to see whether symptoms improve. Also, keep a daily record of what you eat and whether you experience problems after eating a particular food item.

Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly, and have meals in a quiet relaxing environment. Try not to swallow air, which can cause bloating. It is also important to drink six to eight glasses of water daily as water will keep stools soft. Have gentle exercises like walking, cycling, or swimming regularly that helps to maintain bowel regularity. Try to maintain a pleasant environment when you eat. This may reduce the stress that can precipitate symptoms. Do not take medications unnecessarily.

I hope this has helped you.

Thank you.