Anyone have IBS-D w/ Pruritus Ani?

[BlackCat16]

About 7 years ago I started having a terrible anal itch..it would just be the skin around the outside and slightly inside of the ring..nothing would help. Doc said it was chronic fissures and wanted to do the Botox to paralyze the nerves so the skin could heal. Botox seemed to help for a small amount of time (only lasts about 3mo), but the side effects were awful..you can’t hold your gas in..it just comes out and I hope you are near a restroom if you need to go! After that I’ve tried sooo many otc and prescription creams, steroids, you name it. I’ve seen so many doctors that I’ve just decided to live with it for now. The itch is so severe and i can handle going throughout the day without itching, but if I’m asleep..forget about it! It’s a super uncontrollable itch and once you start you cannot stop. They call it a “scratch, itch cycle” so you have to not scratch until it heals..but then it will eventually come back in a few weeks or so. About 2 years ago I changed jobs and was under a lot of stress, started to only be able to eat once, maybe twice a day. I would feel nauseous instead of hungry and just could not force feed myself most days..ended up losing 30lbs over the course of a few months..saw my family doctor but literally told me “and good job with the weight loss, you’re looking good” after I had told her twice I wasn’t trying...fast forward to a year ago around May 2019 and out of nowhere I started having stomachs pain, bloating, liquid diarrhea and this lasted for a whole month. Finally got in with a GI who did a lot of stool samples and blood tests, diagnosed with ibs-d. I’ve been on Viberzi for the past year and this medication is really awesome, I have noticed I don’t usually have to worry too much with what I eat. I have noticed really acidic foods and tomatoes for sure upset my digestive system and even tend to make the anal itch worse. I recently got a second opinion from another GI and I am currently awaiting my stool sample results to see if it could be my pancreas and not IBS.. I will go back to a proctologist soon since I have not been since diagnosed with IBS and I’m hoping that my doctor can tell me that they are linked in some way with the nerves..I also have essential tremor which deals with overactive nerves..good luck to all and I hope we all find relief!!!

[Jumpey]

I empathise with all your struggles and I really hope that you do get the help you need.I too have experienced anal itching for many years. Mine isn't caused by fissures but eczema.Ointments etc seem to make it worse.So I cope with it by trying not to scratch because it definitely makes it worse.The scratch itch cycle is absolutely true.And keeping clean and dry using just pure water - no chemicals. On the whole this works though I do get flare-ups and like you its worse at night.

Good luck.x

[Maureen1958]

I hope you get some answers, let us know how you get on. All the best. Maureen.