Anal pain

[LauraJF]

Anyone else have anal pain from anxiety? I am 53 years old and in "perimenopause" and hormones have created new symptoms "down there".
Last April I developed anal pain and I went to the ER and I was treated badly by the NP.

I had bad insomnia at the time and the discomfort went away and I had a good summer and autumn. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for last month which I didn't want to go to and it ended up getting canceled due to a snowstorm. Just after that, this symptom started to return, first as just as a thought, then a fear that the pain will return, the my anxiety worsened and I'm clenching muscles and sitting in awkward positions with the fear that if I feel an anal sensation I will panic. This fear is causing pain down there and now my ears are loudly buzzing and I'm full of anxiety. I recognize this, at this point as being 99 percent anxiety and 1 percent hormonal. I do have a sensation from perimenopause and I started using the estrogen cream again that was prescribed by my doctor. I know it's nothing to be worried about. I'm not afraid that it might be cancer or hemherroid or fissure, I am just afraid that I will panic again if I feel a sensation and this fear of panicking is causing me to experience more anxiety.

I'm ready to let it go and to stop tensing my butt muscles. I just want to know if anyone here can relate.

This symptom was just a thought last month and I got up one morning relieved that I had no pain or anal discomfort at all. Then my new puppy ran out the front door. I was becoming friends with a new neighbor and she let my puppy in her home and me as well a few months ago so every time my puppy got out, maybe 4 times, she ran to their yard and ran around in circles then went to her door. The last time that happened, her daughter, a police dispatcher came out and yelled at me and told me not to let it happen again and she said she's putting up a fence. I never wanted that to happen in the first place because I don't want my dog to go missing or to get hit by a car. Fortunately it hasn't happened since then but she snapped her leash in my yard a few days ago. I was able to catch her and to bring her in. I put an apology Christmas card in their mailbox after that happened. I asked her mother if she saw it and she said no. The next day I asked again and that time she said yes as she was rushing her daughter passed me and her daughter was scowling at me and she crouched down and turned back to give me dirty looks. I think that has made me clench my muscles even more and I'm hoping someone will understand and help me to let go of this fear.

I am planning to reschedule the appointment soon but not too soon. Now I'm even clenching muscles in my abdomen and causing so much discomfort.

Is it ok to mention medication, I won't by name but a psychiatrist prescribed an SSRI and a benzo. He discontinued the benzo and that seemed to help me the most. He didn't call in the SSRI in time and the pharmacists told me I will get very sick if I stop taking it so I weaned myself off of it. The psychiatrist missed most appointments and at every appointment he asks me if I want to hurt people and I always so no. I was watching the TMZ documentary about Rob Reiner RIP last nignt and it seemed to be anti medication and they interviewed a man that killed his own son while taking a similar medication.

[NoraB]

I'm a serial butt-clencher too. (I'm doing it now) and that's due to anxiety.

However, bum-pain can be one of the many symptoms of menopause and my understanding is that it's to do with declining oestrogen levels and/or a weakening pelvic floor.

I used to have spasms in my bottom, but it was connected to my periods...

Progressive muscle relaxation techniques might help?

[LauraJF]

Thank you, that's exactly it, declining estrogen. Im using estrogen cream. It could be pelvic floor but I think it's tension. This started a year ago. I think im clenching because of the memory of when it first started. I wonder if a bath in Epsom salts might help.

[NoraB]

Thank you, that's exactly it, declining estrogen. Im using estrogen cream. It could be pelvic floor but I think it's tension. This started a year ago. I think im clenching because of the memory of when it first started. I wonder if a bath in Epsom salts might help.

Go easy on the Epsom salts if you have vag atrophy...

[LauraJF]

Thank you for your reply. I just ordered epsom salts. Why go easy?

[NoraB]

When I've used it in the bath for muscular issues, my vag felt like it had been sandblasted...

The salt draws moisture and mucous from the vagina causing dryness and if this is already an issue (as it often is in the menopause) then symptoms may worsen.