Hi All,

I wanted to check and see if anyone is doing self dilation for fissure and I was wondering if it has made a difference for you and working for you. I am suffering from a fissure for the past 4 mts and just dr. cranford at sandy's clinic. he did mild stretch anal dilation with 2 fingers. Also, he cauterized my fissure. I am afraid its not enough since its only 2 fingers. I asked about self dilating at home after the recovery and he agreed and told me its very good idea to keep this from happening.
so has this worked for you and how are doing now?
how long does it take before you feel the difference ?
is it helping you to avoid this issue in the future?
Any help, i would appreciate it.

Thank you and god bless you!!

Hi Sandman. Sorry I can't be of any help regarding the dilation. I actually only have more questions for you...did you have any anesthetic when you got dilated? Did this procedure hurt your fissure? I always wonder how one can do self dilation with an active fissure as any time I have tried to insert anything I end up bleeding and making things much worse

I've ordered a set of dilators and I'm going to give this a try. My rectal pain is chronic so anything is worth a go.

Sandman,

I have not started yet but I have purchased them.. Will let you know once I try.

I have just started but so far it is giving me more pain rather than less. My sphincter is very hard to get past because it's so tight. Maybe with time this will loosen the muscles up.

I even had the LIS! Definitely no chance of incontinence for me with the way my muscles are down there!

Pafen, this so sounds like me. I know with me the external sphincter tends to be rather tight, not just the internal. The LIS of course does not help that. I think the botox into the internal sphincter made things worse for me (and so maybe getting LIS would as well?) as the external one seemed to tighten up to compensate. Why must the balance down there be so complex!

I got my dilators in the mail and they are huge; they are a starter kit! I have trouble putting in my index finger, can't imagine putting those things in there! I just wasted my money on this...

http://www.amazon.com/Doc-Johnson-Ashto ... ex+Toy+Kit

Anyone have any other suggestions on which to buy? My PT suggested Trinity Vibe but they too look huge!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AU8 ... X0WBR7KCWV

Alyssa, Have you thought about just using your finger? Maybe you think that's gross but I personally would always want to be able to feel around in there as part of the dilation. You may find trigger points and such to release that is just not the same working blind with a tool. You can also have a lot more control about how you stretch the area. As in, you can feel it relax and then put more stretch on as that happens. Just a thought...you can always use a glove or alcohol to clean up afterwards ;)

I have used my gloved finger but needed the dilators for a bigger size..

It's important to try to relax when inserting them as well. Makes it a bit easier, if the muscles aren't clenched so tight.

Current dilator set I am using http://www.amazon.com/Size-Matters-KL71 ... B002I9YMS2

Lol I am only using the smallest size, I have no idea how they get up to the larger size.