Hi All,
Sorry in advance for the lengthy post!
I am a 34-year-old female and I’ve had an on-and-off fissure ever since giving birth to my son four years ago. Nifedipine always seems to fix it up within a couple of weeks, but I always get recurrences within 2-6 months. I usually know what flares them, but this go around I don’t. My last flare was in November, this started a week ago.
I take massive amounts of Metamucil each day, though I've cut that back quite a bit and added fiber, but still a LOT more than "normal." My poops are generally quite soft. I drink LOTS of water.
I’ve been debating LIS for over a year. I know that the surgery doesn’t prevent fissures, but helps them heal. Though, I have also read that a tight sphincter may be a cause of recurrent fissures, and that I definitely have.
Every time I’m healed, I think there’s no way I would have the surgery: I’m terrified of surgery, terrified of hard BMs in the recovery phase, really dreading the recovery in the first few days, especially having a toddler. My husband can help out, but I just don’t feel that it’s right when my son won’t know what’s going on and why I won’t get out of bed. I also had a surgery 20+ years ago and I was VERY nauseous afterward. I don’t remember how long that lasted, but that’s one of the things I definitely remember.
And now, when I have a flare, I think oh my goodness, I need that surgery… I don’t want to keep living like this!
My CRS—as mentioned above—said I have a tight sphincter. She can barely do a manual exam with her pinky when I don’t have a flare and said I have spasms. She said to try Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) and if that doesn’t work, to have an open LIS.
I’ve had one session of PT and was told to raise my knees above my hips. Like with a squatty potty. I almost think that is what brought this flare on, though?? I also learned how to “unload” as she calls it—laying on my back with my lower legs on a chair and hips wide. However, I just don’t know what she could do for me over several sessions to help me not need a LIS.
So, I have several questions to start off!
Has anyone been in a similar situation?
Has anyone regretted getting the LIS?
Success stories?
Has anyone tried PFPT and then never needed surgery because it worked?
Has anyone tried anything else that worked great?
My CRS doesn’t prescribe this to her patients, but what about manual dilation?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance!