I went gluten free in my teens for two years as docs were convinced every intestinal issue was caused by gluten, unfortunately it didn’t help at all. I struggle with some gluten free food as it will set off my IBS but if I could find some bread and scones that were gluten free and didn’t set off my IBS then I would happily try that, as at the moment I’m considering going back onto my bread and meat diet as this is the only thing that slows down my transit time

Well off I went to my gp who had a look but shockingly enough couldn’t see a fissure....no surprise there has only been one surgeon who was able to see my original fissure.
She phoned the hospital and I now have an appointment to see my CRS’s team on the 19th of March...may not be him but as long as they know my history.
Have had a couple of days of normal BMs and thankfully no spasms but even with the GTN I’m still getting the stinging burning pain.

So after 5 weeks on GTN and nearly two weeks without any liquid BMs my new fissure seems to be healing. Had a Bristol 3/4 BM this morning but quite large in diameter stung slightly to pass but no pain after at all. I’m wondering if this is just how it’s going to be and that every time I have a flare I will get a fissure and the length of time it takes to heal depends on the length of my flare

Sounds like a good theory. Are you okay with that outcome? I'm still healing from my hemorrhoidectomy in December, and at my followup a couple of weeks ago, had one small portion that hadn't healed yet and gives me a pain that's about a level 4 for about an hour after a BM. The surgeon said that I still can heal more over the next couple of months and I am still steadily improving. However, I would have been (and still am), more than willing to live with my current state, forever, because it's so much better than what I was living with before!

Oh yes CCC I’m more than happy with that result. I was panicking a bit because the spasms came back but I was having a flare as I came off my meds for a bit. I’m just glad that even one that caused minor spasms seems to be healing now.
Yes I think we have to be realistic for some of us that area will always be susceptible to problems...one reason my CRS said to leave my hems alone is that they would probably come back during any prolonged flare...for me any pain below a 5 isn’t a bad result, I can live work exercise and enjoy my life at that level. Once we have experienced full on level 10 spasms then we are happy to settle for a bit of pain.

Glad to hear that things are looking up for you MPB! What a relief it must be to feel the pain levels going down. I hope all your fissure symptoms will be disappear soon.

Thanx P&h, I am too. I had quite a few months with no pain at all and it was wonderful, it would be lovely to think I would never have to deal with a fissure again but I think for me with my issues that’s not really feasible.
How are you going hun, hope your search for a different doc is going well

It would be awesome to be fissure free, wouldn't it? I get small ones from time to time, but try to stay optimistic that they will heal.

I am doing all right, thanks :) I am focusing on PT right now, and not looking for a doctor. I talked briefly to the general surgeon who did my perianal skin surgery back in August and he said that pain with BMs but without a fissure is indicative of pelvic floor dysfunction so I should try to fix it through PT. I'm doing massage and dilation and have also slowly worked my way from a 7mm to 13 mm dilator.

Oh wow P&ah that’s great to have worked up to that size. I’m very unsure of whether to start dilation mainly due to my hems. I do do the circular massage with my finger when applying cream as I can feel my hems and know which areas to avoid.
That sounds like great progress hopefully this will sort the issue out for you

Oh yes life without fissures would be the best

I think I was only able to get the confidence to begin dilation after consulting with my PT. I had no idea what I was doing before, and was very worried about causing some damage. I did dilation once in her office to make sure I was using it correctly, and I've continued at home daily since then.

Do you have large internal hems that get in the way? I've read elsewhere that dilation can help reduce the severity of internal hems too.