I'm so confused right now. I've been treating my fissure for 3 weeks now and during that time I haven't had any problems with a bm not coming out. Friday, I had a nice easy bm that didn't produce any pain afterwards. No bm Saturday. Sunday, I seriously struggled. It's like I couldn't help it but I strained. Tiny bm on Monday and today I struggled again. There was blood this time. No immediate pain but I normally don't experience pain until over an hour afterwards so it's too early to tell. The bms I struggled with didn't look large or hard so why so difficult?

I've upped my fruit and veggie intake, cut down on dairy and recently started taking 100mg of DulcoEase. What am I doing wrong? I'd hate to think that all my progress is gone

I wish i had a definitive answer for you -- here are some thoughts:

When we change out routine -- even for the better, out gut and digestive system can take time to react and sometimes reacts oddly...getting used to new stuff. That could be one of the issues.

Perhaps you are eating too much fibre -- too much can actually plug you up...so make sure you are drinking a ton if you are eating lots of fibre.

I also find stress is a major factor for me -- the more stressed I am the more my digestive system misbehaves...that may be a factor.

don't get too down on yourself -- it is a learning experience and you are doing the right stuff...keep at it and make adjustments as needed.

Best - Canadabum

Not sure

I wish I could poop less

I noticed now that im working out I poop at the least twice a day

I also drink tons of water

When I got my fissure, the sphincter muscles really tightened up. It's a natural protective mechanism of the muscle, trying to protect against further injury - but unfortunately it can make it difficult to go, which works against your healing! If it's not too painful, Try using a glycerine suppository to make things a little more slippery, or even a small bulb enema with warm water. It sounds like you're doing everything right. I like miralax/restoralax to keep things soft. I also find that sometimes, because my sphincter is so tight, it's difficult to pass a bm that is too small - it's like it doesn't signal the sphincter to relax and open. I do better with more soluble fibre to bulk things up a little.

Are you using anything like nifedipine? If you are, you could try applying it 5 min or so before a bm to help relax the muscles.

-GG

I'm sorry, this isn't meant to be a novel, but I'd like to share my experience with you and what did and did not work for me.

Back in October of 2016, I ended up with a viral bronchitis infection which was not properly diagnosed. They gave me antibiotics for a viral thing... some doctors I tell you, but I digress. I took the antibiotics, not knowing that they weren't going to do crap for me other than making crap harder for me, literally. I developed a fissure almost immediately after taking the antibiotics. The pain was so intense and excruciating, I cried. I didn't eat, and cried harder because I was still having BMs. The pain description anyone can give is aweful and mine is like passing dull rusty razer blades. This went on for a month before it got "better". I was bleeding a lot, but the pain wasn't quite so bad. It still hurt, but not like the first month. Then, one day I was a little constipated and had to strain to go. POW! The pain was back with vengeance all through December and into January where it just got worse and worse. I cried. Stopped eating anything that wasn't fiber rich again and ate so little, it barely counted. It didn't mater what I ate. It seemed like I had to go at least 3 times a day, probably because once you start to go and the pain begins, the rest of your anus is like, "nope, lets not do this anymore. Shut it down." I wish I could have evacuated everything all at once, but my body just wouldn't let that happen. So for a few hours I was on and off the toilet. Each time hurt more and more. Loose. Soft. Firm. None of it mattered to my bum. The pain was going to happen no matter what.

I gave up and called the surgical associates. Made a consultation with a doctor and sought help. Any help. I was desperate. Now, here's where it's kind of odd. I was given the options they had for me. Botox was the only one my doctor said was worthless and they wouldn't and didn't even offer it in their clinic. The success short or long term was just not satisfaction enough for this surgeon. I loved this guy immediately (the kind of love you get when you finally get your hot pizza you just ordered). He suggested nitroglycerin gel. May cause headaches. Short term fix, but cheap and may work when a fissure should happen again, which was very likely using that treatment. Some pill was suggested too, but again, no guarantee to last more than a few months.

So this word came out of his mouth that I had never heard before. "SPHINCTEROTOMY". His description was, and he admitted, sounding counterproductive to my problem, but with a success rate in the high 90s and overall the side effects were nothing compared to the fissure pain, I told the doctor it sounded like a party! Sign me up. This was on Thursday January 12th. The doctor said to schedule my appointment for the very next day. FRIDAY, THE 13TH. To tell you the truth, superstition has nothing on the promise of relief from anal pain.

So here is where I'm going to tell you was the oddest effing thing ever. I was given magnesium something (the worst tasting carbonated beverage I've ever had) and was told to drink it, no eating the rest of the day, and stay home! Now, I knew this meant pooping. And we all know how terrifying that is on its own with a fissure, but let me just tell you now. That night, January 12th, around 10pm, I had the most amazing thing happen. Water poop that had 0, zip, not a single bit of pain. And what's better is that I had this going on all darn night. I lost count, but there was no pain with this watered down poop, I thought about telling the doctor to just give me a case of that horrible tasting stuff and I'd be good. But sadly, your body would start having lots of issues like loosing your intestinal lining and dehydration and Yada Yada Yada. But it was still the best bowel relief ever!

A little advice for anyone reading this: If you are about to have a procedure done and you're not quite sure what it is, DO NO GOOGLE OR YOUTUBE IT!! I did. I wish I didn't. It seriously looks like the most terrifying effing thing EVER.

I'm almost 4 weeks post op of the sphincterotomy. My healing is ok, but I had some trouble with post bowel movements that made me wish I had the fissure pain back. Again, greatest surgeon to the rescue. Valium and oxycodone will do wonders The Wizard of Oz couldn't pull off, but again I digress.

About a week ago, I spoke with another girl recovering from a fissure as well. I believe she's been doing this for about a month. She tried the gel, drugs, and diet with no luck. She on the other hand did try a trick her grandfather had to do in WW2, just a little tweeked to modern day available items. She downed a whole bottle of Myrilax? Not sure of the spelling and another bottle of a laxative with lots and lots of water. It's the same thing you would do before a colonoscopy (again, spelling on that?) But the next day, she started using coconut oil home made suppositories and ointment on the whole area.

Now, I can't speak for her truly, but she says it's working like a charm. The pain is half there, stools come out easy. The healing she says is noticeable every day. She started eating normal after a three day liquid only diet and the recipe is online in multiple places or just usin plain coconut oil is fine too, I guess.

I'm not a doctor and I'm not going to go into comparing her recovery to mine. I had professional help that I am 100% happy with. It's a road to recovery having a sphincterotomy, but I can tell you this for a fact. Day one post op, I had no fissure pain. Only operation sore pain. I know I'm recovering, properly because I'm being checked often enough to know. I know I am much happier now than before my surgery. These things I know.

Now, if your just looking for a little relief today, tonight, this week... my advice is to not strain. Eat fiber. Rest a lot. Try muscle relaxing anything, because this is the #1 cause of fissures. Look up whatever you can on home muscle relaxing. Sitz baths with Epsom salt. Lidocaine burn gel with aloe helps a little. Ibuprofen alternated 4 hours with Tylenol. There is no miracle cure over night (though that magnesium stuff sure came close for a day). I wish you luck. I'm sorry we are all going through this. I know the pain and embarrassing factors are hard to deal with. It is depressing, but you're not alone.

I'd like to take this moment and thank my husband for being a Rockstar and my personal butler through all this. I married the right man and this whole situation of mine proved it time and time again. I also want to thank my cat . He was just very cool about sitting with me by the tub for my 45 minute sitz baths so I wasn't so lonely. Every single bath.

My pain level never got too high yesterday like I was afraid of. Thank goodness.

Today seems to be a similar situation. I struggled to have a bm, but not as much as yesterday. I experienced blood in the toilet and while wiping. I was undressed and preparing my bath when I felt wet droplets hitting the back of my legs. At first I thought it was water because I soak my wipes with water to clean up but, nope, this was blood dribbling down my legs. I haven't experienced that before.

Would you guys continue with the DulcoEase or maybe try to fast the rest of the day and hope not to have a bm tomorrow? Would you suggest Miralax? I just never thought I'd spend a majority of the day thinking about my butt and worrying about bms.

MercyAF-thanks for sharing your story. Your husband sounds like a sweetheart.

Very frustrating - I know just how you feel and it's no treat. I would try miralax. Have you heard of the Bristol stool chart? With a tight sphincter, I find that type 3 or 4 (really somewhere in the middle) seems to produce the easiest, least irritating bms for me. It might give you an idea of what you need to do to get there...if you are a 1 or 2 I would say definitely try the miralax. Fibre is great if bms are too soft or if they are too hard, and my recommendation is psyllium like Metamucil.

I wouldn't bother fasting. Likely your body may still produce a bm, and it's not a good route to go down.

I would say that if you haven't, go to your doctor and have them take a look. It would be great if you could get a prescription for an ointment like nifedipine or NTG. This will help relax the sphincter muscle and you can put it on before and after bm. It will also help with healing and pain.

I guess it would've been helpful to mention that I've had pain since December. Was first diagnosed as having hemorrhoids and referred to a surgeon. He diagnosed as a fissure even though he couldn't see it. He felt around and could pinpoint the area of pain. He gave me a prescription ointment (I can't remember which one) and I've been using it for 3 weeks now. I can definitely feel a slight improvement and the throbbing/burning pain has lessened. That's why I'm so worried that a bad bm could ruin all that.

GilmoreGirl-I've never used Miralax before do you have any suggestions on use? Thanks

Ah ok. I would head back to the doctor and try and see a colorectal specialist if possible. I've been told that any trauma down there can cause the muscle to get over reactive - which can then exacerbate pain, which in turn makes the muscle tighten, etc. I have no current fissure but will be having the LIS surgery to help relax the muscle and get out of the pain/tightening cycle. A CRS would be able to advise you on this sort of thing for sure!

I would say start of slow with miralax - maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup depending on how sensitive your system is (I have ibs so I started with 1/4). I take it in the evening in a smoothie, but I have also taken it before bed with a couple big glasses of water. It's tasteless so water is fine to mix it in. I would say the key to making it work well is drinking lots of water! For me it is best taking it in the evening as I tend to have a bm in the morning.

-GG