Hi GG,

Thanks for FODMAP suggestions. I've just bookmarked their IBS good and bad foods page - actually very interesting. I noticed some of the foods I'm currently eating are on the DON'T eat list. My problem is balancing what will and won't give me hard motions. I hate taking Movicol (Miralax) as it seems to produce very upset uncomfortable motions. Problem is when I cut back on it, my motions become too hard - very tricky striking a happy medium. I recently gave up white bread again in favour of wholemeal, but that tends to produce weird sticky hard to pass motions. I went back on the wholemeal to try to get rid of the fissure, but I'm very much in two minds about it. I think I eat too much bread anyway. I'm finding that with the AF, hems and general soreness, it's very difficult finding something that will work for me. If I had a looser sphincter, I'd probably have things that might produce a slightly firmer motion, as the sticky hard to pass ones leave me with swelling, soreness and a too many trips to the loo! I get some some relief after a BM from using Anuice to calm things down a bit. I don't often get diarrhoea and tend to veer the other way if I overload on dryish food.

I hear ya - it's so tough to get the right balance. Does the miralax make you feel sick or just make bms too soft and uncomfortable? I was told to always take it with a fibre like Metamucil. I mix it all in a smoothie in the evening. I find that it is helping get the right consistency but that I feel crampy when I go and sometimes get sweaty hot flashes during and after a bm - like I did during the colonoscopy prep....weird but I figure it must be a side effect that may go away with time. You could also try ducosate sodium stool softener - It just pulls water into the colon, like miralax it is not a stimulant laxative.

Soluble fibre might help you out the most here - psyllium like Metamucil, oats, etc. I made these great cookies (you can also make in a muffin tin) with just ripe bananas, ground oats and chocolate chips or raisins. Lots of good fibre and tastier than they sound. Maybe things like that instead of bread?

-GG

I might have a look at Metamucil. I know many people swear by Movicol/Miralax, maybe I'm just weird lol! Apart from the physical aspect of the fissure, I find the mental one to be as big an obstacle. On bad days, it pretty much never leaves my mind. The only time I feel semi relaxed is in the evening when I know I won't have to go again until the morning and can watch some telly.

My 6-year-old daughter is also in bed. I love her to bits, but the "Daddy, can you play with me..or build this, or do that" really challenges my powers of staying 'up' for her. At the moment I'm being half a dad and half a husband. Very depressing and isolating. My wife and daughter went to see a Chinese exhibition (dancing, art, music etc.) on two consecutive days over the weekend. I just couldn't bring myself to go. My daughter even bought me lovely gift from the gift shop with her pocket money. It really got to me. I haven't said to her what's wrong with me. I just use the 'Daddy's not feeling well' - she thinks it's tummy trouble, bless her.

I love bananas - I just worry they're too binding or is this just a myth? I just wonder if I'm eating a lot of the wrong things. Fish Finger/Fish stick sandwiches for lunch with an avocado, tinned pears. Honey sandwich for breakfast with a whole fresh pear. white fish or spag bol or chicken in white sauce (chunky chicken) for supper with broccoli and peas. Followed a cantaloupe melon or boiled/stewed apple.

Not sure what I'm really posting about here, it's all very mixed up!
Incidentally, I know a lot of the Americanisms for varying things because my wife is from Missouri. She hasn't seen her family over there for over 6 years. It's a combination of my rectal/bowel issues and her fear of flying - the perfect storm!

14 weeks post LIS. I eat plenty of fiber fruit veggies water anything to keep it soft. Minor discomfort as of late normal stools all good there. I was told by 3 dif doctors to give it time. There are to many sensors down there that its very easy to trigger. Walking laying on side or stomach helps alot. Pain levels as of late tolerable. I will take the good days. Again not completely normal but much better then pre LIS. It wasnt untill week 12 to 13 after LIS that I am now begining to be abke to get thru days with minor discomfort. I just hope the worst is behind me. Feels like it but I take no chances. I keep it soft avoid pain killers they promote constipation total nono. My experience and 2 cents worth.

Banjo buddy I know how you feel...I've had ibs for years and it alone held me back from doing things (travelling was high on the list). But this fissure has been hell...6 months now for me and I'm only slightly better than when I started. Yes the pain is no longer 15/10 ripping down the wallpaper crying kind of pain, but I'm still in bed all day. I'm exactly the same as you - only sort of relaxed in the evening, as I have bm in the morning. Starting to dream of possible relief from LIS. I was a personal trainer before this - I lost all my clients and my ability to work out myself which was my passion. I was unable to finish my master's degree with one semester left...moved home with my parents because I can't even grocery shop or do laundry. Broke up with my boyfriend...the list just goes on and on. And the hardest part is feeling like you're missing out, and that you're being a burden to others.

It is good to just get on here and talk it out - anytime you want to, you can even just send me a message.

Food wise, bananas seem good for me, they do have soluble fibre. But maybe something like mangoes in a smoothie instead?

GG

Hi Jim,
Glad your feeling so much better, I too can say that I'm feeling better than I have done in a while. I think for all of us the best thing is getting consistently good BMs as that is really the only thing that can either really help or really hurt.
I wish I could offer some insight into food but we all know the issues I have there so wouldn't want to even try, all I know is after years of going over 20 times a day that I really should have listened to my body and not carried on regardless.
These things are horrendous and have been the worse pain of my life....I truly believe that GPs and some consultants should be more educated about the level of pain fissures cause and the psychological impact they can have.

MPB well said totally agree about the GP's
So sorry you have to go that many times as I am sure it puts quite a tollon that area
As far as food well I am doing 2 cups of vegetables a day whole bran flakes with almond milk fiber bars oatmeal apples and bananas. Sitting for longer periods now but when I feel the soreness I get up and move. Havent had to take any pain killers or Sitz baths in almost 2 weeks so hooray things are looking on the upside. My GI gave me some biofeedback exercises to do such as deep breathing and leg moves. My pain level right now is almost nothing and had a good Normal BM 3 hours ago . Tremendous improvement. I have to work my 2 over night shifts tonight and Tuesday so keeping my fringers toes etc crossed tgat my colon can behave. Hang in there sounds like you to are on the other side but with crohns and IBS as well I am sure that makes one be extremely cautious. Keep on keeping on sounds encouraging which is better then nothing

Thankfully Jim I don't go that often anymore as I just wouldn't cope I have lots of mess and no longer eat what I like I eat what my colon likes now lol.
You seem to be out the other side now which is great and I'm sure you will be able to sit for longer and longer, God luck with work tonight hope everything is as good as can be expected.
I have had more good days than bad for over a month now which is great....I think and my CRS agrees that for me that area will always be an issue so getting good BMs is crucial now.

MPB thanks and good to hear your trips to the toilet are less. I agree this will be something to be mindful of for time to come. The key appears to be keeping it soft to experience minor to no pain. Seens to be the answer for me. My GP gave me 400 mg of Etodolac 10 days ago and Havent taken one so hooray for that. Again happy to hear your progress. Keep posted and think positive. I try to ease my mind reduce anxiety stress deep breathing leg moves all which appear to help. Always have to remember I am one hard BM away from that horrible cant sit stinging burning pain and want to avoid that at all cost!!

MPB,GG,any others, Just wondering, what your thoughts were. Remember I had the Botox 6 weeks ago and 3 weeks ago I was told the fissure healed. That part is so much better But having had such severe spasms for so long (6 mos)there is still the lingering tightness burning sore and knotted higher up feeling. ( those needles also the scopey thingy disturbed things further) But now taking the diosomin and hesperidin as the specialist suggested. This is suppose to support veins and healthy bloodflow and circulation to further heal and regenerate new cells and ease inflammation and the swollen area higher up .(if anyone has had pain for spasms that seem to also go higher to tailbone.

What he is saying is that the levator muscles wrap around the IS and that since it was in constant motion and tenesmus has been present due to the fissure, it is more the connective tissue and surrounding muscles then it is the Internal Sphincter and that with time this should ease the pattern and soothe the probably still inflamed swollen veins, so that it will no longer be pulling on all of those tendons, nerves, muscles, ligaments etc.??? He seems to think 2 months on this should really help things along as with relaxation and muscle message. time is the best healer? Anyone heard this? I still am spending most of my time laying on my side, but did manage to drive to the shopping center for a few minutes and stop at my daughters. MPB feeling better? GG, any better?