Hello everyone,
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When i got my fissure the pain was almost unbarable and i struggled the first 3 weeks until i figured things out and by doing a few simple things i feel so much better now and i would like to share them with you and i hope it eases your pain as well. I would like to add that some of the tips i got are from members on this forum, so thank you all for your kindness.
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1 - See a Dr. as soon as you suspect you have a fissure. The earlier treated the better chances of healing!. The dr. will also prescribe a cream that will reduce the pain and heal the fissure. the earlier the better! It is best to see a CRS = Colon Rectal Specialist. You can go to the colon rectal specialists association website and search for a CRS near you (
fasces dot org).
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2 - Bran Cereal (Fiber One worked for me). It has 14 grams of fiber in a single serving. It is delicious with almond milk. Remember not to over eat as it can cause diarrhea or even bulk up your stool. 1 serving a day is great.
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3 - BeneFiber, unlike psyllium and some other fiber suppluments that bulk up quickly and are hard to drink BeneFiber is grit free and dissolves in water very easy. 2 teaspoons in the morning and two at night is great. The type of fiber and effect on people varies, i tried a few and BeneFiber worked best.
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4 - Water, drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid sodas, too much caffein and sugary drinks.
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5 - Chew, Chew, Chew!!! this is extremely important and will make a huge diference with your BM. Not only you will enjoy the food and flavors longer but it will be digested much better and will cause your stool to be softer and easier to pass.
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6 - Choose the right food, more fresh fruits and vegetables and minimum bread, baked goods, junk snacks etc. NO fried food as it bulks up and makes BM's painful. Prefer prune juice over dried prunes.
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7 - Walk, take a brief walk (20-30 minutes) in the morning and the same at night. It will help with blood flow to the fissure area and promote healing. Outside or on the treadmill.
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8 - BM's, have a BM at least once a day to avoid stool from bulking up. DONT PUSH, try to minimize the pushing as it can cause more damage to the fissure. Here are a few tips to help with that: buy the "Squatty Potty", it is amazing!, instead of pushing sit for a minute with your legs on the Squatty Potty and drink water it will start to come out with much less strain. Don't use wipes or toilet paper as it can either burn from the alcohol or irritate the fissure, instead use wet tissues and wipe gently. Be careful when wiping the "inside", just stretch with your fingers on one side and wipe gently. Stool softeners are also great, manny people say Miralax/Movicol worked best but it doesn't always work the same for everyone so if Miralax/Movicol doesn't work for you then you can try Colace or any other stool softener.
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9 - Zits Baths & Baths, a zits bath can be purchased and drug stores and typically cost $10-$20. It really helps with the burning/pain and especially after BM's. Use warm enough water but not very hot and sit 10-20 minutes. Baths are just as good and for some even better, just don't use any soap/salt/bubbles etc to avoid irritation.
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10 - Avoid stress & seek support. The more you will relax your mind and body the better you will feel and the faster it will heal. Share your situation with your spouse, family member, good friend or anyone you feel comfortable with, a fissure can be very painful and difficult so positive support is very important.
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I hope this helps anyone looking for help with a fissure!
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Good luck and best wishes