by Ever the Optimist » 11 Jan 2014, 04:49
Hi Still,
Yes!! A chronic fissure CAN heal. Don't give up your hope!
It took me about a year and 4 months to "fully" heal and that was confirmed by my CRS.
When I say, fully heal, that means the wound was no longer open and at my 1 year stage, things were feeling a whole lot better. I can't deny that I still continued to get some strange sensations going on and some twinging too, but this was scar tissue I believe, which brings it's own issues, but even this has calmed down hugely and nothing is as bad as it ever was. I know I have a Sentinel pile in the area (it's internal rather than protruding or visible and reacts like a hem that can inflame quite easily if I strain in anyway) and scar tissue, which on occasion, can become aggravated but I live a completely normal life again - no creams (unless the hems warrant a touch of anusol!), pretty much a normal diet with "allowances" again like alcohol & chocolate! but I have changed my diet generally now to ensure the right things and cut out any hard stool offenders - I don't eat pastry based stuff/ well-cooked red meats/ white processed foods (everything brown nowadays - rice/ bread/ pasta etc.) I eat cheese & eggs in moderation and small amounts at a time......If I feel sore in anyway, I immediately switch to soups/ beans/ apple puree/ prunes/ tinned soft fruits & brown rice because these produce some of my softest & easiest to pass stools) I drink huge amounts of water (at least 3 litres a day) I no longer need regular hot baths after every BM and no longer use toilet paper (unless completely necessary, when I dampen it with water) I use a hand held shower to "clean" up & I immediately became a "squat" convert because I feel things evacuate more fully and I have more control over the release of everything. All these things have been key long-term! The most important for me though, always to control the urge to strain & not to do it!!
Do you have another follow-up? I requested the last one I had because I was in a similar position to you and was asking the very same questions at your stage. Hearing that I had healed, gave me a huge boost in the process and mentally, I felt so much reassurance. I have progressed since to being even better, although I won't deny I still have my days when I still feel some stuff going on (although nothing as bad as it ever was before!)
It takes so much time when you become chronic but you get there! I'm not the only one with this story - there are others too, so please never give up your faith & hope in your body's ability to heal :)
Chronic Fissure diagnosed December 2011
Healed by Diltiazem around Feb 2013
Anal Fistula followed burst abscess in June 2012
2 internal troublesome piles remain & suspected, but undiagnosed, ongoing Levator Ani type symptoms & flare-ups