Yup, I actually went on to Movicol some months ago. Lactulose is a joke compared to this stuff, but I have continued to have problems keeping it consistantly soft. For me, even slightly formed is no good. The problem, I think, is that I have been eating and supplementing too much fibre. Doing so seems to make it harder for the Movicol to do its job. I've been cautiously cutting back on fibre/supplements with the aim of removing supplements entirely. I just think they may be doing more harm than good. It does seem to be working ... slowly! I don't like to make changes too quickly, or I just end up yo yoing between too soft and too hard.
I've also read a little about the possibility that AF can have some connection with lower back problems. Specifically lower back problems that impact the nerves.
Herniated Discs do this and I have one of those too!
Also in the stuff the Gynae gave me to read, it mentions that for a minority of women, Vulvodynia is connected to lower back problems. Must ask about this too! I herniated a disc about 31/2 years ago, before any of these problems ... ??
I certainly want to have LIS done, but it will have to wait a while as I need to save up the funds first. The decision to do it has definately been made though.
By the way, you're dead right about NZ-ers ... I've got my hiking boots on right now. I sleep in mine. Because you just never know ...
Like most everybody else I've lived in a city most of my life, so I haven't seen many beautiful mountians ... except on TV. But you can bet that if one comes my way, day or night, I'll be boots on and ready to go!

Oof - a herniated disk too. You sure have had your share of problems! I hope your disk is healed now.
I was reading a little in the discussion here, and I saw a few posts that made me think about your situation. There are several people that have pain radiating to other nearby places associated with the AF - like up the back, down the leg, and into the genital area (both men and women). One person (I seem to remember that it was either NG or someone talking with him), a man, was having urination problems - maybe even burning, due to the AF. Soooo - I am hoping for you that the problems are somehow inter-related. It would be great if you could see a really knowledgeable CRS or specialist who has seen a lot of cases and maybe has heard about this before.
You have to get money together for the LIS in NZ? Do you have a national health care system there?
I would like to go to NZ some day. I love the mountains. Here in Sweden the mountains are really accessible (most of them) - soft and rolling with short vegetation that's easy to hike over. My avatar picture is from a mountain in northern Sweden - the flower is the glacier buttercup. You should definitely go hiking in NZ with your stylish hiking boots some day!!

Yeah, it sounds like a lot of medical conditions if I list them all (there are a couple more too!), but there are people out there who are far worse off than me, so I really shouldn't complain or feel sorry for myself too much.
Unfortunately my disc problem hasn't healed, but it has become more or less manageable over the past year. Apparently, it should settle down eventually.
I will see if I can find the post about painful urination that you were talking about.
We do have public health care in NZ, but it is under a lot of strain and sometimes can't meet demand. The NZ system has a rule that patients should be seen within 6 months. The problem is that demand is so high; in many cases patients can't be seen within six months (especially those referred for 'minor conditions/operations). These unlucky people won’t be seen, won’t even go on a waiting list and the system doesn’t allow reapplications unless the
condition has worsened significantly. So I'm saving my pennies!
Sweden looks amazing. Cold winters I bet! I dread to think how long it takes to get there from NZ! It takes a while to get most anywhere from NZ! (except maybe Australia).
Most of the big mountains you might see on postcards in NZ are in the South Island (I live in the North), but there are plenty of beautiful National Parks etc in my neck of the woods too.
No excuses ... Boots on!

NZ health care sounds more strained than Sweden's then. We have a 3 month cut off, but it at least works as a guarantee that the patient should be seen within 3 months, otherwise the patient has a right to ... I don't know what... some money maybe? I'm on that 3 month waiting list right now, with one month to go. But I'm told that if I call back, several times, and am very polite, and tell them that I have a lot of pain, then I can get in ahead of time. Maybe you should try the same thing?? Maybe you already have...
My problem is that my pain has tapered off - plus when I called one month ago, they weren't polite, and in turn, I wasn't polite... so I hope the evil receptionist that I talked to didn't delete my name off of the waiting list!
It's so hard to be sick with a broken health-care system...
Good attitude with the boots! Nature can be healing... if we can just drag our butts out there!
Have a nice weekend, and keep your spirits up!
(If I find that post about the painful urination here again, then I'll put that link here...)
PS - I just saw this, where they mention anal fissures can lead to painful urination... http://www.medicinenet.com/anal_fissure/page2.htm

Thanks heaps for the infor BB! :D

Sphinct,
Did I see you write somewhere else that you have a CRS (or maybe even LIS) appointment this month?
Bum

I'm taking it now and wow it is terrible stuff for side effects I get a really low drop in blood pressure and headaches also itching and burn down there I just lay down and it gos eventually lol