>3 years of fissures

my diary

A place for you to keep a record of your healing or surgery.

Return to Diaries



>3 years of fissures

Postby Ulrika » 01 Sep 2014, 18:36

Hello everyone, welcome to my fissure diary!

I have had a fissure (or a recurring fissure) for >3 years, since my son was born. However, I probably had it many years before, I had very large stools and they were Type 1 & 2 on the Bristol scale.
Doctors never asked me about stool consistency and I gradually made it up the surgery list for LIS. Life was depressing and painful.
About 1 year ago, I managed to get it under control with PEG + nectarines. It was the miracle combination!! This made my stool very very soft and I was able to heal! I ate many things I like to eat. Stool was type 4 or so. I took my name off the LIS wait-list.
Now, however, my body is used to the soft stool. And now anything bigger than a cm or so wide can irritate that area. Today, it was extremely soft and thin. But it bled. Right now I am okay, but 2-3 hours from the time of the bowel movement I will be in pain from the muscle spasms.
Once I am healed for at least a few weeks again (I keep waiting for that to happen ...) I am planning to slowly either (1) do self-dilation with pediatric dilators, or (2) slowly reintroduce metacucil to slowly enlarge my stool again and slowly force my body to get used to larger sizes. Or reduce the PEG (I take 10 g per day total)
Your good wishes and ideas are very welcome!
Ulrika
Fibre Addict
 
Posts: 11
Topics: 1
Joined: 01 Sep 2014, 18:22
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby Scientist2516 » 01 Sep 2014, 20:33

Hi Ulrika,
:wel:

Sorry you are here, but glad you introduced yourself.

Have you discussed self-dilation with your doctor? Some people here do it or have done it, but it's always a good idea to check in with a specialist.
I really hope it works for you. Be careful (I'm sure I don't need to tell you that.)
Nifedipine/lidocaine, no help
Diltiazem, effective, but caused major rash
Nitroglycerine, effective.
Topical estrogen for final healing.
Gentle heat to bottom - pain relief, muscle relaxant
Kondremul mineral oil
Time - lots of time.
Status - Healed!
User avatar
Scientist2516
Moderator
 
Posts: 1120
Topics: 16
Joined: 21 Jul 2013, 16:00
Has thanked: 157 times
Been thanked: 214 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby Ulrika » 02 Sep 2014, 19:22

Thank you for the warm welcome! It is great to have this forum and my new online diary! I will try to keep it as an exciting chronicle of my adventures in the exciting world of fissures!!

My primary doc gave me the go-ahead for self-dilation; it is used for pediatric anal stenosis and she thought it was a good idea ... but I am also somewhat nervous to try for obvious reason, thus considering the Metamucil route instead (more fiber --> more bulk). But I feel I need to totally heal first so it is still a few weeks off.

Today I gave Tinactin a try after hearing about it. No adverse reactions so far. Does anyone know if Tinactin kills Candida albicans, too? I wonder if maybe women with yeast infections could have recurring fissures?
Ulrika
Fibre Addict
 
Posts: 11
Topics: 1
Joined: 01 Sep 2014, 18:22
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby Savaici » 05 Sep 2014, 12:17

I used pediatric dilators with no problem,Ulriks, and they were, I think, part of the reason that I ceased having such terrible spasms. I started with the very smallest, working up to about the size 15 (can't quuite remember). Suzyljank, one of our moderators used dilators after her surgery on the advice of her surgeon.

I used a very good lubricant called Sliquid. Never use Vaseline!

There are a few who have used Tinactin on here, but not sure what success they had with this.
Savaici
Administrator
 
Posts: 3833
Topics: 222
Joined: 03 Feb 2011, 17:00
Has thanked: 170 times
Been thanked: 260 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby msimon » 05 Sep 2014, 16:19

Why not vaseline Savaici?
Dec '13 Fissure from anoscope
3 X internal sphincter botox
'08-'15 Botox for pelvic floor dysfunction
Nov '14 LIS/sentinel tag removal
Feb '15 Deroofing of recurrent infection from LIS
summer '15-healed but still ongoing muscle dysfunction/pain
msimon
Moderator
 
Posts: 1343
Topics: 64
Joined: 08 Aug 2014, 19:38
Has thanked: 76 times
Been thanked: 154 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby Savaici » 05 Sep 2014, 18:19

msimon It is recommended that you use a water-based lubricant, which Vaseline (and other oil based lubricants) is not. Also, Vaseline can harbour bacteria. Water-based lubricants are recommended by physicians. 

Ulrika - I used Organics Natural Gel, specifically for anal use when dilating, which was good for me:http://sliquid.com/full-width/sliquid-organics/organics-natural-gel/

Also Soothe from Intimate Organics is excellent. http://www.intimateorganics.com/store/p ... 2F2oz.html

I used both, but more of the Sliquid. 

The dilators I used, by the way, are from a firm by the name of Speciality Surgical Products, Inc. (SSP) and they are Pediatric Anal Dilators. Not cheap but truly excellent. These are them: http://www.dmesupplygroup.com/uapad19.h ... 7AodNEkAAg Did your doctor prescribe the dilators for you?

There is a thread on here about self-dilation that is worth reading. You have to start small with the dilators, be very gentle with yourself, and it's a chore to do it every day, but it does work. Suzyljank used dilation after her flap surgery, recommended and required by her surgeon. 

This is the dilation link on the forum: self-dilation-t4261.html#p68751
Savaici
Administrator
 
Posts: 3833
Topics: 222
Joined: 03 Feb 2011, 17:00
Has thanked: 170 times
Been thanked: 260 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby msimon » 05 Sep 2014, 19:47

Thanks :) I used to self-dilate all the time (with my finger though) and used vaseline. Never had a problem then but that was before the fissure...

I found that nothing works quite as well as vaseline. Used something water-based once and went to move my finger when inserted and was stuck to the skin. Not good!

Sure wish I could self-dilate again but have to wait for the fissure to heal first. It's tricky because if I could get things wider down there the fissures would probably heal quicker but every time I just try to put my finger in it gets sooooo much worse and even starts to bleed again :(
Dec '13 Fissure from anoscope
3 X internal sphincter botox
'08-'15 Botox for pelvic floor dysfunction
Nov '14 LIS/sentinel tag removal
Feb '15 Deroofing of recurrent infection from LIS
summer '15-healed but still ongoing muscle dysfunction/pain
msimon
Moderator
 
Posts: 1343
Topics: 64
Joined: 08 Aug 2014, 19:38
Has thanked: 76 times
Been thanked: 154 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby Savaici » 05 Sep 2014, 20:03

Personally, I never use anything like petroleum jelly inside me, though I know others do. I also never use KY Jelly, which is water based and used in hospitals. I prefer something as close to organic as I can get. Sliquid and Soothe do not stick to the skin; they are specifically made and tested for the sensitive skin inside the anal passage. I just wanted/want to be extra careful.
Savaici
Administrator
 
Posts: 3833
Topics: 222
Joined: 03 Feb 2011, 17:00
Has thanked: 170 times
Been thanked: 260 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby msimon » 06 Sep 2014, 00:42

Oh I can completely understand that. Whatever works for you :)

I have heard of Sliquid and that it is a very good product....
Dec '13 Fissure from anoscope
3 X internal sphincter botox
'08-'15 Botox for pelvic floor dysfunction
Nov '14 LIS/sentinel tag removal
Feb '15 Deroofing of recurrent infection from LIS
summer '15-healed but still ongoing muscle dysfunction/pain
msimon
Moderator
 
Posts: 1343
Topics: 64
Joined: 08 Aug 2014, 19:38
Has thanked: 76 times
Been thanked: 154 times
Gender: Female

Re: >3 years of fissures

Postby suzyljank » 06 Sep 2014, 08:09

Hi, I started using dilators after my double flap surgery on the advice of my CRS. It's tricky at first, my first time was one week after surgery. I had a heck of a time. I started out small and then worked my way up to the 19mm. That's the one my CRS wanted me to use. I personally thought he was crazy but reluctantly followed his instruction. I'm over a year out from my surgery and I still dilate once a day. It helps keep the muscle pliable and any scar tissue stretchable and to be honest if you feel a little tight like you're having a spasm it helps with that too. I use ky jelly as a lubricant, never vaseline. I use the pediatric dilators. (I needed a prescription to get them). My doctor actually kept the dilator info I gave him and has written prescriptions for some of his other patients for them. Check with your doctor first, and good luck. Suzy
User avatar
suzyljank
Moderator
 
Posts: 719
Topics: 23
Joined: 08 Apr 2009, 16:00
Location: Midwest
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 55 times
Gender: Female
Mood: very optimistic


  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to Diaries



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests