How do I know when it's time to try to cut back on the stool softeners? I take them 3x a day along with a couple of tbsp of olive oil and that (along with diet, activia, and water intake) thankfully seems to be working pretty well for me lately. I've been taking softeners for about 1 1/2 months and upped the dosage to 3x a day about 2 weeks ago. I have finally achieved regularity for the most part (I go about 30 min after waking up) and this has helped me tremendously, mentally and physically. I know that I'm not healed, yet, but hopefully I'm on a good path. At what point do I start trying to cut back on the softeners? How do I do that? Is there something that I should substitute or do differently when I try this? I'm not trying to rush my body, I'm simply looking forward to a time when I'm not taking those things. Even though it seems like they're necessary for me right now, I worry about using them for so long.

Are you taking colace?
I stopped using the colace 1 month after my surgery, once I was back to "normal."
As long as you feel your fissure is still healing, if you are still having any pain, then I would keep using them. Once you have been fissure free for about a month, then you could stop.
Your body should never know the difference, the colace is so innocuous and body-friendly. There is nothing to substitute, just keep yourself well hydrated.

I'm taking the generic colace, 300 mg per day. I've heard that it was pretty mild, but I still thought there might be some sort of adjustment period for my body. That's encouraging!

Hi Janis,

You know I have been on some kind of stool softener for 5 years now. I took Colace for about 2 years. I may always be on something because that area is just my achilles heel. Here is a link to an article I posted awhile back about constipation and the use of stool softeners or laxatives which you might find helpful.

http://anal-fissure.org/general-anal-fissure-discussion-f2/constipation-article-t846.htm

I wouldn't cut back until I felt normal. the worst thing would be to reinjure the area. I always figure that even if I do develop a bit of a depedency (which hasn't happened even after 2 years) I will work on retraining my bowel after I heal. Plus, stool softeners are not stimulant laxatives and shouldn't damage intestinal nerves. I've heard of people staying on them for years at a time and beign fine during and after.
It looks like Kim and Lecia are ready for a date!!

take it forever, that's my advice, and that's what i plan to do myself! or at least for a few years after i feel "normal". I take 200mg a day now but have varied from 100 - 750 mg a day for over a year.

Exactly. It should not cause a problem, if and when the time is right for you to stop, and I would stop eventually, unless you had an over-riding reason to always use it, e.g. you had hard stools a lot, regardless of what you did to soften them.

I like your tag-line, Kim!!

Welcome, you are, Chris, and wise! :$%:

OK, now Kim took my fav character ; ) ! I will "look the other way" for now , you - character steeler !!!
LOL
PS: If you can, stop softeners when you are healed completely and pain free for about 3 months - that is period for fissure to regain at least 40% of it's original pre-fissure strength. If you have chronic constipations though, and can't control it any other way, you might not have a choice than : ( and will have to stay on them forever...: (((