Thanks Rosco9 - great reference.

Second update:

Ouf. I gotta say I'm feeling really down and scared after my gastro appointment.

As usual, my gastro was very reassuring. I basically went over the current fissure/pelvic floor dysfunction issues with him from start to finish. He then said that, given how bad my ibs was when we last did a colonoscopy, and due to the slight inflammation he found in that scope, he thinks that for sure I need a scope done before any surgery.

He then went on to say that I have to do not just a sigmoidoscopy as was planned, but a full colonoscopy...including pico salad prep. In the meantime he has me doing a stool sample test for inflammation and bloodwork.

He says if they do find inflammatory bowel disease, that they will try some different oral medications to hopefully help with the fissure....I don't have lots of confidence in that option.

I will be doing the scope on November 29...he was kind enough to book me first thing in the am sonthe prep is slightly shorter and there will be no delay before the procedure.

I am completely petrified of doing this prep, it just puts me in tears to think of it.

Still hoping they will be able to book me for surgery before Christmas, but I doubt it will happen given how long I've had to wait so far.

Feeling down and scared

Oh and thanks mypoorbutt - I hope next year will be better. And you're right - the gastro said the same as you - unlikely to be inflammatory bowel disease since I don't have bad diahrea.

Another bad morning...I can't break this cycle of good morning bm for 1 or 2 days then diarrhea (not in consistency, but in amount) the next day (soft large bms one after another that are difficult for me to pass).

Starting to feel like this will never end!

Hi,
Glad your getting your scope so soon and if you are careful what you eat for a few days before then the prep while not great won't be too horrendous.
Your symptoms sound very strange Hun...have you had any checks for motility issues with your gut muscles.
I'm sure there will be nothing in the scope to prevent LIS even a bit of inflammation shouldn't stop the surgery unless you are getting numerous fissures in which case they should be checking for peri anal crohns...I had to have a biopsy of my fissure when I had Botox to check but lots of people with IBD get fissures and have successful LIS ops it just takes longer to heal.
Try not to let them put you off having LIS as the oral medications don't have great success unless the fissures are caused by the inflammation and not as a side effect from the numerous toilet trips.
But fingers crossed they will find a healthy colon and you can have your LIS before Xmas

Thanks mypoorbutt. I agree that I need to push for the LIS or it will be a long journey. I think LIS is likely to offer me the most success short and long term.

I think my doctor is worried about chrons. I am praying for a clear result from the scope.

The surgeon believes that my difficulty in going even when stool is soft is due to some pelvic floor dysfunction, but unfortunately that really can't be treated until the fissure is gone. She said they would send me a specialist physio at the same hospital who would do some tests and then most likely resolve the issue with some manual work, biofeedback and bowel retraining.

What a huge disappointment...always one step forward and two steps back

How are you feeling mypoorbutt?? Any improvement?

Hope you don't have crohns Hun as the amount of trips to the loo just doesn't help with fissures, and it can take ages to get meds that work Hopefully it's just bad IBS.
Well if it is IBS and you get your LIS hopefully the fissure will heal quickly so you can get the other issue sorted.
I'm doing okk had 3 days of just a scone and a slice of toast to give my colon and fissure a rest so pain hasn't gone above a 5 and has been mainly a 3...just hoping that eating fairly normally today doesn't set it off...fingers crossed.

Oh glad the pain is down for you! Hoping that things stay on track! We gotta eat at some point right? It's so tough...days when I'm really bad it's just not worth eating hardly anything. But we also need some energy to help our bodies heal!

Seems like you're like me - no point in following the traditional "fissure diet" haha...I'm basically eating banana and biscuits, a few crackers here and there.

I thought I'd jump in here as your story sounds very similar to mine. I stated having pain in Nov 15 but after exams was told it was hemorrhoids and was treated as such. In May 16 I was finally able to get a colonoscopy which was clear. My bowel issues were very similar. Even gas was hard to pas. I would feel constipated but when I saw my stool I was like that shouldn't have been a problem. I confirmed with my gP that motility was not an issue as I was regularly going 1-3 times per day. I had to strain either to start or finish every BM. Finally I was referred to a urogyn. She suggested miralax and I tried that and Metamucil for awhile. My issues peaked I. aug/sept. The urogyn examined me again and said I really needed surgery to fix a rectocele and perineal defect. She believed this was obstructing by stool. She also sent me to CRS to rule out any underlying texts issues. He found a chronic fissure and started treating me with nifedipine. After 2 weeks I followed up with CRS and was unhinged. I couldn't stand the pain anymore. At the 4 week mark my fissure was starting to heal and the pain was 1/3 better at 7 weeks I still had twinges but life was bearable. I had my corrective surgery 2 weeks ago. My pelvic floor issues are so much better. I can already tell. During this procedure, CRS also did a fissurectomy and Botox. Im still not anywhere near being in a good place but I have hopes in 2 more weeks I'll be feeling better. All this to say, check to see if you have pelvic floor issues. I was told if I didn't get that fixed my fissure would never really heal properly

Trust me if I had fruit and smoothies and veg I would never ever leave the bathroom....what are you like with fruit as that is sometimes an indicator of crohns.
I'm safe with carbs and sometimes protien...but not even that if my crohns is bad basically just bread then lol

Wow thanks for sharing your story Vem4kids - it sounds very similar indeed!!! I was told that I may have had a minor pelvic floor issue that has been made worse by the fissure - basically the body trying to protect itself is causing even more spasm when trying to have a bm. I think my CRS is planning on sending me to a physio post LIS. But from what you're saying maybe I need to manage the pelvic floor first eek

What a horrible combination of problems to have!!! Do you think you got your fissure from straining, due to the pelvic floor issues?