I bled and suffered then, went to a CRS and was told that it will heal on its own. I was given a hemorrhoidal cream, and was prescribed psyllium fiber. It healed a couple of months later. Dec 2016, I had a retear and had been suffering intermittent episodes of spasm since then.
It's April 2017 now, and for the past few weeks, the pain has been intolerable. I consulted another CRS (from the same clinic,) and was told that it has become chronic. I was recommended LIS.
I have my doubts on going under the knife, I have seen my fissures (I believe there are two) using a mirror and a penlight, and they were tiny, sore-like things that can be considered a surface wound. Why would I let my sphincter be cut, resulting in a deeper wound involving stitches?
Through this forum, and researching online, I learned that the LIS has a high success rate, and it has become a "gold standard" for treating AFs. I also realized that what's causing me pain during a BM is the tightness of my butt. It's an uncontrollable mechanism of the body - interpreting the pain as a response to an injury - and to prevent further damage, it clenches itself. I know it's well-meaning, but if I can talk to my internal sphincter, I would scold it for doing more harm.

So, I'm raising enough funds to go through it next week. I'll keep this journal running, as regularly as I can. I hope you'll interact with me. We can learn from each other's experiences. I wish you all a healthy butt and a pain-free life.
Kermit