I went to my yearly OB/GYN appointment today. I told the doctor about my fissure and how I got it right after childbirth last year. To make a long story short (we talked about it for 45 minutes), she didn't think I should get pregnant again. I told her I wanted a c-section, and she went on about how just the act of me getting pregnant with the pressure, weight gain, and constipation was a bad idea even with a c-section. She had never had a patient with a chronic fissure like me, and is going to call me back after she talks to a few collegues and let me know what they think.
I have asked my CRS about pregnancy in the past and he said everything should be fine. However, this is the first time I talked to an OB doctor. Who do I believe? The butt expert or the Prego expert?
Val - What did your OB doctor say about your fissure? Your CRS?? I am sure everything will be fine. My doctor is probably a quack and hopefully she will call me back after she talks to her other OB doctor buddies and tell me she was mistaken. Did they tell you what kind of laxatives were safe to take?
If anyone has ever come across an article about this or talked to an OB doc about this, please give me some advise. I can't really get a second opinion as I am seen on a military base for my OB care.
I have just been in a horrid mood all day after I left my appointment. I can't believe she would recomend against me having a baby. I just don't know who to believe - my CRS or OB doc!
Jen
:lilmer:

Jen,
It is hard to believe that your ob does't recommend having any more kids. I would think the CRS would know more about the risks because he has seen these types of cases. The OB doc may not ever dealt with a situation like this before. It seems to make sense to listen to someone who has experience dealing with these butt issues.
Hopefully your ob doc will get some good advice from someone who has dealt with it.
Try not to worry about it, it is too early to be fretting because right now they could say yes, it is ok to become pregnant again.
Praying things all work together for good.
:rolleyes:
Jo

Oh Jen - I am so sorry that you had such troubled app. with OB !!! I definitely think that you should try to find other OB to hear sec. opinion. I know that you have to see this one for the whole corse of pregnancy , but maybe you can go to a private practice just once for consultations. Sometimes they charge less if they do not do full exam. Maybe your CRS knows of a good OB since my OB recommended my CRS. Both professions are connected since many women develop fissures or hemmies during or after pregnancy.
I think that your CRS knows better since he obviously had patients who got pregnant with fissure and your OB never had that case so she does not know. But, it is nice of her that she is willing to do research on her own and ask others for advice.
I hope that there is somebody here that can give you more input through their own experience . In the meantime try to Google " Chronic anal fissure and multiple pregnancies " and see what comes out !
Jen, I am sure that you will be able to have another baby if you really wish it - you are already feeling so much better with the treatments that you got. Yes, there is a risk of a new fissure and hemmies but if you are willing to risk them I do not see why there should be any other problem . You will get rid of them again and voila !!!!
I wish you all the best .

Hi Jen
I have no experinace to offer here but the fact you have come so far and you are feeling so much better is a really good sign,
This is what you have to remember !
I too would think the CRS would have more experaince in pregnancy and bum issues :roll:
How is your fissure in terms of healing ?
Hope you are feeling better today Jen

Jen, I think it will boil down to how badly you want the child. There will be the risk, regardless of what anyone says. Fissures and hemms are very often a complication from pregnancy and delivery, we all know that. Nothing they say will change that, and since you're already vulnerable, you may well be at a higher risk.
I think the best you could do would be to wait until you are sure everything is as healed as it is going to get before you try and get preggers. And then eat cautiously throughout your term. But hopefully you'll get some good *real* medical advice from a CRS soon!

I'v read an account of where a woman's fissure healed during pregnancy and never came back. I'm not saying this will be the case, but it is another factor you might want to take into consideration when making your decision.

Jen,
my CRS doesnt even know I'm pregnant! Mine is an extremely high-risk pregnancy anyway because of a previous operation, so at the moment the fissure is actually the least of my worries!!! I haven't got a clue about supplememts etc., in fact I dont take anything except fibresure. I'm terrified about all this but I believe what will be will be. I think if you really want a child and you're feeling ok, then go for it. Maybe the ob/gyn was just being cautious so you couldn't blame her for anything if it went wrong. Life is a gamble anyway and we take risks every day.

Oh, Val! I didn't realize it was high risk, I must have missed that somewhere.
I will sure be praying hard for you...

I don't think it is cut and dried as your OB/GYN thinks. I can see that you are at higher risk because the baby and growing uterus does put pressure on the pelvis and essentially creates a dam where the blood congests the area making hemorrhoids more likely. As for fissures, I don't really see how that would put you at higher risk. More blood flow would improve healing. I would just be super cautious about not getting constipated which is easier said than done and elect for a c-section.

I wouldn't be in a hurry though. Give yourself enough time to make sure that this thing is in your past and you have a good track record. You are doing great.

A second opinion is a good idea. I wouldn't let one doctor determine whether or not I should become pregnant. Will Tri-care let you see someone off base if you pay a percentage?

Thank you for your kind words on my thread. That was so sweet and made me feel better.

Thanks for all of your positive remarks. I really feel bad about complaining about something like this, but I just need to vent to someone when I frusterated with the doctors!
I am going to talk to my CRS at my appointment next week. I am sure he will diminish any doubts I have on the subject, and tell me that my OB doc just doesn't have the expirience to make this kind of judgment. Can you believe she asked me if I use prep H for my fissure - COME ON LADY!!! Thats why it took me so darn long to get diagnosed. The OB & Family Practice docs kept filling my bum full of steroids that made the fissure worse!
Val - I am so glad everything is going well so far!!! Keep me updated (sorry your the fissure/prego guinea pig). As always, your in my prayers! Just try to relax and have your hubby do everything - thats what there for!
Thanks again everyone. I am feeling better about the situation today. I am still not planning on having baby number #2 for 6 months to a year, and in the meantime, I need to concentrate on healing because I have come so far. You guys always make me feel so much better!