Hey Jen--did you use any creams after surgery? Before BM's?

Hi Tracy : ))) !
First I want to explain something that I tried to convey before but it is confusing for people - creams do NOT MAKE a butt wet LOL !!!!Cream actually makes physical barrier between moisture and the skin - hence baby butt creams - they work by preventing urine contact with the skin - hence keep the skin "dry" !!! So, me using the cream did not mean that I did not have my butt protected from wetness .
In the period of healing I would wash my butt with water, take a soak, get out of the tub, dry my butt with fan, look at the mirror and used q-tip soaked in Chamomile or Balneol cream and clean the anus outside, but in detail. Even if you do not see particles of the poop, you would be surprised what you will find on the q-tip - sorry for visuals LOL. After that if I felt some burning I would soak cotton round in (again my magical herb lol) chamomile and tuck it between my cheeks and lay to read. After 20 min I would get up - remove the round and dry butt again and put my potion. The protocol was repeated any time I had BM during the day. If, on occasion I would develop burning during the day out of the blue, I would clean my butt anyway and it always helped immensely.
Regarding my potion - you really do not need all of the ingredients - try what you have at home until you have all of them. Aloe , vitamins , A+D and Vaseline would be great for the beginning :D .
Also, fissures are hard to see. Even anoscopy sometimes is not enough !!!!!! Mine was inside and very small and 3 CRSs could not detect it - so... It is healed when you have no discomfort 99% of the time - that is my humble opinion (1% is left for occasional burning due to spicy food, once in a blue rough BM, allergy reaction, or friction and such...)
If I were you, I would just keep it clean and dry and keep the poop soft and use some barrier cream to protect fragile skin from irritants. Best of luck

Macy -
I used my nitro after surgery - my doctor actually told me to use up my tube. Now I use coconut oil - weird I know - but a board member told me to try it and it works great. I also like A & D ointment. I will pamper my butt for a long time!

I have used vaseline on and off as barrier cream during BM. I have also used zinc creams to avoid soreness if needed, especially after LIS.
I have never used q-tips to clean the area, I have only used water...1-2 minutes soaks before showering off. I believe in keeping the area clean and dry.
Have never seen my fissure on the outside so it must have been on the inside of the anal canal.
Everyone is so different and we all have so different experiences...
Good luck Macy :)
Corsi

Corsi,
I love your sig! You always find such good ones! How are you feeling these days?????

I want to do the right thing to heal, but wish I could figure out the best regimen!

That is the rubik's cube all AF sufferers face -- figuring out what works best...learning what steps will bring the pain down and make the fissure manageable. No Dr. or CRS can really hand out a sheet of paper with guidlelines that helps everyone, like they do with, say, acid reflux.
Hopefully, though, this board and the boardies here can help in solving that awful puzzle...

Thanks Cheryl
See my LIS thread

I agree with Kim completely - there is actually no "one size fits all" fer ANY condition, including acid reflux
We have to try many things and experiment until we find what suits us the best. There are general guidelines, though, that definitely make a difference - fine tuning is very personal

Hey guys, thanks so much for the advice. It feels great to be able to talk and ask questions.
One question Fiss--I bought some plain A & D ointment, but do I put this on the outside or inside to protect from wetness? I don't want to insert this if its not safe.
Jen--cocunut oil? On just the outside? How often do you apply this?

I applied all of my creams only outside. Mix the A+D with some Vaseline for better barrier function and use very little - no reason to splatter it ; ) , and you will also protect your panties from staining that way.