Man I wish I would have found this site a long time ago! There's so much helpful information and just reading all the stories really makes me feel happy because sometimes I feel so damn lonely dealing with AF. I feel like everyone else just has no idea how excruciating the pain can be. So I wanna share my story too!
I'm 23, been dealing with AFs for about 10 years now. First started as a small tear- went to the doctor and he told me it really wasn't a big deal, just eat more fiber. That really stuck to me because I would have off and on again AFs for years... nothing too bad, not too excruciating, just tears and a little blood for a week and then it'd be gone. Even though I was bleeding, I wouldn't go to the doctor, which is shame because I probably could have been put on Nitro and everything would have been fine... My last fissure was just horrible! About three months ago I was having the most horrible pain in my life every BM. Went to the doctor who immediate sent me to a specialist. Told me that over the years the fissures weren't healing, just scarring up. He pretty much told me that I could try Nitro or Botox but that they probably wouldn't work... I should probably get surgery. I knew right away I wanted the surgery because just thinking about dealing with the pain for weeks while waiting for Nitro to heal just sounded awful. I scheduled the surgery but went ahead with the Nitro therapy while I was waiting. It did nothing for me... three weeks I was on Nitro and just counting down the days till surgery.
I had my surgery 10 days ago. The first week was just horrible. My doctor told me I could go back to work the day after surgery but boy was he wrong. I was in so much pain... seriously if you get surgery take some time to recover. I took 4 whole days before going back to work and it was still really rough. Anyways, I'm 10 days out and just finally now getting some relief. I'm so excited though... I've had a few, only slightly painful BMs, so things are looking up! I'm really excited to start my new life, hopefully AF free and with a lot less pain!
Thanks for letting me share my story.

Snow,
We're glad to have you here! I'm assuming you probably live where there is lots of snow!! This is kind of like one big happy (most of the time) family!

I am so happy to hear that you are on your way of complete recovery and actually you are doing great (knock the wood !!!!) Your doctor was really silly with advice to go to work next day - sometimes I wish that only CRSs who actually HAD colorectal surgery CAN treat fissure and hemmie patients !!!!!
Most members here needed at least 2 weeks to just start feeling some healing happening and to be able to move around and most tried not to even sit directly on their butts in that period !!! Most CRSs DO say that - that one does not need any special "recovery" period , but from dozes and dozens of stories posted here that was almost NEVER the case . It just causes extra worry and anguish to a patient to expect a miracle "one day pain session" and than discover that they are in pain 2 weeks after !!! They assume that something is terribly wrong : ((( when in fact their body just CAN NOT heal in that short period of time which is absolutely expected after such surgery !!!
You will need about 8 weeks average for a fissure to close-up - some patients need 12 weeks !!!! (Some even more - this is average...) Than - you need about 18 mos to a year for that place to develop real resistance and be as strong as it was BEFORE the fissure ever appeared.
So - take your time and take care of your poor bum in this most critical period !
Eat a lot of fiber, fruits, veggies, and stay away from anything constipating !!! Take your soaks at least 3 times a day for at least 6 weeks !!! Keep your anus clean - wash with water every time you have a BM and have a soak if possible immediately after . Than dry your bum with fen and check for cleanliness in the mirror ; ). If you see anything there take a q-tip soaked in water and gently clean the "debris". I used to put some Vaseline on my anus too - to keep it protected from any discharge which can cause irritation.
Please, take care of yourself and do not "relax" with regiment since that is the biggest mistake patients do ! They feel so much better and than start eating bad stuff and stop being vigilant with "fissure routine" and than re-tear ...
Wishing you the best of luck with your continued healing - you are doing great

thanks so much for the advice... I really do need to keep with the regimen, especially the diet. Unfortunately, I work a lot at a restaurant job that keeps me on my feet all day long. I skip out on sitz baths and I'm worried that it's going to hurt me in the long run. But whatever, you bathe when you can bathe...

Than try to get up earlier and have a soak in the morning, and than one as soon as you come home and than one before you go to sleep : ))) >
Three should be sufficient ; ) !
It must be very tiring to be on your feet all day : (((, but it is better for your butt ; )). At least you do not have to sit whole day at the desk and put a pressure on your poor behind ; ) !
Yes - be religious about the diet - at least for a year !!!!
All the best : ) !!!!