Hi Everyone,
New to the forum and am so happy I found it. I've had a fissure for years, but it just got really bad in the past 3 and a half months. The only consistent relief for me has come from mineral oil. I'm aware of the risks, so I've only used it twice (two, two week stints). Both times I thought I was healed, but the fissure reappeared after a hard or too bully BM. I think if I could use the oil, two tablespoons a day for two months it might heal me for good. I just want to know anyone else's experiences with Mineral Oil. Thank You, and I plan on regular contributions to this site until I am over this nightmare. My thoughts go out to all fellow sufferers.

Well, if anyone is interested, I tried my scheme, and let me tell you....it did not work. I got to about two and a half weeks, and I was stricken with severe chest, shoulder, and neck pain. I actually found myself in the ER. To make a long story short I stopped taking the mineral oil, and I the pain went away. But guess what? The fissure is back. Well I guess it never went away. I see LIS surgery in the near future. The moral of the story is mineral oil is probably not a good idea.

So sorry to hear how you ended up in the ER. I have not used Mineral Oil but have been tempted! Early on, I read (actually on Dr. Sears' website- the pediatrician on the show The Doctors) that flax oil is a good substitute for mineral oil and is actually a healthy thing to take. I know some other people swear by taking a tablespoon of olive oil once or twice a day. I have taken the flax oil and I think it has helped me, although I have been experimenting with dropping things out of my regimen to decrease my gas and frequency of bowel movements ( sometimes up to 6 a day). I dropped the flax oil for a day or so and had a fairly firm bm the next afternoon, so I'm thinking it was helping . I think magnesium may have been having a laxative effect- things got a little better when I dropped my 400 mg a night.
Anyway- you might try the flax or olive oil. My acupuncture guy suggested soaking 1 tsp of ground flaxseeds in about 12 ounces of hot water and letting it steep until it is cool enough to drink. It wasn't too bad to drink it- the next day, I definitely had a very soft bowel movement. But for me it seemed to be too much of a laxative. For the record, until the last couple of years, with menopause and suddenly varying dosage of thyroid meds (ack- up and down, up and down!), I had always been a person with a tendency to soft, loose stools during stress, etc... Very rarely, really rarely constipated. So the flax seed thing might be ok for you.
Bambi

Thanks Bambi. I've tried the olive oil thing, and unfortunately it didn't seem to help. I also have tried flax seed oil in the form of capsules, and thy didn't seem to do much either. But I haven't tried the flax seed thing you suggested, so maybe I'll give that a go. Thanks for the guidance!!!!