no i haven't strained in over a year. i definitely know not to do that after suffering for almost 2 years w/ this dreaded thing! i found that squatting just put increased pressure on the area in general, as i hovered with my butt next to my feet on top of the toilet. i did it just like the picture in the article, and it just started to feel swollen after a couple weeks. up til then, i'd been doing great :( another indication that once things are good you shouldn't change anything about your routine! changing my toilet habits to squatting is the only thing i altered in the couple weeks leading up to feeling more pain and noticing discharge. it could definitely be a coincidence but i don't know...

well here's to feeling less pain and seeing no more discharges juney!

Hi Happy,
I am rather new to the forum and i realize you wrote this ages ago...
i've been doing the 'psuedo squat' as I call it and i haven't had to strain in this position, but worry that it would be better to just plain squat with an anterior fissure.
I was wondering if you still squat?
If you don't mind me asking, do you squat when you are visiting at another house?
Were you squatting before you had the LIS?
thanks,
-woi

I don't think happyass has been in for a very long time. He healed, lucky man, and has got on with life. I think he had LIS if I recall, but if you look back at his posts, you should be able to see about his squatting. Miss him and his funny posts...and all his info. Also miss NeuropathicGuy, a font of information.

THanks Savaici,
I wasn't expecting a quick reply. Just wondered how much squatting helps you heal or if is more of a maintenance thing to help prevent future problems...
Wish there was a success section to this forum. Somewhere people who had been fully healed for a month or two, could tell what worked and didn't work for them.
I look up people's old posts and they usually leave off where they are almost healed and then you never hear from them again. So you have no idea how much longer it took to heal, and how happy they are.
Or like Happy, you have to wade back through page after page to get to the important posts pertaining to their healing. :roll:
Whine Whine Whine, I guess I need some cheese with my wine. Lol!
-woi

i tried squatting awhile back wheni was badly constipated and i can't, I have a hard time to get up and unlockmy knees, i think i may have some arthritis on them.

The position I find seems to help a little is to hold myself up off the seat in a semi standing position and to straighten my back instead of leaning over. I do want to try squatting as just lifting my legs up to bring them above knee height doesn't seem to do the trick and seems to put more pressure down there.

I realize that this is an old zombie post, but I have been having trouble emptying everything in one BM and thinking that squatting is probably the solution (or definitely will help, or in the least not hurt). Plus it's downright painful to be sitting and seems impossible to not be strained in some way due to sitting being so unnatural. That article has convinced me!
I kept looking and looking for an affordable and appropriate stool, so I'm ordering a 'Squatty Potty' (love the name... you can look it up and find one easily). I know it's more affordable to just stand on the seat, but I don't really want to risk falling in, and don't have anything to hold onto. It seems slippery, especially when I have to wear socks all the time because it's so cold here.

I use gallon sized paint cans with the paint still in them. Very stable. I do have a very high toilet, so their hight is just right. Yoga bricks look just right for people who want just a little hight. The squatty potty looks nice. If I was sure they are wide enough for my natural squat position, I'd buy one,too. It looks odd to have paint cans in my bathroom all the time, but I bet no-one guesses their real purpose!
I didn't even try standing on the seat. I do not need a toilet coming down on me. No, sir.

Huh, paint cans is a good idea. I know I have some so I think I'll try that until this arrives. It would be nice to have something that the purpose isn't inherently obvious! (The squatty potty actually says "squatty potty" on it I think, which seems more than a little embarrassing if I have my in-laws over or something!)