WEEK 13 OF GTN
It seems i have almost healed again.... this seems to be the common theme with me now - basically i heal to a stage where i am pain free, i then have a small minor tear again and heal a few days later. It's as if the GTN just isn't that bit strong enough to finish off the job. My CRS is aware of this and has scheduled me for LIS as stated above. Anyway here is my week 13 pain scores which are almost pain free with the exception of Thursay - My BM was soft but my sphincter was tight and i think i disturbed things when trying to insert my GTN (In the UK GTN is applied internally)
Mon 1
Tues 0.5
Wed 0.5
Thurs 2.5
Fri 0.5
Sat 0
Sun 0

Ok so i am now into week 14 of my GTN routine and i may have a big dilemma. It looks like i am extremely close to healing, i have had zero pain now since Friday morning and eaten NON-fissure friendly food with red wine without any problems. Visually my fissure has reduced drastically and is hardly visible unless i really open things up and i can see a tiny, tiny scar.
So whats my dilemma?? Well i am scheduled to have LIS in eight days time and dont quite know what to do - If i have the LIS i am considerably reducing my chances of a re-tear and this leaves me worry free to get on with my life. Plus how long will my fissure recovery take post-LIS if it is almost healed now?
On the other side of the coin I think what is the point in having surgery if i am healed? Why takes risks and endure the pain for nothing??
The other thing to bear in mind is that if i cancel surgery and i do re-tear i will probably have to do the whole GTN route all over again and i may not be fortunate to have the health insurance in the future.
What are your thoughts??? (I am swayed towards LIS at the moment)
For GTN users i hope you can take some positives from my message - this stuff really does work but it takes time
Davo

I know you have the wedding to worry about, but you can always reschedule surgery. You're crs seemed pretty flexible about booking.
My mom is almost two years post natural healing and no problems.
that's my two cents anyways.
why not write down the pros and cons and weigh them out?
Oh yah, congrats on the healing Davo!!!
-Tanya

Hi Tanya,
I really dont know what to do at the moment - it has only been about five days now and i worry about re-tearing the second i cancel surgery. The other thing is the timing next week is perfect for me as i have three and a half weeks break before i go on my next vacation (or holiday as we call it in the UK!)
I have re-torn a few time previously but it seems like the GTN has gone all out this time and maybe got me past that troublesome stage! I still have a few days left to make up my mind so i am going to play it by ear and see how things progress.
Davo

PLEASE keep us up-to-date on your progress and ultimate decision. Many of us are in the same boat you are in.

Ohh i promise to keep everybody up to date on my progress/decisions. My pain score will be updated later in the week but i can say that both Monday and Tuesday are zero.

Some years ago I canceled my surgery the day before it was supposed to take place. I went to my pre op exam and told the doctor I was healed; the doctor said, no use causing more pain now when it is healed. I didn't even want the doc to examine me for fear something would open up from that. And hey, I didn't tear again for several years. :D I just have to keep up with the diet and all, one can never get slack on that. As soon as I allow myself to get constipated there is trouble.

Hi Baba,
Thanks for your response – to heal by conservative methods such as yourself is brilliant news and gives hope to other people currently using medication. My father actually had a fissure about 15 years ago and back then he was given a temporary colostomy bag for two months. This effectively put his butt out of action for two months allowing adequate time for full healing – The bag was subsequently reversed and he has never had a problem since and his diet is the probably the most fissure UN-Friendly diet I have ever seen.
It does go to show that healing is very much possible without surgery to the anal area.
Looking at my current dilemma I can see benefits from your experience as to why I should skip the surgery however without being too disrespectful you have actually re-torn (albeit after a number of years) You have also stated that in that time you have kept up a strict regimented routine whereas I just want this whole episode to be over for good. If I go out with friends I don’t want to worry about having a drink or eating the wrong food and I just want to live my life as normal again. I look back through my diary and I see messages I have wrote, I can see texts and emails I have sent to my girlfriend and the memories of being in absolute agony debating about whether life is actually still worth living come flooding back. I desperately don’t want to experience that again and I can almost guarantee this in seven days’ time by undergoing a procedure that takes less time that it does to make and drink a cup of coffee.
It may sound like I have made my decision based upon the above but in all honesty my head is still a little battered, in some respects it may have been beneficial to still be suffering to some extent with the fissure as I would not have a decision to make.
I am still interested in hearing other people’s views on my dilemma regardless what stage you are at with your fissure, it would also be interesting to hear views of people who have had LIS and to see what you would have done
For information it is now 10am (UK time) – I have had my daily BM and it is my sixth day of being completely pain free.
Davo

Yes, Davo, I can see your point, as you are young with your life ahead of you. My health is such that I can't go out and eat what I want anyway as I have both celiac disease and diabetes, so this granny is content to stay home and eat what's celiac friendly, diabetic friendly as well as bum friendly.
Wow, your dad had an extreme treatment for his fissure.
Yes, I have retorn on several occasions over the years, but then I hear about those that have had surgery they can retear too, only it's supposed to heal easier and faster then. I wonder if there is anyone on this board that has happened to.

fprincess is currently dealing with a second tear after LIS last August. This was bought on by an appendectomy.
Her story is in the new section.
I would think that with or without LIS you would want to be careful with diet for a couple years until the skin has had a chance to return to it's original strength.
Davo, what was your dad's diet like after his colostomy was reversed until he was healed?
There are just so many variables. All i'm saying is that LIS isn't a guarantee that it won't happen again. But you are smarter diet-wise about taking care of your body and that intelligence will stay with you, even if you do abuse it occasionally in future. :)
-Tanya