I wish I had found this site years ago, anyway I would like to share my problem and any help from others would be most appreciated. I live in New Zealand by the way hence the title of this thread.
Approx 10yrs ago I had an anal fissure and the specialist I saw recommended cutting the sphinctor muscle to help heal it. I was in the hospital for approx. 3 days afterwards until I did my first BM as every time I tried the pain was unbearable. When I finally did go I nearly passed out.
'To cut a long story short' I took an unusually long time to come right. In fact the first 6 months I experienced incredible pain every time I did a BM. 10yrs later and unless my stool is very very soft I struggle to go to the toilet and still experience pain.
Finally having had enough and due to the fact I still getting bleeding occasionally I figured this can't go on the rest of my life I went and saw another specialist. He was shocked at the amount of scar tissure from my previous op and couldn't understand what went on. He said the anal cavity is narrow from all the scar tissure and this is causing my pain and causing my fissure to reopen itself or another fissure to form, I'm not sure.
Anyway he has suggested I have a flap reconstruction which involves cutting into the scar tissure and stitching flaps over this area. He said it has an 80% chance of working and this should open up the anal cavity. I said I would think about this and get back to him.
I am reluctant to go under the knife again but need to do something. Has anyone else had the same problem and remedy. If so has it helped. Any thoughts would be most appreciated.
Mike