Hi all,
I'm new to the forum. Though not new to AFs.
I've had an AF (well, at times up to three) for 2.5 yrs and it's been pretty trying. I've mostly joined this forum for moral support as I feel this will never end and I'm pretty sure my family and friends are sick of hearing me moan about it.
During pregnancy I had a bad reaction to the vitamins I was on (mostly, iron supplement) which caused me to have ongoing diarrhea. I had to stay on the supplements as I was severely deficient throughout the pregnancy. My CRS thinks this ongoing diarrhea caused damage to the skin in my rectum. After the birth of my first bub (by c-section due to complications) I didn't have a BM for several days, even with lactulose. Then it came. And it was incredibly painful and that seems to have been the straw that broke my butt's back. Since then I have been struggling with AFs that come and go and heal and re-tear. I had a second baby, and throughout the pregnancy I found the pain was not as severe. I managed the post birth BM quite well but within a few weeks the AFs were back.
Now, 5 months post the birth of my second child I'm quite low thinking this will never end.
About 2 months ago I had a colonoscopy to check there was nothing else happening and botox. The CRS didn't believe there was any need to do a fissurectomy as the AF was "subtle" (he couldn't actually find it doing just a digital examination this time). The results have been ok. I am not healed by any stretch of the imagination but the pain is mostly now when doing the BM and I don't have spams afterwards, however I do have ongoing stinging at the site of the AF. The CRS says there is also a skin tag there of course.
Prior to the procedure I'd tried Rectogesic which didn't really cause too much pain for me however didn't produce any ongoing positive results. I weaned my first child a bit early in the hope this would help but was pregnant again within a few months so it's hard to tell if that was contributing.
The actual procedure was hideous in my experience. The meds to clear the bowel reacted badly with me and (perhaps because I am breast feeding) I became dehydrated and started vomiting prior to arrival at the hospital. I was told to come in early. By the time I got to hospital I was vomiting in a bucket with difficulty breathing and my arm muscles were starting to seize. A drip was put in and I pretty much immediately felt better. Basically I don't want to go through the whole bowel prep again so LIS is not an option for me (well not at the moment). Particularly given the fissure was only "subtle".
So that's my story.
I've always been regular with bowel movements and never had any real problems so this last 2 or so years has been quite demoralising and I find I spend so much time thinking about my BMs and butt that I don't really enjoy the time being a mother. I said to my CRS that I was beginning to lose hope this would ever end and he said that it would at some point heal - just a matter of when and how.
Nanceee

Nanceee,
Oh, I'm so sorry to read about your fissure nightmares, and especially with a baby to care for. We all know how awful it is to have our lives so focused on all this pain. We miss out on so much. Have you considered getting another opinion from a different CRS? Different doctors take different approaches to treatment, and you might find that another look by someone else could shed some additional treatment options.
This forum has a lot to offer in information and support, and there are a lot of success stories out there. There is always, always hope for healing.

hello
im so sorry to hear about your pain, i too have been through horrendous pain over the past year. it finally has started to ease after my second LIS. LIS was the only thing together with a polyp removal that actually helped with the pain. i didnt have to have any bowel prep, no colon cleansing here in the uk prior to LIS, so that's what's stopping you from curing it dont let it hold you back.
i have read quite a few posts on here of people who have healed it really is possible and you will heal too, its just a matter of time and finding the right solution/treatment for you right now. its good that you have a colorectal surgeon, i really wish i'd been to see one sooner.

Hi Shakeit,
After doing a bit of reading I see you're right - bowel prep not required for LIS. I will check this with my CRS when I see him in a month.
Why did you have to have a second LIS?

Hi Jr2,
Thanks for your kind words.