Hello,
Just found this kind forum. So helpful and such Nice people. So sorry to read about the amount of pain on here. I have a doctors appoit. tomorrow just to see if I again have a fissure. I feel good so not 100% sure. I just don't know. But I suspect.
My question to you all here, is. I had 2 hemorrhoid surgeries in my life, after the 2nd one is when I started to get a fissure. The hemmorrhoid issue was made worse by a doctors technique used to get rid of them, that is in the past. Did not know anything about them before that. My bottom, works perfectly fine, not ever constipated as I know how to eat perfectly.
I now from time to time, with perfect eating, I have actually now restricted myself for years from eating much of anything. I have become so aware of what I need to eat, it does take time to get the fruits, and water in as allot of you may know. My question is, I feel a bit trapped having to worry about what I eat. Its a daily, job it has become a job and worry. As I know how much a fissure hurts, how long they can take to go away, my allot of my day is all about eating correctly, to "possibly" as I never have full control to Not get another fissure.
I have been checked out, and as written, my bottom is working fully and fine. But for some reason I now can get fissures. I don't have scar tissue that I have been told. So my BIG question is would you put yourself thru a LIS surgery to free yourself from the total, and constant worry of a getting another fissure?
What I believer is a big part of my problem is I just turned 50 and can tell I am hormonal, I don't eat much anymore, (hungry allot) but some of you women will understand, before you get your period you can become constipated well, its not easy for my body now, as I always feel I have to be PERFECT and then I still have had a fissure problem as hormones do wild things with your system. So it is making my daily life so much more difficult for eating. I use the bathroom daily, but its work, eating right, as said, it become a job, now I think due to the hormones.
I hope you can see clearly what I am asking. Would you go for a LIS surgery, to free yourself from the worry of getting fissures? I have had a handful of fissures, with eating Perfect, is why I need this helpful input.
Its like a roll of the dice for me to get a fissure even with perfect eating, and soft stools, (did you guys the first time you wrote out the word "stools" talking about yourself) think geez.......the power of the fissure. argh.......
Thank you
d

Hi d,
Yes, I think most of us can relate to how eating and using the bathroom become full time occupations when you have anal problems!
The question you ask about LIS isnt easy because with a history of 2 hemorrhoid surgeries you may have some anal stenosis that is making you more vulnerable to fissures. Anal stenosis can happen with hemorrhoid surgery. So, what you would need is a good evaluation from a skilled colorectal surgeon to examine you and determine whether LIS would be appropriate in your case. Have you consulted yet with a CRS regarding your questions about surgery?
I agree with you, fissures are powerful... talking here about stools and number of bowel movements per day and the consistency and softness of it is pretty amazing, isn't it?
Welcome to the board, though I'm so sorry you're here because of fissures. As you've seen the people here are so kind and so supportive.

Good Morning,
Thank you for your reply. I have been told I don't have any stenosis, by a couple of doctos. They also say I look so good and heatly there. So as with so many, its just frustrating that it happens at all. I understand this board, its so good for support and no one can tell another what to do just there experience they have had and to offer what that is like.
So if there is stenosis then will a LIS not work? I have allot of elasticity I am told. Just looked at my one doctors card he is a crs. I have grown tired of having to be so strict and the worry that has come each day. Also its key to try to not injure and get another fissure its just a quest that is so unknown even if a person does everything correctly.
I have an appoit today this will help me add some important and helpful questions already, so again, thanks for your reply.
Thank you

Hi,
I think a lot of us women on the forum have difficulties keeping stool consistency 'perfect' during menstruation.
I try to just drink some extra prune juice during that time and eat extra veggie. I think this month I will try salads during those days.
Have you considered just doing a fiber supplement or stool softener?
I've been doing metamucil for a while now and figure even when I heal I will keep using it for life. I just started using the new 'inulin' metamucil. It is less 'bulking'. Not ready to give it a verdict yet though.
Some people on this forum are on miralax for life.
I don't know if any long term studies have been done on that, but several people's doctors here say it is fine long term.
Anyways, with fiber supplements and/or stool softeners, it allows you to have more flexibility in your diet.
My mom just does fiber. Her diet is various but she keeps a list of fiber foods on the fridge so she can make sure that whatever she eats equals 30g by the end of the day.
Anyways, good luck with the CRS today!!
-Tanya

Since you've been checked out and things look good from a physical examination standpoint, you might want to consider asking your doctor to refer you for a manometry study. This study measures the pressure inside the anal canal and also assesses how well your muscles are working for expelling stool, and if there is some kind of muscle coordination problem going on. This study might give you a better idea about whether LIS is something to consider. If your anal resting pressure is not shown to be elevated on this test it isn't very likely that LIS would help, but if the study reveals some other muscular coordination problem such as anismus where the muscle contracts during bowel movements, you might benefit from some pelvic floor physical therapy to retrain the muscles.
Good luck at your visit!

Thank you for your help here,
I went to my doctor and had some new and helpful questions I got from here. I did not have a fissure. I still do need to be careful to not get on in the future.
My doctor thought also that since i heal, the LIS would be better suited for people with a chronic fissure that does not heal.