I came upon this forum through Googling anal fissures. I was just diagnosed with a large fissure after 6 months of horrible pain. I had some bad internal hemorrhoids in the past and thought that this was the same problem. I had been doing many of the methods to soften stool and try and make my BM's smoother to no avail. I finally saw a colo-rectal surgeon last week, who suggested I get a sphincterectomy. I'm nervous about the surgery, but I'm sick of dealing with this horrible pain, and of being terrified to BM daily.

Sorry to hear you have been suffering ryrylou. You have come to the right place for info and support.
I also stumbled on this place by googling anal fissures!
Please keep us posted
OMB

Thanks for the concern. I have to admit after reading many of the other stories on this forum has helped me to feel better. I don't know anyone personally that has dealt with this, so it is nice to know there are others out there that I can relate with.

Hi ryrylou
Yes i totally agree that its nice to know your not alone with this problem. Atm Im keeping my pain under control by using lactolose as prescribed by my doctor, about 25 ml a day is making my bm very very soft, i dont need to push at all. It took about a week to fully start working but yeah for now im like a completely different person to the one I was about 4 or 5 weeks ago. Have you tried lactolose ? I fully recommend it ;o)

I also use lactulose... But I am on 30ml. 2x15 a day. It really helps keep things soft... And it's meant to be fine for long term use.
Omb

Right now I am not taking any kind of laxative other than taking Metamucil twice a day. The problem is that I also have IBS, which can cause colon spasm diarrhea. I have to be very careful with laxatives because it can aggravate my IBS. That's pretty much why I'm being led to the surgical route. So, now I'm trying to apply neosporin with lidocaine before and after every BM, which has been helping a little with the pain.

Hi Ryrylou.
Iv done abit of reading online and it seem using lactolose while you have IBS has very mixed results. Some say it has helped and some defo not.!
If you have not tried it I suppose you could start with a very small does and see what happens. I keep harping on about the stuff because for me its working a treat and I like the fact its a natural product and non habit forming.

I am feeling your pain, I am to the point that if the problem doesn't go away I am all for the surgery also I still have until Feb next year to think about it.