Rachael, U wondered
Did you get a lot of minor re-tears? And did you use stool softeners?
I sure did, I ran the gamut of re-tears recurs "repeats", fissures on top of fissures (felt like it anyways), everything.
As for stool softeners I never went that route cause I always knew of a few natural foods that worked like lax's or I would just always go on a liquid diet.
Yes, it was ultimately when I cut way back on the floury and salty foods that my recurs repeats and re-tears suddenly disappeared for good. Just wish others could do it with diet alone also.
Keep keep searching and tweaking, its "painstaking" to say the least, but it will be well worth it once you find the right routine that works just for you.
GL HTH
P.S. You know, I suppose in all those years of fighting my AF's , I could have easily said I need surgery because these monsters aren't going away. Good thing I was dirt poor and could not afford a doc. Just makes one wonder how many others (not saying that you could) would be healed with diet alone if they would be a little more patient and diligent diet wise.....