It's been over a year now that I've been dealing with this issue. And, during this time, I've been drinking Herbal teas every night to help me have a softer movement when I use the bathroom. Well, over a year is quite a while and I'm very scared that my body will become dependent on this product or any other laxative. I'm just losing my mind right now.

Awww so sorry PB..just know we all have similar concerns..I've been on stool softeners and miralax for 6 months now but I've read its safe to stay on miralsx long term.. have u considered miralax?

I know how you feel. I am approaching 2 years on lactulose and I am a bit scared that I will never be able to not take it... But if it helps, and doesn't harm, then I can accept it for the foreseeable future.
Try not to stress about it.... In the near future you will prob be fissure free and not needing any of your herbal teas.
OMB x

I was on Lactulose and Movicol for a year or two. When my fissure was eventually cured by LIS, I withdrew from both of them, but very, very gradually, cutting down the dose a bit, stabilising on that new level, then cutting it down a bit further. I do still drink 200 ml of prune juice a day however and this, combined with a healthy diet, keeps my stools fine and regular. The CRS was happy for me to continue to drink prune juice for the rest of my life, since it's a natural substance.

Thank you for your replies. I know we are all in this together. I have tried Miralax but I wasn't fond of it. Thanks for your reply Lauren, it makes me very hopeful!

Pink_Bows,
Herbal teas are great! Don't worry about being on them for the rest of your life. I drink allsorts daily and have done for years and will continue to do so!!
I have been using Lactulose since January but totally stopped it in the last two weeks as everything has been so much better. I was a bit concerned about the effect this would have but tbh, there's no difference in my stools! I also have a big tablespoon of olive oil every night as a "lubricant" for the following morning BM and this has been a real help. Again, this is completely safe, a natural and good oil to take.
The only difference I noticed is that a BM later on in the day may be a little harder to expel now but I don't know if at this stage, that I really need one and am just trying to force it out because of habit (although I am not straining to do this!!! - I quickly add) or since stopping the Lactulose, I no longer need to expel so much! (I was going 3 times a day but this has now gone down to 2 very soft BM's - once in the morning and once around lunchtime)...
I do wonder now if the stool softener didn't make me want to go more?? Not yet 100% about that!
Just keep up with a good diet, lots of fluids, fruits, veg, insoluble fibre etc. and you'll know when the time is right to start reducing/ stopping the softener. Good luck all :)

Don't worry about becoming dependent on herbal tea, it isn't gonna do you any harm at all, most of us long termers have been taking stool softeners for years me personally for about 10 years, bottom line is, as long as it's making your BM's easier to pass, then it's all good.