Well still getting over a bit of a rash from the aloe that was straight from the plant.
Saw my CRS today and told him I was dilating. He said that there was some evidence that it could be helpful in loosening the muscle. It's just not done much anymore.
He likened it to 'the lord's finger' but the difference between the two seems 'night and day' to me.
Whatever. i didn't make another appointment with him.
He did say I seemed more healed. So I figured that's the most I would get from him.
I do OF COURSE feel more sore now, after seeing him.
Before I saw him, I used the 0.8" again this morning, but without the smaller one first. It always feels very tight and uncomfortable for several minutes and then I can feel the muscle start to relax. It takes about 10 min. for the muscle to finish relaxing, or relax as much as it's gonna do for now.
SOooo, same old same old I guess.
Trying to keep things as simple as I can, since it looks like it will be a while longer before I am healed, and I get tired of the regimen.
Hope you guys are doing well, Baba and TP and Sav and anyone else braving the dilators. :)
-Tanya

Good to hear you're making progress with dilating.
Your CRS wasn't that encouraging about the dilation, but I suppose if everyone starts doing that the surgeons will be out of business!
Yeah, you're right, it takes that old sphincter a good while to relax. On good days I can get the 1 1/4 " dilator about 3/4 of the way in. Last weekend I ate too much vegetable roughage and things were irritated down there with some renewed mild spasms, but things are settling down again.
I've got family coming to visit for a week the end of April - hopefully I'm better by then so the day doesn't have to revolve around my butt :D

TP,
Atleast your CRS said SD will help, mine would have kicked me out of his office:) I am still at 0.6 inch, 0.8 looks too scary for now.. I think I have to use the rectal dialtor, Vaginal is littel too tough for me to insert. So TP does the sliquid dry out in 10 minutes. That is my main concern that the water based gel will dry out if I leave it in too long.. Will have to try oil, vitamine e and oilve oil may be.
Baba,
There was some information on the booklet that came with dilaton dilator, they mentioned for fissure healing the best size to use is 30 mm that is 1.18 inches. So you are already there. Even for SAD They start with 30mm !!
Good luck to both of you. I have to take a break for a few days because of you know what.
TP

I mean Tania :) Looks like I am talking to myself !
TP

Hey Tp,
Sorry about the you know what.
Neither of the lubes I use dry out that fast.(sliquid and blessed bee magic stuff).
Olive oil and vit. e would work fine too. Thanks for the info about the best dilation size. I didn't know that. Was afraid I'd have to get real big. But as I recall the guys on the yahoo forum didn't get bigger than 1.5".
Baba,
I hope you feel better by the time your family comes too!
I have family coming in June, so a bit more breathing space. But still the thought is a worry at the back of my mind.
Yah, my crs is pretty non committal about everything. It's really irritating! lol :D
-Tanya

Tanya,
For SAD here is what the doctors (in NY) do once u are under the anesthesia, they insert 30mm dilator, keep it for 1 minute, then 35 mm, keep it for one minute and finally 40mm (1.5 inch) and keep it for 6 minutes. So instead of gradually dilating daily, this is a the quick fix to dilate the sphincter and also weaken it for the fissure to heal.
I will have to wait 4 days to dilate again, by that time Sliquid should be here.
TP

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if having regular bulky soft bowel movements would work the same way as anal dilation?
Over the weekend I tried 1 tbsp of psyllium husks and my bm's were bulky but soft. It was painful but there was no bleeding. Afterwards, I was just sore, no burning/itching. So would that work the same way as anal dilation?
Thanks

hi Pgre,
When the fissure is acute(less than 6 weeks old), one of the things doctors suggest is to keep the BM soft but bulky to help the sphincter stretch. yes it should help. But make sure to stick to the regimen every day to keep BM soft and bulky, if not you may have a setback.
With self dilation, we are pretty much forcing the sphincter to expand and then get used to the bigger size of the dilator and then relax. Self dilation is not a fast or easy process at first and one has to be really careful to not stretch the sphincter too much. So most of us here are starting with the smallest dilator which is .6 inches.

TP

Tiredofpain,
Self Dilation sounds interesting but isn't there a chance of increasing the size of the AF with self dilation, since we can't really see what's happening? As the AF began with a bowel movement that was too big/hard, wouldn't stretching it increase the size of the fissure? I don't think I'm understanding it correctly.
Thanks

hmm That is a thought :) yes it can strech the fissure I guess.. all of us are taking it really slow though. Using finger first (I know TMI) and then the smallest dialtor(.6 inch). I have tried it only twice, and my fissure did not feel any worse after. The key is taking it really slow.
TP