thank you!

I always feel kind of bloated when I take stuff, my stomach was much happier after the LIS when I didnt use anything, but now that its all come back, I thought I had to take it

I only take it because it's mild and it helps. I'm still a bit tighter in the rear than I'd like, so this compensates. For the first couple of weeks after LIS, I didn't take anything except normal food.

Val -
I only take fiber everyday. If my fissure is bothering me, I take MOM, but I have not had to do that in a while. Since I have a BM 1-2 times a day, my stools are pretty soft and don't irritate me. However, if I eat alot of junk food, I may take MOM just for a precaution. I have it worked down to a science that works for me - everyone is different!
Jen

val - even if you're not suffering from constipation, your stool might still not be soft enough to allow the wound to heal. i believe that was my problem for over a year. i was going everyday and eating super healthy and my BMs were softer than ever, but nothing was changing. once i started taking MOM it made the BMs much softer, even runny sometimes, and didn't stretch the anus at all. once your body adjusts to something like MOM it should be more consistent in keeping the stool soft. just make sure you stay well hydrated and continue eating well!!

Chris did a good job explaining the different types of laxatives. definitely don't use the stimulants!

Thanks Juney!

Val,
I take Colace everyday and drink prune juice every morning. I agree with Chris sometimes hormones come into play. My problem is the volume of the BM cannot be big or it causes me so much pain. It can be real soft too but if the BM is to big it can cause me a lot problems. I also take magnesium supplements and I am back on fish oil and I think that is makin a difference to me. I agree with Kim Laxatives are harsh stick with the stool softners.
Patty

I used to take Magnesium Glycinate (400 mg) once daily in the evening. I read once on the internet the the upper limit for supplemental magnesium is 350 mg., so I was always somewhat troubled that I was taking too much mag. Don't know if that info was correct or not as my family doc who prescribed the mag was not bothered by the amount of the mag supplement. I don't know how much mag is in MOM.
I get 400 mg. of mag through my calcium supplement, so while taking the mag supplement, I was getting a total of 800 mg. of mag daily. My family doc feels that most people don't get enough of mag.
Cheryl

I am with Juney and Patty on this one :D
Val, you know i take movicol-miralax one sachet at evening :D
Maybe half would suffice for you i have had no problems using it, for me it works gently :D .
Only wish i had started the movicol when my fissure first started but it was only a few months later that i adressed the situation!!
The rest of the hard work i do through my diet :flush:
As said on a previous thread i like Psyllium , there is a very good supplement in holland and barrett , it is called regucol, adds bulk which is fine if one can handle it

I take magnesium glycinate too and that really seems to help. I take 1200 mg a day but for most that would probably be too much. I agree it is hard to get this all down pat. My body keeps changing the rules so my little regimen I am on needs to be tweaked. But I would think taking a mag supplement which is readily available could be helpful. It helps to relax the muscles so you have an easier bm.

Did I miss it or what did the DR say yesterday?

thanks guys! You would think that I would know all this by now!
I rang the doctors secretary, but she said I had to go in and see the specialist again on thursday evening. I'm wondering (hoping!) that if I could tolerate the scope then maybe the surgery wouldnt be necessary, unless of course its a fistula/abcess again. Its worrying that the pain subsided with the antibiotics because I would assume from that there is an infection present?