What worked for me / What didn't work

Please help others by posting your success story here. Tell us what worked for you, before you move on with your fissure-free life!!

Return to Anal Fissure Success Stories



Re: What worked for me / What didn't work

Postby BillUltra » 31 Jan 2013, 22:35

Sure I am happy to contribute anything that might help you or anyone dealing with this horrible pain.
I am STILL on a careful fissure diet. Almost the same diet I listed in my post, except no more split pea soup! I have added a few foods since: early on I added an egg in the mornings because my weight loss was so rapid and wouldn't seem to stop. The egg helped me taper off at 175, down from 220, and I have since rebounded to 177-178. I dealt with a fissure most of my life until the age of 47, when I had an LIS. When I was younger I had assumed it was hemorrhoids and treated for them, which of course didn't work. Prior to the LIS I had not tried changing my diet to help; I just relied on my proctologist's recommendation for Metamucil. That worked for awhile, but eventually it just wouldn't work anymore so I got the LIS. After the LIS I healed completely and still ate anything I wanted, until I had a polyp removed during a colonoscopy that was at the very top of my anus and wouldn't heal. After a bout of constipation it started splitting and split all the way down to my anus. My doctor's recommendations for more Metamucil and the ointment alone were not helping and things kept getting worse, but in all fairness he had recommended the sitz baths which I didn't follow because I just didn't see how they could help. I didn't realize how truly important they are to stimulate healing blood flow to your anal region. Other foods I have added include poultry and seafood (I had eliminated all meats for awhile), but I still do not eat red meat. I started eating tomatoes again, but still no bread, cheese, fried foods, chocolate or sweets of any kind, unless you would count a sprite or decaf tea. I still consume no caffeine. I would feel comfortable adding that back now, except I determined that helped a lot with my insomnia.
This last fissure lasted about 8 weeks total, but only the last 6 of those were suicide level pain. When it started healing, it healed fast. I couldn't believe how fast.
I used the cream for exactly the number of weeks my new doc told me to, which if I recall was about 1 week or 2 after I had healed. It was the same for the baths: about a week or 2 after I felt I had healed. Believe me, when you're healed, you know it! You can sit down without pain, and cleaning up after a bm is so easy.
My overall anal health now is near perfect. The only remaining issue is some anal incontinence after passing gas, which is much more frequent than it ever used to be because of the great amount of fiber and legumes in my diet. When I say in continence I do not mean that actual poop passes out, just small amounts of juice in my outermost cavity that sometimes require an extra wipe with a damp Bounty towel. (FYI: damp Bounty towels are AMAZING for cleaning up with fissures!) Also my farts are MUCH stinkier than they ever used to be, I think because of the lack of bread. Bread absorbs odors so well if you lay a few slices around a pot of boiling collards, it will absorb the foul smell. So that's a little annoying, but I'm not around people a whole lot so it's not that big of a deal. Other than those issues, I would say my anus and rectum are as good as they have ever been.
You ask if I took precautions for awhile, but I think I've made it clear that I STILL take precautions in the form of my diet, and plan on continuing to eat this way for the rest of my life. Other advantages of eating this diet include all the benefits of weighing 177 instead of 220, including more energy and better overall athleticism. Plus the fact that this diet is very good for preventing colon cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the state of Alabama. Since I plan to never have another coloscopy, I like the idea of staying away from foods that cause polyps and colon cancer.
As far as big meals, I eat them all the time! Just the right foods. Every time I eat brown rice, I eat 2 servings according to the box. A full plate of food every meal.
No need to apologize for asking your questions. I am MORE than happy to try to help anyone who is wrestling with this debilitating injury!
BillUltra
Proctosphincteranalogist
 
Posts: 121
Topics: 19
Joined: 15 Apr 2012, 16:00
Location: Birmingham AL
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: What worked for me / What didn't work

Postby AF Angel » 01 Feb 2013, 17:22

Thanks SO MUCH Bill for the detailed response. It is REALLY helpful. You answered all my questions ! I had my CR visit today and I will be waiting till the end of the month to see how things progress and will consider LIS accordingly. Just want to get back to my feet again and live a normal life without the fear of re-tears.
I wish you a healthy life ahead and thanks again for your time and kindness. God bless us all.
- Angel
AF Angel
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 31
Topics: 5
Joined: 06 Jan 2013, 17:00
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 1 time
Gender: None specified

Re: What worked for me / What didn't work

Postby bootyhurts » 01 Feb 2013, 20:37

BillUltra wrote:Sure I am happy to contribute anything that might help you or anyone dealing with this horrible pain.
I am STILL on a careful fissure diet. Almost the same diet I listed in my post, except no more split pea soup! I have added a few foods since: early on I added an egg in the mornings because my weight loss was so rapid and wouldn't seem to stop. The egg helped me taper off at 175, down from 220, and I have since rebounded to 177-178. I dealt with a fissure most of my life until the age of 47, when I had an LIS. When I was younger I had assumed it was hemorrhoids and treated for them, which of course didn't work. Prior to the LIS I had not tried changing my diet to help; I just relied on my proctologist's recommendation for Metamucil. That worked for awhile, but eventually it just wouldn't work anymore so I got the LIS. After the LIS I healed completely and still ate anything I wanted, until I had a polyp removed during a colonoscopy that was at the very top of my anus and wouldn't heal. After a bout of constipation it started splitting and split all the way down to my anus. My doctor's recommendations for more Metamucil and the ointment alone were not helping and things kept getting worse, but in all fairness he had recommended the sitz baths which I didn't follow because I just didn't see how they could help. I didn't realize how truly important they are to stimulate healing blood flow to your anal region. Other foods I have added include poultry and seafood (I had eliminated all meats for awhile), but I still do not eat red meat. I started eating tomatoes again, but still no bread, cheese, fried foods, chocolate or sweets of any kind, unless you would count a sprite or decaf tea. I still consume no caffeine. I would feel comfortable adding that back now, except I determined that helped a lot with my insomnia.
This last fissure lasted about 8 weeks total, but only the last 6 of those were suicide level pain. When it started healing, it healed fast. I couldn't believe how fast.
I used the cream for exactly the number of weeks my new doc told me to, which if I recall was about 1 week or 2 after I had healed. It was the same for the baths: about a week or 2 after I felt I had healed. Believe me, when you're healed, you know it! You can sit down without pain, and cleaning up after a bm is so easy.
My overall anal health now is near perfect. The only remaining issue is some anal incontinence after passing gas, which is much more frequent than it ever used to be because of the great amount of fiber and legumes in my diet. When I say in continence I do not mean that actual poop passes out, just small amounts of juice in my outermost cavity that sometimes require an extra wipe with a damp Bounty towel. (FYI: damp Bounty towels are AMAZING for cleaning up with fissures!) Also my farts are MUCH stinkier than they ever used to be, I think because of the lack of bread. Bread absorbs odors so well if you lay a few slices around a pot of boiling collards, it will absorb the foul smell. So that's a little annoying, but I'm not around people a whole lot so it's not that big of a deal. Other than those issues, I would say my anus and rectum are as good as they have ever been.
You ask if I took precautions for awhile, but I think I've made it clear that I STILL take precautions in the form of my diet, and plan on continuing to eat this way for the rest of my life. Other advantages of eating this diet include all the benefits of weighing 177 instead of 220, including more energy and better overall athleticism. Plus the fact that this diet is very good for preventing colon cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the state of Alabama. Since I plan to never have another coloscopy, I like the idea of staying away from foods that cause polyps and colon cancer.
As far as big meals, I eat them all the time! Just the right foods. Every time I eat brown rice, I eat 2 servings according to the box. A full plate of food every meal.
No need to apologize for asking your questions. I am MORE than happy to try to help anyone who is wrestling with this debilitating injury!

What a hopeful post! I'm going to try this immediately.
bootyhurts
Newbie
 
Posts: 2
Topics: 1
Joined: 01 Feb 2013, 17:00
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: What worked for me / What didn't work

Postby BillUltra » 01 Feb 2013, 22:10

AF Angel wrote:Thanks SO MUCH Bill for the detailed response. It is REALLY helpful. You answered all my questions ! I had my CR visit today and I will be waiting till the end of the month to see how things progress and will consider LIS accordingly. Just want to get back to my feet again and live a normal life without the fear of re-tears.
I wish you a healthy life ahead and thanks again for your time and kindness. God bless us all.
- Angel

You're welcome! :) Best of luck to you.
BillUltra
Proctosphincteranalogist
 
Posts: 121
Topics: 19
Joined: 15 Apr 2012, 16:00
Location: Birmingham AL
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: What worked for me / What didn't work

Postby owmybum » 02 Feb 2013, 03:19

Thank you Bill for your very informative post.
Image
fissure after hem banding and tag removal feb 11
Pelvic floor therapy
Diltiazem
Botox June 13
Nitro
Internal flap July 14
EUA and polyps removed Nov 14
Diagnosed with neuropathy Jan 15
Diagnosed with HS EDS type 3 (causes poor wound healing )
User avatar
owmybum
Moderator
 
Posts: 2850
Topics: 42
Joined: 16 Sep 2012, 16:00
Location: UK
Has thanked: 205 times
Been thanked: 159 times
Gender: Female
Mood: UGH !


  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to Anal Fissure Success Stories



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests