Hi everyone, I'm not yet diagnosed as having an actual fissure, but I suspect it. I've had this for a month or so now. Had a bout of constipation, and strained and ever since on the right side of my bum area, right around the spincter I've had stinging feelings & pain each time I go. Not al the time, just when I go or a little bit afterwards. The area is slightly tender to the touch, but not like when I go, that's the worst. Doesn't last long thankfully. It just feels highly irritated down there.

I normally have and have had for most of my life 1-3 movements per day. I'm trying to do all the right things, eat two apples a day, one banana, drink a lot of water, raisins, dried apricots, fiber cereal in mornings, pasta, soft foods mostly.
So far, I have yet to try the medication route, and just changing my diet hasn't seemed to heal it up. I still drink coffee, I could not sacrifice that. I also try to drink prune juice on occasion. But lately, since I've been having symptoms, I am going hungry, because I'm used to snacking a lot, and I'm scared to go to the bathroom, but I am still hungry! What can I do? Unlike many, I don't want to lose weight, I desperately need to maintain mine or even gain a few more pounds.

Here's my question. I'm on a budget right now, don't have the time or money to fix elaborate fruit/veggie cuisines, so what are some basic foods (even fast food) that I can eat and yet not worry about getting constipated or worse, causing hard stools.

I am a slim guy already, and I really don't want to lose any weight. So how can I keep my carbs up, not lose weight, and yet not cause hard stools?

What are some basic easy foods I can eat? I LOVE pizza & Italian foods, pasta, etc. How about ice cream? I eat a ton of it. Tuna on whole grain? Salads are ok, but again, I need foods that will keep me from losing weight. I drink Boost protein drinks often, they are high calorie, about 250 each.

Hopefully if I do in fact have a fissure, I can not starve but I need some advice about what to eat and at the same time not lose weight! I love Chinese food, I like chicken lo mein, maybe that would be okay, since their food has a lot of veggies in it. It seems that bread tends to cause hard stools for me.

Thanks for any advice!

Fissure friendly high carbs include brown rice and quinoa.
Oatmeal is great. You can mix in fruit to sweeten it.
I cook a lot of lentils. You can make them more interesting by using Indian spices (dal recipes), or add protein and flavour by cooking them in chicken stock.

Are you planning to see a colorectal specialist? I really strongly recommend it, to get a correct diagnosis. It may be a fissure, it may be something else - you should get it checked out.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

I lost a lot of weight too. In attempt to gain some I started to eat:
- more butter (fermented one is better, it has some probiotic cultures in it) butter is not so bad if you do not eat a lot of other animal fats and if you do not suffer from conditions that require lowere fat intake Butter has butyric acid which is good for colon health.
- dates, they are packed with calories and have minerals and fiber too -beter they are free from preservatives. (I suppose preservatives may kill some beneficial bacteria in your gut. Balanced gut microbiota is essential for good health and it is better to look after all the "good guys" that cooperate with us)
-ripe bananas

Please follow the above Scientists advice and see the doctor if your problems persist and if you continue to loose weight.

I can't afford to lose any weight. I like my current weight. If I lose a lot, I'll look like a nasty crackhead and I don't want that. I gotta be honest, most of the foods you mentioned I've never even heard of, & don't even know what they are. How can I maintain my weight living on water & salad? I need high calorie, high carbs, daily or I'll waste away.

Can't I eat ice cream, drink Boost drinks? I used to get made fun of because I was skinny, and now that I'm at a good weight I'm terrified of losing weight again. Can't I just eat things like high carb pasta like from Fazolli's, chicken lo mein (it's soft), & ice cream? I can eat oatmeal, I like it, but can't fix it everyday, don't have the time. I don't want to lose much weight. I have to eat. And I can't survive on crumbs. And I can't cook at all, all I know how to do is fry or scramble eggs or heat things in the microwave.

I'm wondering if I can just take stool softeners, eat lots of high calorie pasta, which is soft, & drink a lot of water, and also eat a lot of fruits and veggies. So I can get the fiber I need but not lose weight. How about mashed potatoes, occasional fried chicken? I don't want to lose weight and get made fun of again.

I saw a colorectal surgeon recently. I told him of my symptoms. He took about a 2 minute look, and said I may or may not have a fissure. He just sent me on my way. I saw my primary doc, he claimed I do have a fissure, I'm taking cream and stuff now for it. I'm hoping I can eat the things I want (within reason of course, not planning on eating any hard foods for a bit). But it seems to me pasta & whole grain bread would be ok..What about tuna fish on whole grain bread?

I love sandwiches. I love hot dogs. I love chicken. I love fish. And pasta. I need quick foods I can get at fast food places because I work a lot and never cook, but I can't afford to lose weight. I refuse to look skinny and be laughed at again like I once was.