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Have what I think are two anal fissures, 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock, external, radiating out from the anus. They do not look too much like pictures I have seen in the sense that they are not deep, but probably a qtr inch long, looks more like skin got rubbed raw in a line, and then generally red around the line and slightly puffy / raised. Not sure if this sounds familiar to anyone else. Tried the usual, nitro, Vaseline, antibiotic cream, etc, etc.

Have been going on now for about 5 months, won't seem to heal. However, no spasms, no pain during BM, just itching like nuts and stinging sometimes with baby wipes, etc. What is weird is for like 5 years, every so often I would get the spasm that people might be talking about, literally felt like anus muscle would self clinch so tight I thought I would die, but literally for like 5 seconds, then would go away and would not feel that again for 2 months, never thought to seconds about it. But still a serious bummer and impact on general attitude, etc.

Think I got them during a bought of not enough water and was not taking my psllium husk pills as I normally do, remember having a BM and red blood in the toilet one day. I am a very heavy lifter, do dead llifts of 350 pounds, 10 reps, 5 sets and then was doing 80 pound kettlebell swings, 40 reps, 3 sets. I'm 40, I am actually thinking the kettlebell swings might have contributed to building muscle tension in my lower region and now I have a blood flow issue, hence no healing. I am super bummed about this because I love working out, and I have stopped all of it now because of this issue. Got an appointment with a Col Surgeon in a week, want to look at LIS surgery, while this is my far not life threatening, it's put a cloud over everything I do; worried that even if LIS surgery works, do I walk away from lifting like I used to because it will just tighten everything up again.

Well, any input or insight from anyone let me know, you all take care.

Hi ec1957, welcome to the forum!

You seem to be at a similar stage that I was around 9 months ago. I wish I had taken the real measures to deal with this situation and I wouldn't have gotten the real AF that I got 4 months ago. 9 months ago I used to get itching and stinging feeling after BM that would sometimes last for hours, and sometimes vanish after just 5 minutes. Sometimes this itchy feeling would not return for weeks to the point that I would forget about it. I used to attribute it to the spices that I was eating at that time. I am a spice lover. I used to get zero spasms and zero pain. Good old days!!!!

Anyway, my point is: deal with asap! Why are you considering surgery? Surgery should be your last resort when all else fails. I don't think your crs will recommend surgery with a minor issue such as yours. Yours can go away with simple diet and lifestyle changes. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself regular and your BMs soft. DO NOT STRAIN. I wouldn't have gotten my AF if I had not strained at the toilet. Good luck!