Hi, I'm new to the forum and this is my first posting. Over the past month I have read many of the postings and have found them most helpful, both mentally and practically. Briefly, I have had a chronic fissure for about 20 months and have had two lots of LIS surgery, one 12 months ago and the other 7 months ago. While the second one resulted in the sphincter muscle becoming more relaxed, I still get pain for most of the day, paricularly when walking. Some days it is a dull pain, other times razor sharp. I am very careful to do the 'right thing' including heaps of water, a very disciplined diet, benefiber and miralax and 90 minutes of exercise a day. My colorectal surgeon is quite good and I have been happy with him but when I visit next week will be looking to getting a referral for a second opinion. He has ruled out other things preventing healing such as crohns (negative with blood tests and 2x colonoscopy), cancer and infection. I have been applying 0.2% nifedipine 3x a day and vitamin e 2x daily and also having 2x sitz baths a day. Generally my BMs (1x per day) are consistently soft.
I have some questions and wondering if anyone can help?
1) Has anyone been in this situation with 2x LIS and still not healed after 6+ months?
2) If you were in a similar situation were you eventually healed? If so, how long did it take? What do you think was important for the healing?
3) Have others with longer term chronic fissures gone through cycles every few weeks of thinking you are getting better, only to crash back again with severe pain - and often nothing obvious has changed (eg diet, BM) to cause the difference?
I must admit I am feeling quite frustrated with all this, not only on its effect on me but on those around, particularly my family. I know we are all different but am interested in any feedback from people.
Thanks
Charles