Chronic anal fissure - anyone with experience of this?

[OhSweetCheezus]

So the "piles" I've been plagued with since the birth of DD 3 years ago have now been deemed to be scar tissue from a chronic anal fissure instead. Has anyone had any experience of this? The doctor I saw wants to perform some kind of surgery to "divide the shincter muscle" and remove the scar tissue and googling has made me scared of incontinence side effects. Pain side effects are a little less scary because the pain can't get much worse than it already is - I feel like I'm giving birth daily. So has anyone had this type of surgery? If so, what was the aftermath really like? Come hold my hand please!

sorry, "shincter" was obviously "sphincter" - spilled tea on my keyboard last week & keys get sticky even now! :)

A friend of mine had it done. Obviously the fissure keeps opening when you open your bowels and also the area is prone to infection. I don't think there incontinence (well he isn't) but it is uncomfortable. Don't google it.Ask the doc. about complications/side effects etc

My mum had this operation a few years ago and seems happy with the results. She was in terrible pain for a long time before she was even offered the op as GP kept thinking it would heal with copious doses of lactulose each day. After her operation she felt so much better she couldnt believe that they hadnt offered it to her earlier. Think she does have to be very careful to avoid getting constipation though and occasionally has leakage - presumably if she has eaten something which has given her diarrhoea. Could ask her for more detail for you if you would like.

I've had this done about fifteen years ago.

I really wasn't too concerned about the possible negative effects of the surgery at the time (and I don't think they were explained to me) or I would've put alot more thought into the decision process! I understood the mechanics of what the surgery would entail but probably wasn't appreciating what would happen if a mistake was made or the scar tissue was very extensive. I am always very wary of signing anything before a surgery which enables a surgeon to do whatever is necessary.
I now make sure that written note is made saying words to the effect of "sew me back up and ask me permission when I'm awake". It stems from a paranoia I had of having my ovaries removed "for the best" before I had children"

Anyway, not much walking around was done afterwards!
Lots of helpful go-fers and family meant that recovery was quick.
When the surgical packing was removed/removed itself it felt like my insides were leaving through my bum-hole (not painful though)!

It was SUCH a relief to be able to go to the loo and not feel like I was passing an orange studded with bits of broken glass. In my experience, I'm glad I had it done. I had tried all steroid creams and pessaries, diets and laxatives, faecal softners etc. so there wasn't much of an option.

So far..... I have had no side-effects from the surgery and do not dread going to the loo anymore!
I am lucky, as there are always risks to any surgery.

When is it happening?

I had my son 22 months ago and still suffering from fissures, I just had THD surgery for internal hemmroids that never went away cuz i pushed for bout 3 hours.
i had an episiotomy which extended and i believe i got stitched up too tight :( My muscles in my whole perenium keeps spasming and tightening all the time without my control, it keeps causing fissure to come back and never heal, i guess ill need to take stool softeners for the rest of my life then..intercourse with my husband is ok, we just have to use lots of lube..lol. I dont know what to do, its my first child and this has put me off to have another one.

A very experienced GP told me he successfully used liquid paraffin as a stool softener, the idea being that the stool gets soft enough to slip out easily allowing the fissure to heal. It doesn't sound like the most pleasant method but may be an option to consider.