Thanks Lynn

I had this since last summer, with no improvement at all. Every BM is intensely painful and difficult to pass. Do you have the problem with the internal muscles going into permanent spasm? That is what has stopped me healing, and why I ended up having the surgery.

I believe ispahlluga husk is the British equivalent of Metamucil and I have been on that for several months. I have been on the maximum dose of Dulco Ease stool softeners for the same time. Nothing seems to make much difference - and even a soft stool, when I do manage it, is very painful to pass. I have just changed to Lactulose stool softener instead, thought I would give that a go.

My Doctor knows very little about the problem, the consultant who did the surgery is a long journey away and I can't have any more time off work. I have only been in the job three months and had three weeks off post surgery already. I didn't know to avoid bananas and rice, so will try that. Already avoiding red meat, eggs and cheese. Nothing much seems to help at all. Apple juice sometimes seems to help a little, but not always. I am so worried that the condition has recurred already, or surgery not worked at all.

I am a bit scared that stopping solids will result in diarrhoea, and I have to go to work! Might try that though, maybe soup instead of sandwiches and salad for packed lunches. And yum! prune juice I do have a carton, it sits threateningly on the counter and I am plucking up the courage to drink it

Honey.