Hello, Susan.   It's been a while since you've posted here. I hope this means that you've been doing relatively OK--well, at least, GI-wise.   It seems like you may be constipated, and are straining with hard, dry stools that are causing some fissures (cracks) to your anal tissue. But, you don't mention anything about your GI history or medical history, or if you are experiencing a little or lot of bleeding, the color and quality of the bleeding, or any other answers to my various questions in my earlier response to you.   I would really like to help you, but I need you to help me in order to be able do so.   Hope