Hi guys,
Thanks for all the support. We could form quite the lynch mob!
I haven't posted in the last couple of days because to be honest, I've been a little down about all this fissure business. I’ve also been agonizing over a couple of other medical issues, which I know isn’t good for the fissure, but … What can you do?
Bambi - I've taken your advice and made an appointment with my family doctor for Monday. Just to get a check-up and some blood tests done. I'm Vegan, so I get my B12 and Iron levels tested pretty regularly. I haven't had it done in a while though, so I think it's a good idea. Thanks! :D It's really interesting that you've suffered with Vulvodynia in the past and had it go away. It gives me hope that it might one day go away for me too.
I made an appointment with a new CRS today. It isn't until May, but that's probably a good thing because I wouldn't want to rush into anything at this stage. If this retearing problem continues though, I'll think I'll run out of patience pretty quick. The last couple of days haven't been too bad. As was the case before I had the operation, the more time I put between myself and the retear, the better everything feels. It does seem to be improving faster than it would have before the op. I've started using Vaseline before BMs because I've noticed that the skin back there is really dry. It does seem to help, but I guess time will tell. I’ve been tinkering with the amount of fiber I’m eating too. My aim is to have no more than two BMs a day. One would be even better! I think I’ve been eating too much fiber and taking too much Movicol. The result is that I generally have three or four BMs a day, which is too many for my poor fragile bottom to cope with.
Bumbutt - Nope, the CRS didn't give me any indication at all of how long to give myself to heal, what to expect. Sorry to hear your fissure has been acting up too. It’s so true … Stupid fissure has a mind of its own!
You're all going to love this ... She sent me on my way with a prescription for steroidal ointment. That was the only suggestion she had. I questioned her about its potential to damage the skin and she told me that there is a “theoretical risk” that steroidal preparations can damage the skin, but as long as they are not used for too long, it should be fine. She said that the main reason it is prescribed in these situations is because it contains a topical painkiller. That one had me scratching my head a little! I’d rather not put anything back there that could actually cause further damage!
Hey Alpine – Thanks for the heating pad suggestion. I’ve been hunting around online trying to find a good one. Regarding Public Healthcare … Well I really don’t have enough rotten things to say about that. I found out a while back that it’s apparently common knowledge that in NZ, minor, ‘elective’ operations such as Hernias, Gallbladder removal and Anal Fissure are often rejected from the public system unless they are considered severe. Unfortunately, there is no one year wait. They have just flat out said NO. They want nothing to do with me or my derriиre … Pffft!
Hey DH – Thanks for the encouragement. I hope things are going well for you! I will persevere and hope for the best. If I do end up having a second surgery, I think I will want a surgeon who has actually done a second surgery or two. I’m certainly not going to give the same doctor a second go at it, and definitely not right away either. She was willing to do it right away! Even with all of her doubts! Bottom line – I don’t trust her anymore. It will be interesting to hear what she has to say next time I see her though … Once she has had a little time to think the situation over. I think she did realize how unsatisfactory her comments were to me … as they would have been to any patient!
Thanks you guys! You’re all wonderful!