I will look forward to hearing what they say.

GilmoreGirl wrote:Abscess is still around but I have an appointment with my surgeon on Thursday!

Even still managed a 30 min walk, two sets of lunges, planks, and some bicep/tricep stuff so markedly better than pre op. Still getting pinches and some burning sometimes but not like before. Hopin that when the abscess is dealt with and the op site has a little more time to heal I won't have to worry at all about it.

Thanks for checking in patience and healing!

Wow GG you are amazing. You are able to workout after the surgery. I need to take inspiration from you and get myself moving. Hope your abscess is resolved soon and you can finally be fully healed.

Also how very inconsiderate of your gastro. I am so amazed at the apathy some of these doctors. Hope you find a better one soon!

Thanks raoden! I think it has been very good mentally and physically to get exercise and get outside. Sometimes causes a little more pain but nothing too difficult to handle!

How are you doing?

GG so happy you are coming through this.. It is really sad that your doctor is just shrugging this off on the surgeon when it is clear you have to treat the whole person, and since this condition is so specifically tied to the digestive tract. Maybe an Osteopathic Doctor would have a kinder and more thorough consideration. That is just awful to put you through all of this, (My surgeon was very curt and not very comforting) The really good Doctors are far and few between, I am learning. They are in this profession to help not to add to suffering.. You go Girl!!

So how would you estimate your percentage back to normal thus far?! I am 3 months post healing and I am doing way more than last month, but still not back to original. Not sure how much is muscle and what part is still internal hems?!

Thanks mamafizz. I'd say I'm 75% or so. Yesterday managed to go out for several hours (on my feet the whole time) but was very sore after for about an hour and a half.

Overall I'd say my ibs is a much worse issue. I find I'm ok in the morning, eat, generally have to go several times in a matter of 15 min or so, then good until late aft or I eat again. Then I get cramps. They are relieved by a bowel movement but nothing comes like in the morning so I'm out of luck. I try and just wait it out but the pain and bloating always stays until next am. I don't know how to get out of this cycle of needing to have a bm after meals or being stuck in pain if I can't easily.

I had my appointment with the surgeon today. She says the abscess looks ok! She wants me to continue what I'm doing for two more weeks then follow up. She says there is no sign of a fistula but that we have to keep an eye on it - I guess it is fairly superficial and is just from the surface of the incision healing faster than the underlying tissue. She seemed fairly unconcerned and it has been improving.

I am still having trouble with my sphincter spasming during a bm. It's not painful since the surgery but makes it hard to go. She wants me to try flexeril (a muscle relaxant) for two weeks only and see if it breaks the cycle of the tightening reaction to bms. If not, I'm off to the colorectal specialist unit.

I spoke to her about my gastro and she seemed didn't seem surprised (I assume her assistant had been updating her on the difficulties). She said she would be speaking to him tomorrow and would see if he would see me. But I said I did not have any confidence in him treating since he seems so reluctant, and that he said I would not be able to get another gastro and my gp said it would be difficult to do so also. So the surgeon said not to worry at all, she would figure something out for asap. She and her receptionist are saints.

I also am going back to pelvic floor physio week after next. I have a consultation at a wellness clinic for my ibs on Saturday and an appointment with a new gp tomorrow (and an eye appointment Monday!!! Squeezing them all in before I get booted off my parents insurance coverage in August lol).

So overall a very good appointment. I've taken flexeril before and it does make me sleepy and feel icky, but the surgeon said I would be taking it two weeks max then not at all.

Trying to just push through the ibs. Will try and eat smaller meals tomorrow. Getting difficult because if I eat at all during the day the pain seems to start...but then by the time the evening comes around I'm starving. And I need to take most of my meds with food!

I really need a gastro! Lol

Oh right good idea and get those appts in under the ins for sure. Well 75% is good! Once the digestive tract calms you should be getting back to further normalcy.I will say my remaining discomfort seems to be muscular and when I sit/drive it feels like the muscles around my tailbone are really sore and achy. Almost like trying to walk on a sprained ankle only back there lol. I could have used a good muscle relaxer I bet, I just hate to take anything, my digestive system is way better now. I think my IBS is really mild now with the diet I have stuck too. I still cant tell if Botox wore off I dont think so still feels weird, I am wondering if the other muscle strain will get better once that wears totally off. Cant really tell when I am done I think it affected the ext sphincter alittle too but I dont have incontinence so thats good.

Thanks mamafizz! The muscle relaxant is a little constipating and makes me a little drowsy, but doesn't seem to have many other effects on the ibs (in fact, may be helping a little?). Might be worth a try, at least if it helped you would know you're dealing with a tension/muscular issue rather than nerves, hemorrhoids, etc.

Appointment with my new family doctor (who was actually my family doctor as a child) was fantastic. She is VERY informed on ibs and in fact suffers herself. She just came out and said my gastro is not worth seeing ever again - she worked with him during her internship and said he lacks all compassion and will not help me. It was actually good to hear that I'm not the only one who has difficulty with him. What a relief.

She is going to do her best to get me referred to a new gastro, but she thinks we will be able to do lots on her own. She mentioned a new drug on the market that she thinks may help, and suggested I try a carb-free diet. As soon as all my carb filled snacks are done, I'm going to try it out. I used to eat way more protein than I do now - the comparative lack of protein may be contributing to the loose stools.

So sticking to FODMAP and low carb, my diet would consist of organic meat (ground beef, chicken and turkey for me), organic eggs, lactose free plain Greek yogurt, hard lactose free cheeses like Swiss, natural peanut butter and almond butter, iron vegan protein powder, almond milk unsweetened and veggies I can tolerate that are low carb (cucumber, lettuce, spinach mostly).

Pretty limited but also may loose some belly chub I've gained...lost all the weight from my thighs and it all went to my belly from sitting around all day!

Anyways, a bit of a ramble, but if anyone can think of any other foods to add, let me know!

Off to the wellness centre tomorrow - will update!

Oh that sounds perfect!! New Gastro and all... Def better days ahead, yes I think your right, if those achy muscles subside I would be better able to tell if it's still those internal hems. I am sure they were quite bad after botox I have read it can take months and months, how funny, (well not funny at all actually) but how butt problems seem to be the slowest healing area of all. Who would have guessed.. lol

My low carb diet is actually awesome. Here is a little sample and I will tell you my intestines were sooo crazy that's how I got the darn thing from such bad D. and c alternated. Can't have lactose. not sure what to substitute.

Morning: cup of whole grain oats, teaspoon ground flax seed, a little brown sugar,fresh blueberries, 1/2 cup only organic cold pressed OJ and a butter croissant. I drink 2 liter's of Fiji Water, a day sometimes a little tea. The water has minerals, silicia etc.). Lunch, grapes, Turkey sand on rye and mashed potatoes. Dinner varies but salmon, baked potato, carrots, sometimes shrimp and pasta with garlic and olive oil and mixed veggies, sometimes chicken. and sweet potatoes. pretty mild a fig bar or two or those delicious banana /oat cookies the recipe you gave. and that is pretty much it for the past 9 months. I have lost 60 pounds on this diet and now looking pretty trim. Finally lost my post having babies weight. 6 children 10 pounds retained per child, haha only took me 22 years...lol. and all of it in one fissure year. I really need to start exercising, getting flabby and losing muscle from all of this laying around. I have read that most seem to mention it takes a good 6 months to a year to get back to normal after healing and you sound well on your way already. and right now, for me if these achy tailbone muscles and hems shrink I think I will be good to go!!! We shall see. Keep me posted !! Continued best to you GG

Hi GG glad you seem to be getting things sorted at last. Yes it always great if you can find a doc that has what you have they are so much more understanding.
I only eat red meat as chicken and turkey set my IBS off. Nuts are great as are nut butters. Wish I could give you loads of ideas but my diet now is very limited.
Hey MF maybe we could market the fissure diet I have lost over 80lbs in the 18 months the fissure was really bad....I mean I'm sure we could try and fudge over the fact that they would literally be in agony and too scared to eat we would just show our before and after pics lol
I'm so glad we all seems to be improving and pray that the healing journey continues smoothly for us all x

Thanks so much guys!

I haven't started low carb yet but adding a protein shake daily has helped with the bm consistency. I took half a senna tablet (recommended dose is 2-3 tablets) just to nudge things along a little as yesterday I felt I had to strain too much - it really is better when I have an "urgent" need to go. It may be the muscle relaxants slowing things down a little.

So the senna helped big time, but I had to go many many times. Consistency was firmer than normal though and didn't have to push much. As usual it's just impossible for me to find a perfect balance, but i figure it's better not to have to strain.

I think I will continue this regiment at least while I'm on the muscle relaxants and apply zinc cream before bm to keep things protected.