I think Phil is correct. Oh what our SO's have to do for us, right?? Hope your butt is doing better, Steve, than I did in my golf today.

Thanks phil, you've put my mind at rest, what made me think otherwise was that I've watched a LIS video and saw the surgeon make an incision to the left side of the anus, infact the video is still on this site right here: http://anal-fissure.org/references-websites-facts-f5/lateral-internal-sphincterotomy-video-t2143.htm

Hey cheryl, I'm having a few painful spasms at the moment, most probably to be expected, I'm currently sat on a heating gel pad because am fed up of lying on my side..
I take it the golf didn't go to well cheryl?

To be honest I'm feeling a bit weak, like phil mentioned in one of his posts, it's more like a fragile sick feeling, the reality of what's really happened has hit home, it's stopped me in my tracks, I'm usually very active and there's a lot of jobs in and around my home that need attention but I just can't face them, it's taking me all my time to just type this out, could be the lack of sleep as well because I haven't really had much since I came home, sorry for rambling and whining!

Hey Steve : ))) !!!!
Ha ha, good that "somebody" took a look LOL ; )) !!! BTW- many surgeons do NOT put any stitches (I had none) - since that way wound can drain properly and prevent infection . Also, one surgeon explained to me that any additional "poking" in that area (including "needle-work" )causes even more trauma to the anus as well as more swelling - so yeah ; ))), you have no stitching and your surgeon did a good job regrading that ; ))).
Bruise is on the side where the cut was made , and as you said , as it is seen on the video, it is done outside : ))) !
No matter how many times I tell people that butt looks pretty decent after the surgery and that some swelling and some bruising is there , but NOTHING scary LOL, people still expect to see "grenade explosion" massacre ha ha, buddy- feel free to look - you will be pleasantly surprised and that will also help you with cleaning soooo much ; ))) !
Use that shower head gently , take a soak and take a look and take away anything that is "lingering". MOST often you will find nothing, but sometimes it gets stuck between swollen folds and than take a Q-tip dipped in a chamomile tea or water and gently swab it away : ) !
You have a constant feeling that you "need to go" since everything is swollen and that extra fluid makes a pressure on the anal nerves that than think that a "poop is there pressing" when actually there is none. Try to relax and trust me- you will know when REAL poop comes down - you will also have some "urge" coming from the lower tummy area - you know the feeling LOL - when you have "to run" to the toilet ; )) - right ??? Anyways - it is normal for poop to be delayed 2 days since you were "emptied" completely before the surgery ! Just stay on a fissure diet and all will be just fine ; )) !!!
Weakness is a side-effect of the GA and is normal also ! If you had no sleep, than no wonder dude LOL - you are doing great, actually. May I ask why you have trouble sleeping : ( ?
I hope it is not the pain ??? If yes , that that needs to be addressed. You need to be rested to heal nice and fast : )))!
Regarding all "strange feelings " in the butt - it is ALL normal, your muscles are "readjusting" and also swelling needs to come down which will take 2 mos for it to be gone completely !!! The majority of it will go down in the first 4 weeks, than the rest slowly dissipate. Your anus will not have its final shape or strength until 2-3 mos pass so be patient and take care of the butt religiously ; ))) !
You are doing great KTW !!!! Try to rest and relax - things "at home" that need to be done will not "run away", UNFORTUNATELY LMAO !!!! he he heeeee There will be waiting for you to be fixed - so take it easy : )))) !!!!
Best of luck with your continuous recovery and keep us posted - whining is absolutely expected LOL !!!!

Fissy, thanks for the reassuring words, all this is new to me, and before I went for the surgery I wasn't in that much pain which has probably made the pain I've got now seem worse.
With regards to the sleeping, it's because of the pain, I didn't get any strong pain killers upon discharge from the hospital, I'm taking regular analgesics though, (paracetamol) and Ibuprofen 1200mg/daily plus the Antibiotics 1200mg/daily so hopefully they'll kick in real soon.

Oh my , I am so sorry that pain is keeping you awake !!! Can you call your GP or a CRS and explain that you are not able to sleep due to pain ??? They should provide to you better pain management !!! Second time around I really needed some stronger stuff and used Percocet - I stayed on the smallest dose that was helpful and that was about 2 pills a day - one before I went to sleep and one in the afternoon after I brought my daughter home from school, so I could function. I also asked for Valium for a spasm control since I had 7 cuts done there my butt was "shocked" and went into permanent spasm like I had hemorrhoidectomy !!!
Please give them a call - no need to suffer now
Just stay vigilant with stool-softeners and good diet to prevent constipation . That would mean no "toast" for a breakfast but nice warm oatmeal with some maple and cherry jam mixed in or fresh fruits - yummmmyyy : ))) !

Currently, in a motel trying to use my son's laptop! Sometimes the harder I try at golf, the worse the result!!!!

78 hours after surgery..
Today has been a bad day, (if I'm honest the past few have been horrible), I'm beginning to wonder if I've made the right decision...Had a lot of BM's over the course of this afternoon and had difficulty with cleaning, also couldn't actually tell if I'd finished properly due to spasms, needless to say, the pain is quite intense and relentless, I've had 3 sitz baths in between the BM's which gave me temporary relief, passing wind is also difficult at times, I am lacking motivation which isn't like me and really don't have an interest in anything at the moment, I am down but not out.. Still, I am only in the early stages of recovery and have to remain hopeful that all this will be a distant memory in a couple of weeks.
I've made a few minor diet adjustments today, I was having wholemeal bread toasted for breakfast but have now ditched that and am having porridge oats with fruit pieces in, I'm also eating fresh fruit during the day (grapes and pears), and for main meals I'm only having small portions until my rectum has healed thoroughly, I'm gonna stay with this for as long as it takes to recover, more changes may be made further down the line, but for now I'm taking it day by day..

Saying prayers for you Steve.