Well today is the day. Nothing has changed since yesterday. Still doing good besides the little bit of pain when I BM at the hemmie site. So off to my CRS I went thinking that if he tells me its healing or is 50% healed I would be happy. Talked to his nurse first and told her things were fine except for the pain during BM. She said that is common due to the stiches still being there. She said the stiches can also cause irritation because the body tries to reject them. Thought that was interesting. They won't desolve for another 3-4 weeks though so its just something I will have to live with until then.
We went back into the examination room and met with my CRS. He had a student with him (he teaches at the local medical school) so I had lots of eyes on my bottom. He started to take a look starting with the hemmie site. He said the way it was stiched up would never cause an infection (a learning point for the student). He then pulled back my anus a bit more, took a look and we were done. He said everything looks good. I asked him about the fissure. He said it was GONE!

I was shocked! I knew things felt pretty good down there but I was taken back that the fissure was already healed! He said that he typically sees fissures heal on average within 2 weeks after surgery. He then told me to make sure I get enough fiber for the rest of my life and I shouldn't have any other issues. He then made me promise (twice) that I would come back in 16 years to have a colonoscopy. I ensured him I would. He then shook my hand and said if I ever have any other issues with my bottom to not call my GP and to just to give him a call. I thought that was a nice gesture.
So now what? Well first and foremost, I am very happy that my fissure is gone! I am going to continue to baby my butt through this weekend just to be safe. I will probably only take 1 bath a day now and stop them completely after this weekend. I am going to start cutting back my stool softeners and fiber pills starting on the 18th. Probably reduce the amount I am taking of both over the course of 2 weeks. I just want to make sure I give everything some extra healing time so I don't have any relapse.
Even though I had the setback with the hemmie, I do not regret having LIS one bit. I am one who will also say, I wish I would have had it sooner. While my fissure did not cause the terrible pain during and after BMs that many people have, it did cause a good amount of discomfort after BMs and mental anxiety.
Now a new stage of healing begins. The mental part. I have become so used to having pain after BMs that I need to retrain my mind that everything is ok now. This is something that will come in time.
So here is to day 1 of a fissureless life!
