Jr2, I completely agree! I think people have to realize that they are their own best advocate. Don't let the doctor rush you. He is there to serve YOU. I always go in with a long list of questions and I refuse to leave until every question has been answered. I even occasionally follow up with questions via email.

Hey thisfissure, hows things now? Hope you are recovering still. I have had good news in that things are recovering now and healing. Not healed yet but my CRS thinks it will get there, its just time :)

Hi Sue:
Thanks for checking on me! I'm glad to hear you received a good report from your doctor!
I have my 6-week follow-up with my CRS tomorrow, so I'm hoping I'll get a good report, as well.
I will update here after my visit. Wish me luck!

Good luck! Will check tomorrow to see how you got on! :)

Hey TFCKMB,
Good luck too tomorrow! I'll be checking in to see how you got on too :D

Thanks ETO!
How are you doing?

Hi,
Thanks for asking -
But not too sure!
The fistula wound seems to have healed nicely and everything looks good visually, but I still have some discomfort and soreness, very ocassional discomfort during a BM but nothing that's totally unbearable - just irritating & frustrating now.
My CRS wants to do another EUA to ensure that everything's healing the way it should be and there's nothing else going on but was in no rush to do this. I'm waiting on another appointment now and not sure what's happening really, if anything is, or if this is still part of the healing process! Bit in limbo and confused again really
Nothing nasty going on - no discharge, bleeding etc. just some soreness, itching, odd twinge going on now & again.
So, wait and see I guess.......
How are you doing? Are you nearly at healdom or there?! You were doing great!

6-WEEK POST-OP DOCTOR VISIT
Hi everyone!
About two weeks ago, I started noticing that when I had a wider BM (1" or wider), even if it was soft, my sphincter felt like it was "stretching" and perhaps tearing a bit (sound familiar, anyone?). I also started to have some post-BM pain/discomfort (again). I have continued using Nifedipine post-surgery, per my doctor's instructions, which I think has reduced the post-BM pain (along with Ultram). I also occasionally feel like the area is raw, with some mild to moderate post-BM burning (spasms).
This morning was my 6-week post-op doctor's visit.
My CRS took a look and said my sphincter was really tight (despite the LIS!), and it appeared that the fistula healing had hit a plateau (basically, the fistula is now a fissure). My CRS said he wants me to continue to use Nifedipine and he will reevaluate in two weeks. If no further healing has taken place, he may have to redo the LIS. He said in ten years, he has only had to redo a LIS on two people. It looks like I may be lucky # three! As I mentioned before, my CRS is pretty conservative when it comes to cutting the muscle. Apparently, in my case, it appears that he may have been too conservative.
I should know more in a couple of weeks.
Apparently, my magical butt isn't done playing tricks on me just quite yet.

thisfissure...
oh man, I am so sorry to hear this news. It always just feels especially maddening when someone takes the leap to have surgery, only to perhaps have to have it repeated.
I hope it doesn't come to another surgery, but if it does I guess the only bright spot is knowing you tolerated it so well the first time, hopefully it will be the same the second time around.
I'm just shaking my head over here. *sigh. We need to banish these fissures permanently, all of us.

Thanks jr2!
After my visit, I made the executive decision (with the permission of my wife, of course) to feel sorry for myself for the rest of the day. However, tomorrow I am going to be back to my relentlessly cheerful self!
How are you doing?