I didn't have an enema for my EUA...... Or even for my flap come to think of it!

That makes me feel better. Thanks OMB.

lol. Sorry msimon, I don't know what happened to the rest of my post! I think I was saying each doctor most likely has their own protocol and I don't think that would matter.

I had EUA on Feb 2nd. The resulting stretch of the sphincter seems to be providing a few days' of pain relief right now. I can't comment on the pain immediately post op because although I was to have EUA and Botox, the surgeon discovered what looks like rectal cancer. It appears this has been causing the fissures. Not wanting to stick needles in there, my surgeon threw away £400 of prepared Botox and took biopsies. I woke up with stabbing pains which subsided after couple of hours with IV codeine. I also bled quite a bit. That night whether it was the shock of my diagnosis, not having any bowel movements all afternoon, or being moved about under anaethestic, but I had diarrhea all night in hospital.
Quite frankly it worries me that people are left to struggle on for so long without an EUA. I'm in Britain and waited ages on the national health service (NHS) for my consultations. I opted to pay privately for the EUA to hurry things along, and thank god I did given my diagnosis. Next step is scans for cancer which the NHS will do quickly.

Daphne - wow, how sorry I am to hear this. I am sure that was not what you were expecting when you went under. So good you had the exam done and I agree with you that perhaps an EUA is something that should be done early on. I am going on 3 years of dealing with these fissures. I hope you won't have to wait too long for your biopsy results. So it sounds as if the exam itself was not too bad but I am sure you needed the IV narcotic due to the biopsy sites. You will be in my thoughts and please let me know what happens and how you are doing. Were the biopsies from the anal or rectal area. How are you doing now?

Thinking of you today msimon. Let me know how your EUA went.

Dear woundedspirit,
Thanks for your kind post, I'm OK, no tears really, not yet anyway. The colorectal specialist nurse strongly advised me NOT to search online about rectal cancer until we know which of the 2 types I have. She's right, I do not not want to read about difficult treatments I may never need. Surgeon says cancer appears to be over 1/4 of my rectum which was biopsied.

My question to everyone out there is how does your doctor know you don't have cancer until he/she looks inside? Cancer does not hurt. My fissures do. My CRS told me I don't seem to have the usual risk factors for fissures (never had kids, eat wholegrain veggie diet, never had a day without a bowel movement, do not drink alcohol at all and have never smoked). Neither do I have risk factors for rectal cancer (unless I'm HIV+ and don't know it). Go figure eh?

EUA's are fine, I have had a number of them now. Try not to worry, I have never had any prep for one of these and personally think it is the best way to be looked at!! I have never had alot of pain from one, I am due to have one on the 12th feb along with them dealing with a fistula, fissures and whatever else they find. Trust me, it will be ok, good luck! Oh and Valentine's Day, thats crap!!

Daphne - if I understand your question correctly I guess they wouldn't know unless they looked. I think some can be detected in blood but I don't know is rectal is one of them. Sounds like your doctor was surprised too as he was going to do other procedures until the suspicious finding. It was good advice to avoid looking things up on the internet until you know what you are dealing with. It just causes anxiety. Stay strong. Sending a big hug.

Sue lol, yes not my best choice to be doing on that day! Thanks for your words of encouragement. Everyone seems to say it is a pretty easy thing to go through so I am a lot more relaxed. Hope all goes well on the 12th for you and let me know how it went.