My Journey

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Re: My Journey

Postby msimon » 22 Sep 2015, 17:07

So glad to hear! Good luck at your appointment. Let us know how it goes.
Dec '13 Fissure from anoscope
3 X internal sphincter botox
'08-'15 Botox for pelvic floor dysfunction
Nov '14 LIS/sentinel tag removal
Feb '15 Deroofing of recurrent infection from LIS
summer '15-healed but still ongoing muscle dysfunction/pain
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Re: My Journey

Postby Fissurefrustration » 23 Sep 2015, 05:18

So glad your moving forwards and doing well, keep smiling.

FF
Suffering since June 2013

Methods tried:
GTN cream - migraines!
Manuka Honey / Coconut oil / Aloe
tag excision X 2, botox x 3
Dilatiazem
dilatation 2 X daily + Retin-C Vitamin Scar Treatment Oil 2 X daily - best thing ever.
Now pain free 2/7/21
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Re: My Journey

Postby SakPase » 24 Sep 2015, 12:36

Just back from the doctor and things are good.

To quote him, "It looks freaking awesome..." He's an interesting character, but he's fixed my issue so he can speak however he likes.

He told me, "If all of my patients did what you did [speaking about stretching the muscle with a self digital exam of sorts] then it would make my job a lot easier."

Those were words I wanted and needed to hear.

Then, he violated me like a champion. I thought it would be a digital exam, but I'm not 100% sure exactly what happened. My only complaint is he doesn't explain a lot of stuff to me...although getting my life back to normal was my request.

Whatever it was...hurt. He was stretching me I know, but if it was a tool or just multiple fingers, I have no clue. I do know there was a giant Q Tip somewhere along the process as well. And I think it went deep.

When the Q Tip was finally removed (probably 7-10 minutes after the beginning of whatever procedure), no main and I was free to go. As I cleaned up....filth and blood was wiped clean, along with lubricating jelly. It wasn't tender or anything, although I can feel that something stretched me for sure.

Curiously I peeked in the disposal and saw that the Q Tip was nasty, covered in fecal matter and blood.

So...there's my update.

5 weeks post surgery - pain at the incision site following a BM. It feels bruised when pressure is applied (like clenching the muscle).

My doctor said to self stretch, and pay special attention to the back where the fissure is. His words "treat it like you don't want it to heal..." are not encouraging, but he then told me a horror story of not doing so and an abscess forming because it doesn't heal correctly.

Blood is normal. It's not every BM, and in fact it's a rarity. But, you're still healing at this point, so blood doesn't mean a setback.

If you have spasms and pain like pre-surgery, that's an issue. Everything else, take it easy.

I also asked about continuing to sitz bath post-BM, and they acted like that's a good idea. Hate it, but its worked thus far.

Follow up in three weeks!
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Re: My Journey

Postby SakPase » 30 Sep 2015, 13:21

Still pain free, and surprisingly the post BM aching has stopped. It's very faint at the very most, but basically stopped and only at the incision site. The site seems to have almost closed.

Unfortunately, I have seen blood after a BM lately. My doctor has told me this is normal. I've read on here to see this is normal. Nonetheless, it's not what you want to see.

There's been no pain whatsoever. There's no spasming. There's nothing going on at all that discourages me...except for seeing blood for a wipe or two at a BM. It's almost all, but not all.

My doctor did tell me to do self-stretching, let it bleed, and treat it like I don't want it to heal. And yet, I don't like what's happening.

Just me venting on a day where I feel down and discouraged about it, even though everything is normal.

So, for those reading in the future...

6 weeks post-LIS yesterday and still seeing blood at BM. No pain. Seems to be normal and part of the healing process.
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Re: My Journey

Postby Sufferingbadly » 30 Sep 2015, 14:53

I'm glad to hear your feeling great. Not to damper your already dampened mood today, but from what you stated about the bleeding...well I myself have no knowledge about LIS at all! But I was wondering if you should look into the whole thing the doctor is saying about self stretching and treat your fissure as of you don't want it to heal. To me that just seems so wrong. And the reason I'm writing you this comment is because on this forum, I have read so many comments about a lot of us on here knowing more than the doctors due to actually physically going through these issues ourselves. I'm just worrying for you I suppose. Sorry. But back to a more positive note, it sounds like your healing great over all. I'm sure the blood is a very scary thing to see. I'm just so happy for you that you were able to go on your trip and do all that you've done since surgery, that's an amazing thing! I'll keep sending prayers your way to a FULL recovery! :)
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Re: My Journey

Postby SakPase » 30 Sep 2015, 16:24

Interestingly, I really trust my doc. He is a colorectal specialist and has done thousands of these. Highly recommended doctor in the area. I'm in a metropolitan area, so I do trust him.

I did call the office today and they reassured me that it's all good and normal.

They seem to subscribe to the long term healing idea. I know a lot of people claim 6-8 weeks but he's planning on me for about 20 if I understand.

They said blood is normal.

They said a lot of blood and pain is not normal.

If any of this changes then I'll update. While I have not enjoyed this journey I really do trust my doctor.

I also have a friend in the medical field who has studied up on fissures and she has reassured me that the stretching is normal.

Maybe I hit the crazy guy but 6 weeks out I'm pain free.

I'm logging off for a while. This forum is great but at times you can become so consumed with it it's unhealthy. I'm in the latter right now.
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Re: My Journey

Postby Savaici » 30 Sep 2015, 19:15

I did self-dilation, and am so glad that I did. Just because we get this 'tear' and it hurts like bloody hell, it does not mean that we should treat our arses like they are so delicate. Ok, be gentle with dilation, use an organic lubricant, but stretching the muscle is a good idea and recommended by surgeons after quite radical surgery there (see Suzyljank's posts). And don't worry about the blood! There are loads of posts on here about bleeding, and we are all still plodding along!! Good luck with the rest of your healing, SakPase!! :smilyhug: and as you said yourself, trust the experience of your doctor above all. It is not our business to tell you what you should do as we are not doctors! We hope you know that we are here for you when you choose to come back!! And all the luck in the world!!
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Re: My Journey

Postby SakPase » 12 Oct 2015, 13:45

It's been two weeks since my last post.

I'm 8 weeks post-LIS tomorrow. And I finally feel "normal." I have a check up on Friday, and at that point I'm finally asking him how much longer I need to see him...because he's out of network.

Anyways, blood was short lived. And I think it was because I've gotten back into running a bit. Not anything major, but I'm just active. Had a day last week with a little bit, but it was gone in less than 24 hours.

Talked to the doctor's office, and they said that is absolutely normal. A lot of blood, or any pain/spasms is not normal.

After BMs now, the achy-ness is gone. I don't really think about anything at all, other than self stretching/cleaning at night, and a sitz bath after a BM...and I have them other times just to chill out and relax.

All in all, I am doing great.

So, for those at post-LIS...blood is normal for a while...don't worry. Listen to your doctor. It will all get better.
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Re: My Journey

Postby SakPase » 29 Oct 2015, 12:02

It's been a while since i've updated.

The 8 week checkup went well. He said things were still looking good, but the fissure was still open. He told me to buy finger cots and begin dilating myself two or three times a day with my finger for a couple of minutes. He said it would flush out any crap, as well as just help aid in healing. I also got a two week course of cortenemas.

Tomorrow will be two weeks, but unfortunately last night, as I sat down, suddenly I felt what felt like a pinch. I immediately got concerned and looked in the mirror and saw a small bump. It's about 1 below my anal opening. I was immediately concerned. It didn't hurt so much and I couldn't feel it unless I touched it. If I did touch it, it was equivalent to a small pimple.

I barely slept, and immediately called the doc this morning and was able to get in.

He checked me out and commented how well the fissure was healing, but that it is still slightly opened. He and his nurse explained to the shadow how bad my fissure was. Deep, long, and all the way to expose the muscle. So, for how severe it was, I am doing very very well. He digitally examined me and asked why I thought I was starting to get infected or abscess. I pointed to the small bump and he told me that was not an abscess and was not an infection. It was simply a bump.

He then proceeded to decide to go ahead and zap it to go away, as well as using silver nitrate to cauterize the final opening of the original fissure which is now super small. While doing that, he apparently got angry at an internal hemmie that he saw, and showed the shadow how he was able to fix it.

Then we sat and talked for about 20 minutes because he was having a slow day. He told me I'm doing great and that I will be back soon to normalcy.

He also explained to me that he's personally dealing with my insurance, and what I thought would be very expensive because he was out-of-network, they are working it out for my benefit.

So, I'm home, on the couch, and I'm hurting from the hemmie and the silver nitrate. It's just achy. But, truthfully, all in all, I have had zero pain lately. The enemas were awesome to me and took away any post-BM pain. The stretching doesn't hurt at all. I've begun running again, and it's awesome.

So life is good. I'm 10.5 weeks post-LIS, and the end of the journey should be here in the next 6 weeks or so it seems.

(FYI, he told me I had the worst fissure he had seen the week he did multiple surgeries...so, I expect a plaque or something.)
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Re: My Journey

Postby Savaici » 29 Oct 2015, 13:11

Love it! "It's just a bump". Probably all the worry-warts on here, and sometimes we overdo it. Great that you have such a good CRS to put things in perspective. :men45:
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