Today I had my first post-op visit with my CRS. He said everything is healing sort of ahead of schedule. Although everyone is different, He said I looked my like a 2-Week instead of a 1-Week. I was thrilled to hear that.
I don't know if everybody knows but I had botox injections, Fistula opened up, and 2 or 3 skin tags removed on the 27th of March and I can not believe how much better I felt, even right after surgery and the next day. I mean compared to my pre-surgery pain this was a breeze. I mean it is a little uncomfortable, but the pain that I had before the surgery was unbearable.
It may be worse for some of you that has the LIS, I'm not sure, but if I had to give my advice to anyone debating on having surgery I would say from my experience. GO FOR IT!!! Without a doubt. Maybe the Botox made the difference for me. I would suggest that anyone wanting the LIS should look around for a doctor that uses the Botox injections. If I had not had the fistula I would have been back to normal the next day(except for a little soreness at the injection sites) or so my CRS says.
Thanks for all the support and great information you all have given me!!
If I can help anyone with my experience by giving some info. I will be glad to.
I had my fissure for over a year and just kept treating it as hemorroids. p embarrased to let my Dr. look. When the pain gets bad enough, you'll let anyone look (trust me). Wish I had done things differently to begin with. No regrets as far as the surgery though
Sheri :cheer:

That is terrific Sheri. I am so happy for your progress! I am really interested in this since I am not a good surgical candidate because the doctor is worried that with my rectal nerve damage that I might become incontinent. Can you tell me how your bms are now? Do you have any problems with controlling your bowels? Any lack of sensation or inability to control gas?
What was the name of your doctor again? Maybe I can ask my CRS if she knows him and can get more info on botox.
I don't really think I have anal spasms unless I am on my period. If I do then I don't really notice. My pain is more like a pain from a cut. Was your pain more from the cut or from spasms would you say?
So glad you are ahead of schedule for healing. What a blessing!
Lecia

I am having a little trouble with incontinence because I have very loose and watery BMs, but this is normal for me. I think if I had bms that were a litter firmer I wouldn't have any trouble with incontinence. I was unable to hold gas for the first 4 days but am not having any trouble with it now. Loose movements are a little bit of trouble but just need to be real close to a bathroom LOL. I am fine if I am home. (except for once during a coughing spell) Then only a very small mess. confined to the poise pad I am wearing to help with the small amount of bleeding from the fistula surgery and the tag removal.
My CRS said my intense pain was from the spasms and the fistula tunnel that was forming, also said skin tags cause extreme spasms due to foreign object causing the internal sphincter muscle spasing due to stress.
My Doctors name is Christopher Lahr. He is terrific, but talks very fast, so I had better be paying attention.
PS. The incontinence from the Botox is only temorary and would only last
a maximum of 3 months, which is the length of time the botox works to relax the muscle. He told me it doesn't usually last that long though. But temporary would have to be better than a chance of permenant. I know it sounds awful but considering the pain i endured for at least 18 months with the last 3 being VERY PAINFUL, it seems a small price to pay to me.

Wishing you all a pain free day of using the bathroom!! LOL but really I mean it.

Glad to hear everything is going well, save the loose BMs. I'm happy to see that botox is a safe alternative to surgery. It's just too bad its not more widely available (and so expensive, given that insurance won't pay for it)
Kim

Thanks for the info Sheri! You will have to keep us updated on how long the effects last. Do you have any numbness at all? Are you bleeding at all from the fistula surgery and skin tag removal?
Would you mind telling us how much it costs? I may have to think about driving the 4 hours there to have a consult with the doctor and see if it might be appropriate for me.
Hope you are doing great and your healing continues!
Lecia

I do not have any numbness. I have very little bleeding from the other surgeries.
I am not sure how much it cost. My CRS has not asked me for a dime as of yet. (imagine that from a specialist) They said they would bill it to my insurance and said they did it all the time and did not fore see a problem. (We'll see) When I receive a bill, or a statement from my Insurance Co. I Will let you know.
Hope everyone is having a good day!

One more question if you don't mind, Sheri! Do you know when you have to go to the bathroom? Do you get the sensation that you need to or does it just come out unexpectedly?
Aren't you glad to be our resident expert on botox?

I do get a few seconds of notice. If I didn't work at home I don't believe I could return to work just yet. If I had to share a bathroom with others and I had to go and someone was in there, I wouldn't be able to wait. That would be kind
of hard to deal with, if you know what I mean.:oops: I have been sticking close to home.
I had a problem with diarrhea even before my fistula and fissure episodes. I am not sure if I mentioned it or not but I don't believe this would be a problem for someone who has some consistency to their bms. I have been taking he citrucel since my Surgery, I believe this is helping some but I just can't seem to remember to use it every day.
I am beginning to get a little better at "holding" it every day so I am sure this is just temporary, just don't know how long yet.
Sheri