My (Surprisingly Painless) LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

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My (Surprisingly Painless) LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 16 Aug 2018, 18:26

I'll start off with a "holy crap, I just wrote the longest backstory and intro" but then when I hit post it said "must login" again and then all got erased so I'm gonna keep this real short.

36 yr old male. Recurring fissure for 8-10 months.

Had closed LIS surgery and two external sentinel piles excised today at 7:30am. It was my first surgery ever and was totally painless. I was nervous but it was all over real quick with the gen anesthesia.

No BM yet today. Hoping not to. Ate super light for 3 days pre-op and drank tons of water to get as much outta my system as I could. Even did my first enema last night for a final clearing since I watched a vid of a guy saying how rough it was to go to the bathroom within hours of finishing surgery.

No pain at all today. Currently 10 hours post-op. Just laying on the couch drinking tons of water and gatorade, eating soups and oatmeal.

I'll keep you all posted on how it goes through the recovery process.
Last edited by TomatoSoup on 22 Aug 2018, 02:06, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: My LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby clarissairene » 17 Aug 2018, 09:22

Glad everything went well during surgery! I have mine in 1 month after almost 2 years dealing with it. Sucks about your long post lol. So what was your pain like before surgery? Did you have spams or just bm pain? I'm curious what makes people finally decide to do surgery. My first year I only had BM pain... bad to wear I swear I passed out a few times. But no spams. The fissure would heal then tear. Vicious cycle. This year in February it came back with a vengeance and I have been experience the delayed spasms for about 8-10 hours a day :( So... I'm finally doing the LIS.
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Re: My LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 17 Aug 2018, 16:55

Hey thanks for writing.

To answer your questions:

Pain like before surgery? I was a "lucky" sufferer in that I rarely had my life interrupted by the fissure. I only had two weeks where it was REAL bad and that was when I re-injured my 70% healed fissure and made it 3x worse. Those two weeks I was bleeding on the toilet, winching in pain while passing BM, then needing to soak in the hottest baths. Other than that I was only bothered by my fissure when I'd touch it. I'd fortunately solved my constipation issues and rarely strained on the toilet so BM's rarely aggrivated the fissure. One thing that got me to keep going to doctors were the two sentinel piles I had at the edge of the anus. That part I could see and they hurt to touch and only the surgeon was quickly confident in diagnosing them after I'd seen some other doctors who basically said, "I'd try a specialist." I'd also had a big hemorrhoid pop up during a break from the fissure. I cured the hemorrhoid by doing digital massage with a lubed up finger. I'd basically become my own proctologist. I could feel that there was something wrong with my anus. That said, most people with a fissure cannot even think of putting a finger up there but I was at least able to. I'd read about self-dialation and when I'd do it it would only confirmed that the backside of my anus was messed up and the front side felt great so I had the reference to admit to myself that this thing had not resolved after months of trying all other options. It also helped that I have a great partner who talked it through with me and made me realize I'd been talking and talking about this problem for a long time. It also helped that the surgery has a 90%+ success rate. I finally got to the point where I said, "Hey, let's give this a shot." And the surgeon spoke in very certain terms that he knew exactly what I'd been experiencing and was totally unphased by it. There was no "there's a lot to think over" he only kept saying, "It's up to you if you want me to do the surgery. I do them all the time and it works."

I'm so sorry you're experiencing long bouts of pain. Things that have been life improvers for me are: No eating until I've had a BM and drink water in the morning until I feel the strong urge to go to the bathroom. I've gotten it down to a science. 95% of the time at 70oz of water I have to go exactly 45-60 minutes after starting the water. Then I strip down and squat on the toilet and completely relax. I basically had to learn to poop again. Getting easy easy BM's every single day has to be the goal for fissure sufferers. It's so easy to backtrack on healing in the anus. I hope me being one month ahead of you in surgery helps. I'll post my day 2 when it's complete tonight.
Last edited by TomatoSoup on 18 Aug 2018, 00:09, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: My LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 18 Aug 2018, 00:05

Day 2: I might have the wrong terminology since my surgery was yesterday morning but I'm calling this day two. I got lucky compared to most things I've read online and actually had a very easy day 2. I was expecting to wake up with some discomfort in the night but I slept pretty decent. Just woke up too early due to natural insomnia stuff I deal with. Still felt pretty good.

I had the house to myself since my partner was working. I was nervous about my first BM. Took one stool softener pill yesterday just to make sure things were easy to pass. I started drinking my usual 70 oz of water and tea and by the end of that it was definitely time to head to the bathroom. I use the squat method where I strip down and squat on the seat of the toilet. Been doing that for months. Much to my surprise things went pretty easy. Due to the stool softener I ended up having 3 BM's within maybe an hour or 90 min. I did not wipe but just transferred right to the shower where I rinsed off with hot water and gently applied some soap. I skipped the stool softener today as I things felt too loose and I was glad I stopped getting the urge to go after 3 BM's.

All n' all I had a great day 2. I still have not reached for the pain pills. I can feel the incision but it is nothing that's causing me any issues. I felt good enough to clean up the house, dress in regular clothes (instead of sweat pants) and take a 10 minute walk.

Diet: oatmeal & side of chicken sausage. Gatorade, lots of water. Vegetable soup and saltines. Pieces of chocolate.

It felt good to stand for most of the day. I set up a standing desk and was able to do some work on my laptop then I'd take breaks to lay on the couch and watch TV.

I'm wearing some adult diapers that I got on amazon. I did have a bit of drainage throughout the day. Def gotta have a solid supply of these padded underwear. They are pretty slim and undetectable with my boxer briefs over them and pants. I think I changed the diaper 3-4 times. Once after each BM/shower. Then I felt like I should take another shower before bed just to keep things clean down there.

Hoping for a similar day 3 :)
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Re: My LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 19 Aug 2018, 10:01

Day 3: Very easy. No pain pills needed. Again just soreness in the anal area but very dull. Just more of a feeling that sends the signal to take it easy and stay relaxed.

Had a BM after drinking 70oz water in the morning. Squatted on the toilet and told myself "no pushing, only relax and release." Came out very easy. The water therapy is a dream. Felt the strong urge to go to the bathroom and did not have trouble holding it in as I quickly walked to the bathroom from living room.

Diet: oatmeal and chicken sausage. Gatorade and goldfish crackers. Again oatmeal and chicken sausage. Lil chocolate bar.

I took a 15-20 min walk to the grocery store. Definitely have to walk with a shorter stride but felt good to move.

I had a friend come over to watch some movies. I've been totally candid with friends about the surgery and explaining what a fissure is. To my surprise, this friend said, "Fissure? Oh man, I had one of those. They suck." Then we jokingly chatted about our experiences. It was great.

Around 11pm we wrapped up. The LIS incision was tingling a bit and I felt like I should probably shower again and change my diaper before bed. I'm having a little drainage but very little. Still I'm making a point to keep things clean down there while it heals.

Thanks
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Re: My LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 20 Aug 2018, 10:03

Day 4:

No pain pills. No stool softeners.

Started day by drinking 70oz water. Didn't finish due to urge to go to bathroom. 2 BM's within an hour. Showered after each.

Still not using toilet paper. Just squatting on toilet then transferring straight to shower.

Just felt the same slight soreness in the anal area. I pushed my luck a bit too much in the late afternoon and went to a BBQ. I walked 15 min to a friend's house in the summer heat and then got a ride. It was my first car ride since the surgery. It felt fine, I just sat on one side of my bottom. I was at the BBQ in some serious sun for an hour. I failed to account for the walk and the sun creating sweat. Holy Hell did it start ITCHING. Luckily it was kinda funny. I obviously couldn't or wouldn't scratch that area but there I was trying to mingle with people while my butt was sending itch signals like crazy. Fortunately my ride wanted to leave early and I made my escape. I finally got home and showered and changed my diaper and was all good again.

Then later in the night I felt good enough to go to a small goodbye party at a bar. My partner drove and I just stood for a couple hours drinking hot tea. I told a few friends about the surgery and they asked a couple questions. No biggie.

Diet: Steel Cut Oatmeal, chicken sausage. Lots of water. Oatmeal and peanut butter. Late night box of goldfish crackers.
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Re: My LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 21 Aug 2018, 00:46

Day 5:

No pills needed. Woke up feeling good. Same general very mild soreness. Usually it takes 70oz of water and tea to get that first strong urge to BM but I'm finding that I can barely make to through 32oz of water before the green light. It must be that I'm basically living off of oatmeal and it runs through the system pretty easily.

Can't stress enough how helpful it has been to do "water therapy" in mornings to get a strong urge to go and easy soft stool and then use the strip and squat on toilet method for releasing. This is the lowest impact, strain-free way to pass stools and I'm sure making for a much more pleasant recovery as I can see how going #2 is the most stressful part of the recovery. I've have minimal discomfort in releasing stools and there has been no blood in the toilet bowl the whole recovery. But still everytime I have to crap I do a little deep breathing and can feel myself get nervous that it's going to hurt. Luckily it's over before I know it and I hop in the shower to clean off. I've been OCD and even grab my phone light to see how things are looking in the bowl. All good.

Fingers crossed that things stay this course.

Diet: Steel cut oatmeal, 2 chicken sausages. Same for dinner. 2 small brownies. Lots of water.

I'm back to work this week. Luckily today was my light day so only had to meet with three clients. It was also my first day driving. No problems. The only thing I notice is that I get the urge to shower 3x a day and change the diaper. There is rarely any drainage at all when I check the pads but still get this sensation from my anus area saying, "time to freshen up."

All n' all a great day 5. I've felt a tingle at the incision throughout the day and honestly it feels pretty good. Maybe it's just wishful thinking but I imagine that I'm feeling improved blood flow and a relaxed muscle. It's still real early and I'm not gonna fully evaluate until maybe 6 weeks. I have my followup scheduled for 2.5 weeks after original surgery date.

Best of luck. Thanks for reading.
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Re: My (Surprisingly Painless) LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 22 Aug 2018, 02:15

Day 6:

Anal area felt extra normal upon waking. Couldn't quite feel the incision like before. As usual I started my day with water and tea and after 40oz or so I had to go. Had a great release. No pain that I recall. Hopped in the shower to clean up. Still not thinking of using toilet paper.

Today was a busier day for me as I headed out to work with clients for 4 hours. My only discomfort was walking in the heat for 10 min to get to my car in the summer heat. The anus because crazy itchy once I started to sweat a little. Luckily brought a few backup padded underwear. Ended up catching a break where I could swing home to rinse off and change.

Pre-surgery I'd normally go to the bathroom once a day in the morning. Now that I'm living on an oatmeal fiber diet I got a surprise nudge from my gut to go to the bathroom at 10:00pm. I was kinda worried that it would be a tougher one to pass since I wasn't feeling the strongest urge to go but still knew it was calling. Luckily it came out without much effort. no bleeding. Hopped in shower again.

Diet: Steel Cut Oatmeal, chicken sausages. Water and more water. Tea. Chicken noodle soup, whole bag goldfish crackers. Few pieces of chocolate.

Dreaming of Pizza but also kinda diggin the abs after a week of calorie depletion :)
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Re: My (Surprisingly Painless) LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 23 Aug 2018, 12:07

Day 7:

Not much to report. Good day. Drank water til BM. Showered and headed out for a full day. Still wearing the padded underwear. I only notice a tiny tiny mark on them sometimes which I assume might be blood from the excised sentinel piles.

I do still experience a strong itch when I'm walking around in this summer weather. Other than that it was almost a totally normal day.

Diet: I messed up my oatmeal breakfast and had to throw it away so by 2:00pm I had to get something to eat at a restaurant. Decided to test my luck and ate a turkey sandwich with chips and a coke. I normally eat pretty clean but I'd been dreaming of a soda so treated myself. For dinner I had a kombucha and bag of goldfish.

Feeling the incision less and less. Happy healing to all of you!
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Re: My (Surprisingly Painless) LIS Surgery & Recovery Diary

Postby TomatoSoup » 24 Aug 2018, 10:30

Day 8:

Rectal area feels essentially healed. I don't know if it is but just going about my normal day I do not feel anything.

Maybe still a little sensitive when going to the bathroom.

Diet: Oatmeal, water. 3 slices of thin pepperoni pizza.

I wasn't planning on testing out pizza in the diet yet but I was at an event and it was the only food available. We'll see how it goes.

Not much to report. I'm still amazed that I never needed a pain pill during this whole experience. The doctor prescribed norco and said to supplement with tylenol if needed but I haven't even taken a tylenol.
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