Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Are you having, or have you had a Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy (LIS)? Please share your experiences here, or ask any questions.

Return to LIS - Considering surgery or already had it?




Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby SunshineHope » 28 Jul 2007, 20:27

Guys,
I have the appointment with my specialist in about 3 days and it's the appointment I've been waiting for for a LONG time!
I know I want to do something about my fissure and if it's not really at least half way (or more) healed, I think I want to get something done. I just don't know if I should consider botox or surgery itself. My doctor did say that those are the two next options and it's basically like 1) you try the meds and diet change and if that doesn't work then 2) botox and 3) surgery if you prefer or if botox doesn't help.
I just don't know if I have the energy to wait out botox and see if it'll work or not, doesn't it just relax your spincter to help with the spasms? I don't really have spasms so I'm not sure how much that would help me. I'm thinking about getting surgery but I don't know, I'm just so confused.
Would anyone here recommend either of them or give me any suggestions before my big appointment on the 31st? I have no idea what my doctor will say but I want to have an idea of what I want before I go see him!
Thank you all & God Bless
xo!!!
SunshineHope
Proctosphincteranalogist
 
Posts: 354
Topics: 38
Joined: 25 Apr 2007, 16:00
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby Guest » 29 Jul 2007, 06:16

Sunshinehope,
My doctor won't do surgey until I try Botox first. If it does not work then he will do the surgery. He even said I might have to have 2 shots. I am still waiting for my Botox date to come in the mail. Talk to your dr and see what he thinks is best for you. I know I will ask my dr the same question, I wan to know if it looks like it is healing at all. I't has been almost 3 months. You are young so you might respond well to surgery. Write your questions down before you go to the appt. I will be thinking of you. I wish buttgirl would let us know how she is doing. She had Botox too.
Take Care
Patty
Guest
 

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby Cinderella » 29 Jul 2007, 07:11

I have had botox (one shot) and my doctor told me that he usually gives three shots and if they do not help then he does the surgery. I have the same situation like you that I do not have spasms or I cannot feel them. I have felt less pain after I got botox but my fissure has not healed yet. Sometimes I am bleeding but I do not feel that much pain like before but certainly the AF is still there.
I do not really know what you should do but my doctor told me that it is a big risk that the fissure comes back when the affect of botox is gone. There is also a minor risk of infection and a risk of thrombosed hemorrhoids but my doctor said that those risks are more theoretical than true risks.
If I would be you I would have botox if your fissure is not too bad to deal with. But if your situation is really bad I would have the surgery straight away.
I really hope that you can make the right decision.
Cinderella
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 70
Topics: 13
Joined: 31 Jan 2007, 17:00
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby Guest » 29 Jul 2007, 09:07

The botox is a chemical form of sphincterectomy. It gives the same affect as the surgery but it is just temporary. It paralyzes the muscle around the fissure to keep it from spasming so it can relax and receive the adequate amount of blood flow for healing. The surgery would do the same thing but both would not "cure" the fissure. You would still need 6-8 weeks after for the fissure to heal.
I would go for the botox first. If that had been an option for me when I had my fissure I would have tried it but it wasn't available at my CRS. I think surgery can be very helpful but if you have a intermediary step I would go for that. But I am sure once you talk to you doctor together you can figure out what is best for you.
Lecia
Guest
 

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby happyass » 29 Jul 2007, 10:02

well it sounds like you would think that surgery would be best for you......
and i think that you have to go with that feeling.....
now if you felt that botox would get you where you needed to go 100% then try that.....
you have to go with your gut feeling of what will work best for you.
discuss with the doc the pros and cons of the botox (this can lead to fistulas) and the surgery (a longer period of recovery).
either way, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!!!!
i am so excited you get some relief coming soon.
good luck!
happyass
King Fissure
 
Posts: 1500
Topics: 74
Joined: 09 Dec 2006, 17:00
Location: right next to you
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 1 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby small_flower » 30 Jul 2007, 08:50

Sunshine,
Whatever you decide to do, let us know.
I tried to get the botox done, but the doctors I spoke with said that they were not offering it yet. So surgery was my only option.
I would be interested to know what progress you make with the botox. However, if you decide to get the surgery, myself and a few others on the board have already had it, so if you have any questions, i'll be happy to help.
xo
kate
small_flower
Proctosphincteranalogist
 
Posts: 244
Topics: 62
Joined: 10 Jan 2007, 17:00
Location: Connecticut, USA
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby buttgirl » 30 Jul 2007, 12:25

I am 4 weeks post botox and stil think it was a good decisionj. I have not had fissure pain in three weeks (knock on major wood), but I am still afraid and am watching what I eat and keeping the poo super soft. I thought that the botox would heal me becaue my problem with healing te internal part of my fissure was entirely due to the spasming during and after bm. Botox cleared that up.
I had two injections on wither side of the fissure. One injection site I don't even notice any more. The other was right near a roid I had just gotten an it irritated the roid. That area stings/burns, but the stinging burning is more annoying than painful, especially compared to the fissure. I actually went on a trip without my sitzbath last week for the first time since Feb.

The best part for me was that Botox is reversible, so if this thing clears up like I think it has/is, then I won't need the permanent LIS.

Botox may not work for you. Some people find it affects them very little or not at all. But I walways think it is nice to hear from people who have gotten the procedure before.
buttgirl
King Fissure
 
Posts: 1331
Topics: 67
Joined: 13 Jun 2007, 16:00
Location: somewhere in the Sierras
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 3 times
Gender: None specified

Re: Botox Or Surgey ---- that is the question . . .

Postby SunshineHope » 31 Jul 2007, 00:54

Aaw well thank you all. I'll let you know what happens after tomorrow. Honestly, I just want SOMETHING to happen haha... My fissure doesn't even irritate me thaat much anymore because I am learning to live with it (as any human would do, after like 8 months). We'll see what happens and I'll fill you all in.
x and o :)
-me
SunshineHope
Proctosphincteranalogist
 
Posts: 354
Topics: 38
Joined: 25 Apr 2007, 16:00
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified


  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to LIS - Considering surgery or already had it?



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests