How are you today Call?
I hope you are feeling just a little bit better. I think Dawn's idea of looking at things a week at a time is helpful (like, do I feel better this week as compared to last week, rather than day by day).
I haven't had LIS, but I have gotten constipated a couple times while I've had my fissure. The last time was also over Christmas. I didn't go for four days. I was worried, but I tried to keep my cool and tried to take the attitude of "my body will do what it has to do when it needs to do it". I upped my movicol dose every day, but nothing happened! Finally (the happy day!), had a BM after 4 days - nice and soft from all the movicol, and I think my body felt better after having a 4 day break. So, I know you have a different situation on your hands, but maybe some of these thoughts will help you.

I'm not doing so great today emotionally. For the first time since all of this started I broke down and cried. Sure the pain is intense, but the pain pills help that. I'm just so overwhelmed with the time frame. I've been in pain for 3 full days now. :-( When I wake up in the morning, I wake up to intense pain. Getting out of bed is even a challenge because every movement I make feels like I'm going to rip my stitches. I'm not completely certain that I didn't this morning since there's been some blood most of the day. I still haven't had a BM and I'm starting to worry more. I want to stop taking the pain pills, in case that's what's causing it, but the pain is horrible.
I'm wondering if all of this was a huge mistake. Not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel makes believe there is none. There are so many stitches and everthing feels so weird when I move, like my body doesn't want to move with me. This just sucks.
And don't mind me. I'm just laying in my bed, where I've been for 3 days now, looking out the window at a thunderstorm. The rain is so dreary. No birds. Nothing. I think I'll just take my pain pill and go back to sleep. Hopefully I'll wake up with a better attitude.
Sorry for the negativity today. Hopefully it'll all get better soon. I really hope so.

Hey call, don't worry, 3 full days of pain is not a lot and to be expected if I'm honest after the type of procedure you've had, I was in moderate to severe pain for well over 3 months after my LIS and Fissurectomy, I know it's not the same surgery but nevertheless it's a painful one.
At the time it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel but things will gradually improve over time, it's a long road which we have to travel to get where we want but in the end it'll be worth it.
Of course the pain pills are keeping things slightly at bay but aren't helping with constipation which is why you should try and get off them as soon as possible, I battled through my first week or so with no painkillers but gave in and bought some Dihydrocodeine that I took for a further week then stopped, it's a known fact that pain killers cause constipation and I didn't want that.
In summary, 3 days of pain isn't long, laying in bed resting is good, getting off the pain killers-important!
Wishing you continued healing!
P.S. We all get down from time to time with these damn ass issues so don't worry about venting here that's why we're here!

For what it's worth, a nursing friend of mine says its essential to stay ahead of the pain with pain medication. If you are instructed to take some pill every four hours, then take it at 3 hours and 59 minutes, she said. It's more difficult to control the pain once it starts to kick in without the pain medication, according to her.
I had a good cry before Christmas - I'm sure the neighbors heard me. Have a few good cries, but give yourself a mantra - I had one. A friend of mine has the mantra "Lord God have mercy on me" - just keep repeating it. Maybe there is some phrase that will help get you through. Complain here as much as you want!!!
Sending you healing thoughts.

Hey call,
I wasn't going to log in today but saw your post and wanted to offer you some support through this horrible experience... I know it doesn't feel like it's ever going to get better but it will! Your day is coming! To be honest with you I was very worried for you when you told us the procedure you were having. I haven't read of anyone having this procedure who didn't have a really rough recovery. It seems to be one of the harder recoveries unlike just having LIS alone. A lot more work is involved.
I can't even relate to your pain, I only had LIS and my skin tag removed and I know I was sore but you must be in misery. I know it has to be horrible since they even gave you a pain pack thingy...I've never heard of this or read so I know you are really having it rough. I'm so sorry and will definitely be praying for you today and through out this whole mess.
Are you still having the small liquid bm's? If you are then this may be the bowel movements that you are waiting for just in liquid form because of the laxative.

I'm seriously with bumbutt on staying on top of the pain. You have had a lot of work done down there and surely need the meds. Do you think you could call the crs and see if they can give you some advice about the bm's and pain meds possibly slowing them down? I thought I read you had some liquid bm's.
My heart really goes out to you...This will pass! You are so early in the game with the recovery and had so much done. Please don't get discouraged. Warm baths as much as you can :( I know your tired of hearing all the same things but time is really all that's going to help.
As BB already said were here and complain all you want:)

Bumbutt wrote:For what it's worth, a nursing friend of mine says its essential to stay ahead of the pain with pain medication. If you are instructed to take some pill every four hours, then take it at 3 hours and 59 minutes, she said. It's more difficult to control the pain once it starts to kick in without the pain medication, according to her.
I had a good cry before Christmas - I'm sure the neighbors heard me. Have a few good cries, but give yourself a mantra - I had one. A friend of mine has the mantra "Lord God have mercy on me" - just keep repeating it. Maybe there is some phrase that will help get you through. Complain here as much as you want!!!
Sending you healing thoughts.

Bumbutt, I had so many breakdowns w/ my fissure. I would lean in a chair outside and stare at the sky in a daze praying to God it would all end. At this point in my life, it stands out as the hardest thing I've ever had to go through... I seriously feel heart broken for others who are going through the pain or recovery of this.
I had a mantra also- Help me through this God!

Well, I have been trying to ween myself off the pain meds, and boy did that bite me in the rear tonight. Pun completely intended.
It was time for me to take my next pain pill, and I decided to wait. I could feel the ache and sharp pains building up, but I stuck with it. I decided I'd wait until my dinner when I took my other pills (antibiotics and anti-inflammatory) to take the percoset. After taking all the pills, pain pill included, I felt like I needed to use the restroom. It didn't feel like I needed to have a BM, that was until I sat down and I felt it. I was okay with it at first, trying to stay calm, until it started to come out. The pain was horrific. It felt like the stitches were being stretched to the max and were about to rip. (I'm not sure if anyone else is familiar with that "ripping feeling" when you know you're ripping your fissure open during a BM... multiply that by 100 and that's about what it felt like)
As soon as the pain set in, no matter how hard I tried, my body just shut down and said 'no way'. My rectum started to spasm, and I was able to get that little, tiny bit out and the rest got sucked back in.
The good news is that what did come out was very soft. Small victories I guess... Tomorrow, I will still take some Milk of Magnesia to get the rest out, but at least I have an idea of what to expect. I will also keep the pain meds flowing to avoid the sneak attack that happened today.
Hopefully I'll have more to report soon.

Calm,
Could you/have you tried the "squatting" position which puts less pressure on the area?

I tried every position imaginable. I shifted, leaned back, leaned forward, moved the pressure to my thighs, I even tried going in the tub, and nothing worked. I did end up having a second "go" at it with the same result. I'm thinking that tomorrow I will have to take a vallium to relax enough to get that first one out of the way.
Honestly, I felt like I was birthing Freddy Kruger from my rectum! I can laugh about it now, but the words "I can do this." Poured from my mouth repeatedly with increasing volume. I cannot believe I agreed to go through this. This is much worse than the worst fissure pains I've had, and I've had some doosies. I'm assuming that it's got to be from all the stitches... right? I've heard that sometimes with the LIS surgery, the BMs are less painful than with a fissure. Well, I can attest that is NOT the case with an anoplasty.
Either way, I am still incredibly thankful for the support and ideas offered from the members of this board. I truly appreciate all of your help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hey call,
the valium helped me to have my first normal bm. It relaxed me and the spasms . Hopefully it will help you tomorrow.