Alpine – Thanks for the link. Jen’s story does offer some hope. You know, I never really thought that LIS would be a quick fix. I guess I just expected to feel different … better than before, and free of re-tears. I guess I didn’t do enough research beforehand, because I didn’t anticipate the re-tears.
Bumbutt – Yeah, I’ve thought about using the Rectogesic again, but that stuff made my life pure hell for about six months. The headaches were terrible! Later, when I stopped using Rectogesic and started using Vaseline instead, I noticed absolutely no difference in how things felt. I’d been torturing myself for nothing! Also, for the past 5 or 6 months, I’ve been blessed with a new chronic health problem called Vulvodynia. Basically, that translates to ‘Painful Vulva Syndrome’, although it doesn’t really hurt. For me, the vulva is mostly just irritated and itchy … all the time. My gynecologist strongly suspects that Rectogesic is to blame for sensitizing the nerves in the area. So I won’t touch that stuff again. I’ve been taking baths, twice a day, every day since the surgery, but I’ve had to stop because they really irritate the Vulvodynia. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about chronic health issues, it’s that, if you happen upon something that irritates the condition, DO NOT keep doing it! It can really set you up for years of bother. So … Baths are out too.
Hi Steve - Thanks for being reassuring. :) Why the hell can't you and I be extremely lucky too?
I'm almost a month post op and I would definitely say that I don't really feel much different than I did pre op. I seem to have settled back into the same pattern that I was having so much fun with before LIS. I would actually say that things are a bit worse than before! It's only been a few weeks though, so I'm trying to keep things in perspective. I have an appointment with the CRS in a few hours, and I'm not really looking forward it! My guess is that she will act as though this is all very strange, and none of her other LIS patients have ever had problems like these. What I'm dreading is her giving me that look of disappointment, coupled with an eagerness to distance herself from my less than perfect recovery. Over the years, I've unfortunately become quite familiar with that look during my experiences with Doctors, as I have quite a lot of other chronic health problems. Hopefully she won’t do that, because there’s nothing like realizing that someone you put all of your trust in, is giving up on you, and that you are once again, on your own. She has already told me that she would not perform a second surgery due to the increased risk of incontinence.
I’m choc full of perspective! Can you tell?
Thanks for all the support guys. I will persevere!