Hey Summergal! It's great to hear from you! I'm so glad you had a great Thanksgiving. Up here in the Great White North, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October, eh?
Mine was nice too.
It sounds like we are in very similar situations. I still bleed sometimes with BMs, and sometimes when I inspect the wound too. My doc told me not to worry about blood, though, so I won't. I don't want to jinx myself, but there doesn't seem to be any signs of anything sinister, so I'm just being as patient as possible and thanking my stars that I'm not in pain. :D The bleeding is slowly lessening, so I'm taking that as a hopeful sign. I see my doc again Dec 14th. You also have an appointment coming up too, don't you?
I'm not sure what to make of the lump you describe. It sounds like it's pretty far from the anus for a fistula. If you don't mind me asking, are we talking inside the crack, near the anus, or more than a few inches from the anus? If it's more than a few inches away, then I'd put money on it being a separate issue and not a fistula. But it's worth keeping an eye on it, of course, and certainly going to a doc to get it checked. The itching must be really annoying! Man, you've got nerves of steel! Hat's off to you! :D
I know how you feel - anything that goes on in that area gets me really paranoid! I'm convinced that I've developed some horrible complication. This whole ordeal really messes us up pyschologically!
I'm off the anti-depression and anti-anxiety meds now, but that took a while - and I still need sleeping pills. But I am doing so much better now. I'm slowly starting to trust my body again.
I'm so glad you are doing well too. I'm really sure that you don't have any complications, but let us know how things turn out when you see your doc. It's so nice of you to volunteer me as the one of us to get all the way better, but I say we recover completely together! That would be much more fun than doing it alone.
I'm so glad you are happy! After all you've been through, you definitely deserve it!