Great to hearDavo!
cheers
Tanya

Thanks for the comments guys!
The answers to the questions are:
What is the best thing to take for pain relief?
I was given Diclofenic & Tramadol - for non prescription drugs use 2x 500mg of Paracetamol or Nurofen (Advil)
When can the dressing be removed and how should this be done?
The following day - the dressing is more to protect your clothing from soiling rather than protecting the wound. The dressing is just held in place by your underwear so it will fall out when you remove them.
Should a new dressing be applied afterwards?
In the first few days following surgery yes
Should I be taking laxatives?
Continue taking Movicol (Miralax) until the fissure had fully healed
Will the first toilet visit be painful? Should I expect much blood?
It depends upon the individual and their circumstances - Some people are in a lot of pain whereas others experience very little. Patients who also have fissurectomy or skin tag removal tend to have more discomfort than those who dont
What is the best method of cleaning after a toilet visit?
By splashing warm water and dabbing with cotton wool. You can also use un-scented baby wipes or spray with a shower head head. It is also advisable to jump straight in the bath after using the toilet
How do I dry the area after bathing? Is a hair dryer best?
By dabbing with moist cotton wool or baby wipes - a hair dryer would also be fine but dont burn yourself!!
How long will healing take?
With lots of relaxation and good hygiene about 2 weeks
If a fissurectomy is required, will this be carried out at the same time?
It would but for me it wasnt required
Are haemorrhoids treated at the same time?
Only if they are really bad - it is important not to work on too many things at once down there.
How long does a full recovery normally take?
You should be back to normal life in 2-4 weeks - full recovery of the sphincter can take up to a year
When could I return to work?
As soon as you feel ready to do so - normally this is around two weeks post surgery
How long should I stay on the softeners for and when should I be able to eat and drink normally again?
Until your fissure has fully healed - probably about a months or so
What are the incontinency risks in the longer term, say 10-15 years?
That duration should make no difference even when you are older and the sphincter becomes weaker - LIS should have no effect on this
Do I need to avoid lifting & straining myself for a while?
Most certainly - no heavy lifting or straining whatsover for a month

Davo, that all makes sense.
I had an LIS and a fissurectomy, and I do believe the two procedures together have made my healing take a bit longer. I'm getting there, but it's been a little slow. --- So, that makes sense about people who have fissurectomies (or other additional procedures) also have a little more discomfort.
I totally believe that healing time - TOTAL healing of the sphincter - is every bit of a year.
Glad that you're on the road to recovery! Take care, rest, and don't quit the stool softeners for awhile.

Yay Davo!!!!! As long as you follow proper aftercare...it's all up-hill from here!!!!!! I couldn't be HAPPIER 4 U! Angel

Davo, as I mentioned above, I was given those round "Tucks" medicated pads to take home with me, for "packing" my rear end. As they are wet, I also found it advisable to use a maxi-pad to keep from getting wet spots on my underwear and trousers. If you have a discharge that is more than the Tucks pads can handle, I'd advise a return trip to the CRS. I'm now two weeks out and I barely see any staining on the pads although I do continue to use them to keep the area slightly moist.
Rob

Hey, just out of curiosity, did you get the "fishnet" underpants to secure all that packing with? Just wondering how they handle that on the other side of the pond.
Rob