Davo wrote:Guys,
Just another note to say thanks for all your comments and emails – when I first decided to compile my diary it was just so I could let other people in a similar situation know what happens during LIS and what to expect during recovery. I am glad that it has helped others in their decision to go through with LIS and also assisted with their recovery.
Fissures are a horrible thing and unless you have actually experienced one I don’t think anyone can truly understand what a painful and life restricting condition they can be. I remember the days of pain, being curled up on a bed whimpering to myself in total agony and this lasted for months – even everyday tasks became impossible so I can truly understand what each of you are currently going through.
The key to recovery though is patience and lots of it!!! On many occasions for me things seemed to be improving then all of a sudden I would be hit by that crippling pain again after a particularly dry BM. But don’t let your head go down – keep battling and eventually this thing will be over for you.
If you are considering LIS make sure you chose your CRS wisely (even my CRS told me this!!) – don’t be afraid to ask how many LIS procedures he/she has carried out, what his success rate is and why he thinks this is the best course of action for you. I understand that we don’t all have a choice of CRS’s but if you don’t have a positive feeling about the guy then investigate what the alternatives are. When I first visited my CRS he was calm, he never put me through any pain and he described exactly what I was experiencing, when I was experiencing it, what the pain was like and what gave me relief – it was as if he had gone through the same thing himself. This gave me the confidence I needed to take the LIS plunge.
As I type its 13 weeks post-surgery and I have now started to appreciate the things taken for granted from my pre-fissure days such as riding a bike, eating steak, drinking beer (hic..), and playing football with the children. I no longer have blood, pain, irritation, strict diets or anything fissure related – I am just like everybody else who has never had a fissure.
For me LIS has been incredible, a quick fix solution to all the pain and suffering. However please bear in mind that we are all different – some of us may take a few months to recover (maybe longer), others may need to return for further surgery and there are many variables that affect recovery times and healing. So please don’t expect to be healed after a few weeks post-surgery.
On a final note please accept my apologies if I have not responded to some of you personally or not acknowledged your comments on my posts. I am a bit busy catching up with all the things I missed out on during my suffering :D
Thanks again and good luck with your healing
Davo
Hey there, Davo!
That's really a great post. It's wonderful that you still post here and give encouragement and support to everyone. --- You're right about all of it - the pain, patience, persistance, etc. - involved with having a fissure. For me, having the AF was a life-altering experience, in that it made me take stock of everything -- my diet, my time, my priorities, my LIFE.
Your point about having a good crs is absolutely right and cannot be stressed enough. My first crs said my AF was fine and that he didn't know why I was in pain. The second crs said I had an AF - too tiny to worry about and that I needed time and fiber, as the best long-term fix (SOOO NOT TRUE!). Then finally, the third crs (who did my LIS and fissurectomy) said that AFs that are "chronic" do not heal by themselves - and, that anything that's bothering me that long could definitely be considered "chronic." He's been in Afghanistan since March -- so I have a 4th crs who's been checking me, and I like him, too. He understands AFs, as well, and has been very instrumental in getting me through the post-op period (which, for me, took a bit longer, due to my fissurectomy).
All that said, I'm feeling much better, and my AF is gone. I do have a bit of a skin tag and some exterior tightening around the surgical area - but crs #4 said he could clip that (not even requiring stitches), and that should ease things up a bit. All in all, though, I have my life back - and I'm so glad I had the surgery. I'm convinced I wouldn't have healed, any other way.
Davo, I'm glad you're better - and I wish us, ALL, pain-free days and healing from this nightmare. (BTW - had any pizza lately? lol)
Cheers!