So, tomorrow is surgery. Think I'll be the doc's first patient.
Surgery became an option for me when I realized that my hemorrhoid pain was really anal spasms. That led to reading the boards here. So, I concluded I had a fissure the night before I saw my general doc. She Rx'ed an abdominal relaxant (Levsin). Did nothing. All the home remedies in the world were not helping, so I made an appt with a CRS. He did only a quick visual exam, said an internal would be cruel. He Rx'ed nifedipine/lidocaine which helped a little. I met with him again after a HORRIBLE day/night of spasms (not twinges, the burning, razor blade slicing kind). We had already discussed botox vs. LIS and the THD procedure for hemmies vs. traditional hem'ectomy. (I get so tired of spelling that long hideous word. ) So, I knew I needed LIS, and if I have to go through the torture, I might as well get the rhoids taken care of.
He had advised that not treating my rhoids could result in circumferential rhoids that could become inoperable, per se.
So, I'll be having Exam under Anesthesia, LIS, hem'ectomy (I'm expecting 2-4 incisions with stitches), and a colonoscopy. He may treat some internal ones as well, but he was honest enough to say that in reality he could only take care of the worst ones. I imagine I will always have to count fiber and take supplements.
I would be terrified of the general anesthesia, except I'm more concerned about the pain after surgery. I shouldn't hurt for the first day (Lots of local in conjunction with the general). I picked up my RX's this morning. Headed out to run errands. Plan to put a bookshelf beside the tub, and my computer in me bedroom (for watching netflix if I'm up to it). I've read a great post that has been referred to on these boards about healing after surgery, so I feel informed and ahead of the game. Today also includes making homemade instant oatmeal. Yesterday included buying soups, multigrain bread, high-fiber fruit bars, jello, broth, canned fruit, applesauce, frozen fruit and yogurt for smoothies. Today is clear liquid diet. The only thing I'm looking forward to is the Lime Italian Ice.
I will have valium 5mg. up to 3x a day (which I currently take as needed--has helped so very much with the spasms) and percocet 5mg/325mg at 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hrs as needed. I plan to prepackage all my meds in little pouches. I will have to keep them in a safe because my husband has been addicted to narcotics. I will try to update every few days.
My first anal issues came with my second childbirth. My midwife was encouraging strong pushing when i wasn't having a contraction. DUH. But I was young...and "obeyed." (I hate that American puncturation requires the period before the quotation mark!!) I had very swollen rhoids the next day. I got a foam steroid and creams. They helped. Fast forward to my fifth pregnancy. I had had rhoids off and on, but never badly, until then. I felt like like someone blew up the skin around the anus like a balloon and tied a knot in it. Nothing helped. I would lie in the tub, get my bottom as close to the faucet as possible and get the water as hot as my thighs could take. After about 6 weeks it seemed to clear up except the small rhoids. A surgeon looked at them while I was pregnant and said that on a scale of 1-10 I was only a 4, so he wouldn't do anything. my OBGYN gave me hurricaine gel (20% benzocaine) which wasn't available readily at the time. Oragel was only 10% back then. Anyway...cherry flavored oral pain relief on my bum. Ha. But it helped some.
This fissure happened during an episode of terrible constipation. Someone had suggested sitting very upright. DON'T EVER DO THAT! Yes, I know I'm yelling. I felt the tear when it happened, but didn't know about fissures. Plus, the rhoids were gruesome. Anyway...one day I will try to condense all the info and get it concise for others. I will be so glad to finally share a success story.
If You are seeing a CRS for your fissure, please ask them to get in touch with Total Pain Solutions specialty compounding pharmacy. This cream has been a life saver for me. It has allowed me to continue driving the school bus. I have one more route to go, today is the last day before summer break, and surgery is tomorrow. ha ha. I must admit, it has stolen the joy out of the last week of school for me. If I had gotten this cream at the VERY beginning of my pain/spasm cycle I think I would have healed.
But I have peace. I know it will get worse before it gets better. But I talked with another driver who had the same thing done ten years ago. She said it was the most painful thing she'd ever experienced, but it was the BEST decision she had ever made. She does not regret it and has had no more troubles since. I hope I will be able to say the same.
I will ask my CRS about dilation after surgery to prevent stenosis. The nurse I saw this morning said they keep some in the office, just to ask the doc. I will also be asking about enemas. Because of my bus routes and the spasms that occur if stool is left in the rectum, after a bm I have been "irrigating" with a home enema/douche/hot water bottle. It has helped so much.
I had been so preoccupied with my bum, it was wonderful to finally be pain free. I still had discomfort. The pain returned a few days ago, but has been manageable. I may have gotten another fissure or just a furious rhoid. So, tomorrow I will get some answers about what really is going on in there. :roll:
Y'all try to have a great day.
I