Hi I haven't posted on here for a while, but just to update you and get some advice I had surgery last Monday, initially for a biopsy on my rectum as my surgeon was worried about my weight, but he removed a polyp and chronic fissure, he carried out more procedures than expected.  Nine days in and I am having a lot of pain when having a BM and there is blood also.  I don't understand why removing a fissure is a good thing because to me it just creates another wound and I feel like I am in a worse position than I was before surgery.  I eat fruit and veg, drink water, walk, take lactulose, sitz baths, squat, use Vaseline but still I can't beat these horrors.  Has anybody had a chronic fissure removed?  How long can I expect to be in pain for?  I am supposed to go to Greece soon, should I go or try to cancel?  Does anybody have any advice?
Thank you x

Hi, I'm so sorry you're having so much pain but it is normal after surgery. I had a chronic fissure removed and scar tissue from anal stenosis almost 4 months ago. The procedure was a double advancement flap. It was painful, not as bad as the fissure though and I had blood for quite a while. One time so much it scared me. Having a bm wasn't that painful though but clean up was horrible. It just takes time, a healthy diet with plenty of liquids and a good stool softener. I use miralax (less than a dose a day). Be careful if you are taking narcotic pain meds, they can constipate but if you increase your stool softener it will help prevent this. The doctor probably removed your fissure because it became chronic. When this happens it creates too much scar tissue so while it may heal for a time you have a greater chance of it retearing. He cleaned up the scar tissue to give the fissure a fresh wound and a better chance of healing. Was your procedure a fissurectomy or flap and was LIS also performed? Give it some time, things will improve. You might want to give your doctor a call to ask him how long your recovery should be and any other question you need answered. Wishing you a speedy recovery, hang in there. Suzy

Thank you for your support and advice Suzy. The doctor who removed the polyp and chronic fissure told me he might do the LIS at the same time, before he knew anything about the polyp etc but the second doctor who I saw 10 minutes later said they wouldn't do the LIS at this time but would try me on 8 weeks of GTN, movicol and dilation. I kinda wish the did the LIS then it would be done with. I feel like I am never going to heal or be rid of this problem. My pain and tenderness is worse now than any fissure I have had. At the same time I regret having this done, I really wanted to cancel. So everybody now knows about my bottom problems, they are sympathetic but they don't understand the pain and massive change to your life it inflicts.

I am sick and tired of this.  Sick of bending over and getting twinges.  Sick of drinking gallons of water, eating the right food, taking lactulose and movicol, having sitz baths.  Sick of thinking about it 24 hours a day.  Sick of doing the right things having a little pain with no bleeding and the next day after doing all the right things a little pain but with blood after having a great day before.  What changed?  I am 5 feet 5 inches and weight 6 stone 10 I look emaciated.  I had two weeks off work with a sicknote from the doctor, I went back to work yesterday to find my pay had been docked.  I've only worked there 23+ years, had 5 out of 20 days holiday taken from me and no pay increase for years.  So stuff it I am staying off until it's a little better.  I can't carry on like this, it is ruining my life.  I am literally suicidal.

I'm so sorry you are feeling so hopeless with it all. Believe me... I have been there too..... But you know ...you will get there in the end... This will not be forever.
Just keep on going... Diet, sitz, water, cream.. The whole caboodle... And one day you will just notice things start to get better and better, you will have more good days than bad.
I think it's probably a good idea to stay off work for a little while longer, and rest rest rest.
Hang on in there
OMB
 

So sorry for your pain and suffering Caroline. Please just hang in there and keep doing what you are doing. It's tedious, repetitive, painful - we know what you are going through, but it is NOT for ever. You are doing the right things. Maybe try to eat a higher calorie diet. It's not healthy to be so thin, as you know. You need nutrition to heal. Laxatives can make food move so quickly through the body that you can't get all the nutrition out of it before it leaves. It's scary to eat more food, as I know, but it sounds as though you need to. Please continue to take good care of yourself, rest, eat well, heal.
all the very best to you.

Thank you both for your kind words and encouragement. I wish the LIS had been performed at the same time as the other operation. I think the use of GTN will be a waste of time, because nothing has or would of been done to prevent this from happening again in the future. It does feel like it's for ever, it's unbelievably difficult. My mother in law kindly bought me some Complan but I am afraid to take it in case it backs me up. Thanks.

So just over 6 weeks after surgery and things aren't any better. Last week I had a great bum week. Using vaseline before BM but no pain and it felt great all day. Then from Tuesday on I had a little pain with BM, not sure what cause that but I have been sore ever since. This morning I had a pain free BM but it's still quite sore after and I don't understand why. The polyp that was removed turned out to be a hem. I have had no follow up/check up appointment at the hospital even though I was told I would be seen 4 weeks after surgery. And last week I received a letter saying they had discharged me. So yesterday I decided to see my GP and he said the old fissure still hadn't healed, the wound was a little red, but that it didn't look too bad or too big. I have some GTN now and he is happy for me to use it for 8 weeks or to come back for another check-up as I am not getting anything from the hospital. So fed up with my sore butt. I am doing everything I can but it won't heal. I think removal is the most ridiculous operation ever, if it's won't heal the first time what makes them think it will heal after surgery.

Hi Caroline,
I'm so sorry to read of your frustration and anger following this and you're at the best place in the world to let it all flood out!! but your posts do show some recovery, even if it really doesn't feel like it all.
Just over 2 weeks out, you were fuming and you felt suicidal.....At 6 weeks out, you had a great bum week last week, you felt great all day - You had a pain-free BM this morning!! I'm in no way trying to undermine the pain/ frustration you are going through because you are undoubtedly suffering, but I just want to reassure you that this is all normal and you are actually doing OK. Mentally it's really difficult though I know, because if you're anything like me, you just want instant results and to just be and feel better again!!........Part of the battle is just accepting that recovery from anal surgery takes patience and it does take some considerable time, but in the end, you will be OK and you will get through it and pretty much back to normal!.....So many of us write here how anal recovery is a roller-coaster and it is so true!!! - One week, you're flying high, feeling much better, the next falls to a bit of a low and everything is sore or hurts again - recovery can only truly be measured over months rather then weeks, but it does get better!! and there will come a point when you will realise it.....
Just trust that your CRS has done a good job and that your body has every ability to heal itself...If you need more reassurance from your CRS, call them back & tell them you believe they have made an error and sent you a discharge letter when you should have had a follow-up appointment after surgery. Argue with them if you have to!! If it helps you to get that follow-up, then get it, so you can vent your frustrations & ask them questions you obviously need answers to.
I honestly wish you all the very best in getting through this - It's not always straightforward or painless, but you will get there for sure and life won't always be like this - honestly.....Take care of yourself and stay strong x x