San Diego sounds cool and not too far from Hawaii. I know it is tough to take off from work. I remember those days very well. Just keep telling yourself that you do have other options (i.e. Mayos). There is one in AZ which would be closer to you. What type of work do you do or would you rather not say. You are too young to be suffering this way with your whole life ahead of you. Did you see my pic of me and my son? I think he is cute! He is almost half way through pharm school--it's very difficult.

i'm responding in a PM cheryl
i'm hoping i get all my health problems out of the way in my 20s and the rest of my life will be problem-free. after all i've been thru that's not too much to ask i hope!

Juney,
I don't have any other symptoms of inflammation either but I do have a low WBC count, +ANA, High titer for epstein Barr. I went to a DO who figured all of this out. I also did a stool sample and found out I had no good bacteria and had a high level of pathogenic bacteria. I was put on cipro and that really helped. Do you think you could have a yeast problem? I get them and have had them anally too.
I wet a qtip and swab just inside my bottom until it is clean. That makes a huge difference in the stinging.

juney wrote: when i bathe after BM it doesn't seem to get the poo trapped in the anal canal. if i stick a q-tip inside after my bath it still has fecal matter on it. i'm sure that's irritating the area and preventing healing.

Maybe it is, but the anal canal/colon is - after all - meant to have poop in it. Unless your doctor tells you to clean inside, I would never have done that. I believe in not irritating the area more than necessary.
I feel for you Juney, you still suffer...I hate what these butt issues do to us! How are you able to work with this? Do you still live with your parents?
Corsi

Juney,i feel very sad to know how much you are suffering.its normal to feel low.Cleaning the poop left behind does help a lot in reducing the stinging and soreness.I did post in my thread a few weeks after my LIS that the poop was getting stuck in the wound and causing a lot of pain.my hubby would clean the area with some wet cotton and i had so much relief once the poop was out.i was shocked to see the amount of poop left behind even after washing in the shower.Fissy adviced to sit on a mirror and clean with a qtip.i did try but i coudnt.Fissy can explain better.later on,i just used the shower to wash off.remove it gently and avoid irritating the area too much.

are you able to work?hows the pain throughout the day?
you are in my prayers

Juney,
Have you used coconut oil yet, the solid kind you buy a green grocer and then it melts when you apply it? That has worked the best for me. Also, while it sounds gross, applying it after a bowel movement (in the canal helps keep it clean) just wash your finger really well.) as the canal does not make any lubrication itself, the coconut oil soaks in nicely, has antibacterial properties, washes off well, and does not have any chemicals in it. of all the things I have used (and I have used them all) this seems to help the most, also helping the healing post the fissurectomy. I was traveling for a week and didn't use it. hurt much more, came back, started up again and I am now almost back to 95% normal. I think that is about as good as it will ever get. hope you are feeling better.
p.s the finger + coconut oil also can help relax the muscles post bowel movement. Just make sure your hand is clean before and after and no nails!
take care you.
erik

erik - what brand do you use? i've seen it at whole foods and henrys in a jar, but not sure if that's the kind i should buy.
i'm so used to sticking my finger up there to apply ointments and suppositories, nothing could gross me out at this point. LOL
when was your surgery? for you does 95% mean little to no pain or still a small amount of pain all day?

the stuff in the jar, white, solid, virgin coconut oil.
95% for me means no blood, no pain during movements but always kinda feel that it is there. a dull burn or ache.
Let me know how it works for you.
all my best to you and your bum.
Erik

the past 4 days i've been feeling what i assume is spasms. i've never felt this before and it's driving me crazy. it's a very dull stabbing in the anus, constantly, like every few minutes. it's not even painful, it's just annoying. how could i just now be getting spasms? i've had 2 LIS and in all the years of this i've never felt this spasm-y feeling.

How are BMs? How are you?
Corsi