Hi everyone, I'm so happy I found this support forum!! I thought I was alone! I am scheduled for surgery next Friday and am really anxious, but encouraged, by reading all your surgery stories. I have been suffering for about a year and before that I was a pretty avid runner. I stopped running about 4 months ago when the pain was pretty much every day. I'd like to know, for any runners/exercisers out there, How long after surgery till I can start running again??? Even though I'm eating healthy foods, I've gained a ton of weight from not exercising and am anxious to take it off again!!
Thanks everyone!!!

Hi Shelly : )) !!! I just want to wish you good luck next Friday and may the surgery bring you complete and forever relief !!! Keep us posted and welcome to our board !

Hi Shelly, prayers for your surgery Friday that everything goes well and that you feel better soon. Welcome to the board!
Julie :-)

good luck Shelly. I'm not sure if it is the best thing for me to be doing, but I began exercising again about a week after surgery. I took some short walks 3 days after surgery. I don't think I'll be riding my bike for another month yet though.

I sure would not begin any vigorous exercise for 4-6 weeks after the surgery. The incision itself needs time to heal, as will the fissure, but light exercise is probably a very good thing!

Hi Shelly
Best wishes for a successful operation on Friday. My thoughts & prayers are with you. I resumed exercise (jogging, swimming, weights) 5 weeks post-operation & that was only after I had a post-operation check-up with my surgeon. I started off slowly & took about 3 weeks to really go hard. As Kim said, light exercise is a good thing.
Hope you have a speedy recovery.

You all are a godsend. I leave tomorrow to go out of town (i'm having my surgery closer to where my family is so I can have some post-op comfort) and I feel so much better having read everyone's stories and tips. Thanks again!!
quick question - Brett, when you had your AF did it hurt to exercise? I find that even when I'm having a good day, if I work out moderately hard (not too hard, no weights), "things" are painfully tight later on....
Thanks again!!

Hi Shelly
Yes it did hurt to exercise when I had my AF. Having a BM was particularly painful. I think it would have been painful even without exercise, but exercise definitely made it worse. Like you said, ""things" are painfully tight later on". I took it a bit easy whenever I had a fissure - the fissure came & went over a 2 year period, same with the polyps & hemmies. But even moderate exercise hurt. I think sweating made it sting too.
Really hope all the best for your surgery. You won't know yourself soon. Make sure you have plenty of hot salty baths, drink plenty of water, have stool softeners (I use Slippery Elm & eat prunes), eat fruit & vegies, take heaps of rest. Stay clear of constipatory pain killers ( I used Ibuprofen).

Thanks so much Brett!! Until I found all of you guys I didnt know anyone with an AF, or had even heard of an AF!! Seriously! I appreciate all of your stories and I'm really excited about getting back to the way I was!!

Hi there and welcome! Good luck for your surgery!