Hi
Im new on here, but Im so glad I found this site.:( I havent told anyone in my family or friends the full details of how bad I am feeling, too embarrassed - I just told them I had a bum op and they dont ask - think they are all too embarrassed too!
Ive had two fissures surgically repaired four weeks ago by a GS, but I dont think it has worked! I am so upset! All that pain and recovery time for nothing!
The sutures all opened up or came out this week (at four weeks). The skin tag I have is bigger and more sensitive and painful than ever. Its harder to clean and doesnt look good.
I hate the way my ass looks now and cant imagine showing my partner when I return home to him in three weeks :oops: (Im on holiday right now) It looks terrible - worse than even before the surgery!
Anyway, I need advice! I will post on the post surgery section and see if anyone can help me!
I was thinking of trying the laser method next to remove the big skin tag and close the one fissure thats opened up again - is this better than cutting and suturing method?
What else can I try people?
Thanks so much for having this board!!!
Sadie

Hello Sadie and welcome to the board. Isn't it amazing how many people suffer with this and you think you are the only one!

I think it is too soon to judge the outcome of your surgery. I have had 3 rectal surgeries and your bum looks worse than before because of the trauma and swelling from the sugery so don't get too discouraged.

I used aloe vera topically on my skin tag and it shrunk down a lot. I also had one surgically removed when I had a hemorrhoidectomy. If you do a search on skin tags you will see some of our old discussions too.

What kind of surgery did you have to repair the fissures?

Hi
Thank you so much for replying to me! Its true I feel like nobody else has this problem, because noone wants to talk to me about it - not even my own family!
I had the fissures cut out and sutured back together - thats all I know. They didnt cut the muscle, as I dont think I have spasm - what is it anyway? I read it and dont know . . . I try to be very relaxed when I do a bm.
I had a continuous running stitch of purple thread that was holding the fissures together. After a bm, one of the stitches seemed to have come undone - the knot at the end had just ripped through the skin. This is when it just all sort of unravelled over the next few days.
I now have a deep split in my rectum that opens up when I relax it. Its about 2-3cms across and 1cm deep!
I was feeling better day by day, until this suture just seemed to open up. The thing is - this wasnt even the bad one - I could cope with it before, but now it is agony!
I wonder if I did the wrong thing seeing a GS? I didnt realise it was so important to go and see a specialist . . .
Can anyone tell me about laser for fissure?

Hi Sadie and welcome! to our little butt board!
I think you should call or get back in touch with your general surgeon. It seems like four weeks would be more than enough time for the stitched area to close up. Maybe it was time for the stitches to fall out.
I am really not clear about exactly what type procedure was done on your fissure. I didn't know fissurectomies involved stitches, but they may...
A spasm is a clenching pain that may come in waves at any time after a BM, and can last a short while or for some all day.
Maybe you should google "fissurectomy" and find out if that sounds like the procedure you had...

Yes, it sounds like you had a fissurectomy. I had stitches when I had my hemorrhoidectomy and they were the kind that dissolved. I know when you have the non-dissolving kind after a time, the doctor would remove them or it could be done at home. It you have a split that you can see, it does sound like you need to get it checked out.
I think it is preferable to see a specialist but many of us have seen specialists and have been less than enthused so don't feel bad like you did the wrong thing. Sometimes we just have to make decisions based on the info we have at the moment.

It is too bad that you can't even be open with your family but I understand. My family knows I have butt issues but most of them (except my MIL who is in the health field) do not ask me about it and don't seem to understand why a bm can be so debilitating. Is your partner understanding?

How long did you have the fissures before you had the operation? I don't know anything about laser surgery but I know one of our boardies is looking into it for a skin tag.

Hang in there and here are some for you!

Hi Sadie!
I think you will find a lot of useful info here and lots of support which is so important to those of us with butt issues as, as you indicated, it is a prob that is not easily discussed with others (like an arm or leg prob for example).

Hi
Well, from wht I can tell, no I dont have any spasm - the only time
I feel anything like that is right after a bm, but I jump straight in a sitz bath with a little antiseptic and it stops right away.
I have told my family what I have had done, over the phone, before I arrived to visit, but they were just like 'Oh, ok, well I hope you get better.'
My partner, well, he just knows when I suffering, because he doesnt get any ... hahaha! Thats hard on him - well both of us I guess, but it puts a strain on a relationship when you cant be intimate doesnt it?
As far as I can tell, I am doing everything right from reading this board over the last few hours.
I guess I should just wait a couple of weeks till its been six weeks since the surgery and then go back if I dont see any improvement...
Thank you everyone!

You should consider yourself very lucky if the pain ends soon after a BM!! :flush:

Well, yeah from what I have read, I am quite lucky, but I just use 'mind over matter' - I meditate regularly and use these techniques to calm my muscles and just zone out.
What creams can you all reccommend? Can I get them in the UK?

Hi Sadie
Welcome to this wonderful forum
Are you in the UK by any chance ?
I think you would be wise to go back to the GS and just check everything is as it should be; I can imagine the site is very tender and delicate.
How long were you suffering before you had the surgery?
Don’t give up hope just yet Sadie