Best wishes, buttmachine. Good luck with healing.
Cheryl

Update: Well, as Jo and Kim predicted, the local wore off. Ow. But after a couple of Advil and an hour's nap on the couch next to a purring cat, I'm feeling about the same as I did before.
It's probably the saline drip they had me on, but it also feels like I'm having to urinate quite a bit.
More soon. Thanks for your thoughts!

purring cats and snoring pugs are the best :bathtub:

Update ~8 hours post-op. I'm sitting on the couch on a partially-inflated neck pillow (the kind you buy for flying on planes). It's hard for me to feel anything's wrong at all.

I am happy to hear you are feeling so well...

may it continue!

Don't be discouraged if tomorrow is harder than today. But you can handle it!

Here's the morning after. I slept pretty well. I woke up around midnight thinking it was time for the first movement. It wasn't, but just in case, I removed the bandage and the gauze packing (scary, not painful), and sat in the tub for a bit.
This morning, I'm feeling a bit sore. Better than last night though. I've had a bit of minor discharge, but no leaks or bleeding. Might be time for a couple more ibuprofen and a fiber pill.
More soon. Thanks for your support, all.

Aww ...Yes that purring cat is therapy itself !!
Buttmachine - I am so pleased to hear all is going well
Goodluck with the first BM... I do hope it will be kind to you - Just relax now and let healing begin
Heres to new beginnings

Continued good wishes, Butt Machine, and thanks for the updates so we all can continue to learn from each other!!

Well, that was fast. About 20 minutes after a fiber pill and a cup of coffee, I had that first "uh oh" moment so many of you have described.
How was it? Not terrible. Anxiety-provoking yes, a bit uncomfortable yes, but nothing worse than I'd had in my worst moments with the fissure. When it was over, I got in the tub. Within seconds, it felt like nothing was wrong at all. I've never had discomfort go away that fast afterwards.
Did my tub soak, took a shower, and I feel like a new man. I'm still taking it easy around the house today.
Keep the faith, everyone.