Oh, the troubles never seem to end. So, I'm still waiting on them to call and schedule my LIS, but in the last two days I've felt some tenderness...no bleeding or tearing feeling, just tender.
Today, I feel a tender lump outside the anus, and when I look with the mirror it's red and looks like a pimple. I hope it's just that...but with my luck, I'll bet it's a freaking fistula. I don't know what to do! It took me a month to see the specialist last time...I just hope it looks better tomorrow!
Can LIS and fistula surgery even be done at the same time? I was so wanting the LIS... :(

Alpine-
I have read some of the common ways Fistula's can form are from either a fissure that heals from the top down forming a tunnel, an Abscess, or a underlying disease process.
I have had two fistula's. With one that is still active deep in the muscle with a draining seton in place. I have Crohn's so this is what is causing mine... Now on meds to hopefully close it.
I think you would know if you had an abscess. Fever, a lot of pain, chills, nasty drainage and massive swelling were the symptoms I had. I had to have surgery to cut it open and drain it. This is when they found the second fistula.
Another sign of a fistula is a lot of drainage. I have a ton of drainage from mine.
Also, they can perform an LIS and fistulotomy in the same surgery. That is what I had to treat my first fistula. Made recovery hell since the slice it open the length of the fistula. This is only done when the fistula is shallow and won't compromise to much muscle.
My first thought is that you may have an external hemorrhoid that may have developed. I have had a couple that pop up now and then and they are tender and painful- bump on the edge of the anus. For me they usually disappear in about a week.
Hopefully, whatever it is will heal itself. Best of luck.

Thanks Pauls. I so hope it turns out to be nothing. I really think it's too far away from the anus to be considered a hem. But I haven't had any drainage so maybe it's not a fistula.
Guess we'll just wait and see...

Hope it goes away!!

Alpine,
I had a scare with my fissure too and thought I may have been developing and infection prior to LIS. I called the CRS's office and described what it looked like. They called me in an RX for two antibiotics although I really don't think I had an infection now... One was flagyl and it causes really bad stomach up-set but if you are worried, then maybe you could call and be seen or they may call you in a RX to be on the safe side.

It isn't, so far. It hurts to walk, it hurts to sit...there's a red area that's nickel to quarter sized around the bump. I'm so scared it's infected. I just don't know what to do. I'm at a loss. I'm praying it turns out to be something silly like just a boil or pimple, or some sort of minor irritation. But I know I can't take anything for granted down there.
I don't want to go to the GP, and I'm not sure how fast the CRS could get me in to look at it. I guess right now I'm in 'wait a few days' mode...not that I plan on neglecting it, I just wonder if it will go away on it's own?
There's still no drainage coming from the bump, but maybe it just hasn't tunneled all the way up to the surface yet? I've never had any pus drainage after bowel movements or anything.
And I haven't been feeling well. No fever, just run down and tired, but I guess that could be anything.
This is so annoying! Why couldn't this have been there last Tuesday when i was at the CRS's office!!!
Now, I wonder what to say if/when they call to schedule my surgery? I'm going to have to let them know about this, I guess. :( :( :(

Darn that it hasn't disappeared! Well, I think you have a doubly good excuse to call the CRS today - call and tell them about this (and see about your appointment) - who knows, maybe they can slip you in today or tomorrow. Maybe it's better to nip it in the bud and the CRS will most likely know what they're looking at.
I had a weird thing happen this morning with my butt and it freaked me out - luckily I think it went away - but that makes me sympathize with you even more.
ANyway, try calling them - don't worry that you are bothering them.

Wondering if it could be a thrombosed hemmeroid? I had one this summer, my the pain. I didn't sleep for over 36 hours and couldn't sit/walk/. You need it lanced right away otherwise they will tell you it is too late and you'll have to recover naturally. If I were you, I would just show up at the CRS's and ask them to fit you in that day. It could be something else too, just thought I'd let you know my experience. Mine looked purple/black/red and was the size of a peanut... GROSS! I had actually went to the ER as I thought my fissure was infected too (prior to LIS) and they poked, prodded and sent me home with T3's. I called the surgeon later and he asked me if I would drive in to see him as he said the hospital should've called a surgeon in to lance it. He said it was ridiculous and when in doubt make the trip to see him. Hope this helps. Don't worry, it could be something minor like a pimple. But if you can't sit/walk etc., I think you shouldn't wait to get it checked out.

Thanks guys...no doubt you're right I should have called the CRS's office today...but as usual I'm a procrastinator and I'm giving it until tomorrow. I WILL call tomorrow though, if it's not looking better. It takes planning for me to get there since it's an hour away and I have to have someone to care for my five year old.
I googled some pics of perianal abscesses--wow. That can get really nasty! The huge swelling, I don't have that. The area just looks a little puffy and red and it's sore but I'm still not having any drainage. It isn't totally preventing me from walking, I managed to do my grocery shopping today and it doesn't seem to have aggravated it too much.
I hope I'm just freaking out over nothing...

Hope so - And I hope it is feeling better today... I bet you are thinking about all the possibilities. It could even be some irritation from your recent visit to the crs? An ingrown hair? You could put some icthamol ointment on it or something...