by Sweet Bugaboo » 04 Feb 2013, 13:50
Hi, Jd -
Thank you for your comment and well wishes! I wish you the same - a pain-free rear end.
I first felt a fissure almost 5 years' ago. It healed on its own, after I saw the first of many CRS's I would eventually see. He advised a high-fiber diet - which I faithfully did - and the fissure did heal. Problem solved . . . I thought.
Nope. In Oct., 2011, the fissure came back - with a vengeance! I went back to CRS #1, who said he didn't see a thing wrong. I continued to suffer HORRIBLE pain, then saw CRS #2, who said he saw some very small fissures (1 mm in size) - but he said that the "best long-term fix is fiber and time." NOPE! That was Nov. of 2011, and I eventually sought a opinion - from CRS #3 - in Jan. of 2012, who (wisely) said that a chronic fissure won't heal, no matter what creams or ointments were put on it. He suggested a LIS and fissurectomy. I couldn't have the surgery done fast enough - and on Jan. 30th, 2012, I had both procedures done. Everything flattened out, for the most part, but I do have a very small "tag" and tightened area.
It's a long story - but CRS #3 was soon after sent to Afghanistan for military duty - and in the meantime, I had a horrible setback of constipation, in which I had bleeding and was extremely upset about it. So, I found CRS #4, who said that whatever had bled looked alright to him, and he prescribed Valium at night, for spasms. The Valium was a god-send, I tell ya. I still use it, from time to time (like, last night), when I feel spasms.
At any rate, I guess because of my anatomy, I've had a tough time healing. This past Nov. (2012), I thought I had finally, finally healed - I felt pretty darn good . . . only to have pain come back around Thanksgiving. No, it wasn't my diet, because I've been extremely careful. Who knows? - but it felt sore and scraped in there. I went back to CRS #4, who said he didn't see anything and suggested I needed to think about something else. Clearly, whatever pain I felt was not something he could see a reason for. He said my bottom was in the top 10% of bottoms he sees, with regard to things looking good . . . He did say that I have a fat-less bottom and that he could feel bones on me that he can't feel on his other women patients. It's not that they don't have the same bones, but my bottom doesn't have the padding that other people's bottoms do, apparently. Let me point out that when I look at myself in the mirror, my bottom looks fine to me . . . but I'm nowhere near to being anything close to Kim Kardashian, lol.
Anyway, things settled down again, a bit, but I went to see CRS #3, again, to have him check the area and to discuss the pain with him. He said I looked healed and that another surgery wasn't necessary (not that I want another surgery, anyway) -- and he said that, because of my fat-less bottom - INSIDE as well as out - I don't have much tissue there . . . and things down there don't have the comfort level that I might have, if I had a fattier bottom.
Just a few days' ago, I finally thought I was over the big part of the pain - but then yesterday afternoon, things felt sore, again . . . mostly in the little area where I had my surgery. I'm guessing that the scar tissue acts up . . . and I keep hoping things will toughen up. Let's hope.
As to your situation, my advice is to give it time, time, time. There are times when I've sworn I might have a fissure again, but both CRS's #3 and #4 have said they do not see one. --- Also, make sure you ARE thoroughly clean after a BM, because the residue does tend to irritate the tissues, in my experience. Like you, I do believe the surgery was necessary, and I'm glad I had mine - but recovery can vary and take a long time for certain people. Also like you, I still think of my rear end, every day. Yes, it's been over a year - but I know I would still be in miserable agony, my life on hold, if I had not had the surgery.
So, giving yourself time is a must. Also, continue to watch your diet and make sure you have enough fiber and water. I eat Fiber One cereal, every morning, and I drink Konsyl (fiber supplement) at noon. I also eat two pieces of Double Fiber bread, every day.
Your scar tissue might continue to bother you for some time, if your bottom is even remotely like mine. I've thought about having tag and the tight part addressed, but I'm really afraid to have more surgery, if not necessary. Honestly, when I have pain down below now, it mostly feels like soreness around my surgical area - and like I said, I think that's the scar tissue and just lingering tenderness of the area. A few weeks' ago, I did see a few teeny, tiny dots of blood on the tissue, and that scared me -- but I haven't seen it since.
I'll say again, that surgery (for me) was necessary, and I'm glad I had it done - it has made a positive difference - but surgery IS surgery and can take a long while to get past.
Hang in there (that's what I'm still trying to do), and please let me know how you progress, as time goes by. I was sore for months after my surgery - and I still have soreness, from time to time - like last night - and I just have to hope that time will toughen everything. Meanwhile, we'll both need to continue our fiber intake and hope and pray for complete healing.
I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. <3