Hi All,
I wish I wasn't here but it's great that this site exists.
I had my first baby four months ago, and at the time the obstetrician told me I had a fissure (I had a 2nd degree tear that needed suturing also). The fissure didn't rear its' ugly head for a couple of weeks, but when it did I couldn't sit down at all or do anything faster than shuffle around the house for a good 2 months. I was in a lot of pain til about 5pm after a 7.30am BM.
I had a lot of advice along the lines of 'don't get constipated, wait and see', and some hydrocortisone/cinchocaine cream (which I was using incorrectly due to a complete lack of instructions and an excruciating searing pain in the butt making me wonder how on earth you were supposed to get it up there!)
Eventually my GP referred me to the public hospital system, but unfortunately the system is so choked that I was told it would take me a good 4-6 months to get an initial appointment. By this stage I was going so nuts with the pain and the newborn that I went for a private consultation. The surgeon advised by this stage the fissure had become chronic and the only thing to fix it once and for all would be LIS.
So we forked out the $$ and bit the bullet as the surgeon was very confident that this was the way to go and I'd be good as new in no time. I figured the money didn't matter because at this stage a holiday to Tahiti wouldn't be enjoyable anyway as I wouldn't even be able to sit on the plane to get there! We were just so lucky we had a bit set aside for an emergency.
I had a week or so where I couldn't sit down, but within two weeks I was back out walking which did wonders for my sanity. However I am now 6 weeks post LIS and have had a setback. The pain changed from being able to feel the healing incision during a BM to the raw stinging feeling of the fissure. It feels more superficial than it did, and is only slightly uncomfortable and irritated during the day. I can still do everything except sit on a hard chair. My surgeon is on holiday for a month, and my GP says it should be fine as the op has such a low failure rate. I really would like to get a second opinion!
I think there are a number of things contributing to my slow recovery - stress and muscle tension being a major factor. Actually I'm surprised I haven't had a complete nervous breakdown, given that I am prone to depression before any of this happened, and throw in an allergic reaction to antibiotics to help my post-birth sutures heal and gastritis which my GP said could be gallstones due to pregnancy, all while this AF has been taking over my life!
Also my pelvic floor is weak due to pregnancy and birth, I have scar tissue and adhesions from tearing during delivery and breastfeeding causing all my good healing nutrients to bypass me and go to bubs.
So, if anyone has any positive info to pass on I could do with hearing it! I'm keeping my chin up most days, and feeling more positive than not, but it's hard not to let anxiety creep in - it's a battle that's for sure. But if nothing else I am determined to see the day where I don't let this thing rule my thoughts.
I've got a lot of support but there is only so much friends and family can listen to when they don't really understand the mental trauma that comes with and AF.
Nice to meet you guys, but sorry to see you here. :D