Has anybody had a Sphincterotomy?

Hi cahill , can you please tell me the pain you had after your fissure surgery while you were recovering?

Hi. it's been a year since i faced constipation and since that i feel there is something in my anal region. for first few months, there was pain. now there isn't any pain just burning after BM. But still i can't sit on my bum. it feels like there is something inside. I went to the doctor, he examined and said that it's a chronic anal fissure and surgery will be done. I'm so terrified about the complications. He said the risks of complications is minimal but still I'm terrified of post op and complications. can anyone help please

I had mine done on the 31st of jan and today is the Feb 4th i haven't gone back to work yet but I have resumed my normal routine. My BM are absolutely horrifying. I've been taking stool softener since the day after surgery and it's still rock hardand incredibly painful. Any suggestions?

When did you end up going back to work? Are you glad you had the surgery? I've been suffering for years now decided to have the surgery. Did you have a Colon surgon do the surgery?

I had my surgery done yesterday and am wondering what to do to help with recovery ? The hospital didn’t give me much info besides a list of medication to buy. Please help ! I’m so scared of having bowel motion. I also seem to be bleeding slightly ( few drops) did that happen to u ?

Hello, not sure exactly what surgery you had or which country you are in, but I had the 'rind' removed from the fissure and a sphincterotomy to cut away a little of the muscle.  What medication was on that list?  I did the following:  1. took the medication, 2.  early in morning ran a hot bath and got my entertainment set up for 3-4 hours worth of TV, 3.  did my BM and cleaned with sterile wet wipes 4.  got immediately into bath 5.  sat there for 2-3 hours, depends on pain  6.  lay on bed with legs bolted together to avoid all movement.  When I was in such pain I was crying then the doctor finally allowed me to get some Lidocaine which helped as it numbs the tissue.  Be careful what you eat, obviously easily digestible things only, drink a lot of fluids, KEEP THE BM REGULAR EVERY DAY DO NOT MISS A SINGLE ONE

I’m taking Movicol and coloxyl with senna at the moment as stool softeners 

How are you feeling?I had my surgery done 5 days ago and it hasn't been a smooth ride.

Day 1 after, burning, unbearable sensation

Day2 throbbing pain, called the dr, dr chalked it up to being tension pain

Day3 pain became milder, burning sensation left (I think it was the runny bowels that caused it), but more swelling around my anus, called the dr and he basically said its normal😑

Day 4, felt so much better, pain very mild very easy to use the bathrooom swelling is still there.

Day 5 pain is stronger, swelling is there.

Day 6, oh boy, woke up, had a bm and it feels like someone has a hammer just beating away at my anus. Hurts so bad. Weird pain. Not a sharp pain, a throbbing consistent pain . Tried soaking in the tub, it throbbed in there, took pain meds, still throbbing. It's more an annoying pain. Miserable pain. Please tell me of you've experienced this and if so what did you do. If feels like I've pulled a muscle. I did not strain while having a bm. I had a polyp removed and my fissure was worse than they thought. I know its getting better but this recovery is worst than I expected.

I am schedule for surgery tomorrow and although I know this is the best option for me after suffering for so long and trying all other options, I'm very anxious.  Thank you for giving your daily recovery details as I find it a great help. 

Any suggestions other than watching what I eat today, do you have any suggestions for me?  Will be praying your pain eases and you can see great improvement quickly!

First let me say I hope and pray for a speedy recovery for you!

My suggestion would be to definitely use stool softeners. My dr told me to take 2 to 3.

Your first BM will hurt initially but find something to hold on to and let it out!

I think my burning sensation was from runny bowels, try to keep a not to soft but not to hard bm.

Try not to eat anything spicy.

My surgeon really didn't tell me what to expect so I think the reason I'm so uncomfortable is because I had no heads up.

Expect to be in pain after a bm. Soak immediately and take your pain meds because that's when I'm in the most pain. The pain may last hours after a bm.

For me, sitting up on a chair pillow is the most comfortable thing for me. It's not too soft or too hard.

I soak at least 5x a day. Anytime I feel any pain , I soak.

My pain I had this morning which sparked me to post on here has lessen. My swollen has went down some as well. So maybe this is my behind say of telling me " the finish line is near!

Also, my dr told me to keep it dry with no creams. He left 2 external hemmhroids but took care of the fissure and polyps. I tried not to use any ointment but I broke down and ended up buying alocane , which is a burn gel. It help 100% and I credit that to the swollen reduction.

Sorry this is so long, I just want to help you as much as possible because I've been so lost. As I approach my week post surgery,I can see the much needed results. Good luck

Hi there! I had the same surgery as you as well as a Sphincterotomy 9 days ago. Still on ibroph. For pain but my question is...did you ever feel like a stingy annoying discomfort whole walking. I've been feeling like this today 😶

Today is #9 for me too I still feel stinging especially after a BM. It's almost like a little pinch feeling. I'm still having trouble keeping my BM not to hard and not to soft.

Thank you. Oh My goodness it's really annoying. Makes me want to rub some kind of cooling ointment. I have 2 babies and it's been rough! Thank you for all your help.

Yes that's exactly what i feel. I've been eating full fiber bagels, fiber cereal, strawberries, fiberone bars to help. I'm still on ibrophn but it's that stinging pinching discomfort.

No I wasn't told i could use them. But is this normal. It feels almost like a sharp object rubbing around that area

Thanks. Its my 2nd day feeling this way. Let's see how it goes this weekend!

Hi Mandy,

I hope you're well. I will have on the 6th of november Lateral anal sphincterotomy and removal of a polyp. The NHS misdiagnose me with piles and been to the hospital 3 times and had banding for apparently "piles"but didn't have that condition.... have a polyp and anal fissure.

Can you please tell me how did you recover, any advice? I am a nursery nurse and I work with children. Will have 1 week off.... after 1 week do you think it's gonna be ok? How did you managed the post surgery, did you had any infection? also was it done under GA? as mine will be under GA.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Suzana

Hi. I just had the surgery 3 weeks ago. The 1st week after surgery was rough & I did get an infection. Was in ER with 103 fever 2 days after the surgery. As for 1 week off of work you might need a little more time. I was back to work in 12 days but if it wasnt for the infection I think I would've been ready sooner. I can tell you though I am very happy I had it done because here I am 3 weeks later & I feel great. 100% back to normal life

I took my sitz bath with me to work when I went back to work. I used it everything I had a bowel movement. Miralax stool softer really helped me more than other brands. you probably won't be 100% within a week but you will be close. I know it's so scary but you will be so much better after the surgery is over. I was lucky and didn't have any infection. I think the sitz baths help to keep it clean. I was under GA and had a polyp removed also. keeping your mind strong is probably the hardest part. try to put your mind towards whatever gives you happiness to distract from the pain. I'm here if you ever need to chat.

Hi,

Thank you for replying. I am scarred of infection because an infection can cause sepsis and I don't want to die. I am scared to death of this but I am going to a private hospital as NHS misdiagnose me and I have been treated for a condition which I don't have and at the private clinic told me what is the real problem which the skin tag and anal fissure resulted from the NHS consultant banding skin tags and he said that they are piles hence my situation now.

Hi Mandy,

Thank you so much for replying and for your encouragement.

Suzana xx

Hi Maria,

How are you feeling? I will have a polyp removal plus the anal fissure surgery on 6th of november, this tuesday coming. I am really scarred as I will go under GA and I am an occasional smoker, I heard that if you smoke the GA can be complicated. Did you have GA? How was your recovery? How long did you stay at home for recovery? I will have 1 week off for recovery and hopefully I will be fine. Did you use any antibiotic cream for the wound?

Many thanks,

Suzana

Hello! First and foremost I pray for a successful surgery for you. Everyone is different. However my vest advise is for you to anticipate pain and being uncomfortable for a full week. I took 2 weeks off due to my dr orders. I had polyps removed, anal fissure and hemorrhoids surgery. The best thing you can do is soak as much as you can. It is not advised to use cream but after day 3 I bought some and felt so much better. There is no way I could rate the pain other than painful. But keep in mind the surgery is in a sensitive part of your body. I dont smoke so I dont know about that. Epson salt and a hot bathtub pretty much every other hour is what helped me. I was so much better after the 7th day. I found that when I laid around in the bed I hurt the most. Sitting up felt better. Try to stay away from narcotics after day 2... it causes constipation. Your first bowel movement will be more mental than anything. It wont be as bad you probably thinking it would be. I used calmoseptine ointment which I had to order from amazon. It was a lifesaver. It kept it dry and allowed it to heal. Again, at first my dr said not to put anything on it but there was no way I could deal with the pain. My surgery was performed by a general surgeon and it lasted about 45 mins. I hope this helps!

I smoke & was fine with the anesthesia. I had 2 surgeries in 3 weeks because I got an infection the 1st time. They gave me some steroid breathing treatments & was totally fine both times. As for recovery time I would try to get 2 weeks off. I was feeling better in about 10-11 days but want to be sure. Sitting on my butt was painful for those 10 days or so but What I was scared of most was having to go to the bathroom at work & not have a bathtub to jump in after. I will say I was scared as hell about the whole recovery but to be honest it was not as bad as I feared. Yes I was in pain but not much worse than before the procedure & healed up pretty quick even having to go back in & doing it

Hi Maria,

Thank you for your reply. It really helps a lot. I am going to a private hospital with a lead colorectal surgeon but I am really scarred of the GA. The surgeon said it's a simple procedure and it will take around 30min so I am hoping it will be ok. I am suffering at the moment with pain anyway with each BM as the polyp is so big and prolapsing also the anal fissure and at the moment after each BM I am in pain and have sitz bath and cream over there, if it will be like now that's ok but hopefully it won't be more painful. Will keep you updated as this website helped me a lot and maybe my experience will help others in same situation.

All the best,

Suzana

When I woke up from surgery I think it was more mental than anything. The pain is bad but I scared myself so much prior to surgery that I think it cause my 1 st day which was surgery day to be so painful. Just know that next week you will feel so much better ❤

Hi Bobby,

Thank you very much for your reply. It really helps.

All the best,

Suzana

It's the same feeling for me too. I am very scared before the surgery and I think that it's worse then the procedure, pain itself.

I am trying not to think about it but it's impossible. Thank you for your response❤

fibre and water

how you feel now?? am two months of lis. still paining