Has anybody had a Sphincterotomy?

Almost 2 years for me. Why did I wait so long to have it done? Try and eat right and keep doing the fiber and you'll be fine. We're all different. Do your research and you will find your balance. I am so much more comfortable now. Good luck!

This forum was very helpful for me so I would like to share my full experience because my DRs would not answer many questions about the recovery process. All they say is everybody is different. This is true but if you're like me youre fearing the unknown so maybe I can help someone else like this page helped me.

I have been dealing with fissures for a few years on & off. 1st time was years ago but healed on my own & was fine for a long time. I started having issues again about this time last year (october).

Saw a dr & after trying cream that didn't really help they gave me the option of surgery. After changing my diet & fighting it on & off for a couple months I decided surgery was the best option.

I was scheduled for surgery back in March about a month after I scheduled it but changed it started healing on it's own so I canceled the surgery & gave it a shot to heal itself. Stayed on a strict high fiber diet with lots of water & nothing binding & was good for about 6 months. Even lost 50+ lbs from diet alone. Everything was great.

Went on vacation to universal studios & between eating crap & drinking beer instead of water out in the heat I went totally backwards & fissure came back with vengeance! At this point it was worse then ever. I would use the bathroom & for the next 5 hours be in excruciating pain. Called the dr & got on the books for surgery.

Went in on a Friday morning. Surgery itself was easy. Went in, passed out, & the next thing I know I woke up like nothing happened. They sent me home & I felt great because the meds were still working. The following day it was very sore but still didn't use the bathroom for a couple of days. I drank tons of water (over a gallon a day) & ate nothing but beans, soup, & fruit.

The 1st time i had to go i was scared to death. I actually filled up a sitz bath with warm water & pooped in there then emptied it in the toilet & washed it out. I think it made it easier but it was painful. Really not much worse than before the surgery but still hurt like hell. Wiping was difficult & I dont think I did it well enough because I wound up with an infection.

Starting Sunday (2 days post surgery) I had 103 fever that was lasted for 2 days & went to the ER. Dr put me on antibiotics to fight the infection.

The next couple of days I actually really felt no pain from the area of the fissure but the times i went to the bathroom it hurt but the pain was different. The area of the abcess was from the infection was stinging like someone was holding a lighter to it after I used the bathroom.

This time instead of wet wipes I got in the bathtub & sprayed my butt with the shower sprayer to get it clean as possible. The infected area started draining (took lots of Epsom salt baths) & I started to feel better.

By 1 week post surgery I had not much pain at all when I used the bathroom compared to what I was dealing with for the past month but the area was still to sore to sit down. It was either lie on my side or stand for a couple of more days.

I was able to sit up probably about 10 days after surgery. I am currently 2 weeks post surgery & I'm back to work full time & I feel great.

All in all the recovery was not fun but was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be especially since I was in so much pain leading up to surgery. Prepare your self for a rough week or so but KNOW it gets MUCH better!!

I am very grateful I had the surgery. Now I can get back to my life!!! I hope this helps someone because I know how scary it is to prepare for the recovery time. Wish you all the best & I know you will get through it.

I had the LIS OR Spinchterotomy done 3 days ago. I was extremely nervous and now cant believe i suffered with chronic fissure for so long when i could have had the surgery earlier. I am 45 yo female with a fissure for the last 8 months. Day one after surgery was already less pain than prior. Bowel movements are still painful right now because of the surgical incision but i was able to drive after day 2 short distance to drop off my daughter. I am taking benefiber 3 X day and miralax 3x a day to keep things soft and moving. if you have a chronic fissure do mot wait, get the surgery and stop suffering.

So I have to go back into surgery in 2 days...ugh. infection left a fistula now they have to go back in & drain it. Cant believe I have to go through this again. Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi, I just had LIS surgery 3 days ago. (one fissure present and teo skin tags removed) Yesterday, I had my first bowel movement with very little pain during it but intense stinging afterwards. Today it burned, more during the bowel movement but maybe a bit less afterwards Today there was blood in the toilet. Is this normal? If so, how long will you continue to see blood in the toilet? Thanks for any help you can give me

Hi Hopie75

Bleeding for same time after surgery is normal. When I had my fissure surgery, I bled quite a lot. If you are very black and blue down there, that’s also normal, mind took a while but eventually it goes away. In my case the burning (which is so uncomfortable) was caused by eating foods that have a lot of acidity in it, like vinegar or citress fruit and such because you are still raw inside from the surgery. At least this is my experience but we are all different.

Watch your diet and hope you will feel better soon.

Karen.

Hi yes I am the op, about 4 years ago. I got an awful infection after but I recovered very slowly at first, its a good 6 weeks I would say. I hardly ever get pain now and considering I had it for 9 years severely, it's heaven now. I do drink loads and avoid dark meat and try not to get constipation. The risk is minimal I believe. The op they say is more successful in men, I'm female and was fine x