Has anybody had a Sphincterotomy?

No, but everyone is different. Sounds disgusting but I kept seeing stitches fall out of mine I. The shower. X

Hello all,

I had the lateral internal sphincteronomy done 5 weeks ago. The pain isn't quite as bad as it was. I was literally in tears almost every day for 3 weeks. I pretty much have been either laying in the bed or tub for a month. My question for those who have had this done, how long before this swelling/skin tags take to go down? It almost looks like my rectum is falling out in a spot. The doctor says is normal and could leave a small skin tag. It hurts to sit and walking irritates it. I feel like my life is never going to get back to normal and the doctor keeps saying everyone is different in the healing process. I am just at a loss of what to do. I soak 4 times a day. The swelling just isn't going down yet. Anyone else out there take this long for the swollen areas to go down? I feel real depressed from this as I can't work right now and I am starting to stress out. Any suggestions appreciated

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to report back on my recent sphincterotomy after reading a lot about it from this very forum. I'm a 35 year old guy living in the US. I have been having anal fissures for over two years and nothing at all would stop them – I've tried everything from Prep H suppostories to completely changing my diet (lost 30lbs in the meantime which is a win!) but nothing stopped the pain and bleeding. Most days I'd be in a pain level between 2 and 8 out of 10 but occasionally the full on 9/10 "can't do work" situation too.

I went to a specialist over a year ago and he couldn't find anything wrong so I assume I just had to wait it out. After another 9 months of bleeding and pain, I got a referral to a different specialist who couldn't believe the first one had missed two large fissures. She recommended tried Rectiv for a few weeks to see if that helps, and while it did help somewhat, it never fully got rid of the problem so after 7 weeks, she referred me to a surgeon who lined up my surgery. The surgeon felt that the sphincterotomy was the gold standard for curing this and that Botox wouldn't be as effective, so nervously agreed and went home to do my research before my surgery date.

After doing the research (aka Googling a lot) it seemed that the surgery would be incredibly painful and would take weeks, if not months, to recover. I know there's a lot of people in here who've been through hell so I went into hospital with similar trepidations.

I'm currently at Day 3 post-surgery and I am currently at a 2/10 pain level now, and I'll be going back to work tomorrow.

Day 1: straight after the surgery I woke up and I was surprised at quite how little pain I was in. I was in a daze but at only 5/10 pain levels when I was expecting more like 9/10 based on what I'd read. I put this down to anaesthia. I was uncomfortable to move, especially considering the amount of gauze up my butt crack, but felt okay. Only on the taxi on the way home did the pain levels slowly turn up and by home, I was at the 9/10 that I expected. A sharp pain that wouldn't stop. I lay face down on the bed for 2 hours just hoping it would go away. After a few painkillers, the pain started to reduce throughout the day. By bed time, I was at a 7/10 pain level which was comparable to one of the bad days before the op.

Day 2: I woke up feeling at a 5/10 pain levels and a few hours later, after taking the bandage and gauze off in the bath (with a bit of blood of course), I needed my first BM. Uh oh. Here we go. Time for the pain to rocket up. But fortunately it was no worse that a BM pre-op. No blood weirdly this time too. A bit of stinging for 15 mins but nothing as bad as beforehand. By the end of the day, I'd been out for a walk and was sitting down on the sofa normally.

Currently on day 3 and I woke up in 3/10 pain. A bit uncomfortable but on the lower end of the scale of where I'd been for the last two years. BM number two (pun intended) on its way during the afternoon and this time a lot of blood (comparable to the worst ones pre-op) but no pain with it. Managed to walk around and do normal-ish things today. Currently at a 2/10 pain level with only one tablet of painkiller taken all day.

What I thought might have been a nightmare operation turned into a couple of days of pain but hoping that by the end of the week, I'll be pain free... something I was never expecting before the operation. I know a lot of people on this forum have had issues and much longer recoveries but I just wanted to post from the positive side of things. If you're having pain from fissures, then I definitely think it's worth having the operation. You may be nervous going into the operation – I was – and it will be painful, but the pain is worth the (hopefully short) recovery so that you never feel like you're passing broken glass through your butthole every time you go to the restroom.

HI, I hope this works...last one just went poof! I have been in sphincter pain for two years after a

botched banding, where all hemorrhoids were removed at once, with a compromised sphincter complex, due to being torn 4th degree during the birth of my son. my whole area was sewn around the tiny nurses finger. I have done everything but botox...I can not use the creams as they put me into bradycardia, and interact with my blood pressure meds. I have had recent sigmoid, a ok. I have done pelvic therapy, nothing wrong via two therapists, I have done anal

dilation, and asked each of these blankity blank colorectal surgeries about LIS....no way!,,

well I know it's the only thing that is going to help. The pain after defacation is extreme, and thank God for mago7! I wear a tens unit almost all day with patches on either side of the rear hole to override the spasms. I know there are fissures up there, only one of the three checked with his finger, said you do not have them...this guy told me I have ani levator... there is nothing wrong with my floor muscles...the last one said proctalgia fugax? no way...that's random pain that lasts at the max for 20 minutes. The first one told me in front of four people I would end up with a bag! this traumatized me very bad. I live in a small town...and it seems to me that they are all banding around the first one who darn well knows he made a big boo boo, by taking them all at once and over dilating me. My PCP finally referred me to UCLA, where they have already told me on the phone he would do LIS, and can not believe I have been made to go through this for so long. They picked ou the Chief of staff for me to see, I wish it was tomorrow! This is a very scary, lonely problem with no one to talk to. I met a woman on a site who has very horrible stuff like mine for five years, and has gone through everything! none noticed her fissure until 3 weeks ago! Going through all of what I have, I am not afraid to get this done! My routine is now, go in am, rinse out, dilate (just past the spinchters) rinse, apply amoils fissure oil, then recticare, then tens...this seems to keep it at bay. I want my life back, no one gets this pain, you become very isolated...and it's pure hell! I have to go two hours, I have to make it...I hope he just dumps me straight in the hospital. I tried going off the dilation...OH MY! the pain was double intense, so I must do this twice a day. I can not leave my house. God works in mysterious ways, I think I would have gotten more screwed up if someone around here attempted this quick surgery, they must be very proficient at it and know exactly what they are doing...so I feel I will be in very good hands, I can't wait for six months down the road...to have my life back! To all of you, be careful what doctors you go to! Listen to your gut, you know your body better than anyone else! I wish you all well, thank you for sharing, that helps everyone with this problem feel a little better!

and to think mine was caused by a doctor...they all love the excuses of pelvic floor muscles causing everything...I was told I had to live like this for the rest of my life by the first one! it's like the grab bag of IBS! You have to find the root problem...creams, botox, are bandaids.

All have a nice day...the best you can!

did you have to have antibiotics for the lateral sphincterotomy... i have had cdiff befote so wish to avoid them at all costs

Hi,

I had a sphincterotomy after trying Nitroglycerin and then Botox. The Botox lasted 5 days and I was told it would last 3 months. I must say the pain was unbearable and I was off work for a total of 2 months for the ordeal and that was in 2016. Still to this day, I have pain and periodically I have been hospitalized because the pain is too much to handle. I keep Nitroglycerin on hand and I eat 30g of fiber daily, drink 80 ounces of water, and take Miralax daily and I was told by the colorectal and GI physicians this is for the rest of my life. So, yes the surgery help with the spasms I was having which added to the pain. Hope this information helped.

i had one almost two years ago. i had a fissure that wouldnt heal and i was in so much pain everyday for months. i was terrified of the surgery but so glad i did it. i never felt more pain after the surgery then i did eberyday with the fissure. the pain was nothing compared to my pain before. pooping the day after was not painful for me. i did have some incontinence at first; but once everything healed its fine. Im seriously so happy I did it. just do it so you can get back to your normal life sooner. best wishes!!!