Laser fissure surgery - 6 days post op

I’d had a fissure for 4 months, calling my parents crying from the pain after bowel movements, till they said enough and told me to get the surgery done. I initially thought I would get the LIS which the idea of it had super freaked me out. But my parents asked around (they live abroad and private healthcare is very accessible) and most doctors said that they would most likely offer me the laser surgery without any major invasive cuts. I booked my flight that same week and surgery was arranged.

The surgery was 5 days ago now. On arrival, the surgeon examined me and actually spotted a pile as well as the fissure itself (post surgery it turned out to be 3 piles). She said that there could be potential more which they will identify in the surgery. They said it will be performed under general anesthesia so I would be knocked out for it thankfully. Before the surgery a nurse came in and gave me an enema. I will not lie this was very painful as I felt the fissure rip open and I cried like a baby right then and there. A few minutes later I felt the need to go to the toilet but after a few minutes nothing was actually coming out. I got back on the bed and they started wheeling me out to the surgery room, but then I urgently told them I actually had to go to the toilet so they wheeled me back to the toilet.

Once done they started to knock me out and the next thing I know I’m waking up alone with an oxygen mask on and nurses walking back and forth through the curtains. My butt is super weird and numb. My parents come in and kiss me. I must forget this bit but suddenly I’m in another room and they bring in some jello, juice, tea, and water. The surgeon comes in and explains that I need to pee before they can discharge me and that I need to pull out the bit of gauze they stuffed there too. Once I go and pull it out there is quite a lot of blood. I ask them if this is okay, they said it’s normal. My parents drive me home with me lying down in the backseat.

That whole day I spend in bed and whenever I do get up to pee, I check with some tissue and I pretty much bleed the whole day. Though my butt is numb, it feels very uncomfortable, and there is some pain. At this point I’m pretty much depressed and keep crying for no reason, maybe because it was my first ever surgery and the whole ordeal of it. This night I only drink some veg broth.

The next day there is still blood on the tissue when I check, but it seems it’s starting to dry up. I’m still freaked out by this but my parents reassure me that it’s normal. I start eating lightly, some eggs, some juices, fruit. I also start taking my antibiotics which I forgot the previous day. It is very very uncomfortable to walk and my butt still feels weird. Pain is maybe at a 1/10. But I still cry in bed for some reason. I think I was doubting that this was going to work and really nervous about whenever I would need to poo.

Day 3 I pee then check with tissue, there is a lot of some sort of green yellow slime coming out, probably the antibiotics doing their work. Throughout the day as I keep checking, there is also bits of dead skin on the paper. On this day I’m eating more than the day before.

Day 4 I have my first bowel movement which I was dreading. I’m having my breakfast of oatmeal and I feel it come out and have to run to the toilet. As soon as I’m on the seat it is coming out of me without strain, watery. It is not comfortable, but I wouldn’t call it painful. You may feel some burning during and right after. I immediately take a 1000mg paracetamol and do a sitz bath. But guys, no fissure pain. I cannot believe it. I go to lie down out of habit as I would usually do to emotionally recover but there really wasn’t a need this time. I get out of bed maybe an hour later. It is still not comfortable to walk but better than the day before. I must say though, I did not feel as if I completely emptied when I had a bowel movement, and throughout the day I’d feel leakage and see it on the tissue. I put on a panty liner.

Day 5 I had another loose bowel movement. Again it started coming out and I had to run to the toilet, very little control still. Again, I didn’t feel I completely emptied. Still some leakage on this day. But I was walking around with more ease.

Today is day 6. I moved around pain free. Very minor discomfort when laying down at the odd angle or so. For once in such a long time, my every thought wasn’t about my butt 😄. I even felt like doing a little dance as I listened to my music getting ready for bed. I just had to run to the toilet again at 11pm, again very little control, and also the same feeling of not having completely emptied. But no pain at all. Yes it burns for maybe 2 seconds after. But not painful. Though it’s super super important that you use your stool softeners. I’ve been using Movicol.

Anyway I’m still recovering for sure, and I’m maybe 60% of the way there, but I wanted to share my early experience here. I’m hoping the control comes back soon and that I finally feel I’ve had a full bowel movement. Also to note, I have not attempted to actually sit on my butt yet, I always just side-sit or lay down. This is not a pleasant experience but that’s to be expected when it comes to surgery, it could be worse.

I will update this in the following days if there needs updating.