I had a Lateral Sphincterotomy after dealing with two extremely painful fissures for 3 months. After the surgery, I felt I had healed the first week on the antiobiotics..until I noticed the incision area was insanely swolen and I was extremely itchy. I went back for my week after follow-up and the doc said that my body had re-acted poorly to the stitches and that the incision had healed over one of the stitches and formed and infection. He then cut out the stitch (which was really painful) and told me it would drain on it’s own and sent me off with keflex and flagyl (more antibiotics for infection). After two weeks of the abscess draining and re-filling…I noticed it wasn’t healing. It was also the hottest month in Arizona, so the heat and moisture around the area wasn’t helping anything.

I went back to the colorectal surgeon and he told me I would have to have a fistulotomy to help rid the infection for good. I decided to have the surgery right away. It was as easy as the sphincterotomy…changing into garments, getting set up with an IV, and being wheeled to the surgery room. Where you get knocked out and don’t realize anythings even happening until you’re back in the recovery room. (Oh the joys of anesthesia!)

The nurses were wonderful. I had a hard time breathing from the gas or whatever it was they used, so they gave me pieces of ice and grape juice…then helped me get dressed. I got home the first day and the pain wasn’t bad at all. I took two percocets and went to eat sandwhiches and soup with my family. Took two stool softeners (If you ever have any of these surgeries..take the stool softeners right away! They are a life saver. I made that mistake with the LIS and believe me hard bowel movements are not fun!!)Got home and rested all night. The soreness came in the middle of the night, and I could barely roll over. It hurt badly to sleep on my back so I laid on my sides all night. Around 3am my boyfriend was sleeping and kneed me right in my butt. That made the pain worse, so I took a hot bath and more pain meds and went back to bed.

I made the mistake of taking too milk of magnesia (my stomach is too sensitive to take laxatives) and have had horrible diarrhea for two days, which can’t be good while healing. I called the doc today and they said make sure to take sitz baths and soak. Keep the area clean and dry. I’m still going to the bathroom and having abdominal cramps, but not as often. It has been four days since the surgery and my bottom is very sore. But it’s not as painful as I thought it would be. Today was the last day of the antiobiotics, so I am praying the itching and the infection doesn’t come back. The surgeon said this should finally heal everything up. I have been dealing with this in total for almost 6 months.

It has pretty much taken over my life. The last three months I have not been working due to the surgeries and the pain. I am ready to start my life again. I have read a lot of people have to have a second fistulotomy…so I’m praying I won’t have to. Does anyone have incontinence? It seems I am having a hard time holding in gas and I have been having to run to the bathroom.
When does this get better..has anyone had just one surgery?