Piles / anal fissure / surgery / botox

[BirdByBird]

Hi, I'm having an anal surgery tomorrow and I'm so nervous. Any reassurance or similar experiences welcome please!

After 20 or so years of on and off agony caused by an anal fissure and piles that flair up due to constipation - I'm finally having a surgical procedure to see if it can help. Creams and suppositories over the years have never helped.

I've been examined and had a sigmoidoscopy (camera up the bum) and this is now the next step. I've got to have general anaesthetic while the colorectal surgeon does 4 things to my bottom:

1. 'Refreshes' / removes some of the fissure scar tissue

2. Bands any internal piles

3. Injects botox into the internal sphincter muscle

4. Cuts away the external skintag / pile

I am just so nervous and upset that I have to go through this but after so many years of often debilitating pain no matter what I try, I feel I have no option. I'm worried about the botox as I've never had it before anywhere else and apparently a rare complication is that if they inject it into a blood vessel it can cause respiratory problems. Also the worry of 'what if this makes it even worse?'. I get so anxious at the best of times but going under anaesthetic makes me so scared. (Although I have been under GA 5 times before without problem, plus a C-Section epidural.)

Has anyone else had anything like this done? Help!x

[Sarahp79]

How did you get on with this? I've suffered for 2 years with a anal fissure and the pain is incredible some days. It's like pooing glass! The pain after is like shocks going through it and I'm on laxatives everyday to keep things soft. I'm waiting for my first appointment with the specialist but just wondering has this helped in anyway?

[BirdByBird in reply to Sarahp79]

Hi Sarah, I'm sorry for such a delay. Life has been incredibly busy with a toddler during a pandemic.

I'm ecstatic to let you know that I had the surgery over a year ago, in March 2021, and after a few days of discomfort immediately following the op (which was a walk in the park compared to the daily / constant agony of life with a fissure) I've been feeling great down there ever since! I wish I'd have got the surgery years before I did and I'm so relieved to not be in constant pain and fear from it anymore.

The only thing I have to do is take a sachet or half a sachet of Movicol mixed with water every night. Which is to keep everything soft. You can buy this at most pharmacy's. You have to ask for it as it's over the counter. It's a very small price to pay for not living in constant agony.

I would thoroughly recommend the op if you're still in pain with similar.

All the best!

[Chopper1975]

I had an anal fissure removed in 2003. Best thing I ever did. Suffered for 5 years with it. Dreaded going to the loo. It was so painful it got the point I wouldn't go out. Definitely worth getting done. I hope your procedure went well. 👍

[Sarahp79 in reply to Chopper1975]

Thank you for letting me know about your experience. Glad all is going well for you. Terrible things they are!

[BirdByBird in reply to Chopper1975]

So sorry about this delay in responding! Thanks for your post. I had the op too, just over a year ago and I've been pain free every since. I totally agree with you - best thing I ever did. Wish I'd done it much sooner. Such a relief! I hope you're still pain free.