Activity
You can slowly resume normal activity after surgery. You should start walking the night or morning after surgery and gradually increase how far you walk according to your personal ability level. Increased activity minimizes chances of blood clots and helps breathing, preventing risks of contracting pneumonia.
The type of surgery performed will dictate your sitting limitations or the distance you can walk. A donut pillow will minimize pressure on the area the surgery was performed.
Change position regularly. Lying down will relax and reduce pressure on the perianal area. Avoid lying on one spot for very long.
Remember not to ignore your surgeon’s instructions. Stay active but avoid weight lifting and other vigorous exercises. Take normal showers and abstain from sex while healing until the pain goes away.
Pain Relief
To relieve pain, take medicine every 3 – 4 hours as recommended.
Apply the cream both inside and outside your anus every 2 – 4 hours as required.
To control pain, you can bath in plainn, hot water for 20 minutes, three times a day. There is no limit to how long you should soak.
Expect the pain to go away within 7 – 14 days after undergoing the surgery.
Wound Care
It is vital to keep the wound area dry and clean after the surgery.
Take sitz baths three times in a day or after bowel movement. One has to sit in warm, soapy water for effective cleaning. Use baby wipes or moist toilettes to avoid incisions and skin irritation in the anus area.
Stool leakage and mucus or bloody drainage will be witnessed during the first few days after the anal surgery; this only lasts for a week or two. To protect your clothes, place gauze or any absorbent material – like sanitary napkins – over this area. Although rare, long-term stool might be witnessed after a sphincterotomy procedure.
Bowel Movements
Pain relief drugs may result in constipation, and more pain will be experienced when passing hard stool. Use a stool softener along with pain relief drugs like Colace. It should be taken twice a day.
Fiber supplements like fibercon, metamucil, Citrucel, Konsyl, and any other generic brand are also recommended, as the package directs.
Make sure you drink 6 – 8 cups of water every day. This helps soften one’s bowel movements. A high fiber diet is recommended to prevent anal fissure reoccurrence.
