What this experience covers
This experience describes what day surgery for an anal fissure is like — from arriving at the hospital through the procedure itself and going home the same day. It covers LIS (lateral internal sphincterotomy), fissurectomy, and botox injection, as all three are commonly performed as day cases. It is a composite drawn from many anonymised accounts.
The pattern
Before you arrive
Most people describe the days before surgery as a mixture of relief and anxiety. Relief that something is being done. Anxiety about the procedure itself, the anaesthetic, and the first bowel movement afterwards.
Practical preparation people describe:
- Starting stool softeners several days before
- Stocking up on sitz bath supplies, soft foods, and comfortable clothing
- Arranging someone to drive them home
- Taking one to three days off work
- Packing a small bag: loose clothing, pads, water, phone charger
Arrival and the morning
People describe arriving at the day surgery unit, usually in the early morning. The routine is straightforward:
- Check-in and paperwork
- Changing into a hospital gown
- Meeting the anaesthetist and surgeon
- A period of waiting — often the longest and most anxious part
The waiting is consistently described as worse than the procedure. People recommend bringing something to occupy the mind.
The procedure
Most anal fissure day surgery is done under general anaesthetic, though some centres use spinal anaesthesia. The procedure itself takes minutes — typically ten to thirty minutes depending on the type.
People describe:
- Being wheeled into theatre
- The anaesthetist starting the process
- Waking up in recovery — for most, feeling like they blinked and it was over
- Mild grogginess and occasionally some initial soreness
Waking up and recovery
The immediate post-operative period is spent in the recovery area:
- Nurses monitoring vitals and pain levels
- Being offered water and eventually food
- Pain assessment — most people describe the immediate post-operative pain as manageable thanks to the anaesthesia
- Some people experience difficulty urinating, which the team monitors for
Going home
People are typically discharged within a few hours of the procedure if:
- They can eat and drink
- They can urinate
- Pain is manageable
- They have someone to take them home
The journey home is described as manageable but uncomfortable. Sitting on a cushion in the car helps. Most people go straight to bed or the sofa.
The first evening
People describe feeling surprisingly okay — the anaesthesia and any pain medication from the hospital are still working. The temptation is to think recovery will be easy. Most experienced people advise using this window to get set up: sitz bath ready, medications organised, comfortable clothing on.
The first bowel movement
This generates more anxiety than the surgery itself. It typically happens within the first 24 to 48 hours. People who had started stool softeners before surgery describe it as uncomfortable but manageable. The anticipation is consistently worse than the reality.
What people wish they had known
That day surgery does not mean quick recovery. The procedure is done in a day. The healing takes weeks. People describe needing to mentally prepare for a recovery period that extends well beyond the day itself.
When to contact your doctor
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Significant bleeding that does not stop
- Severe pain that is getting worse despite medication
- Fever or signs of infection
- Difficulty urinating that does not resolve
- Any symptoms that concern you