What this experience covers
This experience covers how people care for the surgical wound after LIS — the daily routine, what is normal, and what needs attention. It is a composite drawn from many anonymised accounts.
The pattern
Understanding the wound
The LIS wound is typically small and left open intentionally to heal from the bottom up. This is standard practice for surgical wounds in the anal area — it reduces the risk of infection compared to stitching.
The daily routine people describe
After every bowel movement:
- Sitz bath or warm water cleaning — this is the cornerstone of wound care
- Gentle patting dry — never rubbing
- Fresh pad or gauze
Morning and evening:
- Sitz bath even if no bowel movement — 10 to 15 minutes in warm water
- Checking the pad for any changes in discharge colour or amount
- Fresh, clean underwear
What normal healing looks like
- Light bleeding and blood-tinged discharge in the first week
- Gradually decreasing discharge over weeks
- The wound area feeling tender but improving steadily
- Occasional mild discomfort during cleaning
Signs the wound needs attention
- Increasing pain, redness, or swelling
- Discharge becoming thick, green, or foul-smelling
- Fever
- Bleeding that is heavy or increasing
What people wish they had known
- That the wound being left open is normal and intentional
- That sitz baths are the single most important wound care measure
- That healing takes weeks — patience is essential
- That the wound area will feel strange and tender, and that is expected
If something about your recovery does not feel right, or you just want reassurance about what is normal, our chat can help you think it through.
When to contact your surgeon
Seek medical attention if you experience:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding
- Signs of infection — increasing pain, redness, warmth, fever, foul-smelling discharge
- The wound appearing to get worse rather than better
- Any symptoms that concern you