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Preparing for fissure surgery

Published 13 March 2026 ·Last reviewed 13 March 2026 by the editorial team ·How we create our content

At a glance

The day and night before anal fissure surgery is a particular kind of experience. The decision has been made. The date is set. Now you are in the space between deciding and doing. This guide covers the practical preparation and the emotional reality of that waiting period.

Practical preparation

Before your surgery day

Stool softeners — start these several days before if your surgeon recommends it
Soft foods — stock the kitchen with easily digestible, fibre-rich foods for recovery
Sitz bath supplies — basin, clean towels, and a comfortable setup
Comfortable clothing — loose underwear, soft trousers, nothing tight
Pads or liners — for wound drainage after surgery
Pain medication — confirm what you have and what you might need
Time off work — arrange at least a few days, potentially more depending on the procedure
Support — arrange for someone to drive you home and be available in the first day or two

Your recovery space

Set up an area where you can rest comfortably:

A bed or sofa you can lie on your side
Pillows for positioning
Water and snacks within reach
Phone charger, books, or entertainment
A clear path to the bathroom
Sitz bath basin ready to use

Fasting instructions

Follow your surgical team’s instructions precisely. Typically:

No food for six hours before the procedure
Clear fluids may be allowed up to two hours before
Take prescribed medications as instructed (some with a small sip of water)

The emotional preparation

Anxiety is normal

The night before surgery, anxiety peaks. People describe lying awake thinking about:

What the procedure will feel like
Whether the anaesthesia will be okay
The first bowel movement after surgery
Whether the surgery will actually cure the fissure
The incontinence risk, however small

All of this is normal. It does not mean you are not ready. It means you are human.

What helps

Stop researching. The night before surgery is not the time to read new accounts. You have done your research. You have made your decision. Let it be.
Talk to someone. Whether it is a partner, friend, or family member, saying the anxiety out loud often reduces it.
Prepare your body. A warm bath (not sitz bath — just a relaxing bath), gentle breathing, an early night.
Remember why. You chose surgery because the fissure was causing significant suffering. The surgery is the path to the other side of that.
Permission to feel. You do not have to be brave. You can be scared and still go through with it. The two are not contradictory.

On the morning

Follow fasting instructions
Take any pre-operative medications as directed
Wear loose, comfortable clothing
Leave jewellery and valuables at home
Bring your ID and any paperwork the hospital requested
Arrive at the time specified

The procedure itself is typically brief — often 20 to 30 minutes for LIS. Most people go home the same day. The anticipation is almost always worse than the reality.

Common questions

What should I do the day before fissure surgery?

Follow your surgeon's specific instructions about fasting and medication. Practical preparation helps: set up your recovery area at home, stock up on soft foods and stool softeners, prepare sitz bath supplies, arrange comfortable clothing, and have entertainment ready for the first few days. Many people find that practical preparation reduces anxiety.

Should I start stool softeners before surgery?

Many surgeons recommend starting stool softeners three to five days before surgery. This means your first post-operative bowel movement is already softer. Check with your surgical team about their specific recommendations.

What should I eat before surgery?

Follow the fasting instructions given by your surgical team. In the days before surgery, eating soft, easily digestible, fibre-rich foods helps set up good stool consistency for the post-operative period. Avoid heavy, greasy, or highly processed meals.

How do I manage anxiety the night before?

Anxiety before surgery is completely normal. Practical strategies include: finishing all preparation during the day so the evening is free, having someone to talk to, avoiding last-minute researching or reading post-operative horror stories, practising breathing exercises, and reminding yourself why you chose surgery — the pain you have been living with has been its own kind of suffering.

When to seek care Heavy bleeding or feeling faint? Get emergency help now. Emergency: 911

Not sure how urgent it is? Get help today.

Emergency
Heavy bleeding, black tarry stools, feeling faint, severe pain or trouble breathing.

Call 911 or go to the ER.
Today
Fever, pain getting worse, a hot swollen lump, or trouble passing urine.

Call your doctor or go to urgent care.
Soon
Bleeding or bowel changes nobody has checked, or anything lasting 3 weeks.

Book a doctor’s appointment.

Feeling overwhelmed? Call or text 988, any time.

See all the signs

For this topic, get medical advice if you notice:

Heavy or persistent bleeding that does not settle
Severe pain that is getting worse rather than better
Fever or signs of infection
Symptoms that have not improved after 4 to 6 weeks of self-care

Recording how you feel is not the same as being checked. These are the signs that need a doctor’s attention.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room now if you have:

bleeding that will not stop, a lot of blood (the toilet water turns red, or you pass large clots), or any bleeding with feeling faint or dizzy
fainting, a racing heart or trouble breathing
confusion or slurred speech, extreme shivering, no urine in a day, or blotchy skin
sudden severe belly pain, or a swollen, hard belly with vomiting or not passing stool or gas
you cannot pass urine at all, or your bladder feels full and painful and you can’t empty it
redness, swelling or severe pain spreading quickly around your anus, genitals or groin, especially with a fever or feeling very ill
a fever with a painful swelling near your anus if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system (for example, from chemotherapy or transplant medicines)
black, tarry stools

Call your doctor or go to urgent care today (or the ER if you can’t be seen today) if you have:

a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, chills, vomiting, or feeling generally unwell
pain that is getting worse over days, or severe pain that stops you sitting or sleeping
a hot, swollen or very tender lump near your anus or at the top of the crease between your buttocks, or foul-smelling discharge
trouble urinating
bleeding that is getting heavier or more frequent, or blood mixed into your stool
feeling much more tired than usual, looking pale, or getting out of breath more easily than you used to
not passing stool for several days, or new belly pain

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

you have never had these symptoms checked by a doctor or nurse — whatever your age
you have had rectal bleeding for more than 3 weeks
your bowel movements have been looser, thinner or more frequent than usual for 3 weeks or more, or you have lost weight without trying
symptoms have not settled after a week or so, or keep coming back
you notice a new lump near your anus, between your buttocks or in your belly, or an itch or discharge that does not clear
you have new leakage or trouble controlling your bowels
you are 45 or over, or have a family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, and any of these symptoms are new for you

If you are unsure, it is always reasonable to ask. If things feel overwhelming, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. If you don’t feel safe, call 911.

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Related symptoms

Bleeding Pain during bowel movements Pain after bowel movements Spasm or cramping Constipation

Discreet symptom tracking

Symptoms that come and go? Keep track, day by day.

For hemorrhoids, fissures, fistulas and other anal and rectal problems. A short, discreet email asks how things have been, and saves each answer, so you can look back at every flare and every good week in your own words. If you haven’t had your symptoms checked, see your doctor first.

About ten seconds a check-in. No app, no password.
Nothing in the subject or preview says what it’s about.
Each Sunday, a link to your week, ready for your next appointment.

Start tracking →

Your notes

Your check-in

Takes about ten seconds.

20:00

Example. Nothing on the lock screen hints at symptoms or conditions.

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Related guides

Thinking about fissure surgery

A framework for weighing surgical options for a chronic fissure — the questions to ask, the factors to consider.

Recovery after LIS surgery

What to expect during recovery from lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) for chronic anal fissure — pain patterns, bowel movement recovery.

Constipation after surgery

Why constipation is common after anal surgery, how to prevent it, and what to do when it happens — practical strategies from people who have been through it.

Related experiences

LIS surgery: the full journey

The full emotional arc of lateral internal sphincterotomy — from failed conservative treatment through the decision, the NHS wait, the day itself.

LIS surgery recovery week by week

A week-by-week look at what people experience during recovery from lateral internal sphincterotomy — the physical changes, the milestones.

Fear of fissure surgery

Managing the anxiety before fissure surgery — what people describe about the fear, how they worked through it, and what helped them move forward.

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