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.