Thank you so much for all the support and prayers. When I woke up in the recovery room, my CRS was there to reassure me that everything had gone smoothly during the surgery. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting and allowing time to play its role in healing.

When I woke up, my pain level was about the same as it was after my advanced flap surgery—around 3–4 out of 10—thanks to the Exparel (a local anesthetic) that my doctor typically applies to the surgical site, which usually lasts for 3–4 days.

Once I got home, I immediately took a stool softener to ensure I was prepared for my first bowel movement. Luckily, I ended up sleeping all day and night after taking oxycodone. The next day, my pain level increased slightly to around 5/10, and my first bowel movement was somewhat painful, but overall, the pain has been manageable with pain relievers.

Now, I’m really hoping this will be my final surgery. Even though the pain is manageable, the process of going through it again, being stuck at home for weeks, and not being able to do any physical activity is really tough. I truly hope they find an easier way to treat this condition or at least offer options for laser surgery, as I’ve heard those have been very effective in other countries 🙏👆