47th Clinic Visit

The doc said not to come yesterday due to the headaches - just to rest.
It felt like a day off but I've not had a good week pain-wise so the rest was welcome.
Feeling better today so went in as usual.
He is happy both the fistula wound and the Haemerrhoid treatments are on schedule.
Two-three weeks for the wound to close up but still needs daily dressing/packing.

Visits 44, 45 and 46

No more thread changes! The worst is done.
I'm left with a large hole which needs to heal and get packed regularly.
Each of these was for that. I saw the Dr sat and he's well pleased. Nurse did the other two. In and out in 5 mins.
I'm having a bit of an issue with headaches after the spinal so he's suggested lots of water and lots of rest. Also just to stay away the next day or two.

On a different note the haemorrhoid pain has kicked in. If anything it's the worst so far so lying down is an attractive option.

I was hoping to be at the lodge tonight but sadly that's not going to happen.

43rd clinic visit, another operation and some news

As previously mentioned a flare-up of heamorrhoids to stage 4 was interfering with the fistula treatment.
It was also important that at this stage (4) these were treated quickly before they became dangerous.
Dr B uses another ayurvedic treatment kshar karma to do just that. So rather than wait until back in UK I decided to have it done here.  Again its not a quick fix, taking 7/8 days to work but it should be permanent.

This time the op was in the smaller clinic hospital - Anugraha which has its own operating theatre.
So on Thursday, I went in for approx 7:30 to be prepped.

The op was cheduled for 9:00 but due to a late anaesthetist it didn't happen until 10:15.

I went through and was given a spinal anaesthetic once more, and then a procedure lasting approx 20 mins.
The doc also used the situation to do "deep examination and cleansing" of the fistula.

Lo and behold he discovers it has virtually gone apart from a small skin segment which he cuts!

So at the end of the op he announces "You are now Fistula Free"! 

Joy of joys.
Only those with this dreadful ailment will know how life-changing those words can be.
After 6 years with this in the UK and almost 20 surgeries which have achieved next to nothing, the fistula was totally eradicated here in 8 weeks!

It's not quite that simple in that there is now an open wound which needs to heal so there will be several more weeks of wound dressing and packing but the actual fistula is gone!

The day was a long one - the spinal took 10 hours to wear off and this led to a few issues such as needing to be catheterised for a very full bladder which I had no control over, however by 21:30 feeling a little rough I was back in the hotel.

So in summary - no more thread changes, no more operations, just daily would dressing/packing until it all heals over.

I was very pleasantly surprised today (Friday) when Dr Bhat himself phoned me to see how I was after the operation.  Was I in pain? Was there any issue? etc etc
How good is that!
I've never had a doc in the UK phone me after an op and I have had many.

I think this simply shows once what a genuinely caring man he is.

My new best friend!

 

42nd clinic visit

In early today to discuss a few things. The whole area has been very red and itchy lately. It's a form of "nappy rash" as it's always wet 😏with discharge




Some cream helps a bit.



We also spoke about the piles again.  It's now a major issue and so needs to be sorted as they are stage 4.  So another op is planned for Thursday.... No hanging about!

This one in Anugraha and once again with a spinal anaesthetic.
I've to report 7am - empty stomach!

There will be some extra costs but needs must.

Watch this space

40th and 41st clinic visits and the mosquitoes

I can't believe that's over 40 visits here!

Long slow process but the time is passing.
Both of these were routine now with wound packed and oil applied.
Bit disappointed doc wasn't there but he is fully stretched and the nurse is quite capable.

It's worth a word about the Mosquitoes here which be a pain. Literally. We have great deterrent called Smidge(love it).



But when you forget it they quickly remind you!  These aren't particularly harmful but they do swell up and the itching is unbelievable!

38th and 39th clinic visit and thread change no 8!

Straight forward yesterday. Usual packing and oil coating.
Today the doc was back and he changed thread A. That's now thread eight.

36th and 37th clinic visits

More of the same really.  Wound packed and oil put on the whole area.
Gently done but there is definitely one very painful spot.
Doc back on the 3rd so we'll see what he says.

The doc's "chamber"  where all the action is.










One of the blog readers was asking today about the operation side of things having thought Kshar Sutra didn't involve surgery.
It's worth saying that some doctors do the whole process with threads but this can take a long time, others - presumably the ones qualified to do so - use surgery too where it is appropriate.
ie where to do so would cause no harm to the muscles.  This "partial fistulotomy" speeds up the whole process, leaving the thread to do its job where the fistula cuts through the sphincter muscle.