Posts by Karen Thompson10

Thomas King28 said:Hey everyone,

I’m officially one week out from my surgery, and honestly, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again as I recover.

For anyone else out there struggling with this, my biggest piece of advice is to get a clear picture of exactly what you're dealing with. I went into this thinking it wasn't such a big deal, but it turns out I was actually facing stage 4 issues, including thrombosis and a fissure. Thankfully, I've finally got that sorted out.

A huge thank you to Michael Diaz4, who was my main lifeline for info, and to Karen Thompson10, who really set everything in motion for me.

🙂
It makes me so incredibly happy to hear that everything went smoothly and that the worst is behind you now. Just take it easy, focus on eating well, and please, try to stay off your feet for a while.
🙂

I couldn't agree more; you hit the nail right on the head. But I think Casey Rogers47 might be missing why doctors often just prescribe ointments and other useless stuff instead of suggesting surgery. It really comes down to a few things:
a) Private clinics are often stuck using old-school methods or they don't even bother performing hemorrhoid surgery at all because they'd rather just keep the money coming in, and naturally, they aren't going to refer a patient elsewhere to get it fixed properly.
b) Public hospital doctors are still mostly sticking to those grueling, traditional surgeries—for instance, in New York City, only Mercury really performs the DG-HAL-RAR procedure—so they tend to steer clear of anything else.
c) Hospital waiting lists are massive, so if a patient doesn't proactively demand surgery, they’ll just keep getting handed a prescription for creams and meds indefinitely.

That's just how I see it. Honestly, stage I and II hemorrhoids can be handled quite easily with either the DG-HAL-RAR or the THD method; both are permanent solutions and much less invasive. The real tragedy is that most people simply don't know these options exist, so they go to a doctor who never even mentions them. That’s why you have to dig deep into every possibility and seek out multiple opinions first.
And look, if a doctor tells you there's nothing they can do, you absolutely need to do your own homework, because we've already seen cases on this forum where someone was treated incorrectly for an anal fissure, and just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.

You should definitely see a specialist, but you also need to spend some time doing your own research online so you can walk into that office feeling informed, and whenever possible, try to get information directly from the source.

This forum has been a huge help to me personally, and I feel like the situation here has improved immensely; there's so much more info available now, and people aren't just endlessly recommending creams and ointments anymore. 👍

Casey Rogers47 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around why someone would walk into a proctologist's office with Stage I or II hemorrhoids and not just opt for surgery right then and there, especially if things like ointments, suppositories, or dietary changes don't start showing results within a month or two.
It’s starting to feel like there’s this subtle push to get people to pour money into all those various over-the-counter treatments—which, let's face it, aren't cheap—only to end up needing surgery once they hit Stage IV, at which point the recovery process is way more grueling than if they had just dealt with it from the jump.

I’ve actually landed on a similar conclusion myself, and I think the situation is even more frustrating in private practices because they often gloss over newer, better methods just to keep patients coming back, essentially dragging out the treatment for a year or two.
In the public hospital system, it feels like they prioritize cases with higher stages because the waiting lists are already massive; if they offered surgery to everyone immediately, they wouldn't be able to keep up, especially since hospitals operate on specific budget allocations for certain procedures. It’s like if they have a strict cap on how many hemorrhoid surgeries they can perform annually and the demand is through the roof, they’re naturally going to focus on the most severe cases first.

Unfortunately, that seems to be the pattern with almost every type of surgery. It really brings up much larger questions about the overall efficiency of our healthcare system, but that’s probably a whole different conversation.
If you truly want to resolve an issue, you basically have to become a bit of a nuisance and stand your ground. You go to the doctor and firmly insist that you want the surgery, and they'll eventually have to make it happen.
That said, traditional surgery is undeniably invasive and the healing period can be quite rough, plus there's always the risk of them coming back, so doctors might assume that if you aren't in constant pain and can manage your daily life, it's better to avoid the knife if possible.

darkbear14 said:I also wanted to mention this article from an internet about botox treatment search, written by Nebojša Stanković and Darak Mirković from the VA Hospital titled Botulinum Toxin for Treating Anal Fissure. In it, the authors present their research on using botox as a potential alternative to surgery, ultimately concluding that it can serve as a viable substitute for surgical intervention.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time digging through English-language articles and even some clinical studies on the subject. From what I gather, the success rate hovers around 85%, but you have to endure multiple injections that are honestly pretty painful—I ended up needing twelve myself, though I might have been a particularly difficult case. Plus, there’s always that nagging possibility that the fissure might resurface after six months or just never fully heal. I actually spoke with a lady who found everything came right back after about nine months, and she had dropped a significant amount of money on it. For my situation, they quoted me around $3,200 when combined with hemorrhoid treatment.
I'm just not sure... the whole thing didn't really appeal to me because I was hoping for a "one and done" solution, and then my doctor told me that my muscle tone is too high, making the chances of the fissure staying away after injections very slim. On top of that, he didn't even include the fissure treatment in the initial quote, and since he could have easily performed it at the hospital without any reason to be shady, I felt it was better to be cautious.

If you ask me, those injections might be fantastic if you catch it early enough and the tissue isn't overly sensitive, but in my case... it felt way too risky. Honestly, this dilation option you mentioned sounds like a much more solid path forward, and I am genuinely curious to see how that turns out for you. It makes me so happy to see all this information becoming available nowadays, because back when I was first looking into this, it was so hard to find reliable firsthand info. Wishing you the best of luck!

darkbear14 said:That’s awesome, thank you so much for such a detailed reply; it’s really helpful to have that info about Dr. Ivanovic in my back pocket, though I think for right now I'm going to go with Dr. File, who uses a radiofrequency device to cauterize the fissure while performing anal dilation at the same time... honestly, I'm crossing my fingers that this method is just as effective, but it feels good to have an ace up my sleeve by knowing about Dr. Ivanovic too. To be honest, I'm pretty terrified because my fissure is way beyond what I'd consider "normal"—it's huge—and I spent the whole time thinking I just had hemorrhoids, but they weren't actually the root cause of this level of pain. During my exam, Dr. File mentioned he could take care of both the hemorrhoids and the fissure at once, so I'm going to give him a shot, and I suspect I have that high sphincter tone just like you do, though my fissure was primarily triggered by the hemorrhoids. I finally realized that the increased muscle tone is actually a reaction to the fissure itself, basically the body's way of reacting to the intense pain by causing the sphincter to spasm.

See, I didn't even realize there was an option to treat a fissure with a radiofrequency device! It honestly feels like everyone is just pushing their own specific methods because it's better for their bottom line, of course. Based on what you said, plus a few articles I dug up online, it seems like anal dilation might actually be the better route. Back when I was making my decision, I thought it was going to be way more invasive because Dr. Misir did everything in his power to convince me how intense it would be, even drawing out the procedure for me. 🙄
He probably assumed I wouldn't even ask about surgery since I was so intimidated that it wasn't even on my radar, and I didn't ask Dr. Ivanovic anything about dilation because I had already crossed it off my list, though he did mention it and I just shut it down immediately. Anyway, this whole ordeal has taught me that you should ALWAYS seek out multiple opinions...

I also went through that phase of thinking it was all just hemorrhoids, so it was a total shock when they told me I actually had a fissure caused by them.
And the fissure is what causes that high sphincter tone, not the other way around. In fact, I actually think (though I can't say for sure) that my doctor suggested surgery because it's a more permanent fix, since the high muscle tone could just keep coming back otherwise.

Anyway, good luck and please let us know how it goes (I'm saying that to everyone 😁), just so people can have a bit more information to work with!

mistybison10 said:So, I stopped by Mercury Basketball today, and from what I could tell, Dr. Poljak was the one on call. I can't be 100% sure if he was actually the one seeing me inside, though. Anyway, the verdict is basically "nothing to do right now." They just handed me this Faktu ointment and told me to come back in three months, so that I have enough time to fix my diet and stop sitting around all day. 😁

The real struggle is that if someone could just give me a clear roadmap of what to cut out of my diet—which is honestly a massive hurdle for me—and what I should actually be eating, I'd be set. I know a lot of you guys have been through this and probably have some great insights.

I would really suggest hunting down those posts by Leslie Eldridge, because he has put together some incredibly thorough guides specifically about nutrition on a few different occasions.
Honestly, I feel like you likely already have a gut feeling about what’s good for you and what you need to stay away from. 😁
All that junk food—think greasy pizzas, fast food burgers, or heavy, spicy dishes—along with sodas, excessive sugar, dry foods, and heavy carbs... it's all absolutely terrible for your chemistry.
On the flip side, you really need to lean heavily into fruits, vegetables, soups, nuts, and whole grains... staying hydrated is also absolutely vital, and getting some exercise in helps too. Making the switch to a clean diet can truly be a game-changer for your recovery, even if I have to admit it isn't exactly... a blast. 😁

Since you're still in the early stages, I am crossing my fingers that you catch this before things progress any further, and keeping your diet in check is going to be your absolute best defense! 😉

darkbear14 said:Thanks for sharing... I’ve heard about that surgery before, and honestly, the surgeons I went to for a second opinion told me to steer clear because of the potential side effects, so I’m pretty terrified, even though it feels like I don't have much of a choice left. This wound is massive; it's making it impossible for me to move around properly or even focus on my job. If you could tell me what Dr. Ivanovic said about the procedure—like how safe it actually is—and explain what "minimal lateral sphincterotomy" means (did you say "minimal" because your incision was small or something else?), I'd really appreciate it. Also, if you happen to know the cost, that would be huge. I’m trying to track down a top-tier surgeon, and your recommendation carries a lot of weight for me. Thanks so much!

Well, look, here's my take... I waited a whole month before finally seeing a doctor, and by then things were getting pretty bad since the pain was so intense I couldn't function, though obviously, it wasn't life-threatening or anything. My first stop was Dr. Misir, who wanted to try treating it with botulinum toxin for treating anal fissure injections, but he really spooked me; he insisted I needed to get this sorted immediately and warned me not to end up in a hospital setting where they might just go in and cut me open (which turned out to be the exact procedure I eventually chose).

I had heard great things about Mercury Basketball clinics from several different sources because apparently, they have the best specialists (specifically Ivanovic and Kocman), so I headed up there to get their professional input. Dr. Ivanovic told me it wasn't an emergency and that I could probably wait another two months before getting seen at one of those major centers, but I just couldn't deal with the pain any longer, so I went to see him at his private clinic instead. I was totally blunt with him about both the botox option and the incision above the fissure, and he explained that in many cases, once the effects of those injections wear off, the fissure either returns or a new one develops, though it really depends on the individual case and why the fissure happened in the first place. For instance, I have high sphincter tone, so the issue would have just come right back for me, but your situation might be completely different...

I asked him about the side effects too because I was genuinely scared, but he really put my mind at ease; he promised that he would only perform a minimal version, noting that he’s done it countless times and there was nothing to fear, which is why I ultimately decided to go through with it. When he mentioned performing a minimal sphincterotomy, he meant he was only going to make a tiny incision above the fissure, because in my specific case, that was all that was necessary (to be honest, I never even noticed the incision after it healed).
As for the price, I'm not entirely sure because I saw him for a hemorrhoid removal as well, so he didn't charge me separately for the fissure, but from what I've seen online, prices usually range anywhere from $1,500 to a few thousand dollars. But again, I'm speaking from my own experience—if finances are tight, you can always look into having it done at a public hospital.

Oh, and yeah, there is dilation (another type of procedure) which involves stretching the sphincter, but it felt like a more invasive route to me, though now that I'm reading about it online, some sources say otherwise. It says that both procedures are performed under local anesthesia and that patients are pain-free by the next day with no complications. Honestly, though, please take that with a massive grain of salt because my surgeon warned me I'd be in a lot of pain for a few days, and I was actually under general anesthesia, so...

p.s. I see you've already consulted a couple of surgeons, so what did they suggest to you? There might truly be a better way out there, I'm just speaking from what happened to me. Everything moved so fast in my case, so it's really smart of you to be gathering as much info as possible!

darkbear14 said:Hey there, I’m actually really curious about who you saw and what kind of procedure you went through to fix your fissure, because I’m dealing with the exact same thing right now—maybe even worse, since mine has become this chronic issue with a pretty large wound... thanks so much in advance.

I ended up having the procedure done in Washington, D.C. at the Butterfly clinic with Dr. Ivanovic, and they called it a lateral sphincterotomy (though in my case, it was a more minimal version). You can find other clinics or hospitals that perform the same operation, too.
My best advice is to please don't put it off, because if you let it linger, that wound could just keep getting wider—at least, that's what the doctors told me. Sending you good vibes! 🙂

steelangler7 said:Hey everyone,
here I am again...

I promised I’d check back in after my doctor's appointment, and honestly, I'm just completely crushed by how it went.

The results are basically this...
there's still a 3mm fissure present, about 1mm wide, with grade 1 hemorrhoids...
And they just told me to keep using some basic calendula ointment...

So, I asked the doctor point-blank if we could just deal with this surgically because I've had enough of this constant misery, and he just shrugged and said, "Well, no... it'll either heal on its own or it won't. Just keep using the ointment... see you in six months." Like, seriously? Enjoy your life, go take a bath... Hahaha hahah ha!!!!!!😠
Of course, since leaving the exam room, things have actually gotten worse..
That tiny bit that had started to heal just tore right open again..
And today, I'm looking at a toilet bowl full of blood..
Just wonderful, isn't it?
I'm just totally done with all of this..🙂

Oh man... I'm honestly speechless hearing this. Please, just go see a different doctor—even if you have to head to a major hospital like Mayo Clinic—because what you're describing is just insane. And as for him saying it'll just heal itself or not? I don't even know what to say to that. 🙄
I've seen two different specialists for my own fissure, and when I asked about pills or that common over-the-counter ointment, they practically laughed in my face. There really isn't any other way out besides surgery or injections. If you don't get it handled, things can spiral and turn into a fistula.
Look, it's not like surgery just "removes" the fissure; instead, they make this incredibly tiny, almost invisible incision so that everything passes much more easily without you having to strain, which allows the area to slowly heal up over four or five weeks—though you feel the relief almost immediately.
It isn't just about the intense pain—though anyone who has been through it knows it's pure agony—it's about the fact that it can keep getting worse and spreading. I really, truly suggest you find another physician; if you're feeling skeptical, just do a quick Google search, and you'll see that those basic ointments are only useful during the first couple of weeks when it first starts, and after that, they don't do a thing.

Drew Reyes5 said:I read through everything. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit stuck on what to think about Dr. Ivanović right now—it might sound a little silly, but my head is just spinning.
I actually just got a recommendation for Dr. Smith over in Chicago, has anyone here ever seen him???

Oh, I totally get where you're coming from, which is exactly why I suggested taking a deeper dive into those reviews first. It feels like every doctor has their fair share of fans and critics, much like how every restaurant has its lovers and haters. Good luck making your decision, and please, please let us know how it goes! 🙂

Drew Reyes5 said:I’ve heard mixed reviews about Dr. Kovacevic—some good, some bad. I'm really torn and would love to know where you all think I should go. 🤷

If you scroll back just a few pages, there's actually a ton of helpful info floating around... 🙂
At Bank of America, if you're looking for top-tier surgeons, Dr. Kocman and Dr. Ivanović are the names everyone mentions. Personally, I went to see Dr. Ivanović and had an absolutely wonderful experience, and JosephineL. also saw Dr. Kocman and was just as happy with the results.

Thomas Doyle462 said:I was living on Ibuprofen and Advil all day yesterday, and when I tried to go without them today, it felt like my head was literally slamming against a wall—just this intense, burning, throbbing sensation. Plus, I still haven't had my first bowel movement, which is something I'm actually looking forward to.😠 The real struggle is sitting or standing up because the pressure builds up so fast that I have to immediately lie back down. I’m typing this from bed, so please excuse any typos if I messed anything up.
It’s only my third day, so I’ll check back in once I’m back on my feet and at the office. Only then will I really be able to say how successful the procedure was.
Best...

I know the pain is absolutely brutal, but please try not to overdo it with the pills; those meds are incredibly strong, and you don't want to be taking them constantly. I'm also not entirely sure about mixing different types, since my doctor told me to stick to either the granules or the Advil, but never both at once. Try using some Lidocaine ointment; it acts as a great local anesthetic and can really take the edge off.
If things aren't moving along easily with your bowel movements, maybe try some herbal tea or a gentle laxative, because you definitely shouldn't be straining or forcing it. And just a heads up, sitting down isn't recommended right away either...
Keep us posted on how you're feeling, and good luck! 🙂

Sandra Patel40 said:Hey everyone, does anyone happen to know how long you can actually keep using Faktu ointment before it becomes an issue?

If my memory serves me right, I think you aren't supposed to use it for more than four weeks straight. You should probably double-check the directions on the packaging just to be safe.

I can't believe I'm actually sitting here typing this out, but honestly, it feels like my life has been a constant series of uphill battles lately. It’s just one thing after another, like trying to run a marathon through knee-deep mud while everyone else is cruising by on paved roads. kaže:
Hey everyone, hope you're all doing great!
I’ve been dealing with this one incredibly frustrating issue for quite some time now—it’s this relentless, unbearable itching around my rectal area that just won't quit. It isn't even painful, per se, but the itch is constant, especially every single night when I finally lie down to relax and everything settles. I went to see my doctor and laid it all out for them, so they started with the standard stuff like stool samples and urine cultures, which both came back fine, but then they tried to take a swab from the area, and for some reason, they couldn't manage to get a successful sample even after two attempts.🤷
I’m sorry if I’m getting a bit too specific here, but whenever I take a look "down there," I notice these little textured lines—kind of bumpy or ridged, if you know what I mean—right around the anal opening.
I honestly take my hygiene and overall self-care incredibly seriously, so I’m feeling a bit lost right now because I truly have no idea who to turn to for advice on this. It’s been about a year since I gave birth, and shortly after the delivery, I started dealing with some really painful hemorrhoids, which I eventually managed to soothe using that Hades cream I picked up at the local pharmacy.
So, what do you all think this could actually be? My doctor is honestly at a total loss here; he’s just scratching his head, having no clue where to send me next or even what we're dealing with, and I am honestly starting to feel pretty desperate. If this isn't just some chemical imbalance or something internal, who on earth should I turn to—like, what kind of specialist can actually get down there and give me a proper exam?
Please forgive me if I overstepped or sounded a bit intense—sending my best to everyone!

I honestly don't think anyone on an internet forum can give you a real diagnosis, because at the end of the day, that’s a job strictly for a medical professional, so you really ought to go see a specialist proctologist.

Bryan Martin52 said:Is it even possible for hemorrhoids to cause frequent urination? Like, could they be putting pressure on the prostate or something similar? Every time I finish a bowel movement, I feel this intense pressure down there, and then it’s just constant trips to the bathroom right after...
And my urine cultures and swabs didn't show any sign of an infection...🤷

I noticed nobody has jumped in to help you yet... honestly, I haven't heard of that specific connection before, but it makes sense to me—it’s kind of like how a physical obstruction can mess with everything nearby if the internal swelling is severe enough. It might be worth seeing a specialist just to get a definitive answer and rule it out once and for all.

Carl Wilson10 said:Okay, I’m curious if anyone else has dealt with this—I'm sure someone has, but I honestly don't have the energy to dig through 90 pages of threads, sorry. Since August, I've been struggling with internal hemorrhoids; at first, it was just a few drops of blood without much pain. But by November, the pain during bowel movements became absolutely brutal. I tried to get ahead of it, seeing a specialist at Cedars-Sinai first, who prescribed some Fact ointment, but it didn't do squat. My follow-up wasn't for months, and the issue just persisted. By February, I was losing my mind and went to a private clinic, which really started my journey. The proctologist there told me I actually have three hemorrhoids at two different stages (which the guy at Cedars-Sinai totally missed!), and said I needed a colonoscopy before we could move forward with banding. So, I got the colonoscopy done and proceeded to the first banding session. That went fine, and the second one went okay too. But here’s where the nightmare starts. After that second procedure, I developed an anal fissure (or maybe I had it all along and the doctor just didn't mention it, but looking at my diagnosis now, it seems likely—especially since my cousin saw Dr. Lastrić for similar issues and it turns out he’s had a fissure from the start, which Dr. Lastrić said is easily fixed with a quick incision). I’m asking about this fissure specifically; I've read everything online, my doctor gave me Ultraproct cream, but I apply it and nothing happens. I sit in warm chamomile baths twice a day for ten minutes, and nothing. My stools are regular and soft, yet it still feels like absolute hell when I go! During the rest of the day, it's mostly fine, just some occasional burning or stinging because of the redness around the area. Thank God our healthcare system is so "efficient" that they scheduled me for a dermatologist on June 17th after I requested it back on April 4th!!! Anyway, my question is: what should I do? Should I just head to Dr. Lastrić, or keep applying creams, sitting in chamomile baths, and praying to God?

I dealt with an anal fissure myself, though my situation was way more intense than yours. The pain made it impossible to function normally. Dr. Lastrić told you the truth—it gets resolved with a small incision, and then that little wound can gradually heal. Just keep in mind, if fissures aren't treated, you can end up with fistulas, polyps, and all sorts of other nasty complications...
Creams are useless; they only work if you catch it the very second it appears. If it doesn't clear up within a month, it means the fissure has become chronic and surgery is likely the only way out. I was in significant pain for about three days following my surgery, but after that, it was like the operation never even happened. My advice is don't wait and just see the doctor. I truly regret not going sooner... unfortunately, it isn't just going to vanish on its own. Check out the last few pages of this thread; one woman here has been fighting this for two years.

Sandra Patel40 said:Does anyone know if they can recommend a doctor or maybe someone at a hospital where I could go for an exam? I really don't have the money for a private specialist right now since I'm just a twenty-year-old college student, and this issue has been bothering me for two years—though it's been pretty intense for the last seven months—so please help!

Both Dr. Ivanović and Dr. Kocman are widely considered top-tier surgeons over at Mercy Hospital. If you need to see Dr. Ivanović, he does his rounds there on Fridays starting at 10:00 AM, while Dr. Kocman is available on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM.
I've personally had appointments with Dr. Ivanović and felt really well taken care of, and another user here, JosephineL, also went to see Dr. Kocman and had a great experience too.

I honestly think you’re incredibly brave for handling all of this so gracefully, and I truly hope you start feeling better soon. Personally, since I have such a massive phobia of doctors and hospitals, I think I would have spiraled a little differently than you did.
My own experience with both my doctor and the clinic was actually wonderful—I had nothing but praise for them—but looking at things from your perspective, there are two specific things that really rub me the wrong way (even if those details weren't explicitly mentioned).
It is just plain wrong when someone walks into a hospital seeking help, only to be met with judgment about the fact that they sought private care or questions about where their previous surgeon is. It’s like none of that matters in a moment of crisis, which is just heartbreaking.
If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't hold a mistake against a doctor—even if it truly was their fault—as long as they took responsibility for my care moving forward. For instance, I would expect them to coordinate with the surgeons over at Mayo Clinic and then, once I was stable, transition me to their practice at Mercury or a local outpatient center under their direct supervision. Anything less would feel like a total letdown... Why? Simply because I am a paying patient and they are my doctor. I've actually heard nurses over at Mercury mention how patients often come in after a certain specialist messes up, and how frustrated the other doctors get about it; so, I would fully expect Dr. Ivanović to take charge of my case since he was the one who performed the procedure.

I'm not sure how he handled things with you, but I am so sorry if he let you down, and I really hope you can settle this with him because, at the end of the day, trust is the absolute foundation of the doctor-patient relationship.
More than anything, I just hope this whole ordeal is behind you now. Please just focus on resting, don't push yourself too hard, try to get your digestion back on track, and I truly believe everything is going to turn out okay. 🙂

steelangler7 said:Okay... I think I'll go ahead and do exactly that. That was actually my plan all along...
Just being totally upfront and laying all my cards on the table. It’s funny, you really think you're doing everything by the book and staying informed, but then you realize how much you didn't know... I honestly don't even know what to say...
If what you're saying is true and this isn't working, I'll just move on. If I have to travel all the way to New York City to get this sorted out, then that's what I'll do...
I have to admit, I played a part in this too because I wasn't careful enough; I didn't look into things early on or read up enough, I just blindly trusted the doctor. I figured, hey, since I'm paying for a professional service, they'll do their job right, so why should I have to stress over the details? But clearly, that approach doesn't work anymore. This illness is just so incredibly uncomfortable.
I'm just praying they haven't been stalling me if they aren't actually going to fix the fissure😠... because if they don't, nothing is going to get better...!!!😠
Sigh... I can see from the posts here that plenty of people are dealing with much worse situations, unfortunately...

It is always such a smart move to seek out a second or third opinion, especially when you're dealing with private practices where, let's face it, the bottom line is often the priority. Honestly, I had one doctor promise me that a series of injections would completely heal my fissure for a massive amount of money, but in reality, I almost certainly would have recovered on my own within six months anyway.
Don't jump to conclusions just yet; it's possible your doctors truly meant well, you just really have to be proactive about asking questions and getting the facts.

Yeah, I really feel like Michael Diaz4 and now Nestlé have already gone through the absolute worst of this nightmare. I actually recommended that specific doctor to her because my experience was completely painless, so seeing her go through this makes me speechless... but the Fact is, there are just no guarantees in medicine, unfortunately. Just take everything with a grain of salt... whether it's advice from an online forum or from someone in person.

Elizabeth Price85 said:Just checking in quickly. After bleeding during Easter, it happened again this past Monday, and I actually collapsed and ended up at Vineyard Hospital. They couldn't pinpoint the exact cause of the bleeding, so they kept me under observation, though I even passed out while I was there in the hospital. I lost a massive amount of blood—my counts were terrible—so they had to pump me full of liters upon liters of IV fluids and two units of blood.
Since Tuesday evening, the bleeding has finally stopped, thank God. They cleared me to go home today.

I’m honestly just feeling completely overwhelmed by everything—Dr. Ivanovic, the whole hospital experience, it’s all just hitting me hard. But the most important thing is that I'm okay.
I'll write a longer update tomorrow.

Jeremy, I honestly can't tell you how sorry I am about everything you've been through. I feel a heavy weight of responsibility because I was the one who recommended that doctor and the clinic to you in the first place. Deep down, I had this nagging intuition that something terrible was happening since you'd been gone for so long, but I kept trying to convince myself you had just decided not to go through with it.
I'm truly at a loss for words... 😢
I would never dream of suggesting a doctor to anyone unless I had personally trusted them through similar struggles. From everything I've heard from various people, Dr. Ivanovic comes nothing but glowing praise.
If the hospital hasn't flagged it as medical malpractice, then maybe it isn't his fault after all, right?

Oh my goodness... I am so invested in hearing the full story when you're ready. I would be absolutely devastated too, but I'm just holding onto the hope that the doctor didn't act in an inhumane way during all this. Regardless, I am just so, so incredibly sorry for everything... I really can't put it into words. 😢