Coping With Fistulotomy

I had a fissurectomy with botox injections and skin tags removed in june ‘09 to heal an anal fissure. The recovery for this was HORRIBLE! Took at least 3 wks before the pain started to ease, but it never went away. I was diagnosed with an absess in mid August that was treated with antibiotics. Felt good/normal down there for maybe a week when i started to get the drainage/burning/itching associated with fistulas. I had my fistulotomy done 17 days ago and I am still experiencing pain. The pain is not remotely as bad as it was from the fissurectomy, but it is bad enough that i don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve always been a very active, healthy female with a very physically demanding job (I manage 2 high school cafeterias). So i’ve been on medical leave since before my procedure. I fight depression daily and try to look at the “glass 1/2 full” but it’s so hard to remain positive when your bottom has been hurting for more than 4 mos. My doc is a very experienced colo-rectal surgeon and just keeps telling me that people heal at different rates and that my pain is normal. If anyone has had a similar experience and has healed, please let me know. I think it would make me feel better to know that this might be a bad memory some day!