And in top of it all I'm worried I will never be able to ride horse again. I'm really having some anxiety and depression since this diagnosis . Please help . I need some hope
Dear Nina84 I love riding bikes every kind of it. In 2012 I was diagnosed with Fistula in anno I was afraid of surgery so I opt ayurvedic meds for treatment infact they that time worked ( which feels like that time) but after 4 years it came back in same place with lots of pain and first Doc thought it was perennial abscess but after seeing my history he reffered to a renowned ano rectal surgeon he just looked at it and told me it's a fistula. Fistula can only be treated by surgery. So I took the surgery and after surgery I was in pain when after effects of anesthesia wore off they gave me painkiller injection then I got relieved. I was discharge very next day and I had to hire private dresser for wound. Now after my 6th day I can say I feel less pain and I can walk and after 2 months I can ride bikes again. And by the way I poop twice a day so every time I poop I have to take sitz bath and then bath and then call my dresser. First time after surgery it was little difficult but I drink lots of water and fibrous food. I miss my days of biking and have to take leave from office. Don't be afraid do it before marriage and have someone for your care cause every passing day you gonna be better. Just think that pain will be end permanently after 2 months.
Hello
Really sorry to hear this is happening to you especially the timing, really sorry to hear this.
The first thing to say is you are not alone. There are lots of people going through this and we all feel or have felt exactly how you feel. I think it is the feeling of having no control over what is happening to you, it is very very difficult to deal with. For many this does get better and if you eat healthily you really are helping yourself.
I have to ask what is a wick? Did they put a seton in after the they drained your abscess?
When my abscess was cut out the surgeon formed a fistula trying to cut it out and a seton was put into the fistula to keep it draining while it was trying to heal.
My drainage would last around 8 weeks but that was with a fistula, so this sound about normal but this can be different for everyone.
I know it is difficult right now but try not to think too far head with this. Try to take it day at a time.
It is possible to hold off on surgery but the best thing is to ask your surgeon about putting a seton in place even for the next month? This stops the fistula closing up on the outside too soon because if it does it is possible a new abscess can will form and you are back to square one. It keeps the fistula track open and draining and if possible helps it to heal. Did she give you this as a possible option? What type of surgery did she recommend?
As I say take care of yourself you are not alone. Please let us know how you get on x
Thank you so much for responding to my post! I really need some encouragement because I am so upset over this whole situation. It's hard to stay with a clear mind when I have read so many horror stories. To answer your question about the wick it is a ribbon that they put into the incision after draining my abscess . It was removed within 24 hours. The purpose of it was to help with the draining. So I had it drained 8 weeks ago and I'm spending 4 or more times a day using the sits because I'm hoping that will help me get this to somehow go away. This past week I finally demanaded a MRI because they never did one and low and behold I have a small fistula where the abscess was . They did tell me I needed the seton drain put in but I begged them to hold off. First of all I'm so afraid of even the thought of it let alone my wedding is in 6 weeks and I don't want to have to deal with that. How bad is the seton? It's it painful? Is it uncomfortable? And can I still be intimate with my fiancé is one of my biggest worries . Is that possible ? Will the seton cure it? Is the seton better than them just opening it up and leaving it open? That also is an option and scares me to death! Like I said it's very small. They said it's not a bad one yet . I'm doing everything I can to try to keep it at bay until my wedding day has come and gone. It's supposed to the happiest day of my life and this has really overcome me . Thanks again for any advise you can give . I appreciate it! I'm glad to know that I'm not alone in this . <3
Just wondering, is there anyone managing anal fistula without the surgery intervention?
I've been diagnosed with low transphincteric fistula almost 5 years ago (I'm 45, active male, I swim, play basketball, cycle, etc). It's been ups and downs but never too bad, always manageable, it's is more inconvenience and discomfort with only some slight pain (I've been helped with it few times by Dermatologist). After the visit to the Colorectal consultant / surgeon (hospital appointment) back in December last year (approx 8 months ago) I've been told that the fistula track have formed the solid walls (its like the tube / pipe / channel) and, because it has formed, fistula might stay as it is now (won't get better but might be worse - no one knows). For the past good 6 months it was very quiet and didn't caused problems (only slight occasional puss, no blood, no irritation) apart squeezing out something left / trapped after almost each bowel movement, as the skin at the external opening of the fistula tends to close (after washing out the area gently squeezing / massaging the fistula's "tube" towards external opening). It is only a bit painful if something is getting trapped in this "tube" after emptying the bowels until it can been squeezed out. At the previously mentioned visit to see Colorectal consultant / surgeon I've signed a form to try to "fix" the anal fistula - to go for the surgery (not cutting, but scrapping the walls of the fistula and inserting collagen gel / glue or inserting a Seton if the abcess is found), thinking it might be good to have it done as a prevention ( in case it gets worse, despite not having problems / no pain with it now and managing with it reasonably well). After the long 8 months my scheduled appointment for the surgery is very soon now, but I'm very anxious that it is the right choice (is it worth doing the surgery when there are not a big issue (only as prevention), also, I'm self employed (no sick pay...), started job at new place couple of months ago - don't want to risk to be unable to work / do the job properly because of the pain (involves a lot of sitting almost all the day (graphic arts & design), need to come back to work approx a week / 10 days after the procedure, scared not be able to provide for the family (3 kids) not be able to go for activities in the park with my youngest kid, get anxious and depressed). Because of all these circumstances I'm really anxious and I still contemplating to call off or delay / ask to move to the later time the operation (unless it gets painful).
Just wondering, is there anyone who's "successfuly" (if it can be said about this condition) dealing with anal fistula without the surgery. Only thoughts that I don't want to have it cleaned / squeezed after each trip to the bathroom keeps me on the side of the surgery, everything else tells me not to have it / do not rush. Is it ok to leave it untreated surgically unless it's painful / infected? Your thoughts, experiences and advice would be appreciated. Many thanks!
Hello
This forum is not overly active with replies but you could try joining the closed fb group Fistula Support Group (Colorectal) and asking this question there you will get lots of replies on this very subject.
I would say trust your instincts on this and delay if you can but only of course if your surgeon thinks this is sensible.
The perianal abscess organisation website has my my story if you have time.
Take care of yourself happy to answer any other q's.
Fistula's can also be healed by diet. I did this and mine closed naturally itself. Surgery just made it worse. What I did may not work for everyone but a good diet has been shown to help the condition alot.
I hope it doesn't come back mine did after 4 years. When it seems like I m over it it came back big time. I was surprised. I never wanted surgery that's why I took alternative options that time. It's been 8th day after my surgery I m still at home not feeling comfortable going office. I also don't want this thing happens to me again that pain I suffered I wish to not to feel it again ever. If this surgery fails in any case I don't wish to visit operation theatre again. I just hope I can live my life again. Of course I m getting well day by day.My well wishes for u my frnd.
I had my abscess and fistula in 2010- 2011. It has not come back.
I also had verrucas since I was a child. When I changed my diet these also disappeared and have never returned.
Changing my diet was the only thing that changed not one other thing changed.
I have one one crown because of a bad dentist. The rest of my teeth are my own. This crown gives me problems if I have anything with sugar in it because the sugar leaks in above the crown and causes an abscess. If this happens I know I have dropped off on my veg intake. Once I up the amount of veg the abscess disappears. Anti-biotics do not take the dental abscess away.
I hope you are well soon. Take care.
Just thought I would let you all know. After 3 years and numerous surgeries. I was discharged from the surgeon today. So there is light at the end of the tunnel for most of us. Good luck to everyone on here and hope you all get well soon .
Lesley xxx
Hi! I had an abscess in Sept 2015, I had it drained then they put a wick (packing) in the wound.. It healed too quick on the outside before the inside healed and I had to have the wound made larger so it could be packed every day until it healed. It healed by end of Oct 2015, and was ok,, then last year a tiny hole opened. I stopped eating sugar all was ok but lately the hole opened again I think it's a fistula but don't want surgery. I can feel a tiny tube underneath my scar which I think is the tunnel of the fistula. It drains only occasionly. I don't want the surgery affecting my life, should i leave it alone? I bath all the time.
I am 38 and female, it makes me feel dirty and manky, I am scared the surgery will be a botch job from what horror stories I've read. A seton sounds horrific and dirty.
I am slim, I ride, cycle, fell walk and conquered many mountains. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. Can't understand why!!!
Hi! I had an abscess in Sept 2015, I had it drained then they put a wick (packing) in the wound.. It healed too quick on the outside before the inside healed and I had to have the wound made larger so it could be packed every day until it healed. It healed by end of Oct 2015, and was ok,, then last year a tiny hole opened. I stopped eating sugar all was ok but lately the hole opened again I think it's a fistula but don't want surgery. I can feel a tiny tube underneath my scar which I think is the tunnel of the fistula. It drains only occasionly. I don't want the surgery affecting my life, should i leave it alone? I bath all the time I have a little drainge only drainage after being to the bathroom.
I am 38 and female, it makes me feel dirty and manky, I am scared the surgery will be a botch job from what horror stories I've read. A seton sounds horrific and dirty.
I am slim, I ride, cycle, fell walk and conquered many mountains. I don't smoke or drink alcohol. Can't understand why!!!
Nina, there is no reason to worry. A fistula can be treated successfully and you can lead a normal life. I'm amazed and disillusioned that a medical doctor could misdiagnosis your absess. The vast majority of rectal absesses are the result of an ano-rectal fistula. Beine in the care of a competent colo-rectal surgeon will more than likely provide a positive resolution to your issue. There is a plethora of information on the internet. I recently had fistulotomy surgery and the success rate is over 90% for this procedure. Good luck!
Thank you! I wondered how my abscess developed in the first place. I have been worrying myself so much! I am scared I'll end up with a colostomy bag or sepsis or incontinence. i ended my long term relationship with my boyfriend and haven't been in one since all this happened.
So I'm scheduled for a fistulectomy this coming Monday and of course I'm anixious. It all started about 2 years ago when I noticed a nodule just at the bottom of my anus and went to a doctor. She felt it and said it was nothing, gradually, I noticed it going towards the scrotum, it was kind of a hard tract, but I felt fine. several months ago I felt and abcess and went to the doctor. He didn't know what it was but drained it and sent me to the urologist, since it was close to my scrotum. The urologist also did not know and scheduled my to have a small surgical procedure to biopsy it (waste of time). Anyhow he came back and said it's benign and said he thinks it's an anal fistula. He told me to have my primary refer me to a surgeon, I asked if he could do so. My sister is a nurse to after telling her, she told me to ask him to refer me to a USC surgeon. After doing some research, I found a couple of colorectal surgeons but the hmo, gave me one of their own. I saw he had good reviews and after the visit, he confirmed the diagnosis. He told me I came to the right place cause he does this all the time. So we scheduled it for this Monday. So my symptoms include a rash and something i'm concerned about is my scrotum/testicles has been feeling weird. Sometimes one or the other feels like they are retracting a bit but the doctor doesn't know what it is and tells me to consult the urologist. I feel some swelling around the area so I'm hoping after the surgery, the feeling goes away. Has anyone heard of such a thing. I'm scared of the surgery but hoping to get it over with and get back to normal. Thanks for reading.
tom03991
So I had my procedure today with the colorectal surgeon. He scared me telling me the worst case scenario so I was nervous. I work up with not so much pain and surprising didn't feel bad at all. Almost normal. I am so happy today. Hopefully this will be my experience for the whole recovery. BUT I haven't take a poop...kinda nervous about that. I have a quarter size whole down there. Just want to share for those nervous. Don't be, get it over with so you can enjoy your life.
Hi this is good news, what happens is they give you alot of pain medication during the operation, so when you wake up you are fine. Once that starts to wear off you will start to feel the wound, so use the pain meds they have given you. However all the meds constipate you so laxatives are usually also give. Good luck, I hope all goes well.
Hi! I have just had a fistulatomy, it has been 8 hours since my surgery. Is excessive bleeding normal? Its scary.
Hey there. How did your procedure go? I've just had a fistulatomy and have been home for 8 hours now. Is the excessive bleeding normal? Like it's kinda scary. Its a lot.
Hello, If you are worried call the hospital. Bleeding is normal and maybe when it hits the water it looks like alot. Who is going to be packing your wound? Are they coming today? if not call and check with the hosptial.
Take care.