by Ever the Optimist » 21 Jul 2012, 13:36
Hi Zowie,
It is great when someone knows exactly what you're going through isn't it? Reassuring....
My sympons before was a small hardish lump with like a fleshy raised bit underneath the lump with a hole in it about 1 cm in width. The lump would get inflamed and painful and then pus would expel from the hole underneath it. It was inflamed, sore, itchy and painful at this point and I'd keep gently pushing on it with baby wipes to expel the pus and put a hot showerhead on it a few times to keep it clean, get some pain relief as I think the pus made the area itchy. It would go down after a couple of days and then the cycle would build up again ( actually probably over 3 weeks)....It was uncomfortable and a bit painful when inflamed but I could live with it.
I didn't need a seton because the fistula (luckily) was small, superficial and easy just to deroof (the first preferred of the healing treatments)...If it's "deeper" and cuts through the sphincter, they put in a seton because there's a greater risk of incontinence if they have to cut into the muscle. It's all done surgically and under anaesthetic. From what I've researched, some setons are like silk threads and some like rubber bands. Most people notice them initially and then just get used to them. This lets all the pus drain out and then the seton either falls out or is removed if the CRS is convinced it's drained and healing OK. ..
You need to go ahead with the EUA. If there is no fistula, they won't do anything necessarily anyway. If it needs treating (and the sooner you get it done, the better) they will treat it.
If in any doubt always get a second opinion, but I'm sure as a CRS has recommended this course of action, he will have a pretty good suspicion of what's going on.
IMO, I'd just go with the EUA and prepare yourself for treatment if they think you need it.
Honestly, a simple fistula is really easy to treat and if you leave it, fistulas can form several tracts and become more complicated. Treatment then can take months, in some cases, years, as they will need to deal with it "bit by bit"....
My CRS was male and I'm female too and he was good and don't forget they deal with lots of people (and girls) with these issues!! ...
I know it's all horrible and scarey but honestly, just get it sorted, post op it's really not that bad...just a few weeks of some soreness and popping the Ibruprofen, but at least, you're fixing the problem and moving on to being better again.
Feel free to contact me with any worries....
I've been in your position and know how stressful it all is and happy to share my experience with you anytime :)
Chronic Fissure diagnosed December 2011
Healed by Diltiazem around Feb 2013
Anal Fistula followed burst abscess in June 2012
2 internal troublesome piles remain & suspected, but undiagnosed, ongoing Levator Ani type symptoms & flare-ups