by boutitboutit » 25 Aug 2012, 13:42
Not meaning to hijack anyone's post, but here is my personal experience w fistula surgery:
I had fistula surgery 3 days ago and leading up to the procedure i read a lot of bad personal stories online. These stories are obviously scary to read and bad for your psyche pre-procedure. I wanted to share my story because although I lucked out with what was required, it is possible for your experience to not be as bad as some make it out to be. (let me say one more time, i got lucky...read on)
For over a year I was told that i had a fissure. One way or another my fissure seemed to finally disappear after a year of heavy Benefiber use and some numbing creme. At some point, about 6 months ago i was told i may have a fistula after going into the doctor for a very painful and swollen abscess. The doc said there was only one way to find out if i had a fistula and that was to stick this pointy pin into the abscess and see where it lead. I say noo way.
Within 2 months, i was back for another abscess and this time the tunnel was forming under my skin. This hardened tract helped the dr. realize it was most definitely a fistula.
Fast forward to 2 week ago. I was with my dr. and he gave me my options for the procedure i needed to have. 1) Fistulotomy, or 2) Dr. finds that the fistula path leads through muscle and/or is very infected inside...this would lead him to placing a draining seton. As many of you know it is very risky to cut through much sphincter muscle due to scarring. He informed me that if a fistulotomy is not possible, that a draining seton makes the success rate of a subsequent surgery (flap surgery, for example) to the seton placement much higher.
Fast forward to 3 days ago. It is a little unnerving to enter potential surgery not knowing if you will get fully cut open with a fistulotomy, or just wake up w a seton and be required back in a matter of weeks/months for a surgery. Anyways, i prayed and prayed for the fistulotomy and gave up all of my fear to God, knowing he would take care of me. I felt very positive going into the procedure in terms of not fearing, and also taking comfort knowing i had the best Dr in Orange County working on me.
I woke up after the procedure not feeling a thing. Finally a nurse walked by and said "well, you got your fistulotomy". Next, the Dr walks by and says "it was a long tract but it barely went through any muscle". I was the happiest got on earth to know that i was done! Dr. said i would not need to be back and he saw no signs of Chrone's or anything else. In his opinion, this original fistula's infection came from an infected anal gland.
Now, I'm at home. I'm taking about half the full dose per day of vicodin and feeling good. I can walk fine (but i take it slow). Eating normally. Bowel movements have been ok because i am eating smoothies, broccoli and other vegetables, prunes, lots of benefiber, and this is allowing for easy bowel movements.
I just want people to know that fistula surgery can go relatively easily and successfully. My post op pain is totally manageable and i'm enjoying catching up on the tv show Suits and finally watched Hunger Games.