Hi Everyone,

I had an abcess drained in dec 2014. Ever since then there has been
Some drainage there. My doc initially said if it keeps draining for more than
8 weeks then it's a fistula. The drainage never stopped and it's been 10+
Weeks! Anyways my surgeon has suggested surgery with a high chance of
A cutting seton. I am SCARED to death !
All my internet searches show that people have had multiple surgeries and
Took years to recover !!!
I am looking for some people to share some success stories who got cured
After one surgery ? Or someone to tell that it's not bad and you recover in
3-4 months?

Really need some hope and motivation !

TIA

Hi ritz .. Sorry to hear of ur situation but I can relate 1000% ... I had an abscess drained and then like u the drainage didn't stop and then diagnosed with a fistula ... I too went to the Internet and became terrified to the point I mentally went off the deep end lol ... Met with surgeon who said my fistula was very long as when they drained the abscess they went in at base of my butt cheek rather then close to the anus .. So my track was almost 4 inches long ... My surgeon wasn't a colerectal specialist like most have with these but he was the chief of surgery so I knew I was in good hand ... Another scary part with all this was the fact they don't know what they dealing with til they get in there ... Not knowing if I was gonna end up with seton or fistolomty or what ....I woke up with fistolomty and a drainage seton ... Sent home with no packing just a gaping wound but I was very lucky the pain ... my fistula was very painful as it was always trying to heal and would trap the drainage causing mega pain ... Living with the fisutla was more painful then my recovery from surgery .... 6 weeks after surgery seton was remove and within 1-2 weeks all drainage stopped .... And knock on wood no issues since ..... Ok so timeline for me was drainage was in May 2014... Fistula diagnoses in July by colerectal specialist who said he was too busy for my minimal problem ... Sept met with great general surgeon who happened to be chief of surgery... Dec 10 2014 had fistolomty and seton placed ... Jan 23 2015 seton removed ... 1-2 weeks later no drainage at all .....

Sorry if this is long winded.... There is hope yes I too have read people's stories of a few surgeries and the horror stories are scary ... But it can be better life will go back to normal ... I am still scared to say I'm he*led (healed) lol incase something resurfaces .... the only issues im left with is after a bowel movement I have left overs stuck in the gutter and have to go back for a few extra wipes to clean up the run off and I do still try my best to keep my stool soft and always moving ... Keep ur chin up there is light at the end of the tunnel. .. Keep us updated and hope my experience gives u hope that yes 3-4 months recovery is realistic :)

Thank you SOOOO MUCH for such a helpful reply Dewlilly.
It gives me some hope that it can't all be that bad. I will keep this thread updated as and when I have surgery.

Meanwhile I request others too to share their success stories. It helps to cope up with this difficult time!

Ritz, if you haven't already found it, there is a "Success Stories" sub-forum that can be found on the home page. Just scroll down to the second section and you can read all about others' successes with all things anal.

Thanks chachacha! I did go through them and they are all about Anal Fissure.
Hard to find success stories like the one Dewlilly posted above !

Hi, Ritz!
I've had three surgeries, but my most recent one has been a slam dunk success and the surgeon doesn't anticipate any future problems. My first two surgeries failing probably had to do with surgeons that didn't have a lot of fistula experience and/or not ideal post-op care (I had my first two in France and they pack the wounds there, which I think is rarely done in the US).
I think the most important thing is to make sure you have a good surgeon. I was unlucky with that the first two times, but when I came back to the US for surgery, I had the surgeon who cured my dad of the same problem 15+ years earlier (first-time success for him). I had a recurring abscess from a fistula that hadn't actually been closed during surgery almost five months earlier, so he performed a fistulectomy, had me do sitz baths 4+ times a day and did follow-up appts every two weeks until I was healed. That was October 31 (2014) and within a month, I felt pretty much like normal! Mid-December I got the all clear from my CRS and I started running again in January. I hadn't been able to do that since February 2014 when I got my first abscess.
The key is definitely having a surgeon who knows what s/he is doing! And not having too complex of a fistula either. :)

Thank you heartofitall!!! Thanks for sharing your positive story And also for the great advice about how important it is to have a good surgeon. Your story gives me hope and strength to deal with it. Now I can believe I can be fully cured of fistula !

Hi Ritz,

You can read my story under either success stories or journals/diary. I am trying to recall which it's under. I had surgery in June 2014. I am still dealing with a fissure on and off (on right now) that I didn't know I had and didn't seem to have when I was treated for the fistula. In regards though to my fistula, mine was superficial and like others report stick to the meds on schedule and the baths. Baths helped the most with pain and healing for me. As far as care, my spouse could help and was willing but immediately after I handled most of my care, outside of getting my meds or a meal here and there.
I too wondered about everything, like going to the bathroom the 1st time which was not as bad as described or other things. It was emotionally overwhelming but the support here was incredible because there isn't many people you can "talk" to about it. Strangely enough in my prep plans too with nurses and such, many reported spouses or personal experiences regarding this area. So I felt better.

Everyone here is here to support you, so reach out as much as you need through the process. Try and take care of yourself and remain calm. Your body can and will heal even when it feels like and the internet seems to say it may not, but as I have learned the more stress I put on my body the more "bowel" issues I have.

Definitely stay in touch! Thinking of you!!

Thanks Manitourose! I read your journal and it definitely helps to read a positive experience.

I had an appt today and I am up for surgery on Monday(3/9/2015) for a cutting seton placement.
My doc said it can be there for any time between 2 mnths to 6 months. It depends on your healing.
Everyone's body is different.

It would be great to know positive fast healing experience with cutting seton ?

So , turns out I went for an Exam under Anesthesia with a possibility of seton. The doctor could not find any fistula it seems. She put a lot of hydrogen peroxide to find the opening in the rectum but could not find any. This is good news in one way but the other part is that the doctor said that I have a big cavity inside as when she put the probe from the outer opening it went almost all inside. The doctor said that hydrogen peroxide cleaned everything and now the inside cavity has to heal on its own.
I am thinking why didn't the cavity heal in the past 3 months and how will it heal now. Anyone has any experience like this?
Any suggestions on speedy wound healing.
TIA