by Ever the Optimist » 21 Dec 2012, 12:11
Hi Willthis......
Yes, it WILL go away in the end and sorry to hear your journey has taken a little longer than others.
It sounds to me like your original abscess took a while to get properly diagnosed and really, should have been drained instantly considering the symptoms you describe. I'm not sure why you were not advised this as anti-biotics don't always heal an abscess. They just help prevent infection. I'm guessing your fistula formed as a result of that original abscess and surgery was then the only option at that stage ( I was in the same predicament with an abscess that came on very quickly and a fistula that formed equally as quickly but I was treated pretty much instantly for both issues and I still believe now that that lead to the fact my fistula was small, superficial with very little drainage - I guess I was a little luckier to get such a quick diagnosis and treatment)
Large fistulae & abscesses will take longer to fully drain and your drainage is completely normal and it's great you now have no pain too. I would seek reassurance that your GP is happy with things, but you could always call your CRS for further reassurance?
If you read over some of the older fistula recoveries on this site, one or two people took around 9 - 12 months before the drainage process had completely finished for them. It was also the last of their recovery symptoms, so hang in there!!
Two months is still early days in your recovery, but I'm certain from what you've said that you will get through all this and you sound like you're doing all the right things!....
Full fistula recovery rates are very high and reoccurences extremely low, so just trust that your CRS has done a good job and you are well on your way to full healing.
All the very best to you :)
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