You are very welcome:)

Yes, taking less painkillers over time was a sign of healing that I had too. Hang in there. As long as you keep things consistently soft and clean it should be fine. It just requires a lot of patience and faith, I know!

Hi RecoveringMe,
I had two fistulotomies, and different experience pain-wise, first one was very bad, second one was fine, but now sure what it depended on, actually, second one was larger and deeper cut.
I've posted my experience in Diaries subforum and several here in Fistulotomy forums (on pain, discharge, blood, sitzbaths etc.), and you'll find many others, if you find time, you should take a look.
As for the discharge, after my second surgery I had drainage for 2.5 months (first one was unsuccessful so leakage never stopped), but I've read from others here that it can last even longer... so we're all different...
Take care, and wish you the best!

Hi Garrod,
can you help me find the link to your story? I can't find the Diaries section.

The drainage thing is just so hard to follow since sometimes it's really minimal,
but sometimes it's bigger and smelly....so I was afraid it's an infection..
For the most part I try now to just the iBu (the more basic painkiller),
and there are some days when the pain is minimal, and some days I suffer for a few hours.

Also it seems like the first BM of the day is more painful than the next ones in the same day..weird.

thank you guys!

It's here: my-diary-on-fistula-t9607.html
As for the painkillers, I suffered a lot when I didn't take them on a regular basis, if I waited too long, then once I take them it takes several hours for them to work.. Also, first BM of the day would be painful, because last painkiller I took was the evening before, so they didn't work.
Antiseptic in a sitzbath will help prevent infection, but try to see your CRS to make sure it doesn't get infected.
I don't know why discharge varies... I remember being bore intense before my period.

My CRS had me apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound daily. He told me that a moist wound will heal faster than a dry wound. Here in Canada I used Polysporin with vitamin e in it. In the U.S. I believe there is Neosporin, or I'm sure any generic antibiotic wound ointment would work.

Garrod - was really interesting to read your story. Crazy to see how long this process can go and how complicated..
Even though that for the long run - we must do whatever possible to make our lives better and without pain,
so even 1-2 years of suffering is better for an easier life.

msimon - Did you need a prescription for the ointment ?
I assume yes, so I will already go visit the doctor ...

That horrible fear/pain of having to be examined in this area..that is anyway hurting...
it's awful!

Yes, it was long in my case, but very often it takes less time, and one surgery fixes it. Forum stories are a bit biased towards more complicated cases :)

As for the ointment, I think you can get Neosporin over the counter.

Good luck with everything and keep us posted!

Yes, you can purchase the ointment over the counter...

Update!
So,
One positive note is that I almost don't have to take any painkillers...
It's been 1.5 months since my surgery.

The thing is that there is nothing else that seems to get better..
I still have yellow discharge all the time...it stays the same amount every day for the last 2-3 weeks.
Sometimes I would bleed a little, and then have a minor pain that usually goes away after 2-3 hours without painkiller.

I was on a short vacation, and I felt that if I was moving around and walking much, it might have made things worse.

Am I on the way to recovery? or there might be a problem?

So happy to hear you are aren't needing the painkillers as much. That's a great sign! :)
I am not sure about the yellow discharge. I wish I could recall how much I had. I can say that after a lot of walking and an or vacation like experiences with family/friends around I felt much worse. I would say keep living life, but the feeling worse after those experiences is fairly normal. It takes time but it will get better.