Hello all,

I am new to this. I recently discovered I have an simple anal fistula. I knew this before the doctors and a CRS specialist in my area missed it. Frustrating. So I went off to Chicago to a excellent CRS. He confirmed what I already knew. He seemed to indicate it was basic, simple. Could see the external opening (as I have been able to) and with anoscope could locate the internal. He indicated it would be quite a simple procedure and was 95% sure it wouldn't be a complex fistula.

Here is my dilemma and would love some support since I feel so alone. I am a 35 yr old healthy female. In grad school and begin clinicals on June 30th in another state on the east coast, then another set of clinicals in NYC (where I will finally reside). The doctor indicated I could probably wait to complete this surgery in NYC until after my clinicals and recommended a colleague who I looked up and is quite well known. He suggested either way (whether I had surgery soon before my clinicals begin June 19th) or whether I wait, to continue with baths, use Neosporin internally and to try and express from the hole to keep it clean and the "stuff" moving so to speak.

I feel so overwhelmed with this on me right before I begin clinicals and have to move shortly. I worry if I wait it will be worse. I am silly and worry b/c the doctor in Chicago is so young about how many procedures he has done. I do have generalized anxiety disorder and recently completed 22 months of intense studying. Its been hell emotionally. I expected to get this break to recover emotionally and prepare for clinicals (study.. ect) and instead I have been researching doctors and getting appointments.

I feel alone b/c I don't know anyone who has dealt with this. I have been so emotionally depleted and dealing with all this has made me feel even worse. I literally feel like I have lost my dignity in some respects.. I know how very ridiculous it sounds, but I suppose I'm so burned out.

My fiancé has been very supportive, but also nervous. He really leans towards me getting it done now and pushing along into clinicals but is aware of how amazingly rushed and stressful it would be.

So I ask you kind people....... your experiences, your emotional feelings... how have you felt? Should I go for it soon rather than wait? My university clinical coordinator is not very people nor accommodating. I would have 11 days basically, maybe a few more if I'm lucky, question is, do I go for it or wait?

I am lost and feel so down.

Hi Manitourse ... welcome to the site .. you have come to the right place for advice and stories ... YOU ARE NOT ALONE lol ... i too had a hard time finding anyone who was familar with the word fistula or fistulotomy ... even in the medical world ..... Me long story short ... i had a perianal abscess and when drained the drainage site turned into a fistula which i guess is very common... Living with the fistula in the beginning wasnt bad but just before my surgery it was living a nightmare... I had to wait 5-6 months for my surgery due to wait times here in Nova Scotia .... once it was confirmed it was a fisutla which I too knew was the case .. i had my self convinced i could live with it it wasnt that bad .. did sitz baths 3 times a day, as longs as it stayed leaking i was pretty good but as time went on and it kept trying to heal its self from the outside in the pain was so bad at times i could not walk ... I found this site and was convinced by experienced people here and others that this was not going to fix itself i needed the surgery and honestly the pain after the surger was done was 1000% less then the pain of living with the fistula .... I think it depends on how complex it turns out to be mine was a lil complex as when they drained my abscess they were about 3-4 inches away from my rectum making my tract very long .... they did know what to expect until they went in there ... I woke up with a fistulotmy and a seton ... I have read stories on here of poeple who have had theirs done in the doc office and i have read where people ahve had a few surgies .....

I think its more of what you can handle .. some say that fistulas can spread or grow longer if left untreated and you also run a risk of the orignal branching off and making another one ... how true all this is im not sure .. i know i needed the surgery when i did due to the pain of living with the fistula where my tract was so long it was trying to heal and it would trap puss and discharge in the middle and i would have to burst it to get releif ... I think its what you are able to live with in the moment.

Im a 37 yr old female and the emotion thing hit me too ... i totally went off the deep end from the time the abscess was drained pretty much right up until the surgery ... I was on meds and everything for the depression but i eventually bounced back ... these issuses are not life threatening but like you said you feel alone as not many people can relate and its an area that people dont speak of .... my husband was very supportive and was here along the whole ride ... i was a complete nut job lol ... this site did me wonders there are some very knowledgable people on here and everyones experiences are different but the emotions of it all are very similar

Im not sure if waiting hurts anything but for me if i could have had my surgery sooner i would have again due to being in so much pain ... if you arent in pain and dont have too many complications right now you might be able to wait a bit ... sometimes grabbing the bull by the horns and running with it is the best way get in get it over with but ultimatley you need to be comfortable with it .... you will be fine i think if i can get through all this and honestly i had my seton removed on Jan 23 and knock on wood life is great ... look through some of the other stories on here you will get some good info ... not sure i helped you any with making the decision on now or wait but i can tell you ... you are not alone the internet makes it possible for people like you amd me to be able to reach out and support each other .... we are all here for you ... chin up your on the right path :)

I have never had any pain associated (occasional pinching feeling), the discharge was minimal..I originally was referred because I really wanted to be safe, and was convinced grad school stress had caused internal hemmorhoids causing the discharge. The 1st doc as I mentioned missed it. 2nd, a very good one saw it all.. the external and internal opening with no problem. Felt 95% sure it was superficial and I'd be good to go by the end of this month even with surgery on the 19th (this Thursday).

Problem I run into is my coordinator and the clinical sites I have to be on to complete my degree. I have two 12 week rotations, beginning June 30th. I'm being hounded about whether I can get clearance for lifting and so on. No concern for my health at all -- that has just infuriated me! The doctor told me twice in the office and by email the chance of it getting more complex was a small risk.

Like you said, you want to take the bull by the horns. I had decided to postpone it... felt doing it in NYC would be better so I could see the same doctor for follow -up there since I will be moving from here to the east coast for my clinicals (one in 1 state, one in NYC... man oh man) and my surgery if done this week would be in Chicago (I live currently 2 hrs from). So its all a big decision. I liked this doctor, he is younger but excellent reviews and was incredibly compassionate in the room. He is in one of the top Chicago practices, so I know they have high regard for him.

Ugh so much to think about. Thank you so much for the response and support. It really means a lot!!!

Trust your gut ... lol thats one thing i have learned about myself through all this ... sounds like yours its so complex and you are doing what is right for you at this point of your life ... its important to keep your life as normal as you can .. letting this get you down is not an option ... keep us updated on your ride :)

Thanks so much again! Yep not complex and you are right, I can't let this get me down... It has been and I would say to others it is an acceptance process but finally talking to others helps.