For a quick background, I'm a 28-year old woman, no diagnosis of Chron's or any other digestive issues. 6 years ago I had a Pilonidal cyst lanced and packed until healing. And about a year ago I noticed a lump closer to my rectum, I thought maybe it was something similar and went to my general care doctor. She stated it was a bartholean cyst, lanced it and told me to follow up with my OBGYN. During the time I saw my general care doctor and my OBGYN, I had lost health care coverage, so was learning to live with an open wound. After several months, my OBGYN informed me it was a perianal abcess and that I also had granulation tissue. He suggested a very easy outpatient surgery for incission and drainage. However, after a few months and weekly follow ups I was not seeing a resolution. So, I started researching online, and thought I may have a fistula. So, I followed up with a CRS. He confirmed my thoughts almost immediately, and scheduled me for a fistulotomy. I had my fistulotomy on Friday, and he had stated depending on if it cut through a lot of the sphincter muscles he would do one of two procedures, but did not tell me much about the second. I think mainly because we both believed I had a superficial and straight forward fistula that he could lay open. However, when I came through from anastesia, he told me it was more complex and went through a lot of muscle. He did not lay the tract open and instead now I have a large hole where the abcess was and I can see the start of the tract. It was not until today that I saw part of the seton, or what I believe is the seton he put in place. I'm still not sure if it is a draining seton or a cutting seton, because he did not stop by after I woke up, but only talked to my husband. I have a follow up in 1.5 weeks, and we'll find out more then. Originally I was told I would have to be off work for 2 weeks, but I really do feel great. I was not in much pain and have not been on any pain meds the last two days. The worst part had to have been the first BM post surgery. I had mine the morning after my surgery and I broke out into a full on sweat and thought I may pass out. I hadn't taken any pain meds since bedtime the night before, and the GA had fully worn off. I've had 2 more BMs since, and they have definitely been less painful. I'm ok sitting on soft surfaces for shorter periods of time and have taken a few walks with the dog.
Now here are my questions, a lot of what I read is people with setons/complex are those with some digestive issues pre-fistula like Chrone's. I had none of this, does anyone have similar experience they could share?
I have been able to find little reading material on seton usage in fistula surgery, does anyone have any good resources?
Thanks so much! This board has been an amazing help, I feel like it is the only place that has any information what so ever.