It all started around the first of August of 2012. I couldnt get comfortable, my anal region was swelled something awful and very painful and after a few days of that the place busted and what came out of it smelled horrid. After a few trips to my local doctor I was sent to a specialist, who said for me to continue the antibiotics my local dr had me and and that I should be fine. WRONG!!! I ended up going back to my local dr to get more anitbiotics hoping it would clear it up and it didnt. I went back to the specialist who said surgery for a fistual would be my best option. I had a CT scan, colonoscopy and finally on October 23rd I had my surgery. The place drained from August till I had my surgery. The surgery wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be, my pain was manageable and I was bleeding slightly from the area but nothing major. After a few days I started getting the same drainage again and BM wasnt to bad. Nov 2nd I had my stictches removed. Shortly after the area opened up some and has been draining ever since, some days it drains more than others & sometimes it drains blood for a couple of days. I do epsom salt soaks, and kept gauze folded up in the area to catch the drainage to keep from ruining my clothes and keep the area as clean as I possibly can. Since being healed from surgery I haven't had any pain with the area, but will it ever heal up completley and stop draining. My Dr said he was pleased with the way it was healing that it appreared to be closing off, but the last week or so it seems to be draining more. Will it ever heal and go way? Im afraid I will have to go through all this again.

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 :)

Thank you Ever the Optimist!!!!
I suppose just dealing with the area as long as I have that I just expect for it to heal faster. Next to the area there is still a hard feeling spot under the skin, my Dr said it was scar tissue and should disappear more as the spot heals. I think this is a great site for people with the same problem, I just wish I had found it sooner!!!!

Hey will this
How are you doing 'im a month post fistulotomy
Healing OK get an achy dealing in the area think this is where he cut muscle on the op and ij get some drainage after a bm