r/AnalFistula

I’ve been luring in the sub for a while, I had a peri rectal abscess drained with a Jp drain about a year and a half ago and again two weeks ago. Met with the CRS yesterday and he was really kind of a downer. Said my case is complicated and all the things you don’t want to hear. Just curious what to expect following”exploratory” surgery to find the fistula tract and or starting point. As many have mentioned, im really depressed over the situation and nervous about the future. I’m 37f, 3 kids, active lifestyle coaching kids soccer and this has me dooooownnn and out.

For those of you following along with the epic saga of my several year fight with my fistulas, I have an update.
My last post ended with my April 2026 Singapore flap. I am home after a week in the hospital. Again, I just want to post so that if someone else finds themselves experiencing complications, they know they aren’t alone. Two weeks ago, I began to have some wound dehiscence at the graft harvest incision site from my latest surgery. That site is the crack where my thigh meets my body. Basically, as the stitches dissolved, the skin wasn’t healed enough to remain closed. I began getting literal holes in my incision site. I went from one hole to five in 72 hrs, despite complete bed rest. Those holes got bigger and joined each other until I had one small hole (dime sized), a medium hole (an oblong 50¢ piece) and a very large (half a dollar bill) sized hole from the front of that crack of my thigh to where that crack meets my butt cheek. When it finally opened, I was unable to stop the bleeding, it was just pouring out. I went to the Emergency Dept and was admitted that night to Inpatient care. That was last Wednesday. I came home yesterday (Tuesday). I have a wound vac in place. They placed it initially on Friday and it has been definitely improving the healing. I am happy to be home in my own bed. I’m a tough cookie, this too shall pass.

Context: 24M Indian

I had an abscess form next to my anal opening 8 months ago and after a point is opened up and started to drain periodically like once in 2 weeks. Consulted a general physician at first and took a course of antibiotics and over the weeks just dealt with the on and off drainage. After a point the opening became bigger and I could feel a sort of tract in that area. I consulted with a surgical gastroenterologist - he saw my scans and reports, and said that a tract was present - low fistula, possibly intersphicteric - and that surgery was needed. He performed a fistulectomy until the origin point of the fistula next to the anal canal, along with laser at the end.

First few days, I slowly started passing stools and was changing the the gauze dressing along with multiple sitz bath everyday. After 1 week the operated area started to look better - the colour became more pinkish red. I had mild discomfort while sitting or standing for long periods. I tried to keep moving around but, I still have to lie down for a good amount of time to finish work on my laptop. Staying with my parents is a huge benefit as I get to relax more and not worry about chores or food.

In the next few days, as I got used to this, i started noticing fecal matter in the operated area. I consulted with my surgeon again, and after inspection he said there could be a opening between the operated area and anal canal, and suggested just changing the dressing and cleaning properly - he said it will finally heal all together and all the opening and operated tissue will close with only some scarring at the end.

Now I'm following his advice and slowly getting through it. Some times it pains a lot and affects my sleep, but later my body gets through the pain and I'm able to focus on other things.

I just wanted to share my experience here, as I have been following the page from the start of my diagnosis. It feels nice to read through others' experiences and I've gained more confidence by seeing how everyone has dealt with it. Hope I can get through it and return to normalcy.

P.S. - sorry if i went into too much descriptive detail about the operation or post-op recovery

I had a fistulotomy today with a spinal block. When I could feel my legs again and get dressed I noticed quite a bit of blood on the absorption pad below me. I was discharged but noticed the pain wasn’t where I thought it would be. I showered tonight like I was instructed and it didn’t hurt so I asked my partner to look. There is no external cut or wound. There was an old external opening but it’s apparently sealed and wasn’t touched. How do I keep inside clean and will it hurt more or less?

I have a recto vaginal fistula, diagnosed 2 months ago this ago. I have crohns disease so they’ve started me on a biologic and I’m seeing my surgeon in 3 weeks. I just wondered when they might place the seton? Many thanks.

Eso que dice el título basicamente. En unas horas me toca tomar el primer sobre de laxante y durante la madrugada los otros 2, me preocupa ya que a veces sangro cuando voy al baño y eso que voy 1 vez al día, me preocupa si voy a tener que ir al baño muchas veces. Alguien me da consejos? Gracias

Here I am, recovering at home after a surgery admission to drain an anal abscess that measured 8cm x 6cm x2cm. I'm praying no fistula, but the surgeon said the tissue was so inflamed he could not be sure at this time.

This is by third one in about 10 years. I had a large one drained in a colorectal surgeons office in 2006. No fistula, perhaps due to following all post-drainage instructions like reading a bible. I had another in 2023; fairly small in comparison and healed quickly.

But this one, this is the GOAT of abscesses. Felt a large but painless lump on a Sunday. Wasn't sure it was an abscess due to no pain, but by Thursday it was keeping me up at night. Fever, extreme pain, and spreading in size down towards my female areas. By Saturday, I knew things were dire and headed to the ER. After an examination and a CT, I was immediately scheduled for surgery that day. Two hours later I was out of the OR feeling AMAZING compared to the previous week. Interestingly, the surgeon has different instructions than the first colorectal surgeon, to include using my clean finger in the shower to ensure the incision remains open and draining.

Unless you have had one, you have absolutely no idea the pain that sneaks up on you and becomes unbearable. You reach a point you do not care who sees your butthole, puts a finger in it to check for fissures, etc. You flat out do not care, so long as you get relief.

I pray everyone hear heals quickly, including myself.

Day 6 post op. I haven’t been sleeping well. I am a mom of 4, we don’t have day care where I am from.

The pain is bad, I can’t sleep well, I am anxious, and physically exhausted. Husband works nights so he is asleep during the day, he changes my wound dressing.

I want this to be over. I want to be able to walk and sit without pain. It also doesn’t help that my mom stays here and is telling me to stay away from Tramadol cause I might get addicted to it (wtf right)

I see my surgeon tomorrow. Idk what to expect, I just want restorative sleep and to heal hopefully.

31M and I had a bump adjacent to my anus for about 8-10 months, with no external communication

Got the MRI in March and it came back as a transsphincteric anal fistula at the 1 clock

Prior to my surgery I saw about 3 surgeries with all varying opinions:

1. Older surgeon, prefers cutting seton and tighten in office every two weeks for 6 weeks. Then something else but no LIFT

2. Second surgeon - experienced but younger. Stated he would do a draining seton for 3 months and explore something like a LIFT or plug there after.

3. Chief of colorectal surgery and renowned. Sadly, my insurance would not be accepted by him but during our visit he mentioned it looks pretty superficial and may just be a fistulotomy - it was assuring to here this but he said I really doubt you’d need a seton

I took that information to surgeon 2 and he agreed and said I would do the same but depends on the EUA and said it looked superficial during anal exam

Fast forward to today: I got my surgery date and got there, was brought it and knocked out, came out and my first question was to the nurse, so what did they do - she said seton

Felt like the world collapsed me knowing now I have to prolong this for months

After my surgery the surgeon came by and said unfortunately there was some involvement that he didn’t feel comfortable to do a fistulotomy

I’m afraid I feel like I went to the wrong surgeon because he mentioned Lift or a plug after and when I asked about a possible fistulotomy or fistulectomy he said, maybe but truly depends on how it heals

Was hopefully to have a simple one but here we are. My wedding in first week of February and I had travel plans this summer / fall so this all sucks.

Any advice on people in this position is always greats

Hello I was wanting to know about how long after your guys fistulotomy did you wait to have sex? I had my fistulotomy 04/01. And had a 5 week follow up on may 6th to which my DR said I was healing great, And that within 2 weeks I should be fully healed. Which has now been almost two weeks. She even cleared me to start heavy lifting again.

As title says, according to my Dr, I had a perianal cyst and I didn't realise until after it had popped/drained. I'm really surprised I didn't know tbh as i've had recurrent pilondial and bartholians cysts before so I am intimately aware of that distinct sharp pain, like being stabbed with a red hot needle, that accompanies a cyst at it's peak before it bursts. I only noticed because I actually thought I had a prolapse or something, and when I looked, I noted that it was a white patch sorrounded by red right next to my anus. Which my Dr said was the remains of a cyst.

My Dr didn't really say much about what to do with it. To be fair, they were probably distracted as I have also had ongoing GI issues that have been getting worse and prompted an urgent referal to my local hospital gastroenterology dept.

This appointment was a week ago and I have been keeping a close eye on it since I know the risks with any sort of cyst or open wound in an area such as this. I haven't had any pain or signs of local or systemic infection. Which is great! But it doesn't look to be healing or getting any smaller. And i'm concerned that even though it popped and drained, that there might still be remmenants left and that it won't heal on it's own. Or will recur. Or that it is a sign of an anal fistula.

Today I made an appointment for two days away to follow up on it with the Dr. This was also prompted by having some blood with my stool. This isn't uncommon for me, but the amount (not a go straight to hospital amount but more tnan a couple of streaks) and not being constipated alongside it was strange. It didn't appear to be coming from the cyst wound, and I have ongoing GI issues under investigation as discussed, but because it all involves the same area it raises suspicion for me that there is an anal fistula involved.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation?

And in terms of my upcoming appointment, what would be the best questions to ask my Dr? I've done a bit of reading and it seems like usually it gets caught at the lump stage and gets an I&D or surgery and any suggestion of a fistula gets followed up then. Is it worth asking for a referal to get a surgeon to look at it, even though there isn't a lump? Or would it be potentially okay to wait and watch?

Do I bring it up with the gastroenterology dept when I see them? Or update my referal to let them know? And also how best do I care for it in the meantime beyond keepjng the area clean and trying not to irritate it?

Thank you all for your help.

Context: Young male, (20s) never had prior issues with chrons or anything rectum/perineal adjacent.

In general I am not constipated however a week and a half ago, I did have some constipation which I think caused a fissure somewhere behind my rectum, which ultimately may have lead to the abscess? (Or it may just be pure random chance)

Day 1 of symptoms, general soreness around rectum, nothing too bad.

Day 2: Noticed a small lump and in general more sore, brushed it off, maybe a hemorrhoid?

Day 3: Definitely more sore clear lump, assumed it was a thrombosed hemorroid, felt the lump in the perineal area right behind the anus. Went to a walk-in clinic, doctor misdiagnosed and said it was a non-thrombosed hemorrhoid and gave me some cream.

Day 4: Woke up in agonizing pain, went to ER, immediatley they said it was a perinneal abscess, and the doc there was quite angry and pissed off that the walkin doc said this was a hemorrhoid. Booked me in for the drainage, I am very lucky they recommended full anesthesia as I heard some places let you stay conscious.

Surgery was quick - doctor said there was a decent amount of pus, and the abscess was grape sized, no seton or any mention of fistula, he just mentioned to replace dressing/gauze everytime I used the washroom and to properly clean through aiming my shower head directly upwards.

Current state: Day 1 after, noticed a decent amount of blood/clear liquid mix, (not bright red per say but more of a deep pink)

Day 2 now, pain is pretty minimal, I can sit down for short periods of time relatively comfortable, and the drainage is reducing, my family doctor who i saw today recommended instead of a adhesive gauze, to line my boxers kind of like a pad, to promote airflow, I am quite hairy down there which does not help lol. Pain is a 1/10 vs what I experienced the morning I went to the ER (10/10, could barely walk properly)

Question 1: Is the fact I went to the ER relativley soon after the suspected start of the abcess reduce the chance of a fistula?

I am extremely scared this turns into a reoccurring thing and want to reduce my chances as much as possible. I got prescribed 1 week of antibiotics (amoxcyllin 875 mg, 2x a day), and am going to be very diligent with recovery.

Question 2: I am getting a CRS referral from my family doctor to track recovery, is the main concern the rate the abscess heals bottom up vs when the incision closes? The ER surgeon mentioned they only had to make a small incision, and drainage first few days is totally normal and expected to see.

Question 3: Is the general painless-ness right now a good sign or not indicative of proper healing? Its hard for me to visually see the exact incision and area as I am quite hairy and don't want to risk shaving or doing any laser removal right now. For peace of mind once I am healed I will do so to reduce chances of it coming back in the future.

Last question: Sealed gauze vs the pad-liner setup I am doing right now, if the goal is to balance the ratio of the abscess healing and the incision, is my setup right now fine? I can get quite sweaty in my perineal region, so for now loose boxers lined with gauze, and after every bowel movement I use a handheld bidet (no pressure), then after take my shower head and thoroughly clean the area (also low pressure), I have been taking 1x sitz bath a day in my bathtub, but plan to buy the actual thing to make this easer and to increase to 2-3x frequency, as I heard this prevents the incision from also prematurely closing up.

Sorry for the long post, I am very inexperienced and this all happened so quick, my ER surgeon seemed like a super smart guy, and made me worry less, he did not mention anything about fistula or setons etc, so I assume maybe my case was not super bad? He just said next time if I feel any lump to come straight to ER and not wait until the pain is bad.

Wanted to confirm I am doing things right, and get a bit of peace of mind, overall its overwhelming and embarrassing to say the least, but my fam doctor and my ER experience was very pleasing (perks of being a Canadian) e2e time in the hospital was ~3-4 hours, most of that being me recovering post surgery.

Also wishing those all the best who have been dealing with this for longer or worse experiences/versions, you all seem extremely tenacious and I pray we can all put this past us in the future.

26M, I recently had an anal fistula surgery, on 9th May 2026. Since then, I have been having regular sitz baths twice a day after passing a stool, or maybe thrice a day. I have also been cleaning the entire area and trying my best to keep it dry.

Since I am obese, (~130 kg/286 lbs), 6’3”, I have a good amount of fat in my butt cheeks.

My first follow up went well, but in my second one, the doctor said I had poor hygiene, even though I had literally cleaned and dried two hours prior (takes 45 minutes to commute to the hospital).

I have asked him repeatedly ways to keep it dry or if there is anything I can apply down there that will help in keeping the area clean or dry other than what I am already doing, but for naught.

I have a low fat, high fiber diet with 4L of water everyday.

I need urgent help on how to keep the area dry and clean because I can’t afford it to get infected or to be in pain.

Posted a few days ago that I felt air through the surgery hole after the FLAP. And when I finally had some bowel movements on day 5-6, so much poop came out of the surgery opening. So, safe to say, it's a failure. I called the doc for more antibiotics, and I'll go in in a couple of days to assess.

This is my second FLAP, and last time it failed at week 3, but I am shocked this time it failed around day 4, even before any bowel movements. I was just gassy. I don't think I'll do this surgery again because it feels like the conditions need to be perfect for it to heal. I'll get in a seton again and I guess wait it out and accept this is my life.

I'm so drained, it's been 1.5 years with no end in sight :(

This year has been a journey. I went to the ER after a week of rectal pains. I know I should've gone sooner but I honestly thought I was dealing with hemorrhoids. Once I got to the ER, the CT scan showed I had an abscess that required the L&D surgery. That went well, a Penrose drain was placed. After two days my WBC count was still too high so my doctors ordered me to get an MRI. I don't know all the medical terminology but my infection horseshoed, back to surgery I go. Woke up with another Penrose and a double seton. Now we’re here, 3 months later Penrose drains has been removed after about a month in but I’ll still have the Seton until October. My CRS says I'll either get the fistulotomy or a post lift but he won't know until he sees the tract during surgery I guess. I'm a little nervous because the healing process has been mentally tough if I'm being honest. So my question is what should I expect my healing process to be like after surgery? Any tips on what I should do? I was thinking of getting a walking pad so I don't have to sit so long while I'm home recovering

Hey, Everyone
I had originally planned to start this post off with something to the effect of being near the “end” of my healing journey with all of this, but I have realized over the last week that the “healing” never really ends- it only shifts focus. So with that said, I wanted to give back to a community that has given me so much throughout these last six months (both relief and nightmares 😂). This is will be a slightly long post, but I hope you stay tuned till the end…I promise it will be worth the effort.

For context, for the last 20 years, as a psychotherapist, I have spent my entire career working with patients dealing with chronic and acute medical conditions and illness. I have mainly practiced in medical settings like primary care practices, major university hospitals, cancers centers and the lot. All the while, helping patients and their families navigate their illness experience in a way that offers them some semblance of meaning beyond their fear and suffering. In these settings, I have also worked directly with medical professionals, providing psychotherapy to help them bear the weight their profession; so that they might be healthier for themselves and their patients. My acquaintance with illness and medicine goes beyond my profession, having supported my wife in her struggle with severe pre-eclampsia and being hospitalized for three weeks until she gave birth to our daughter (turning 8 this month) at 29 and a half weeks…where she spent the first two and half months of her life in the NICU. However, all that experience, both personal and professional, had been up to that point, peripheral, and none of it prepared me, an up to that point healthy individual, for my intimate brush with this medical condition.

Five months ago, I had an internal hemorrhoid flare (the Saturday after Thanksgiving), which I thought nothing of other than the fact that it was more severe than my typical flares- I usually have one every 9-12 months. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the hemorrhoid thrombosed and the pressure from it caused a tear in the tissue plane near the crease between my upper-inner thigh and perineum. This lead to a hematoma developing in the area, which eventually burst three days before Christmas (blood only). While I went to my primary care and was given antibiotics, I had to return seven weeks later when the wound had still not fully healed. They sent me for a CT scan, which revealed a multi-loculated abscess (three connected pockets less than 3cm). From there, it was straight to the ED where I underwent and emergency EUA to drain the pockets and look for a fistula. While a fistula was not found during the surgery, at my three week post-op, the surgeon said that the wound was not healing and more than likely a fistula had formed. He gave me antibiotics to see if the continued drainage was from a low-grade infection (spoiler alert- it wasn’t), and scheduled me to return in a week. At my next follow-up, after I told him there was still drainage, we went ahead and scheduled another EUA so he could find the fistula and treat it directly. On March 16th, I underwent an EUA where they found a superficial fistula and performed and fistulotomy. During the procedure they also found a small abscess in the same track that was debrided internally. At my two week post-op, the surgeon said everything looked great, and that I didn’t need another appointment unless something unexpected came up. While my recovery has been pretty straight forward, I decided to schedule a follow-up at 8 weeks just to get his eyes on it one more time. Same outcome- everything looked good, and I was sent on my way. What he failed to mention is that all his manipulation during the exam would stir things back up for the next week or so, which is where I currently find myself.

Now that everything is starting to settle (physically and mentally), I am better able to reflect on this journey, and if I may, I wanted to offer a few insights. Insights that, up until this point, I intellectually understood as a clinician but now “know” as a person.

1: This experience will break you…that’s okay…and maybe that’s the point.

While I am back to feeling somewhat “myself,” I am certainly not myself…and I am coming to understand that the “me” that I was before all this is gone. He died six months ago. However, who is left in his place, I find, is someone a bit softer, more present and more aware of what actually matters.

All growth requires some degree of destruction, whether that be the seed that bursts open in the soil or the muscle that breaks down as we work out. Interestingly enough, the degree of that growth is often directly related to the amount of destruction encountered…this is why traumatic experiences create so much change in people (for better or worse). They crack us open in ways we could never anticipate or prepare for otherwise, and if we can sit with the pain and anguish without looking away, we can choose how want to grow not despite or in spite of those experiences but because of them.

2: This experience will make you face yourself, and all the unresolved shit that you hide away.

For my entire life, my “worth” was always tied to my utility and what I could produce. Whether that was through grades and degrees when I was younger, or how well I could “show up” and “provide” for family, friends and colleagues when I was older, I was only worthy (of love, of support, of respect) if I was useful. It was this mentality that kept me hesitant to ask for support when wanted, love when needed, and care when necessary. This experience forced me to be vulnerable in ways that I would have never been otherwise, and allowed me to see that my worth extended far beyond what I could give.
In the same way that this experience breaks us open, in doing so, it shows us all the parts of ourselves we try to hide from the world. Our fears of being weak and/or unworthy of the lives we want to lead. The activities, mindsets, and patterns that we have adopted to avoid the aspects of ourselves we feel ashamed of. All these pieces come floating to the surface when we no longer have the luxury of a mindless existence since this condition forces you to pay attention. If you can sit with those pieces long enough to notice the patterns that anchor them in your life, you can choose to do something different when they arise. In doing so, you can exert more influence over how you grow and change from this experience.

3: This experience will make you feel like you’ve lost control, which is good since you never had control anyway…all you’ve ever had is influence…even over yourself.

We spend so much of our lives trying to direct outcomes (this is the definition of control), when all we really have is the ability to try and stack the deck one way or another. Our careers, our relationships, our feelings, our emotions; we try to engineer them in the way that we want, and most times, the harder we “try” to make them one way or another, the less they seem to go the way we want. It’s only when we start allowing ourself to address what sits before us openly and honestly that we find some semblance of peace…even when things to do not work out as we intend. There is a freedom in this kind of “letting go,” which is absolutely terrifying, and it is that fear that drives us our obsession with the illusion of control- at least it does mine.
So much is unknown throughout this experience…why did I get an abscess (they don’t know)…why do some people develop a fistula while others don’t (they don’t know). What kind of procedure will I have when I go under…(they don’t know until they go in). How will recovery be…you won’t know until you go through it. Will it come back…who knows. All we can do is put one foot forward and deal with this moment, right here, doing the best we can with the information we have at the time. All the while, being ready to pivot if the information changes. This is what all of life really is. No matter how much we research (i.e., doom scroll), no matter how meticulous our aftercare, or experienced our surgeon we simply won’t know our outcome until we have it. But here’s the secret…our real strength comes from our ability to adapt and adjust to life not overcome it.

Now don’t’ get me wrong, while these lessons are laid out neatly here, my journey through them was (and still is) quiet messy. Just like our healing, this is not a linear process…. Some moments I was depressed, other moments I was irritable, and others anxious- hell, I was even ready to end it all a few times. However, those moments were interspersed with moments of happiness and relief. The key, I believe, was being able to be present enough in those lighter moments in order to not lose myself too much in the darker ones…and while I certainly did not always stick the landing with that, I always made the attempt.

I firmly believe, as both a clinician and now a patient, that while we cannot control what happens to us in our lives, we can choose how we use these experiences by choosing what we do in them. Those small yet continuous choices are the true determinants of our lives, and they are the building blocks that allow us to shape and reshape ourselves. I would tell you, you can do this, but you already are…I could tell you that you are going to be okay…but that is ultimately up to you. What I can tell you though, is that you are infinitely more capable then you give yourself credit for, and even more importantly, that the only way out of this is through it.

With all that said, I wanted to offer something more tangible than just my reflections in this post. About two years ago I published a book for clinicians and lay people alike about my method of therapy. It’s not just a process for finding our way when we feel stuck, but more so about how to approach life that ensures we know peace, regardless our circumstance. So, to you all, I would like to make the e-book version available at no cost:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ty5r0svu2kz386ezrhajz/DM_Book_Full__epub_version-2.epub?rlkey=2nkbvkdwwrbk4qbr015r2cthp&st=hshae4io&dl=0

I am also including a link to my website if you would like to learn more about me or purchase a paper copy off of Amazon:
https://psychologyofthesimple.com/

I wish each of you the best throughout this process and that at the end of it (and this part of it will indeed end), you are able to be more yourself then at any other point in your life.

Hi everyone. I’ve been lurking and reading posts here and this community has already made me feel less alone, so thank you.

I’m 28F and I have a complex fistula that passes through two muscles. I have an appointment Thursday with a colorectal surgeon and I’m expecting him to recommend a seton. The fistula has been growing and is increasingly uncomfortable — I can visibly see swelling now.

A few things I’d love to hear from people who’ve been through it:
• How long after seton placement did you start feeling relief from the pressure and discomfort?
• What is day to day life actually like with a draining seton?
• How did you manage work during treatment?
• For anyone with a complex or high fistula — what did your full treatment path look like, and how long did it take?
• What do you wish you’d known going in?
I’m nervous but trying to stay informed and positive. Any experience or advice welcome.

Is anyone trialling anything new to treat this such as the seton scaffold device, fat injection etc? How’s it going if so?

Hi everyone, I (F28) had surgery for a simple anal fistula in October, and now it’s May. The wound seems mostly healed and my doctor said it looked clean, just slow to heal. I don’t really have pain or infection symptoms anymore, but I still keep checking it because I’m anxious about recurrence.

The fistula was located right on the edge of the anal opening. Now when I look at it, it almost seems like the wound has merged with the anal opening itself, like there’s no “upper edge” separating them anymore and it looks like one larger opening/ditch.

Has anyone experienced something similar after a fistulotomy? Is it possible for the healed area to end up looking anatomically connected to the anus like this, without meaning the fistula is still active?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people whose fistulas were very close to the anal opening.

Hello, I am very sorry for asking allot of questions.

Day 6 post op(left open) and the gauze changes are more painful than they were in the past days.

I do not take strong painkillers that’s one and only tale celecoxib. Is this how it’s supposed to be like? Does it really get bad pain wise instead of gradually improving?

My surgeon did not give me any advice in regards to sitz baths, and also noticed that my wound has some discharge (not green or yellow but it is like oil)

I will be visiting my surgeon in 2 days but yeah, i wanted to check with you guys, because if the pain becomes intolerable I will go to the ER.

P.S. my operation is big and deep. Like a mini golf ball