Hello,
I'm 24F and am almost 2 weeks post op from a fistulotomy, and I'm about to get my period. I was wondering if any of you females have advice on how to keep clean down there...
Hi all anyone with a similar experience can help? I am getting treatment by dr ashwin porwal at healing hands clinic in india. I had a transphincteric fistula w 1 o clock opening. Internal opening has healed and 3/4 external wounds healed perfectly. The last external wound is not healing for 6 months. I just underwent another debridement 1 month ago where he cored it out to restart the healing but it’s starting to plateau again. I dont know why this is happening other than that the wound is close to the intersection of my vagina and rectum tho there is no connection.
I have no crohns and am otherwise young and healthy. Can someone shed light? He says he doesnt see anything unhealthy or any pathology as to why its not healing. Does it just take more time?
I'm sure this varies person by person, but I'm curious what your post-op restrictions were. Please tell me what type of procedure you had and what your restrictions were. I'm just trying to get any kind of baseline since I have no idea what to expect!
I'm a single mom & live alone in a 3rd story condo (no elevator). I'm FINALLY going to get checked out later today, but I'm extremely anxious about what recovery will look like & would like to have an idea of how much help I'll need. I'm especially curious about stairs, driving, and basic tasks like laundry & cooking. I have a strong feeling that my case is fairly complex (multiple tracts & abscesses, possible "horseshoe" presentation, fistula likely). Any info is very appreciated to help my "planner" brain!!
It began as a subtle, annoying discomfort—a strange, lumpy sensation whenever I sat down. As a 40-year-old male living in India, with a normal BMI and no underlying medical conditions or comorbidities, I was used to being healthy. At first, I brushed it off, hoping it would simply fade. But as the weeks bled into a month, the discomfort evolved. A small, external opening formed near my anus, and it began to drain.
Realizing this wasn’t going away on its own, I booked an appointment with a general physician. After listening to my symptoms, he suspected a simple local infection, perhaps caused by an ingrown or trapped hair. He prescribed a one-week course of antibiotics, and I left the clinic feeling hopeful. But the hope was short-lived. Two weeks passed, the medication was long gone, and the persistent discharge remained.
That was when I decided to see a specialist—a colorectal surgeon. One look at the site, combined with my timeline of symptoms, and he gave me a reality check. It wasn't just a simple infection. I was dealing with an anal fistula, accompanied by a minor fissure and hemorrhoids (piles). To map out the enemy and understand the exact size and path of the fistula track, the surgeon ordered an MRI.
The scan the following day revealed the true scale of the problem. The report read like a complex architectural blueprint: a 62 mm high trans-sphincteric fistula with an internal opening at the 12 o’clock position. It had one open track stretching 63 mm long, and a second, blind track measuring 24 mm. No active abscess and max thickness of track was 6 mm.
Armed with the data, I met with the surgeon the next day. The verdict was clear: surgery was the only definitive way to clear out the fistula, piles, and fissure all at once.
Within days, I found myself prepped for an operating room. The surgeon opted for a modern approach, utilizing a laser-based procedure known as FiLaC (Fistula-tract Laser Closure) for the fistula, alongside laser treatment for the piles and fissure. The "triple surgery" was an intense but efficient process, taking between 45 minutes to an hour. My post-op journey began with a one-night stay in the hospital for monitoring, and I was discharged the following day.
The immediate aftermath required a heavy medical toolkit. I was put on a one-week course of antibiotics and regular painkillers. Once that first week passed, the heavy painkillers were scaled back to an "as-needed" (SOS) basis, but my daily routine still revolved around medication. I had to apply Anometrogyl cream diligently for over a month to aid the healing process.
Recovery became a test of patience and strict discipline, dictated by a rigid set of rules:
The Sitting Lockdown: For the first two to three weeks, sitting was strictly restricted. I only sat down briefly to eat my meals; other than that, sitting was entirely off-limits. I also completely avoided driving for the first month to protect the surgical site.
Hygiene and Comfort: Sitz baths were mandatory two to three times a day, and absolutely compulsory after every single bowel movement.
Dietary Overhaul: I committed to a strict regimen of non-spicy, home-cooked food for a month. I packed my diet with plenty of fiber and focused on high-quality, clean proteins like chicken, fish, eggs, and lentils to help my body rebuild.
Activity & Intimacy: While I made sure to walk daily to keep my circulation going, intimacy was completely off the table for the first month, and remained highly limited in frequency for the next two months.
The physical healing process was a slow, sometimes unnerving journey. For the first month post-surgery, the area drained consistently. It was a stressful symptom to manage, but gradually, the draining subsided. By the time I crossed the two-month mark, it had almost entirely stopped.
The weeks of diligence, warm baths, and careful lifestyle choices paid off. Today marked a major milestone. Today post 3 months of surgery, I walked into the surgeon's office for my check-up, and after a careful examination, he gave me the words that I don’t have any signs of recurrence and can be called as fully healed! I hope it doesn’t recur in future and I don’t have to face it anytime in future.
I was silently reading posts and messages of fellow fistula warriors during my battle so I thought that I would also share my journey so that it would give hope to other brave warriors.
Thank you!
Been fighting these dang things for two years now. 6 surgeries and failed flap, etc. Lots of complications. Anyway. The only two things I have now are a rectal seton, and one open draining tract.
I'm on vacation with my family and of course I feel like I'm missing out because I can't bring myself to get in the water. I drove 10 hours to vacay yesterday, and the drainage from the upper hole was a dark discharge, sensing infection from prior history.
I scrubbed everything this morning during my shower and so far things feel okay, but I'm scared to get in the water... And my body is of the water here. I wanna get in and wade and enjoy the vacation. Ocean water, pool water, both?
Advice highly sought! Ty 💜
Hi, so i have constant fecal body odor since i remember, other people smell it too, i asked and i have reactions.
Today i found out about Anal Fistula.
I've been using Pepto Bismol to try and combat the smell but it didint really work like i wanted to, but, it does change poop to black, and its a normal thing.
Now, i checked and the skin around my anus is black, like, under the skin, not the skin itself.
Could it be anal fistula? Something leaking under skin? Could it be that this is the smell that im struggling with?
Is it normal for the seton to fall????!!! Its been 12 days since the surgery , 6 o'clock fistula horseshoe
Who here is working battling these issues with fistulas? It’s so hard :( and I have bills is there someone out there with me?
I’m already on antibiotics and I’m planning on seeing a doctor again soon. I was told it would naturally go away with antibiotics and if not it would get drained. I’m just curious would they just clean it and cover it then send me on my way? Or something else? The pain is already mostly gone
I had a fistulotomy 2 months ago, i still have a small greenish thick discharge. What i noticed today is 2 new dots (drainage spots) on the gauze. Is this concerning?
I first noticed pain in my rectal area in late April. No visible lump but I felt somewhat of a knot beneath the skin.
A few weeks later it had become painless and looked like a pea-sized pimple that had broken the skin. Within a few more weeks, it started to drain pus. It has stayed in this state for about a month: painless, resembling a whitehead pimple, not growing or shrinking, and occasionally draining pus.
Had it checked at urgent care and it was diagnosed as a rectal cyst. I was prescribed antibiotic pills and an antibiotic ointment, but I'm finishing the course now and still nothing has changed.
Does this sound consistent with any of your experiences? Does it sound likely to be an abscess, one that could develop into a fistula? Or something else?
Hey guys, I'm having my second fistulotomy, it's been 23 days since the procedure. Is this light greenish discharge normal? (photo in the comments). I also had this discharge after my first fistulotomy, and it never stopped... Has anyone else experienced this discharge, this color? It doesn't have any odor...
Hi, it’s very specific but I can’t find an answer about this. I used to get Brazilian waxes before the whole fistula journey started. I have had my seton for over 2 months now and I haven’t shaved or waxed at all because I was too worried to mess up with the healing. But is anyone waxing that area (butt and bikini)? Any experiences? I really want to get rid of the hair 😅
3+ years ago I had a personal abscess that turned into a fistula. Successfully treated after ED visit with seton and then fistulotomy. Last few days I’m having a recurrence of the abscess in same area. Went to ED this morning and was told it’s not an abscess because it only showed as “subcutaneous edema” on the CT. They did not do I&D and sent me home with antibiotics, despite my history and knowledge of my body. I’m frustrated because I know this is just going to keep getting worse. I am on Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid) and getting into a specialist/CRS anytime soon will be next to impossible. I’m wondering if I just wait a day and go to a different ED? Feeling hopeless as I know at the bare minimum this needs to be cut open and drained….
Just need a place to rant for sec - it’s been one whole year since I first noticed the abscess that turned into a raging fistula that branched off into 2 seton tracts. I’ve been to the OR 3 times and have had 3 in office procedures including 2 seton placements and an I&D all without sedation since it was emergent. I’m currently in a flare up and sitting/walking/any pressure on my bum is incredibly uncomfortable. My surgeon isn’t sure if my fistula is operable since it’s constantly flaring up. He’s suggested long term antibiotics but they really mess with my stomach and create more different problems. I’m at such a loss. I’ve been able to stay pretty positive but the last 3 months have just broken my spirit. It truly feels never ending. I can’t relate to my best friend anymore since she’s off partying and meeting new people and I’m finding it really hard to socialize since I’m constantly in pain/worried I drained through my bottoms even though I wear gauze/period panties everyday.
I know everyone here is suffering so just needed a space to openly say fuck fistulas
Hello,
since we don't generally hear too much about successful procedures (i assume mostly because people don't report it or seek advice anymore) i wanted to make a short post about my experiences. Not to take something away from people with difficulties, but to help some folks to be less anxious about an upcoming procedure. Everybody is build differently, every story is different.
M38, Germany, generally healthy, normal weight and somewhat good shape physically. Intersphincteric fistula, non-complex. Proctologist described it as "textbook". All specialist appointments and the surgery was performed at a large hospital.
Besides placing the seton, surgeons also removed all abscess, the fistula canal outside of the sphincter area as well as any affected external tissue around the area. The wound measured around 3cm by 3cm with a dept of 0.5cm after surgery. The only thing left of the original fistula is a short canal, around 0.5cm through the spincter-region. I did not expect this approach, but most of the affected tissue is now gone and started healing. Only the short section needs to be rectified in a future procedure.
Not going to much into detail leading up to this so far, just my experiences, starting with the important parts:
I don't feel the seton. I know it's there, i can touch it with my hands while cleaning, but i don't feel it. It does not rub against any skin or irritates in any other way. The gauze i use to keep the wound open and dry is way more noticeable, but it isn't really bad at all.
BM were a non-issue from the start. It feels different, but not painful at all. I never had much issues with BM or hard stool before, nevertheless i took stool softeners for a couple days, but there were not needed at all. Did not have to change my diet at all. I have not experienced any leakage so far.
Pain was mostly minimal, with one exception due to a minor complication. I was on painkillers for 5 days, and been without since. Cleaning sometimes stings a bit, but this subsides rather quickly. During days 3 to 5 it felt like to wound was "glued together" causing some minor pain during quick movements. This went away after day 5. Sometimes i feel some miner stinging during cleaning, but this fades away rather quickly. Days 3 to 5 were to worst for pain.
Minor complication: Stayed at the hospital overnight, got released in the morning. Around noon i changed dressing and noticed a new bleeding from the wound, blood was dripping down from the area. Gauze could not contain it, so i went back to the hospital. During the surgery they cut through a small artery which held initially, but opened later. A couple minutes and stitches later and the issue was resolved. No active bleeding anymore. The stitched area however is highly susceptible to pressure and will cause stronger pain when something (like gauze) presses against it. This started on day 5, i figured out the issue after half a day with moderate pain.I rearranged the way i dressed the wound and the pain stopped almost immediately. I have to be careful with dressing, or the pain will be back, but this is manageable.
Drainage seemed a lot initially, but sharply dropped of around day 6. It's mostly minimal now. I use a small sheet of normal non-woven gauze between the butt cheeks to keep the sides of the wound to contact each other and another bit of gauze on top to soak up all the excess drainage. This will generally last through half of the day without staining underwear. It is comparable to the amount i had before surgery.
Laying and sleeping on my side is easily possible.
Cleaning: The most annoying part. I clean the wound 3 to 5 times a day, depending on BM. (morning, midday, evening and additionally after BM). I was told not to use a sitz-bath but a movable shower head or bidet instead to shortly rinse the wound an clean up. (Was told the point is not to get everything perfectly clean and free of bacteria, which is impossible anyway, but just to regularly remove most of it.) I should avoid to soak the wound with water, just to clean and dry up afterward.
I completely avoided sitting for the first week. Started recently with shorter periods of sitting down (eating, short drives for groceries). No problems or pain with it. I just use soft pillow to distribute my weight a bit better. After around 30 minutes of sitting i feel a bit itchy, i take this as my signal to get up now.
Day 7 was the turning-point, everything sharply improved each day thereafter. Everything feels fine now, only the need to regularly clean the wound impedes my overall daily life. I still limit myself to no heavy physical work and only short periods of sitting. Other than this, it is mostly back to business as usual. My work is partly office and partly on-site. I was off-work for the first week, slowly eased into remote working after day 7 and will start with the on-site work sometime next week.
A friend of mine is a general practitioner and offered to take a look at the wound today. She said it seems to be healing quite good, no problems so far. My checkup with the proctologist is due in 2 weeks, the decision when and how to proceed will be made at this appointment.
At this point it does not really seem to matter much if the seton will be removed in 6 weeks, 12 weeks or even 6 months from now on. It has only been 11 days, but I'm already feeling better then i had before the surgery.
I hope this helps to calm down some of you. I'm in a much better mental state now, and things would have been a lot easier if i didn't stress out too much before the surgery. Feel free to reach out for questions.
Have had a seton in since January. Truly feels like this is never going to end. But that’s not really the point of this. I’m going on a roadtrip tomorrow. Long journey, and it’s with family to make it even worse. Not one I wanted to go on but some of you propably know how it is. My big concern is, a road trip already fucks up your ass and makes it sore from all the sitting. Now imagine that with a seton wound that evidently isn’t improving. This shitty weather isn’t really making it any better. Any tips to minimize the side effects?
I am 10 weeks post OP for anal fistula. The wounds and canal are not completely healed.
I still get some fluid and sometimes blood from the wound and anal region.
At the start of June my proctologist told me that recovery looks good and canal should be healed by end of June. In the end of June appointment we he inserted some tool to check how much has the canal healed and said the deeper parts are not healed fully. He looked bit worried but told me not to take too much stress and wait. It might be healed with time. From the inside of anal region it is still closed and flap is intact.
Mine was complex fistula. Operated 4 times.
First time for abscess
Seconded time to remove fistula track, it failed
Third time to put on thread/saton
And now forth one to remove saton and track.
I am looking for some hope and similar experiences. Should I be worried or clam down and wait.
I am really tired with all these operations and uneasiness. Things don’t get better when you have a baby at home.
Hello! I’m a 26 year old female whose been dealing with this issue for over a year now. I had a seton finally placed a couple months ago.
It’s been somewhat ok physically, not a lot of pain. The biggest issue I have with it is how much it’s effecting my sex life.
I am a single women that is trying to date casually, and I just cannot avoid sex anymore. Women who have been or are in a similar position, I would very much appreciate some advice on how you’ve approached this.
Did you let your partner know before hand? Or not tell them and just hope they don’t notice? I’m just so unsure how to navigate it.
As the title says, what's the best way to sit? Some say Donut Pillows are ok while others say it isnt.
Others say regular pillows are ok too.
Need assistance & the best option.
Thanks.