4th surgery for Anal fistula, may need 5th. help

[Giblett]

I am so over these surgeries.  I just had my 4th surgery for a fistula and this one did not work. The Dr. did an extensive flap repair and stiched the flap over the tract. Went yesterday for follow up.  Infection settled in the flap area and he is talking about a seton placement. This surgery was one week ago. I am getting very depressed as he said the tract is way up in the rectum.  I have had the 4 surgeries in 4 months.  Can ANYONE help me with this or direct me to a web site for me to look at.
I don't want to spend the rest of my life dealing with this. Thank you

[Giblett1]

Hi Everyone
This is giblett, now giblett1.
Just wanted to give you an up date since I posted a while back. I have had a total of 9 surgeries since this all started. I have has this problem with a fistula since last august.  My last surgery, the doctor wanted to do an reversible illiostomy. I refused. So, he put in another seton made of Silk and it has been in since June. So far, I am back to square 1. But, hopefully this will take care of it.
I am like you all, so tired of having this problem. I am in good health otherwise. I feel for all of you and am at my wits ends to the cure for this thing. Has anyone had any results since I posted last. Would love to hear from you.

[therin]

I have had an operation on (my first) complex fistula, which was rather large.  The surgeon placed a seton and said not to pull on it at first, and after about 8 weeks then I was to pull until it came out.  The seton didn't hurt, but I had persistent drainage wtih it.  He stated that some fistulas required more that one operation.  I asked him about getting antibiotics, because I noticed there was still infection, but he didn't offer any unless I asked for them.  Also, he didn't prescribe them for more than about 7-10 days. I mashed on the infected area to keep the skin from trapping the infection, but I don't know if this will keep me from having another operation.  I was tired of the drainage and the soreness from pulling on the string(seton).  Then I began to pull from the back instead of the front, and halleluah! the seton came out. I still have a little soreness, but am going to see a gastroenterologist to be sure that this was/is just a normal infection.  What I am curious about is that a book(rather old)that I was reading stated that the packing  gauze should be replaced daily to ensure that the wound healed from the inside out.  My surgeon never mentioned packing more gauze.
Also, I wondered if anyone experienced terrible fatigue and brain fog with this condition.

[nalwuj]

Hi.  I feel sorry for you all.  I am undergoing my 4th surgery in 10 months this monday and am getting frustrated.  I am in my 20's and am embarrased to tell my friends what the real issue is I am having.  I thought my first 2 doctors were in the wrong by not being able to fix my problem.  At first, they just drained an absess and now I have gone to a colon/rectal specialist who has done a colonoscopy last Friday.  He took 3 biopsies and should have the results before my surgery on Monday.  He thinks I may have an infection in the colon causing these infections.  I am a full time student with a job, a husband, and a new house.  I am tired of feeling run down all the time.  I was a very active person before this happened and now it takes all of my energy just to get through the day.  Although I feel for you all, I am happy to know there are others out there who have had the same reoccuring problems as I do.

[bliss32]

Hello everyone!

I have read all of your postings and I feel your pain!!!  I was diagnosed with an anal fistula last year.  I have no history of Crohn's or anything.  Anyway, I had an Ultrasound, MRI and I was told I need to have surgery.  The surgeon told me that he would go in and if he discovered that he had to cut too much muscle, he would have to put a "string" in there.  That was the terminology he used and that I would have to live like that indefinitely with a string hanging out.  I told him I would get back to him.  Now, I can't stand the draining and the itching anymore.  I need to do something.  My problem is that I am a 33 year old  female and I have a little bit of pride left and I am not feeling too excited about  the string or I am assuming this is what is called a seton.  What I am wondering is if anyone has had the seton and what it is like?  Is it very noticeable?  Will it be in there for the rest of your life or how does it work?  My surgeon never even mention the fibrin glue that I have been reading about.  Then again, I might be worrying all for naught, the fistula could be taken care of with the fistulectomy.  I am thinking about going to my doctor and asking her to refer me to another surgeon to get a second opinion.  Any of your comments would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much and my best wishes go to all of you who are experiencing the same, if not worse!

Cheers!

[iJo]

Hi there, I'm new and after reading everyones story I'd like to add my own.At 35 I developed my 1st abcess. Went in for an emergency drain.It redeveloped after bad aftercare and a fistula developed along with a sencond one. Went for more surgery to lay the two fistulas open.All of this has been going on for a year.I missed 4 months of work and stayed trapped in the house most of the time.The daily visits from the nurse to re-pack the very slow healing wound became part of my daily torture routine.Six moths ago the doctor diagnosed Crohns disease.It felt as if my world ended-but ofcourse it does not and we have to carry on.After my last operation another fistula developed.I have been on antibiotics like forever.My surgeon suggested a seton placement today.I told him that I would think about it.I am already not as airtight as I used to be and I do not want to have any unecessary surgery if I can get away with a seton.My question is - what doe it feel like? Are you constantly aware of it? Can you feel it when you sit? O boy! All my empathy to everyone in the same boat.It takes time to recover but I felt much better when I started resuming a semi-normal routine.If you can walk and talk then get out there and do stuff.It beats sitting at home watching day-time tv :)Best wishes iJo.

[Cheryl74]

Well, I wrote in a few weeks after I had surgery for an anal fistulectomy.

I wrote that back in April and I just went in last week for my second anal fistulectomy surgery. The track was further up this time.

Needless to say, I have been really depressed. I have problems with diarrhea and constipation and I know that has not helped my fistula either. I hope this surgery works but I am so scared this wont work either, but I am trying to think positive. I read so many things and god I hope this time I heal.