multiple setons?

Hello Ivy6,

I have two setons. Just got my second one the end of January. I hope I am not starting a collection! I know others on this Forum have more than I. Maybe they will chime in.

When I got the abcess, I too thought it would end up being another fistula with another seton. I had similar apprehension! But I have been pleasantly surprised -- as much as one can be under the circumstances! -- that they aren't more trouble. I think it depends on how close the setons are to each other. Mine are very close. So cleaning two really isn't much more trouble than cleaning one. The same goes for wrapping gauze -- it goes in the same place but it just covers two. So please don't fret too much! You actually don't yet know that you will have another seton, so I suggest you put it out of your mind until you wake up from the procedure.

As to cleaning, if I am home, I jump in the shower and use the hand-held sprayer to blast the area clean. I find I have to do it again about 30 minutes after a BM because icky stuff drains out of the fistula. I apply Balmex to the area and then fold guaze around the setons so that their sharp ends don't dig into me. The Balmex keeps my skin protected from the rough guaze and the stuff (in my case, two setons does mean more stuff). At work, I keep a squirt bottle handy that I can use to blast out nasty stuff if I have a BM during the day.

I hope this helps. I purposely have adopted the attitude that my setons are my friends. Without them I would be in dire trouble. As long as they keep draining (versus clogging and abcessing), I am happy. Strange, but it helps me keep a positive attitute towards my seton friends.

One last point. Cleaning out the abcess (actually 2) left me with an open wound. I was using regular water to moisten the guage so it wouldn't stick to the wound. But I got an infection. My Mom suggested using saline because the salt will sterilze and help promote healing. It really worked! But I had to get the Dr to write a script so I could get saline cheap and in large quantities from the pharmacy.

Take care and please let me know how it goes!!

patientspiders said:

"You'll get into a groove - it won't be fun - but it's so worth it when you get those stupid things healed up!"

:-O You mean they get better with time? I've had one for a year now, and it can still be quite painful at times.

Thanks for your advice. And fallcolours, you're perfectly right. I should stop worrying, shouldn't I? I wouldn't be so anxious if this were being done at home, but I have to go to a different city to have it done, and I'm worried about all the jiggling getting home again, not to mention staying clean.

There are times when I wish for a different, less icky disease!!!

I.

What's balmex, Fallcolours?

So when do you take out these setons? I have had mine for about 6 years.

Vid53

Chroniemomx2 -- That's funny! Was he trying to be funny?! My surgeon has a great sense of "potty" humor too. It must go with the territory.

You can keep setons forever, from what I have been told. I haven't heard they need to be replaced every year. Maybe that is to make sure they stay strong?? My Dr. did say they can break.

My setons aren't coming out without surgery. They are too high in the rectum for a fistulectomy (sp?) -- where they cut open the fistula and let it heal. I have too much sphincter muscle below the fistula and would be immediately incontinent. I have to wait for the disease to stop being so active before I can even consider the advancement flap surgery (which only has a 70-80% success rate in CD). :-( For me, keeping the seton or having the surgery will be a life-style choice.

Hey Ivy6,

Mine is a 12 ounce spray bottle. The whole thing is 9 inches long. The bottle itself is 2 1/4 inches wide. The important part is that it has to have multiple spray settings/options -- for me it can't just mist, it has to spray in a single stream so I can blast the stuff out. The other tip is to fill it up to the rim so it will squirt when you hold it sideways or upsidedown.

I got mine at my local Rite Aid pharmacy store for a couple of dollars. It was in the beauty/hair isle. I just saw several when I went on Amazon and searched for "spray bottle".

My supply carrying bag is a black tote with a zipper on top. Like a professional work tote. Very stylish. I bought it at the Thrift Store.

Your procedure is next week?? I hope you have a great weekend!

Yes, just a regular squirt bottle.

Sorry to hear about the pus, but it sounds like it is draining. Which, of course, as we know all too well, is far better than abscessing!!

Get yourself a fashionable tote and no one will suspect the strangle supplies you have inside!

Ivy-maybe it will give you some hope to hear this....

I have 2 fistulas and my surgeon was able to put 1 seton through both so I don't have a bunch of rubberbands hanging around down there......It's really close to my skin too so it's not actually "hanging" like some of the other setons I've had. Maybe you can ask your surgeon about this. (Unless the fistulas are on opposite cheeks,then it might not work so well )

Wishing you the best with your surgery. You'll be in my thoughts....

 

Cool!  Sounds like you have a good Doc!  Mine said the exact same thing!

I myself was thinking that if I stayed on Remi or Humira for several years AND my Dr said my rectum looked good (what a concept!), I would take out the seton and pray.  Although my Dr said these peri-rectal fistulas never really totally heal without surgery.  But it is all for not because I've had 2 allergic reactions to Remi and one to Humira.  I am in the 1% who are allergic to Humira. 

I have 3 fistulas and 2 setons. I got my first fistula 5 1/2 years ago and they've just escalated since then. Do you guys still get much pain with your setons in? My doctor seemed confused when I said I still have pain in my most recent fistula after having a seton placed in it last year. I only ever go a few days at a time without pain.

cosmicsnail said...
I have 3 fistulas and 2 setons. I got my first fistula 5 1/2 years ago and they've just escalated since then. Do you guys still get much pain with your setons in? My doctor seemed confused when I said I still have pain in my most recent fistula after having a seton placed in it last year. I only ever go a few days at a time without pain.

i still get pain! in my opinion, don't try to guess if your doctor's "seems weird" in reaction to something you say or ask. Tell him it is the reality, and you need pain meds to deal with the fistulas. I did and I would be in hell without the vicodin.....and now, I even asked my primary for some Ativan, since I am tired of getting so upset about discomfort and inconvenience, caused by those ever persistent fistulas!

Add me to the list with sore setons. They stopped hurting for a while and it seems like when they are "filling up" they actually hurt more.