Seton..drainage occurs from seton...and around the incision site..is this normal

Hi, just a quick question as i didn't want to ask the doctor being as its now the weekend...should the seton drain not only from the seton but around the incision site...i thought the tissue was supposed to heal...and the incision is larger than the seton..this is going to heal..will pus then get trapped inside causing an abscess right around the seton...so is the pus supposed to escape and drain around the seton..thnks! :)

yes sitz baths and take the percocet as prescribed..thats pretty much it

Hi Frogeleita,

It all sounds normal to me. I asked those very same questions -- how is this large wound ever going to heal with all that "stuff" down there?!?!? Won't it get infected??? My doctor said the same as yours -- it will heal from the inside out. It will heal up around the seton. I have had three of these and that is exactly what happened. It is just so very disturbing to so see such a large open wound, and think of the stuff down there. But the body deals with stuff down there normally, and it knows how to handle it now. So take comfort in that!

Unforunately, it is going to take time to heal. It took several months for mine to close completely. My doctor said I could be as active as I wanted to be even with an open wound. I also put gauze in the wound. At first the gauze would stick when I went to remove it -- ouch! I found that using the shower sprayer to wet it first made it easier to remove. I definitely recommend you get your apartment people to install your sprayer - or call a plumber. Expensive but well worth it!!! You can really keep it clean with the sprayer, and that gave me peace of mind. I also use soft guaze squares 4x4". Just feels better to me.

My mom also had a great idea to help speed healing (how do mothers know these things??). She said to wet the gauze with saline before putting it in the wound. I bought saline at the pharmacy, and then found out that my doctor could prescribe large size saline for very cheap. Salt keeps the wound more sterile and for some reason it does speed healing. Also, take at least 3-4 sitz baths a day. All of my doctors said there is nothing better than sitting your body in a tub of hot water for at least 10 minutes several times a day. The toilet sitz baths don't work nearly as well. Being in the tub stimulates blood flow in the body which speeds healing. So get a book or magaizine and get in your "healing bath"!

I really do feel for you! You will need a lot of patience to get through this -- and you will get through it!! Now if it starts going in the wrong direction -- hurts alot more, you get a fever -- then call you doc. Otherwise just try to relax and watch a lot of good movies.

I'd be happy to talk off line if you wish. Click on the email icon that is lit up under my name.

Take care!!

I am glad you have a doctor who will take the time to communicate with you! I've also found that surgeons' nurses are very compasionate too and are willing to take time to talk to me and even see me.

Sitz baths are great. They can get old after a while, but keep doing them! I still recommend the shower spray too. I spray after each bowel movement even now.

In the beginning I was really stressed thinking about how to get clean. Like freak out stressed. Its not like you can easily clean the setons. Keeping clean at home was easy once I figured out to get the shower sprayer. But when the wound was almost closed and I needed to go out to the store or work, I still had diahrea from antibiotics. Then I found a small bottle that I can adjust to a strong stream so I can shoot out the stuff (misting does nothing). So I carry a kit with the spray bottle, guaze squares, and alcohol-free flushable wet wipes. Ready for anything! Once I got the kit, my stress level went way down.

You can change your profile by clicking on "Control Panel" at the top left of the page.

Keep on asking questions! There are so many on this forum that have gone through this and they willing to share and listen. It is summer so many are away, but you can always look through old posts.

Take care!

Hi SR5599,

I wish they Fred Myers here in DC! I love 4x4" mirasorb guaze sponges ($5.99 for 50 -- 25 packs with 2 each). So nice and soft.

Hi Bluemom!

It is saline in a bottle. You can get it at most drug stores. If you liek it, ask your doctor to write a prescription so you can get it cheaper. You probably could make it. Try googling "make your own saline solution" It shouldn't take much salt at all.

I used to crouch down in the tub and use the shower sprayer. But my knees started to go. So now I put one foot in the tub and one out of the tub and then sit down on the side. Very easy to spray it all away and easy to get up.

Drainage gives me skin yeast infections. It is diaper rash(!). Your skin begins to break down and it can be amazingly painful (believe me). If you have an infection, topical medicines and cremes won't work. Your doctor needs to prescribe diflucan (or something similar). Then use a creme to protect your skin from wetness and icky stuff. I use Balmex baby creme because it doesn't smell bad, but any creme with zinc oxide will work. Apply liberally, and after each bathroom use. Works great for me. "Baby" yourself!

is it normal to have such a large incision..mine is like 4 or 5 inches.its like the length of the fistula...? how deep is this incision..its making me worried..i am having anxiety problems big time thanks

I found out the hard way (after suffering bad anxiety for too many days) - yes, call your doctor, but speak to their nurse.  The nurses are really great and they will take more time explaining things and offering helpful suggestions.  If they think you need to see the doctor, they'll make you an appointment, but many times they can calm your fears, explain what is normal and what is worrisome, etc.  Because my surgeon wouldn't tell me anything or talk to me, it made me so much more afraid.  Since then I've called her nurse 3 times and she always helped me tremendously.  Good luck, and do call your doctor tomorrow - you'll definitely feel better after getting some of your concerns explained or looked at.

Hi Frogeleita,

I know from personal experience how very very difficult it is to do this alone. This is not something we are prepared for -- how can we know how to handle it?! It does sound like you have a large incision. I had one too. When I saw it the first time I became dizzy and nearly fainted on the bathroom floor. I was in shock. I couldn't believe I could ever manage it. But I learned to do it one hour at a time. Literally I would say to myself "another hour has passed and I made it. I am one hour closer to this being healed and over with". I know it is hard to believe when you are in the blackest part but it will get better. You will get through this and be healthy.

They use a thick black silk thread to tie the seton ends together. The thread follows the seton all the way through. Mine always breaks and comes out -- and it sounds like yours is too. The knot stays tied in the seton so my setons haven't come out. Just the thread. I do think you should call your doctor's nurse tomorrow first thing and ask to get in to see her. I doubt this is an emergency at all, but why not get her to take look? And look everything over too while you are there. I learned I had to be assertive and get in to see them. I learned that they actually don't mind at all and actually assume you will ask to come in if something is wrong. But most of us just sit at home freaking out at the unknown. So please get in to see the nurse or physian's assistant tomorow. I went in once a week for about two months. One time I went in because I developed a red, angry patch near the incision that hurt like it was on fire! Ouuuch!!! I of course assumed I was dying. It turned out to be diapher rash. How was I to know that?!? I don't have children. I felt very foolish, but the nurse assured me it OK and to come in anytime. She was so caring and compasionate.

This is the very roughest part. You are going to get a lot of ugly discharge. Don't let this worry you because the body is just clearing infected stuff and dead tissue. Scary, but all normal. You could take one step forward, two steps back, and then three forward again. This is totally normal. If you get a fever, that is something you want to call you doctor about. But otherwise just keep the nurses number handy. Try to relax and get something to distract your attention. Happy movies and light-hearted comedies are good -- no dramas and definitely no doctor/hospital shows!

Please write as often as you need. We are here for you! Email me if you would like. My address in under my name on the left side of the page (the lit up envelop icon). I am praying for your healing, peace, and comfort!

Thanks you guys..you are the best..i am keeping notes on suggestions made by all of you..lots of good ideas and you help me to calm down..i couldn't get through this..without this support! hugs!
I will call in tomorrow..i am nervous about the doctor cutting anything..its like i don't even want to be touched there at all...but i don't like being poked down there and for some reason its so painful. Either way the doctor said to take prescription strength ibuprofen as well..and that in combination..well i am feeling great.. and i am getting ready to get my "kit ready"...so that way.. i have all the stuff i need to feel better...thanks again!

Hi Frogeleita,

I am so glad you can get the shower sprayer!! Yea!!!!

I am looking at your list of medications (by the way, your signature is very hard to read because of the color. I suggest you make it a darker color). Are you still on flagyl? It is a great antibiotic and often it is exactly what is needed for infections that have rectal/bowel involvement -- but it does a number of on your emotions. It made we wheepy and very emotional and that is not me at all. If you are on flagyl, do not stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to. It is a "big gun" antibiotic for big issues, and you may just have to deal with it because other antibiotics are not as good. It helped me know that it was the drug that was causing hyper-emotionalism. I was willing to suffer through it if it killed the infection!! Please let your nurse know what you are taking. Hang in there!!

Hi, I used to take Flagyl..that was a while ago..i was on it for a few months..and i had horrible diarrhea and bad joint pain ..like as if i was sick or something..so he took me off it..i want to take some new meds..different then what i am taking now..its only Pentasa..and its not doing much for me...in the past i took Imuran for a long time..they told me it would heal my fistula..but it never did..it started getting strange infections like lymph node infections and had a cancer scare..and it made my hair fall out alot...and since it wasn't helping me..it was my decision to stop taking it...I really am eager to try Remicade or Humira..or possibly getting back on Flagyl and giving it a second try...i know that Pentasa and Asacol did work..because the first colonoscopy..showed alot of inflammation in the colon (he couldn't get to the small bowel first time) and then like 3 years later..after being on medicine next colonoscopy showed...inflammation in the illeum and just rectal area..but its been a long time...since i had one..i don't know where i have inflammation now..except rectal area...the nurse called me back..she said it sound like i am having muscle spasms down there..my god they hurt so bad...i tired to put guaze in there..but it puts more pressure..but i can see hemorroids trying to find their way out...and i passed some strange blod clot from that area...she was really nice and i was thankful to talk to her..being that this is new territory..i don't know exactly what is going on with me..she told me this drain will be in maybe 6 weeks until the next stage of surgery...i am going to ask about zanax or something from my primary care doctor...because i tend to get really worked up..and i this forum is really my only real support..thats why when i say thanks to you guys..i really mean it from the bottom of my heart..i dont' know how i could get by without you guys talking to me..i talk to my gramma, and email my brother...and after being estranged from my parents..we are finally emailing and writing letters...i can't wait for my shower thing to be installed...that was such a good idea to get one! Going through this..its making me look at people in a different light..when i see someone walking down the street..i am thinking..you never really know about someones personal struggle or hard life is for them...i hope someday i can feel better enough to go back to school and be a hairdresser...thanks again

aww thanks..your the best..what is this spray called..i have to find it..its like weird spasm pain on one side...because i will buy it tomorrow..thats what i will tell myself road to recovery..somewhere on this path..their has to be "my pot of gold"....(my pot of gold would be no fistula) I would dance for joy to not have a fistula..i am envious of anyone who doesn't have one! I can't wait to shower spray away...relief is coming! hugs to u 2!