HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

anal fistula/plug procedure?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic locked
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/20/2007 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
has anyone had this procedure done? oddly enough, i am the one with crohn's but my boyfriend has an anal fistula and is attempting the plug procedure. i heard that the success rate is not all that great but wanted to hear other peoples experiences. like, how was the procedure, did it work for your, what was your recovery time, the extent of pain, etc. it would be nice to know what the poor kid is getting into :/

i really appreciate it!
Posted 9/20/2007 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
*burp* i mean BUMP!
Posted 9/21/2007 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
There are a couple of people on here who have had the plug.....unsuccessful if I remember right. I am pretty sure that the success rate is higher if you don't have crohns.
Posted 9/25/2007 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
I had it done and it was unsuccessful. Once the plug incorporated itself into my body, I got 2 abcesses and a new fistula in another spot. I got another fistula in the same spot where the plug is a year later-to the day. Strange but true!

My surgeon did not think I had CD so he did the surgery agst. the wishes of my gastro who really believed it was crohn's. It is much more successful in patients who do not have CD.

It caused a lot of unecessary problems for me and I was out of work for 4 months due to the 2 abscesses and 2 inch fissure I got as a result of the infection going to a different spot since the original fistula was plugged.

Again , if I did not have CD, it probably would have been successful-that is basically what the surgeon said, also.

Best of luck to your BF!

Posted 9/25/2007 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am having a plug put in in a few weeks and it's not looking very good from what I read. The doctor told me I will probably have to have a few of them put in over time since surgery to fix it is not an option.
Posted 3/13/2008 11:16 PM (GMT 0)

I had the Fistula plug surgery done in Portland, Oregon on 2/21/08, and it was successful.  I am now 3 weeks post oprerative, I feel great however; I am still sore but manageable.  I don't, however, have Chron's Disease so, I think that made my recovery better.  It helps to have an excellent Colon/Rectal Surgeon which, I have and I am extremely lucky.  I have to say the worst part is the prep and after that it is a cake walk.  So, don't fear what other have said and have faith in your doctor, and listen to what all the Post Op instructions are.  If, you follow those you will be just fine.  I was able to work from home for two weeks, and I was able to walk, sit, stand.  I did have a housekeeper for a couple of weeks, and my Husband helped out quite a bit.

Most importantly ask the health care professionals all the questions you can.  They will answer them and put you at ease.


Post Edited (debk) : 3/18/2008 4:56:50 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/17/2008 4:11 PM (GMT 0)

Chas036,

You really need to double check your spelling.

Posted 11/10/2009 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, I havew had the procedure and it failed. Fistulas are evidently nothing to laugh at, and certainly not easily cured. My first surgery was in 2004, and after going back to the drs office several times to be reopened so it could heal, I decided it wasn't worth it. However in 2007the pain was quite bad, so I went to another surgeon. He told me I had two fistulas running side by side and approaching my testicles. He tried the plug on one and regular fistulotomy on the other. The plug fell out and the fistula is still open and bleeding. When my insurance ran out, I could not afford to keep going back just to have him look at my butt and tell me it should heal on its own. Ask for a gaurantee! Ha.
Posted 12/6/2009 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
i just had my fistula plug put it on the 3/12/09 and its only been in for a few days but its really getting painful. unlike some of the others on here i dont have cd so the chances of it working should be quite good but i have noticed a piece of string sticking out of the fistula hole, has any1 else had this problem? if so would you be able to give me some advice please?
Posted 1/7/2010 10:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Wayne25, how did it go with your plug? I have 2 plugs (for 4 days now), where one has a tiny string sticking out - did you find out if it's anything to worry about?
Posted 2/16/2010 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
My fistula plug procedure did not work, I developed infection in 5 days, huge bump on the inside of my rectum, went to ER to have it drained. Gave me strong intravenous antibiotics to clear infection, that caused all good bacteria killed and I got C diff. 10 days in the hospital on Flagil and Vanco – lost 40 lbs. I was diagnosed with UC but now doctors say it may have been Crohs all along …
Posted 2/18/2010 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I had this done over a year and a half ago and it was a success at closing up the fistula. :)
Posted 3/8/2010 12:20 AM (GMT 0)

Hi everyone. I´m new to the site and I´m glad I found a place where I can talk about this without being embarrassed.

I´ve been struggling with a horseshoe-shaped  fistula for 10 years. It has been giving me abscesses and coming back and forth for quite a while and I must confessed I´m really sad and depressed about it.

I´ve been treated by 4 different doctors already - one gave me the fibrin glue repair (which probably worked for a while since I had a 5-year "remission period" but, since 2008, I´ve been having an average of 2 abscesses per year.

Last year I had to change doctors again (mine was on vacation when crisis came up) and the new guy found the fistula route. He put me on a seton drain (I guess that´s the name)and I felt fine for 6 months. Last january he felt I was ready for trying to close again, and I had surgery to put the fistula plug.

My first 5 weeks promised a lot - it didn´t fall, the healing was going according to what was expected, and I was full of hope. And then yesterday I noticed that the region around the plug was kind of swollen. I´m going to see my doctor tomorrow and I´m terrified at the prospective of hearing it didn´t work and I´m sick again.

Has anyone gone through a similar thing? Should I consider this a fail already?

Thanks

Posted 3/26/2010 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi neverending,

I was wondering if your surgery was successful? I had the fistula plug in January and it was the biggest mistake ever. I use to get abscesses a couple times a month so I thought 'ok-surgery will help me get better'-- what I am dealing with now is 10xs worse than prior! Not only have I been in pain for almost three months (still taking pain meds, still draining/bleeding, etc) I have three external bumbs outside wound/anal area that will only go away if I have another painful surgery. The doctors told me I would be back on my feet within two weeks of the surgery-not even close... 3 weeks ago they declared my surgery a failure and said I could try again, but I am terrified. I know what you are going through. I am very sorry! I am heading back to the hospital next week to possibly get a different fistula surgery :(
Posted 7/12/2010 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
debk,  did you have a seton string in before your fistula Plugs and if so how long was the seton in?
Posted 7/12/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)

wayne 25,  I read your story about your fistula plugs did you have the seton first?

Thanks

Posted 12/31/2010 5:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I am a new member. This is my first time on the site and I am very grateful that it exists.

I had an anal fissure about six years ago which was sucessfully treated with a lateral sphincterotomy but soon afterwards developed a fistula. I don't have Chrons disease but this site seems to discuss repair of fistulas.

Have had several attempts to repair fistula and now surgeon seems to think we should give up and just put in a drain plug?

Does anyone have any advice or comments?

I have heard about the surgesis anal fistula plug but on the whole comments seem to be negative... Are there any places that do this procedure in Uk? Anyone had it done here?


Many thanks for reading.
Posted 7/19/2011 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hello fellow fistula sufferers, I am new to this site and have got to say it is nice to hear of other people going through similar dilemas/surgery/pain? Wouldn't it be lovely to wave a magic wand and for all these evil abscesses/fistulas/diseases to disappear and for everyone on here to be able to be pain free.
I had my first peri-anal abscess in 2000 and following 5 drainage operations they finally discovered the fistula, unfortunately they used a cutting seton that worked too quickly and cut straight through my sphincter muscle on the night it was put in?? Hence I now have incontinence problems, guttering, and a deep hole from all the surgery? I did get a break from the abcsesses for a few years and then in 2009 I had another fistula appear. I had it drained and packed and then had a loose seton put in, to which I have to say to me was fine, not much pain after surgery and although it did leak daily it was more of an inconvenience than a pain. However for me to be able to have future corrective surgery and a sacral nerve stimulator I was advised that the loose seton would need to come out and a fistula plug to be inserted. Well what can I say never again, I am 5 days now post op and have been through hell??? The plug is still in but the pain has been unbearable? I have had it checked out and no infection detected so can anyone explain why it is so darn painful?? I thought I was quite a toughie when it comes to pain as I have sailed through most of my operations but this one has really knocked me sideways and can confirm it has had me in tears daily?Please Can anyone else identify with the pain after this operation and to its causes? Many thanks x
Posted 7/27/2011 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
Went through the nightmare of fistulas ops(X3)..I am back with GOOD NEWS.

Don't be down hearted/

Refuse the seton.

I am a guinnea pig for you all(So my professor says!)

Had a PLUG AND FLAP op at the SAME TIME.

Warning..yes,it is agony but it is the only way.

Then I'm afraid you need to be clean on the inside everymorning..do what you must.and I mean spottlessly clean for the day ahead.Without fail.

This folks..is the only way out of this, so just take a deep breath and do it.

Your doc may think you are over the top to ask for both flap and plug at the same time..but I am living proof.

Mine was a very complicated fistula..first idiot Doc said I would need a seton for 3 years!AND a walking stick.

Thank God I found a Doc who thinks outside the box.Good luck everyone....its the only way..but it DOES WORK.Its been 4 years now.xxLove and strength to you all.

✚ New Topic locked