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Fistula seton string

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/12/2010 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone ever had a seton taken out and completely healed?
Posted 7/12/2010 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
I had my seton removed yesterday :-). Can't speak for healing yet, but after all these years it does feel different to have the seton out.

What medications are you on, fedup? I believe you'll have a greater chance of healing if you are well-established (and responding well to) one of the anti-TNF medications like Infliximab (Remicade) or Adalimumab (Humira).

Ivy.

ps. Have you seen the "fistulae" link in my signature? If not, you might find some good information there.
Posted 7/12/2010 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Ivy6 I hope things go well for you.  How long did you have your seton in place?
Posted 7/12/2010 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Three + years. They kept watching and waiting and doing regular internal examinations until they were sure I was healing internally, and it was only when they were really sure that I was stable that they risked removing the seton.

Even now, there's a risk it will abscess again - we just have to wait and see. I'm not too bothered either way - I know I can live with a seton now, though obviously I'd prefer not to have to :-).

I hope you can get yours out soon.
Posted 7/13/2010 2:18 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Ivy6,  They do not have me on any meds at this time but I go back to the dr thur for a checkup I may ask him about humira or Remicade are these meds only for Crohn's patients?

I haven't had a chance to check out some of your links but i definitely will Thanks so much for sharing.

Did you ever feel like you were going to go crazy if you didn't heal and quit draining?  I feel like I should have invested in Kotex! yeah

Posted 7/13/2010 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
Aah. So you don't have Crohn's?

Perhaps you might like to ask your doctor about antibiotic therapy, then. A combination of Cipro (abbreviation for a longer name that I can't spell!) and Flagyl is meant to have good results with healing fistulae.

I was lucky in that mine didn't drain too much after the first year or so. I always needed to wear a pad and have something covering the fistula itself, but a pad would last me all day. It does annoy me in summer, though. All that extra protection is really uncomfortable in a heat wave.

Ivy.
Posted 7/14/2010 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I hope people keep posting on this thread... I've sent it to a friend with a stenton and will look at the abscess fistula thread.

As bad as wearing pad is in the summer, I gotta say I've got some perspective on that; I have a massive abdominal hernia (surgery gone wrong thanks to abdominal mesh) and I have to wear a 9 inch wide binder that is half rubber. I have no AC and cannot leave it off for more than a shower.. so hooot and swea-ty! Must say it keeps me warm in winter though. :)
Posted 8/21/2010 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
I've had a draining seton in for a year and a half, and it's been awful... I don't understand how you guys seem so okay about it. Whenever I do any exercise or walk more than an hour, it rubs on the inside and hurts terribly for at least a week afterwards. I used to be quite sporty, but I've had to give it all up...

Right now I think I have an abscess, it hurts to even turn over in bed and I keep waking from the pain.

Scheduled for surgery in three months' time...
Posted 8/21/2010 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hope, that doesn't sound right to me.

The theory is that they're supposed to be fairly comfortable, so my feeling is that if it's causing you that much strife, the seton may not be sitting properly. Is there someone you can talk to now? It'd be miserable for you if you had to wait another three months :-(.

I'm sorry you've had such a painful experience.

Welcome!

Ivy.
Posted 8/22/2010 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
I recurring fistulas for 4 years. First access burst before surgery when I eventually went on for emergency treatment. I've had setons put in three times. It was taken of first time after two weeks a.d fistula reformed. Second it fell out after a few weeks and fistula returned. The last time I had it for a year. It has now been removed. No plug, I had seton check up, tightening and cutting of the excess every two weeks with the surgeon. So far 3 months without a seton and no problem.

Good luck ivy6 and make sure the docs see you regularly.
Posted 8/22/2010 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I think everyone on here had a pain in there ass at some point,,I 2 had started with an abscess and behind it was a fistula they r very painful I was on antibiotics 4 almost 2 years than finally they put in the Seton it drove me insane cause my rectum went into spasms steady pulling the Seton in and out,,I feel 4 all u guys going through this now.....I had my Seton in place for 2 and a half years and I started Remicade and with in 3 straight they were able 2 remove out it didn't hurt coming out I was so glad 4 it 2 b gone the drainage stopped after about one more month on remicade...BEST OF LUCK 2 YA... cry cry cry
Posted 8/23/2010 1:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Fedup,

I understand your feelings.  I had a seton in place for two years I believe.  Then had the plug installed.  To anwser your question on drainage, no the drainage does not have to end to recieve the plug.  What was explained to me is that your crohn's needs to be under control and no swelling in the area where the plug is going to be stitched in. If there is any swelling then the out come will be 100 percent failure because the stitch will not hold the plug in place.  But the fact of having crohn's disease lowers the chance of success with the plug.  Mine was declared a failure after 90 days.  The only thing that healed my fistulae was Remicade which I had to come off of due to a reaction.  Then the fistulae returned. Good luck you and us all !

Steve

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