Draining seton

So I just got my first fistula procedure during which the surgeon put Ina draining seton. I wanted to share my experience for all those who plan to get it.

Firstly, I was lucky enough to get a choice of the kind of anesthesia. I opted for sedation that basically knocks you out during the procedure. They also pumped me with enough local numbing medication so that I would not feel much pain when I woke up. The surgery too about 30 mins. My surgeon told me he found two fissures in addition to the fistula that were infected which he had to clean up. The fistula tract by itself was high up and surprisingly not straight but he managed to get a seton through.

The recovery from the procedure today was quick and I did not feel a thing due to the pain meds. Once I got home I finally ate my first meal after 24 hours. I was asked to be on a liquid diet for a day. Also am taking fiber and flagyl along with pain meds.

As for the actual wound site- it's currently covered with gauge and I have not had the guts to open it up. I figured I will start with my siltz bath tomorrow am but I am very freaked out- less so about the pain but more so about seeing or feeling the seton there. For now the seton is supposed to stay indefinitely and I cannot imagine living with a thread hanging out of my anus all my life or even long term. But that's a decision I made considering it was the safest option for me until I have a child.

I will post my recovery by the day on this post daily for those who are going through this and need to prepare for getting a seton.

I have a draining seton in a rectovaginal fistula, so it hangs out both the anus and vagina and is tied at the end. I notice it sometimes when the knot gets pushed up into the vagina from sex, but I don't have any pain and it feels so much better than the abscess and infected fistula did. When the anesthesia wore off it hurt so much worse than I expected it to, though, so just be prepared for that!

Day 3- much better today physically if not emotionally. Had some minor pain but was fine over all. Feel more confidence in moving around and did household work and cooking etc. I still have drainage so need to think about when would I be ready to go excercise and move more freely. I think right now im terrified of even attempting a stretch in the area. I did two sitz baths and they do indeed help a lot. Tomorrow we will be going out for a couple of social engagements. I live in New York so I do land up walking around a lot- hopefully I won't be in pain and will be able to manage. Can't wait to get to the point when you supposedly don't feel the seton anymore.

I was in A LOT of pain from my draining seton for about 10 days post-op.  My doc said I could go back to work on Monday (I got it on a Friday) and I was in so much pain!  But after the 10 days the pain pretty much went away.  I am now at the point where I barely notice the seton (I've had this one in since end of July).  Good luck!

I have several setons but they are not thick. they are like thread. I had to get them tightened after a few years so i asked my doc too things. could he give me something a little more flesh colored rather than this bright blue and could he shorten them so they weren't hanging out of me. He looked at me like i was crazy asking for customized setons. but he did his best to accomodate me and i feel much better with these.

I say that to say, maybe this will be an option for you in the near future. it can't hurt to ask right?

Hi all- today is almost 2 weeks since my draining seton was put in and I am not doing very well. Mostly the seton has settled but the area around the fistula opening near the Anya is very flared up. Worst is since last few days I am in terrible pain after a bowel movement. It typically hurts very badly for 3 to 4 hours after each bm and if by chance I went twice one day it is even worse. My drainage has also gone pretty high up to the point that its now constant. I am miserable most if the day. The pain does subside after 3 to 4 hours and I feel normal and sometimes almost forget the seton is there but then again the next day it is the same story.

I want to ask - did you experience this as well? Is there something wrong or does it typically take this long for the seton to settle in. Is it normal to experience more draining as the seton is new? When can I expect to not have pain after BMs? One month? Two? I feel so depressed that I don't feel like leaving home anymore. Any advice will be helpful.

Thanks. Yes I am taking stool softened after every meal and fiber. I assume I will start a strong ScD kind of diet from tomorrow to see if that helps. I somehow think its the seton that is still not adjusted well to my body. I will be having my post op visit this Friday so will ask the dr then.

Hello, I'm new to this thread but it has been useful to read responses. In July 2012 I had a deep ischiorectal abscess for which I had to go to the emergency room to have it cut open leaving a tennis ball size wound. It took the whole of Summer to heal up through packing. Then in October it had virtually healed upto a pin prick sized hole. Once it did heal it burst open again three times with pus. They had signed me off from the consultant so I had to get back on the waiting list and I had an EUA in February this year. They found a fistula and cut half of it out and put a seton drain in from my back passage to the seton hole. It is healing well but I was told not to pack it. The seton is draining less but when I had my monthly cycle the seton hole bled quite a bit too. I am waiting for my next appointment which should be within two weeks. I am on light duties at work because of pain and exhaustion, my operations have been going on for a while. Don't know if i have chrons or not, thought they were testing for this in my EUA. Also one of the people that saw me after said I had a cutting seton but i thought that would be looked at every two weeks. I feel in the dark about what is happening next so have a lot of questions when i finally get my appointment. Also in severe pain when sitting and really bad lower back pain. I don 't feel like they are looking at what caused the abscess in the first place as my whole left bottom cheek is in pain every day and it doesnt seem like they have got all the infection.

Slubin, please create a new thread with your specific question - it will be seen by more people.

I to have a fistula for no related disease, I am currently on my 4 seton, I used a small pad and a nappy rash cream to help, "Zinc and castor oil" or "metanium" doing this help me no end to keep area dry