Peri-rectal abscess healing concern

Hello all, I'm new here and looking desperately for information on long-term healing issues. A little background:
May 2014 I had emergency surgery for what was found to be a very deep and extremely painful perirectal abscess. I had been in a lot of pain for a week and a half, using only OTC painkillers and not getting much sleep. My general dr. didn't know it was an abscess bc it was so deep and never came to a head. They had done blood work though, and I guess my white count freaked her out, bc she called me at 8am the next day and said, "I've already checked you in, you need to go to the hospital NOW!" Um OK! The surgeon ended up removing 120 CCs of ick. I had packing for a couple weeks after and had regular checkups with the surgeon. He did a fistula check in October 2014 and thankfully found nothing.

Now, up until around 2 weeks ago (so over a year later!) the wound site still required bandages and would drain a little on and off, and be a bit irritated. It seemed like the wound FINALLY healed completely, closed up, not sore; I was finally free!

But within these 2 weeks I've noticed a bit of soreness around the area, and it's very hard when pressed. The soreness is on and off, and really hasn't prevented me from doing anything, but I'm all paranoid. I don't know if this is a result of scar tissue or what but now I'm terrified the abscess has returned. Has any one else experienced this or know what's going on?! Many thanks in advance.

I am so sorry you are going through all this. I know first hand how difficult it is to have severe rectal pain. I am going through a really bad rectal flare right now :( Do you have a Crohns diagnosis? Do you have a colorectal surgeon? 10 years ago before I was dx, I had the same thing a really large deep abscess. I also had a fistula. Well they drained it and the pain was still there for a LONG time. In fact it seemed worse than before the surgery. I had many EUAs and they couldn't figure out why I was in so much pain. Finally they did a colonoscopy and confirmed Crohns. They put me on 100mg IV prednisone in the hospital and within hours that severe pain I had all that time subsided! They told me it was the fact that my Crohns prevented the abscess cavity from healing up so even though there wasn't pus, it was still an open cavity. You'd think they would've seen that in all the surgeries and scans, but they didn't. Anyway, my story sounds a little different than yours, but if it is Crohns related, then you need to get treatment for the Crohns and it will hopefully help your problem. Also hopefully not,, but a fistula might have developed which can create another abscess. I hope you get some answers and relief soon!

Did the Dr check for Crohns via Colonoscopy?

Yes, you definitely need a colonoscopy. This will help determine if Crohns is involved. You would know if you had one. You have to do a bowel prep the day before. You can also get an MRI and that can see if a fistula has developed.
Also, in the meantime, do sitz baths and use a heating pad to soothe the pain. I like the microwaveable one from Earth Therepudics. But, if you are still having pain, you need to be seen again. Make sure you go to a GI and Colorectal surgeon.

No problem, keep us updated :)