Seton Panic!

I had a Seton for about 3 months for a rectal fistula. It was a very thin rubber band that did loop around via my outside opening to my anal opening. That is what my doc uses, not strings. First few weeks were pretty hard as I was healing from infected abscess post failed fistula plug. Lots of sits baths per day helped. Once the healing started to progress Seton started to bother me less and less. I also would wash after every BM and put on protective cream - Calmoseptine and wear folded gauze between my cheeks. My biggest problem was the pain once that was better with healing I was feeling a lot better. I took Vicodin as needed. After a while I hardly noticed Seton was there. I did stay home for a month on short term disability as I also had c diff from taking IV antibiotics at the hospital. Did not even think about sex for that first month. did not exercise  as it did bother me there. After few months it only bothered me after BM if I did not wash right away. I know people who also have setons – more then one at a time and they deal with them for a long time, so it can be done. Best of luck with it, it does get better!

Thanks for the replies! I think I now have a pretty good idea of a seton, but I still can't imagine a R-V seton - I mean, that's a distance, and therefore a longer "string" down there ... it just sounds so unmanageable. I'm glad you both are able to handle yours well. If I can ask, about how long are your "strings"?

And, did you guys have it done on an out-patient basis?

Update: had my EUA, and came out of it with a seton, as pretty-much expected. It's a taxi-cab yellow rubber band thingy that loops - ahem - out of my back passage opening to just outside the vag. opening. It doesn't hurt, except for an occasional dull ache, but that's rare. Apparently, there was infection and this seton allows the infection to clear up, some how or another. I didn't have a whole lot of drainage before the seton, and don't have a lot now, either - probably even less, which is a good thing.

I go back to the surgeon in about 5 weeks to discuss the next step. I got the impression that a surgery would be involved. I was told after the EUA that the fistula was a low, small in terms of width, serpentine (lots of twists and turns) fistula. The MRIs show multiple tracts, so I'll have to ask about that ...

The EUA went fine - the "surgery", as they called it, took only about 40 min., but the lead-up to it was as involved as a surgery (IV, heparin shot, no eating/drinking, pre-op, PACU, post-op, etc.) No bowel cleansing, fleets, or anything like that (I have a jpouch, maybe that's why?) I had it done on a Fri., went back to work on Tues., although I could've gone back on Monday. I would have no problem leaving this seton in indefinitely, except for one very major issue: marital relations are impossible with it in there. Also, keeping it clean and tidy has not been a problem due to the love of my life (after hubby, of course) - my bidet!

Thanks to everyone for helping me to prepare for what was coming!