Flap surgery for fistula repair

I must also note that I have two wounds now from my previous two setons which require daily packing dressing changes. I have a significant amount of drainge and am in quite a bit of pain. I really can't function. I know the wounds will heal like last time but I've lost hope for the possibility of a repair. Do I have any other options or is this it? I'm a 30yr old female and otherwise perfectly healthy prior to my fistula problem that started during my pregnancy.

Thank you for your post. I just think I had so much hope riding on this repair. I mean I was warned that there is a chance that it would fail but didn't expect for it to happen in 6days!!!!! Like jeez!!! You are right, with time I will come to terms with things but for now, I just need to cry it out. If anyone has any success stories I would love to hear them. And thanks for sharing your personal story! Makes me feel no so alone in this situation.

Hi ZoeUk1989.

I am happy to report that I have fully recovered. I must apologize for not posting earlier. When I was going through all my issues, all I did was search the internet for answers to find a little bit of hope through reading others experiences. I never found any positive outcome stories and I promised myself that when I overcame my fistula problem, I'd post about my success. But I never did. I really have no excuses. Although I haven't posted I think about my ordeal every day. I hope that sharing my outcome will help in providing you some hope and strength to not give up.

So to provide an update to everyone out there: after my failed rectal advancement flap surgery during summer of 2016, I had a seton placed in on the right side and the left side healed and closed on its own. I guess because my fistula was a horeseshoe shaped, this closure from the failed advancement flap surgery was a blessing in disguise. I then waited until November 2016 to attempt another surgery. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to return to work after mat leave and have normal routine. I had 5 surgeries in the span of 1.5yrs and I just had enough of it!!! I couldn't mentally or physically deal with recovery anymore.

Nov 2016 I had the lift procedure. The closure of the left side made me a better candidate for the lift procedure for the right side. It was a day surgery but I convinced my surgeon to keep me overnight. I cooked food and froze it in advance, made sure I didn't get constipated and did complete bed rest for about a week. The pain was much more manageable than the flap surgery. The external wound still required packing, which didn't take very long to heal. But the area that required a good 5-6wks, if not more healing time, was the incision they make close to the anus for the lift procedure. Because of bowel movements and the pressure/stretching and just being a very unclean area, it took so long for the opening to heal. I found taking sitz baths helpful and using moist wipes instead of toilet paper. Also, the drainage from this incision continued until my stitches completely dissolved or fell off.

My advice for the advancement flap surgery is to make sure you rest. Allow the stitches inside to do their job. Try bed rest if possible and try not to get constipated. When mine failed, the flap was barely attached to the opening on the inside when they took me back to the OR. Almost all the stitches had ripped. I also felt all the stitches inside my rectum. They were dissolving but I felt them. It was difficult to sit or stand. Taking pain meds helped but it was still difficult to function. All I can say is allow your body to heal and ask the surgeon to stay the night if you can. That was one of my biggest regrets, not staying in the hospital that night. I also had a 1yr old running around which made it difficult to rest. I had family support but they ended up causing more issues than anything.

I'm unsure how your case is or if you have any underlying medical issues. But I hope this surgery works for you and that you overcome this ordeal. Don't give up hope and stay strong.