Posted 8/21/2016 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I am a 22 year old female. I have been dealing with a fistula for about a year now. I am glad to say I had my last surgery (knock on wood) and after this should be totally recovered (I hope). My fistula is a high transphincter fistula. It is very complex and goes through my spincter. To summarize the past year:
1) August 2015 I had a lump on my bum. Saw 8 doctors (2 of them were specialists). Only two doctors were able to tell me what the lump was (my gp and the second specialist). It took a couple months to get an answer.
2) October 2015 the lump turned into an abcess and it was drained. But I was told I would need another surgery
3) after a checkup the doctor told me the fistula involved too much of my spincter muscle so in May 2016 I had a surgery for a seton placement. I had 4 setons. 2 were draining setons and 2 were cutting setons (but the doctor did not ever tighten them. It was to slowly get the fistula away from the spincter)
4) after another check up a month later, the setons moved the fistula tract so only 15% of my spincter was involved. He also cut out two setons (one draining and one cutting) so I had two left
The recovery from the setons was the worst surgery by far
5) August 2016 I had a fistulotomy. The doctor was unsure if he was going to do an anal flap or fistulotomy because of my spincter muscle involved but he managed to do the fistulotomy. Although my fistula was very complex he said it all went as planned
I am now 4 days post op. I feel great. The pain is very minimal. I am having sitz baths 3 times a day for 20 mins with Epsom salt. My first BM was two days after and it was painless surprisingly. Just always soak after. I eat regular diet with lots of fruits and veges. I stopped the pain meds after 2 days because they make me sick. I am so pleased with the surgery. Any questions or comments please feel free to post! I'd love to help out :)