perineal abscess.....anyone with answers??

Hi, ok...I have a permanent ileostomy, have had it since '93 and it has been pretty good with the usual blockage here and there. But, I had an abscess a few years ago and had a nightmare emergency procedure in the ER to remove it....now I have another perineal abscess and this time they want to surgically remove it and then have a plastic surgeon fill in the space using a gracilis flap. Have anyone ever had this surgery? Any idea what I should expect? They are doing it in two surgeries 4 days apart....I am kind of freaking out over it. I meet with the surgeons next week to ask all my questions, but would really appreciate hearing from someone who has experienced this before.

Hey Little E,
Thanks for replying! I agree, the abscess is awful, the last time I had the abscess I couldn't believe how painful it was....and I have been through a lot, many blockages, surgeries, etc....but man, that abscess and draining of it was AWFUL! I also had my rectum removed over 10 years ago, totally sewn shut like you, but since I am getting another abscess he wants to really 'clean it out' and fill it with good tissue, which is I guess the flap thing. Do you think this is going to be like recovering from the proctectomy (when the rectum was removed)?? Man, I hope not....that was a painful surgery and recovery :( Thanks again for replying...it helps knowing someone has gone through something similar.

i can't help with your problem, but i just wanted to tell you that i hope you get to feeling better soon and i will be thinking of you!

Thanks for all of your responses! I am so confused though, I had my rectum removed back in 97 (I think 97!), but it seems like those of you w/out the rectum stopped having the abscesses, why do I still get them!??? Argh! I am hoping it is not as painful as the surgery to close up the bum...that was pretty awful. I met with my regular colorectal surgeon and the plastic surgeon..whoa, these surgeries sound rough. The first one is with the colorectal surgeon (but the plastic guy is going to pop into the OR to check things out..) who will take out the abscess and scrape everything clean, take out all the scar tissue, etc....then insert a big sponge with a drain and I think it will be suctioning stuff out for the days between surgeries, that sounds fun. Then on the fourth day the plastic guy removes my gracilis muscle from my thigh and pulls it up into the rectal cavity....then sews it in place and closes me up. Then, I have to stay in bed for 3 days and then no sitting for 3 weeks --I can stand or lie down. :( I guess I should feel lucky I have an ostomy because he said I couldn't even sit to pee...I have to do that in the shower. I can only walk with baby steps, he actually said no spreading my legs....which I thought was actually pretty funny...good thing I have know him a long time, he is ok with my immature sense of humor. Then after 6 weeks I can start getting back to life and doing regular things. This really doesn't sound fun, any ideas on things to do while recovering? Favorite dvds to watch? Well, that is my update! Thanks again for the responses.

Best of luck to you in your upcoming surgeries. Please keep us posted.

I had my rectum removed when my ileo surgery was done in '84, and it was really a painful process for me. Laying and standing was about all I could do for 6 weeks, but I was really, really underweight and had no padding to sit on!

DVD's - We just watched the Bee Movie - cute! Do you have a favorite TV series that you haven't watched on TV, like Grey's Anatomy or The Office or Scrubs? Maybe you could get several seasons of them on DVD and catch up on them. Kind of mindless tv, which is good if you are on any pain meds! I was never very interested in reading books when I was recovering cuz my eyes couldn't stay focused well enough on the meds!

Hi Sparkn................I was told I wouldn't notice any change in my leg, but yea I do. The swelling is worse in the summer than the winter heat I think has a lot to do with the swelling, sitting to long on a car ride or plane were you don't move around a lot i can lust feel my leg swelling and getting tighter ,foot gets real fat and swollen to the point of having to loosen the shoe.I have even tried cutting back on fluids but you run the risk of dehydration, not good either drs. don't think it serious issue so they just poo-poo any of my concerns.I have learned to live with it . After a night of sleep the swelling does go down so times even to the point were my legs look the same size. But the swelling will start at my foot and work it's way up to the knee and beyond ,you can defintily feel the swelling progressing up my leg sometimes passed the knee, a real tight and skin stretching feeling and you can feel it moving up the leg. Ask your surgeon about any concern you may have , hope things go well with you, oh and as i remember can't walk on the leg for a few days after the surgery must use a wheel chair for a few days.Winter time my leg is almost normal of the time be patient things will heal, as i recall i even removed my own stitches and that one LOL they had used a running stitch under the skin so it came out fine. good luck ,but do ask questions and stress any concerns you my have.