Hi! Sorry to hear you're struggling with a similar issue. I had a perirectal abscess that I thought was draining enough to resolve itself since I'm on Humira, but my fistula closed, while I still had infection in the abscess so it worsened. Basically I had to do it as an emergency procedure because the abscess worsened SO quickly and unexpectedly. Within 48 hours I went from being able to move around (I'm a high school teacher and a zumba instructor) to not being able to walk because the abscess had gotten so much bigger and more swollen and my groin lymph nodes swelled up so much. Anyway, the procedure involved local anethesia for the area and cutting into the abscess and letting the puss/blood drain out. The majority of it will drain out immediately after the incision is made. Although they numbed the area, it was still pretty painful (especially the numbing needle- OUCH) because the area was so tender and swollen. I was pretty shaken up after the incision was made because I was overwhelmed by the whole situation. I needed someone to drive me home because I was really out of it following the procedure, but by the next morning I was feeling SIGNIFICANTLY better. I was told to do hot soaks every 2 hours and keep heat on the area as much as possible to promote healing. The incision leaked blood and puss for 3-4 days... It has been a week and a half and I'm having very very little light yellow drainage and the whole is starting to close. I didn't need to use any dressings on the wound because it is pretty small considering how much fluid was in the abscess. I can walk around normally again and can sit without having to shift my weight constantly. I'm hoping it doesn't come back, though there's a 50% (approximate) chance that another fistula will form. So far I'm feeling great and I'm so thankful I had it drained.... I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions! Honestly, I'll help as much as I can! This has been my experience with it... Good luck!
