Hi, i'm new to this forum and hope i'm on the right site. Had an anal abscess in oct. 2016 - was the size of a softball outside my rectum (hope that's not too much tmi). Had it drained & spent 3 days in the hospital. Had home care nurse everyday for 2 months packing & repacking the site. Thought i was fine but it became an anal fistula. I do not have crohn's disease jubt a lot of gi issues (ibs,constipation). Yesterday had fistula surgery with a seton placed around the spinchter muscle to drain the fistula. My question is - how is it possible to have a bowel movement with this seton string hanging out the rectum?? Also, is cleanliness an issue? Thanks for any and all answers. I will be having the "flap" surgery when the fistula drains.