Could it be healing?

[Hopeinhealing]

I've had a draining seton in my fistula, located on my lower buttcheek, for over a year. Recently, it has stopped draining, almost completely, and slight pain and swelling have developed above the spot. No redness, no heat. Anyone had this happen? Could it be healing? Getting infected? (I've never had an infection with it *knock on wood*) but I'm kind of concerned. I take baths regularly, but more so than usual, and longer than usual lately because winter just gets me in the mood for that. I'm concerned, and am going to call my doc tomorrow. I can't just make an appointment and go, though, because he is over two hours away and that requires a day off work. Just wanted to check with you all first. Thanks!

 

[Trysha]

Hello Hope
The fact that you are concerned about a change of symptoms suggests that you are doing the right thing by calling your GI.
Redness and swelling sound suspiciously like the beginning of an infection, and it needs prompt attention.
Good luck tomorrow and hopefully you will be seen by the doc.
Feel better soon
Hugs and best wishes
Trysha

 

[Hopeinhealing]

Thank you. A scary thought just dawned on me...I'm hoping another fistula is not trying to form. Maybe the drainage is trying to find another way out, hence the swelling and pain. Ugh... I've never had problems with my seton. In fact, I hardly ever notice it. I sure hope that is not the case. Thanks for the kind thoughts.

 

[Sailorluna]

Hi Hope,

I hate to be negative but I would guess that your fistula is backing up and forming a new track. Mine has done that 4 times before they finally cleaned it out well enough and joined the side tracks together.

Sometimes for me the hot bath would get it draining again but it sounds like you have been trying that without success.

Good luck with your appointment.

 

[Hopeinhealing]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Hopeinhealing]

What a bummer. I was really hoping that was not the case. My first thought was infection, but this explanation seems more likely. I could live with a seton forever (although I prefer not too) as long as there are no complications. It seems to be feeling better, but I'm not taking any changes

 

[dragonballaf]

Are you taking any medication or is it drying up by itself?

 

[Hopeinhealing]

Warning-gross content coming. Lol. For days after I wrote this post, I continued my baths. I called my doc to see if he could fit me in, but he couldn't until THIS Friday. Until then, he prescribed cipro and flagyl. After my bath one night, I started feeling around mt fistula, and I must have knocked something loose because the drainage came pouring out. It drained pretty heavy the next day, then got light again and has been light ever since. Must have just been blocked up. Oh, and I only lasted one day on the medicine. That stuff is just awful. Anywho, I have an appointment Friday and should know more about what's going on "down there" then.

 

[lgpcarter]

Hope you got some answers at your appointment!

 

[Hopeinhealing]

Thank you! Good news is, everything is back to normal. Almost felt bad for going, lol. I still have the one fistula (funny how, now, that's my normal...and my good news). Doctor wants to do an exclusion surgery. Not sure yet if I'm going to. All depends on accrued time and $$$. I'm going to have to look to see if anyone has started a thread about it.

 

[justbreathe8]

thats good news! Glad to hear it! Defininitly don't feel bad for going, if it puts your mind at ease its worth it. Last time I went in for "nothing" I told them, "Im sure you guys are sick of me coming in and every time I call your probably, like, oh, its just her again" but she said to not feel bad and that there are some people that come in once a week because they are worried. lol. who knows if she just told me that to make me feel better, but it did! haha what is exclusion surgery?

 

[Hopeinhealing]

Lol that's what my doc said too. He's actually really awesome and makes a seemingly humiliating situation so comfortable! As for exclusion, he drew it out for me, but it's kind of hard to explain. Lol. Basically he goes in and closes the hole without cutting any muscle. It puts the normal flow of drainage back on its original track. It's not a guaranteed success, but it could be the end of my fistula for good. He has done a dozen of the surgeries and only two were unsuccessful. I believe the proper procedural name is intersphinteric dissection. The only other option for me would be pulling the seton through the muscle which requires going back to him every two weeks for several mknths, which is not really an option since he is over two hours away. I have to take a full day off work each time I go.

 

[justbreathe8]

Ooh okay I see. I'm going in for surgery on Tuesday and that is what he plan is to do as long as the tissue around the seton looks healthy, my surgeon called it reconstruction, but it's all the same thing lol. . I'm really hoping everything looks good. Do you have crohns?

 

[Hopeinhealing]

I wish you the best during your surgery! Please keep me updated on how it goes. I do not have crohns. Very strange. My dad's side of the family has always been prone to abscesses and, unfortunately, it is something that I am prone to as well. I developed a perianal abscess in Jan. 2012. Had surgery, and now I'm here. I've gone from multiple fistulas to just one, so I'd say that's progress.

 

[Sailorluna]

Good luck! Glad to hear you do not have Crohn's that should really help your chances of success!

 

[justbreathe8]

Thanks! I will def keep you updated. As of now, I do not have crohns either. They will do the colonoscopy on Tuesday and I will find out of I have it or not. I kind of think this all started from a fissure that never healed correctly and spiraled into what I have now. Yes, that is progress! I hope that they can close your fistula and hopefully you will be 100% in the near future!