Hi all, was wondering if any of you could shed some light on my problem...
Female, 29yrs. No symptoms of crohns or IBD. No clue as to why I got a fistula.
I had a fistulectomy and a cutting seton placed 3 weeks ago. My general surgeon is a horrid man. When I went in for me surgery, instead of going over what he was going to do in the OR, he said to me 'I'm assuming you've googled what this surgery is all about' and that was it. No explanation. His "follow up instructions" were to have the packing changed for 5 to 7 days, then to come and see him in his office in 2 weeks...
Its now been 3 weeks and I still have to get my packing changed daily. My nurses have been incredibly helpful and supportive, but we are all stumped at this point. The exterior of the fistulectomy hole is trying to heal over nicely, but the inside of the hole is still large, and will not shrink up or heal. Packing is used to keep the exterior hole from closing over. Lots of drainage still with occasional blood. Bowel movements are back to normal after surgery, and do not cause any pain. My cutting seton is uncomfortable, but not painful. The suture line from the laid open fistulectomy running down to the seton has healed nicely too.
My question is: does anyone have similar stories of their fistulectomy refusing to heal? If so, did you find something that worked? My nurse has recommended I speak to my naturopath doctor, as maybe she has some suggestions. I am also going to try and get a referral to a colorectal surgeon so I can dump my general surgeon asap.
Thanks all.
Female, 29yrs. No symptoms of crohns or IBD. No clue as to why I got a fistula.
I had a fistulectomy and a cutting seton placed 3 weeks ago. My general surgeon is a horrid man. When I went in for me surgery, instead of going over what he was going to do in the OR, he said to me 'I'm assuming you've googled what this surgery is all about' and that was it. No explanation. His "follow up instructions" were to have the packing changed for 5 to 7 days, then to come and see him in his office in 2 weeks...
Its now been 3 weeks and I still have to get my packing changed daily. My nurses have been incredibly helpful and supportive, but we are all stumped at this point. The exterior of the fistulectomy hole is trying to heal over nicely, but the inside of the hole is still large, and will not shrink up or heal. Packing is used to keep the exterior hole from closing over. Lots of drainage still with occasional blood. Bowel movements are back to normal after surgery, and do not cause any pain. My cutting seton is uncomfortable, but not painful. The suture line from the laid open fistulectomy running down to the seton has healed nicely too.
My question is: does anyone have similar stories of their fistulectomy refusing to heal? If so, did you find something that worked? My nurse has recommended I speak to my naturopath doctor, as maybe she has some suggestions. I am also going to try and get a referral to a colorectal surgeon so I can dump my general surgeon asap.
Thanks all.