How much time will I need...

[k2smile76]

So I am going in for surgery at the end of July for a non cutting seton stitch. My question is, how long will I need to take off from work after the surgery? I only have 2 1/2 weeks of sick leave left and really don't want to use any unnecessarily, but on the same note, don't want to be going back to work when I should be at home healing. Work needs at least 2 weeks notice of how much time I require and I really don't know what to tell them. At first I thought that with my surgery scheduled on the Tuesday, I should be ok to go back to work the following Monday providing I am doing light duties as needed. But after reading all the stories on this and other forums or people being in a lot of pain and unable to do much for weeks and others being fine within days after, I am really confused. In a nutshell, what time frame should I be realistically looking at taking off from work? Keep in mind, I work in a service deli at a large, busy supermarket and the toilets are up a long flight of stairs...

 

[Sailorluna]

Where is the fistula? rectal? Is an abscess involved? If so do you have any idea how big?

I have had 4 surgeries for perirectal fistula and 4 days rest (including the surgery day) has seemed about right. The bigger and nastier any abscesses are the longer and more painful the recovery.

 

[CrohnsNYC]

I have had four different peri-annal setons put in over the last few years. I scheduled 3 of them on a Friday and was back to work by Monday. The other I took the day of and the day after off. It was definitely uncomfortable for about a week, but it was bareable pain. Every person is different, but to be safe I would plan to take at least 2-3 days off.

Good luck. It wasn't as bad as I thought!

Beth

 

[k2smile76]

It's a perianal fistula that's approx 3cms deep and completely split open. I have what feels like at least one new access (possibly 2 but may all be the same one) approx 1-2cms at a guess. The abscess wasn't there when the original surgery was planned so he may change his mind when I go under.

Thanks for the advice, I'll go with one week off and see how I feel. I can always extend if I need, even though it will annoy them no end. One last question, is it hard to keep it all clean etc while out of the house? What do you guys do to keep yourself clean when a shower or bath isn't available?

 

[k2smile76]

Forgot to ask, is there any prep work involved pre op? You know, to clean out the insides?

 

[Sailorluna]

I never did any prep. They just wanted me not to eat/drink.

I use some single packed wipes if not at home and use calmoseptine cream to protect my skin from the drainage.

Good luck with your procedure!

 

[Sailorluna]

You will have extra drainage at first but it will calm down.

 

[AlliRuns]

I had two setons placed in February and was in quite a bit of pain for 2 weeks afterwards.. so much so that it caused me pain just to move in bed. The third week I went back to work half days, but only ended up working 4 of those half days. I probably should have taken that entire week off too. The following week I worked full days, but I was limited in what I could do. I ended up with another full week off several weeks later because it started to swell and become very painful again and I couldn't manage to sit at my desk.

 

[RFarmer]

My seton didn't hurt. The put this weird blue underwear on me, which was totally embarassing, but I never felt any pain. Taking out the packing stung, but it was more disturbing than painful.

I took 4 days off, but could have probably gone back after 3. Do you mind using an ring to sit on? Might help. As soon as you get the packing off, and have had a BM, and cleaned up, you can theoretically go.

Just remember... WEAR PROTECTION. You don't want bum blood getting everywhere, now do you?

 

[AlliRuns]

My seton didn't hurt. The put this weird blue underwear on me, which was totally embarassing, but I never felt any pain. Taking out the packing stung, but it was more disturbing than painful.

I took 4 days off, but could have probably gone back after 3. Do you mind using an ring to sit on? Might help. As soon as you get the packing off, and have had a BM, and cleaned up, you can theoretically go.

Just remember... WEAR PROTECTION. You don't want bum blood getting everywhere, now do you?

I'm jealous of those who have setons that didn't hurt :-( My fistulas were complex and the surgeon "cleaned it up", I also had one that was internal that he stitched. It was extremely painful when I woke up from the surgery. Maybe I'm just a wimp though.

 

[RFarmer]

Yeah, mine were complex and cleaned up too. I ended up with three fistula openings, instead of just one. LOL

You're not a wimp. I was stoned out of my mind. I kept trying to get up when I had woken up, and when they asked me to get dressed, I just laid in bed I had a taxi drive me home, and we just sat in my drive way, because he didn't get any other calls. XD

By the time I stopped taking 1000000000mgs of percocet, I was sitz bathing hourly. I am telling you. The warmth..., hnnnng.



Definitely not a wimp though. There's nothing wimpy about having an extra butthole carved out. In fact, we should all get into guiness world records, for one of the weird records, like "most pain endured", or "most needles placed in urethra" hahaha

 

[AlliRuns]

Yeah, mine were complex and cleaned up too. I ended up with three fistula openings, instead of just one. LOL

You're not a wimp. I was stoned out of my mind. I kept trying to get up when I had woken up, and when they asked me to get dressed, I just laid in bed I had a taxi drive me home, and we just sat in my drive way, because he didn't get any other calls. XD

By the time I stopped taking 1000000000mgs of percocet, I was sitz bathing hourly. I am telling you. The warmth..., hnnnng.



Definitely not a wimp though. There's nothing wimpy about having an extra butthole carved out. In fact, we should all get into guiness world records, for one of the weird records, like "most pain endured", or "most needles placed in urethra" hahaha

I only got percocet at the hospital, they sent me home with T3s, which are a completely useless drug BTW.

 

[RFarmer]

I only got percocet at the hospital, they sent me home with T3s, which are a completely useless drug BTW.

you preach it gurl.

All they do is make you poop bricks.

EDIT: that was supposed to be an angry face.

 

[k2smile76]

Thanks for all the advice, I really do appreciate it. Without this forum and the support from everyone here, I would go mental.

I managed to get an emergency appt with my specialist today because I was feeling terrible. He had my MRI and blood test results in. Turns out I have complex perianal disease so not only do I have the original fistula, it is branching off all over the place and connecting to multiple abscesses. The only good thing that came out of it was that the original fistula has shrunk in size slightly.

My blood test showed that, in a nutshell, the azathioprine dosage is too high or my drugs have either stopped working all together. He has told me to cut it down from 4 to 3 pills daily until the surgery in 5 weeks and see how it goes. He said if I continue to get worse, I will be looking at different meds, mentioning something about electrolytes and markers or something like that (sorry about being so vague, wasn't really in the head space to absorb it all). I am assuming he is talking about humira?? Who knows, I'm just really upset and disappointed in my body for making me go through all this crap. I was somewhat looking forward to my "should have been simple surgery" just so I could get back to life, but now I'm not so sure what they will do since 1 non cutting seton stitch probably won't fix it anymore My biggest concern is the possibility of getting a bag... I would seriously rather die than have one, even if it was only temporary. I have been around them, I have seen them first hand and they scare the crap out of me. I'm getting teary just thinking about the chance of waking up from my seton surgery with one of those instead. Please tell me that won't happen!!!

 

[RFarmer]

> the only good thing that came out of it

You're forgetting that you now have a firm diagnosis, and can start treatment. That's definitely much better than not knowing what's going on.

 

[guts n all]

Hi,
I find it unusual that your employer expects a time frame for such a Operation. Maybe your doc should call them and explain that there are so many variable's, that a definitive time can not be given. I wish you best of luck. I curently have 4 seton's and was able to go back to work the following day or two I think. But we are all different.

 

[katiesue1506]

My biggest concern is the possibility of getting a bag... I would seriously rather die than have one, even if it was only temporary. I have been around them, I have seen them first hand and they scare the crap out of me. I'm getting teary just thinking about the chance of waking up from my seton surgery with one of those instead. Please tell me that won't happen!!!

I always said this same thing. "No bag, I'd rather die". Well here I sit with an unplanned bag after my GI perforated my ileum during a colonoscopy. Having dealt with it now firsthand I can honestly say its not that bad. Its definitely a scary prospect... especially if you aren't even expecting it... but having a bag really isn't much different than normal life with a pooper (except for most people they don't have to go to the restroom so often with a bag).

Mine's only temporary... and I'm happy about that but even if it wasn't I think I'd be just fine. Keep in mind that I work in a high energy environment (law enforcement) and having a bag wouldn't keep me from being able to do that. I'm also married and young so sex life is pretty important but my husband doesn't care and my sex life hasn't been affected (beyond the normal healing time for the incision). People are always so surprised that you can do all the same things as a person who uses their pooper!

Just don't put yourself in that "I'd rather die mindset" because having a bag is a real possibility for you and all of us... and if it happens you will have such a hard time accepting it (I did). I just try to live life as I can and realize what thing I can control and what things I can't. I can't control having a bag, but I can certainly control how I feel about it.

Good luck with your procedure!