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So I'm scared. Nearly 2 months ago, I had an I&D under general anesthesia for a perianal abscess - it was approximately 25cm deep - according to the surgeons that's considered very deep.
The wound was packed daily and healing well for a few weeks, going down to 5cm depth in 2 weeks. Back to work after 4 weeks (wound at approximately 1.5cm at that point) and packing was stopped due to overgranulation.
In the last 4 weeks, healing has stalled. We've been using silver nitrate for overgranulation but the wound has remained open at 1cm, still draining, and bleeding.
Saw the surgeon again 2 weeks ago and he said if it's not healed by next week (3 weeks total) we'd have to discuss other options for treatment. They said they may have to figure out if I have Crohn's disease also. I was told by my GP a decade ago that I have IBS but was never given treatment bar peppermint oil capsules.
As gross as it sounds, I don't know if I was correctly diagnosed with IBS because no tests were ever done, I was just told I had it. I've had a "solid" stool once in my entire life, to be totally blunt. They're ALWAYS erm, loose.. and with cramps when I need to go.
I'm not being told anything tbh. Everything I know, I know from bloody Google!
The nurse this morning told me it's very strange that it's still draining and that the silver nitrate hasn't fixed the overgranulation, and even more strange still that the wound has remained at 1cm depth for weeks.
What does this mean? Does that sound like a fistula?
I'm very scared of needing more surgery, especially if it's a fistula because of the associated risk of losing bowel control.
Selfishly too, I'm annoyed because I was told I'd be fine in a week! And now it's been just under two months of no sex with my partner (because they haven't told me if I'm allowed!), not being able to sit on the toilet lest the dressing fall off, pain from the silver nitrate, pain in work, pain when I walk, etc.
Can someone please tell me what I can expect now and what questions I should be asking because I'm being told nothing and I'm starting to panic myself now reading worst case scenarios online.
Thank you!
So I'm scared. Nearly 2 months ago, I had an I&D under general anesthesia for a perianal abscess - it was approximately 25cm deep - according to the surgeons that's considered very deep.
The wound was packed daily and healing well for a few weeks, going down to 5cm depth in 2 weeks. Back to work after 4 weeks (wound at approximately 1.5cm at that point) and packing was stopped due to overgranulation.
In the last 4 weeks, healing has stalled. We've been using silver nitrate for overgranulation but the wound has remained open at 1cm, still draining, and bleeding.
Saw the surgeon again 2 weeks ago and he said if it's not healed by next week (3 weeks total) we'd have to discuss other options for treatment. They said they may have to figure out if I have Crohn's disease also. I was told by my GP a decade ago that I have IBS but was never given treatment bar peppermint oil capsules.
As gross as it sounds, I don't know if I was correctly diagnosed with IBS because no tests were ever done, I was just told I had it. I've had a "solid" stool once in my entire life, to be totally blunt. They're ALWAYS erm, loose.. and with cramps when I need to go.
I'm not being told anything tbh. Everything I know, I know from bloody Google!
The nurse this morning told me it's very strange that it's still draining and that the silver nitrate hasn't fixed the overgranulation, and even more strange still that the wound has remained at 1cm depth for weeks.
What does this mean? Does that sound like a fistula?
I'm very scared of needing more surgery, especially if it's a fistula because of the associated risk of losing bowel control.
Selfishly too, I'm annoyed because I was told I'd be fine in a week! And now it's been just under two months of no sex with my partner (because they haven't told me if I'm allowed!), not being able to sit on the toilet lest the dressing fall off, pain from the silver nitrate, pain in work, pain when I walk, etc.
Can someone please tell me what I can expect now and what questions I should be asking because I'm being told nothing and I'm starting to panic myself now reading worst case scenarios online.
Thank you!