Scared of having a seton put in..

[Bryonyboo]

I have recently been told that I have to have a drainage seton put in for peri anal fistula. I have had one fistula for over 6 years, with continuous but relatively mid sx, but recently stopping me from getting on with life due to the pain and bleeeding.
However I am terrified of having a seton drain put in as sounds like it will continue to give me symptoms. I am so depressed, I should be happy as no active disease found in my intestines, but so disgusted by the anal area and what will happen down there.
Has anyone have advice on how the seton feels, how long does it hurt for and how do you cope with the leakage, cleaning etc. I'm so worried!!!!:sign0144::sign0144::sign0144::sign0144:

 

[exit4]

Seton placement is not bad at all, its not realy a surgery, it's just a rubber band that will be placed from anal opening to external fistula opening, there is no cutting or stitching, etc. It’s a little uncomfortable, but there is no pain at all.
Some people have had fistula closure after having Seton in for a while to drain and shrink fistula channel. The fact that there is no cutting (not realy a surgery)is what I am saying. The mucosa tissue is very frail and inflamed down there from Crohn’s, cutting will cause more issues – non closing wound, infection, etc. Leakage is minimal -I kept a small gause between my cheeks. Calmoseptine lotion kept me nice and dry.
The ultimate goal with seton is to decrease inflammation so mucosal tissue can heal and close that fistula channel.

 

[east+coast+crohny]

I've had setons (eight at once) for over a year now. They're nothing - especially if it means no abscesses!! Try to look st the positive side of them. I was weary at first. I only have two left now and I'm currently trying to get another put back in because it came out.

 

[AlliRuns]

I was in a lot of pain after my seton placement, but my surgeon cleaned out all the bad tissue and that is probably what was painful. The first two weeks were so bad that even rolling in bed hurt.

 

[Avw]

I know they sound strange, but setons truly are a life saver for someone suffering with fistulizing crohn's. Their purpose is to keep the wound healing from the inside out, instead of the outside healing first, causing extremely painful abscesses. Talk to your doctor first and make sure you tell them you want one made of a soft material. I had one right after my surgery that was plastic and caused some irritation, and he had no problem going in and changing it out with a smaller, more comfortable one. I've had it for over a year now. No problems at all! Best of luck and hope you feel better soon!

 

[east+coast+crohny]

I hear ya! It can be painful at first just because it's a change and you need to flush yourself out and loosen the setons up. Every now and then I'll move or sit a certain way and it'll hurt, but then I just do a little wiggle and I'm good to go

 

[Bryonyboo]

Thanks guys, I guess I feel a bit less worried. I had been googling it and I suppose only people that are having problems but logs/posts up, so it was scaring me, nice to hear that its not all that bad!
I have 2 fistulas apparently, so no idea where the other one is or what will be done about that. Have to wait and see I guess.
One more question, how much can you see or feel them? As a single ( and sometimes sexually active!!) young woman I am very concerned about the impact on my love life so to speak! Will i be alone forever with a mangled bum???

 

[east+coast+crohny]

They're noticable. You can feek them at first nut after a while not at all. I'm married and my husband doesn't xare about them, it's basically my issue to be okay with. They aren't attractive but they don't prevent anything so as long as you ease your "prospective partner" about them I really see no reason for it being an issue.

 

[Bryonyboo]

Thank your for our reassurance, just have to find an understanding man I guess!!
Also, one last thing, can you swim if you have a seton? I do toddler swimming with my baby and can't bear to think of missing it for months.

 

[east+coast+crohny]

Yes! Its good for you to swim with them keeps them clean and fresh I just realized all my spelling errors in my previous post. I was a victim of auto correct, I apologize!
I consider myself a seton pro so feel free to ask away if you have any kore questions

 

[sawdust]

Welcome to the forum. If you haven't discovered already, this place is full of caring and wonderful folks who can relate like no one else quite can.

I'm going to say this, and you probably won't understand it to its fullest until at some point in the future when it will probably click for you, but my seton just became part of my new reality. I had the same concerns you expressed, but over time, it just became part of what I did. After a while, it didn't feel like anything foreign, leakage was not as much a problem, the way you bathe and use the bathroom got "updated." It's not without its learning curve, I assure you, and it's not discomfort-, worry-, or hassle-free, but given some time, I think you'll find it far from the concerns you might have at the moment. :hug:

Something that helped me is to try to see it as part of the healing process. If you think about it, you already have most, if not all, of the tract that connects your backside to your, err, backside-backside. I tried to view the seton as part of the healing process, and that did change the way I thought about getting a seton. Like we don't have enough problems, right? :hug: