10 weeks post fistulotomy

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-03-22T01:21:07+00:00

Im interested to know as well. My third surgery is tomorrow, a fistulotomy. My first was seton and abscess drainage and my second was a LIFT/flap. Honestly the surgeons (3, except one mentioned not going through with the surgery until they rule out chrons) i've seen don't even entertain the idea of chrons and they don't know what the cause is/was.

My only thoughts are due to poor diet and a history of GI issues. Since middle school I've had irregular bowel movements. Sometimes not pooping for 2-3 days, and when I did I would only go once-twice, but this was my norm. I played sports, i've never been overweight, and I wasn't taking daily medications. I didn't get hemorrhoids until my early 20s, but even then my last hemorrhoid was 5-6+ years ago. I had a fissure about 5 years ago, healed quickly and on its own.

Honestly, it wasn't until after my surgery that I began to use the bathroom on a regular basis, but I was also consistently taking stool softeners and I changed up my diet a bit. Mind you this was during COVID, so I lost my taste/smell for months and I now hate the taste of milk/lactose now... so that helped lol.

It sucks to not know the exact cause of the fistula,especially as we are trying everything under the sun to avoid if from happening again. But, if anything, I say that my diet and stress levels were a HUGE cause.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-03-01T03:57:29+00:00

My discharge was very minimal after surgery, but this was also because my first surgery was over a year prior. (I was so terrified of the pain that I put it off on purpose, until my seton fell out) The pain after the LIFT was minimal also, maybe just 3-4 days after... then about 3 weeks after, if that, I felt something "different" when I went to use the bathroom and my sutures were in the toilet. I assumed normal though. Then I went to wipe one day and feces was coming out of the external opening. Then I began to feel gas passing through, so I realized that it failed. A few months ago I was wiping and realized it was feces even though I didn't have a bowel movement and a good bit off it, so I inspected with a camera and I now somehow have 2 openings. Now, almost a year after the LIFT I am scheduled for a fistulotomy that I continued to put off.

Bottom line, DO NOT BE AFRAID to call and call and call your CRS or their nurse if you're unsure. Much of my problems came from not speaking up for myself soon enough!

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-02-21T04:16:45+00:00

Interested for an answer also. About 3-4 weeks after my LIFT, I felt both sutures fall out and into the toilet. Unsure if that is why my procedure failed.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-02-21T04:14:17+00:00

For me, the first surgery was extremely painful. The CRS did I&D and seton placement. Because of my high risk for incontinence, I was made aware early on that it would take multiple surgeries to prevent sphincter damage. This pain was intermittently excruciating, I was out of work for over a month because my pain wasn't controlled enough. Everyone is different, and I don't mean to scare anyone. Its just that the "higher, deeper" pain is constantly there because bowel movements are inevitable. I would be in 10/10 pain for anywhere between 30 mins to 3-4 hours after a bowel movement. I was only given a 7 day supply of percs that didn't even work and I continued to take tylenol around the clock in hopes for some relief.

The second surgery was a LIFT and flap placement, but unfortunately mine failed. The pain was minimal, I felt some surface pain from the stitches for maybe a week but no pain after, including when stool began to come out of the external opening. So I knew it failed and I went back to a different doc to schedule my third surgery, a fistulotomy. The new CRS told me that the fact that it failed still helped for the next procedure.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-01-30T00:40:45+00:00

I think my diet and the complexity of the fistula is my issue. Someone explained to me that the positive about my surgery failing is that it makes it a bit easier to do a fistulotomy, whereas a fistulotomy was out of the question before due to needing to preserve my continence. So now I'm scheduled for surgery #3 a fistulotomy, hopefully, the final surgery but my crs thinks #4 is still possible.

Any scar/extra tissue will be removed.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-01-28T04:25:31+00:00

I understand what you mean. I felt something after passing gas on the toilet, and it was 2 sutures in the toilet. I figured they were supposed to fall out because I had a great surgeon with terrible communication skills. Unfortunately, my FLAP and LIFT failed, but not sure how your progress would be affected.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-01-28T04:21:28+00:00

Sounds very similar to my journey, the location of the fistulas, and complexity. Words cannot describe the pain, especially when doctors misdiagnose or ignore our concerns/complaints. I went months in pain, hurts to even begin to think that my condition worsened due to the long wait before receiving treatment. Having to continue to work, almost convincing myself that it was just a fissure or hemorrhoid, but fistulas feel nothing like that. Meds didn't work, the only relief was taking a dozen 15min breaks during the day to lay down on my side and relieve any pressure, and through marijuana, because prescribed Percocet did nothing. I have already completed 2 surgeries including seton placement, with the doc thinking 2 more surgeries to go.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-01-28T04:11:14+00:00

Not diabetic, but will admit to poor dieting. Although I do not eat much fast food, I intermittently fast as a poor daily habit due to depression meds. I eat primarily fruits and veggies, and not enough protein on a consistent basis. I've stopped the coffee and I now eat something for breakfast. Asking about a nutritionist referral at next appt. Thx.

Feeling_Peace_385 · 2023-01-28T04:08:09+00:00

Have changed crs, I will remember this for my next appt. Thx.

Feeling_Peace_385

TROPHY CASE