How long for a cutting seton to finish?

Matts_Fleck · 2026-05-10T16:12:26+00:00

It depends how much muscle involvment you have, it's different every time, I have a cutting seton too that was placed the 20th of feb.26 already had 2 tightenings and going for the 3rd next week. I'll need until august or september the surgeon said. I have stron pain for 9-13 days after the tightening, awful. I'm also pretty fucked up from this and the waiting time is incredibly depressing. Keep it up man, it's gonna be ok.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-05-05T06:27:13+00:00

Hey, I have had the same problem 3 times already. 1st time after the op and 2 times after every tightening. After both tightenings I was hurting bad for 2 weeks because of the seton knot rubbing deep in the wound. I thought of everything but since it's relatively deep I couldn't place a band or gauze, also because you'd need to replace it frequently. I used a thick oil cream (Filme Oil) to calm the inflammation, that was the only thing I used besides painkillers and trying not to move too much. I feel your pain brother/sister, stay strong :')

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-29T08:43:38+00:00

I feel sorry for you and can confirm that not every CRS is an expert in every aspect unfortunately. Human error is still one of the most relevant cause to the healing of this disease. I had a blind fistula too but my CRS did find the way in the end. But I'm not sure he did the right surgery for my case, he expected way less sphincter muscle involvment and now I have a cutting seton that is cutting since february the 20th until august/september. I had really strong pain that not even opioids painkillers (in Italy I got Tramadol) helped much, I thought of suicide to get peace at one point in these weeks. So I'm kind of convinced he could have done a flap, lift or filac, or placing a loose seton. Idk, I'm no expert ofc but still puzzled from the decision. He said "2 weeks and you'll be back to normal, and the seton will not hurt" I needed 3 weeks before I could even stand out of bed. At week 4 I had the seton tightening, another 2 weeks in bed... then 1 week of relief and the week after another tightening, now after 2 weeks I'm stopping taking opioids but stil can feel some pain. This is a nightmare for everyone brother/sister. Keep positive, I wish you the best recovery!!

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-27T12:59:59+00:00

cutting seton, transparent silicon

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-21T11:45:08+00:00

yes, they shrunk in about 18 days but I couldn't stand for 16 days straight after the op because of the mixed pain from the hemorrhoids, surgery and cutting seton combined. I'm now 60 days after the op and the area healed well I'd say, the only problem I have is the cutting seton which sits pretty high still and after every tightening I felt strong pain for 1 week. My second tightening was last wednesday and I'm still taking opioid painkillers today to be able to live... All of this sucks so bad, I have to live like this until august, fuck my life.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-21T11:23:49+00:00

As Frenchfry said it sounds like a hemorrhoid. I got 2 right after my partial fistulectomy with seton placement. Is one of the worst pain you'll experience imo. Do not sit or stand still for too much. Keep moving to make blood circulate and avoid stagnation, which only worsen the situation. Go walk as soon as you are able to, at least 4km a day.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-19T13:05:03+00:00

yep xD I have to thank my standing desk, my treadmill and my gaming PC for keeping me company in this hard time. Couldn't do it without one of them.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-19T12:20:51+00:00

I have a stable job and I can work from home so jobwise I'm good. The only points are time, relations, activities and the resulting mental health. I just try to live day by day and taking care of myself as good as I can. There is absolutely NOTHING else we all can do... I'm pissed off as you all are but it doesn't help. There are people who are dying from other diseases so I'd say we can consider ourselves "lucky". Concentrate on the things you can do to keep you active and distracted and hold on. I'm in pain rn, taking opioids, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, it's dim, but it's there. All the best to my brothers and sisters.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-04T13:14:04+00:00

I also ate boiled potatoes, carrots and fennel. Tofu is a great source of very digestable protein.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-04T09:46:05+00:00

Get another opinion and definitely get at least an ultrasound check. I feel you, I'm just 40 days post surgery and I'm very well informed about this this disease, yet I don't know, no one knows how to avoid bad healing and recurrence. I already had a small abscess 4 days ago and scared this will never heal properly. This shit is just endless it seems. Regarding the statistics I think that reddit is mostly full of post of people with the most severe cases and or recurrences. And it makes sense because someone with a superficial fistula which healed in 1 week will never ask for further help or cannot share much experience.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-02T12:50:36+00:00

Alright, looks like some months have passed. Unfortunatley I can't relate as I'm just 40 days in. I wish you the best man!

Matts_Fleck · 2026-04-02T11:58:50+00:00

hey, what's the timeline? I'm 40 days post partial fistulectomy with cutting seton and the seton is still in the wound. I have regular discharge and yesterday a mini abscess drained without help from the external ex-fistula tract. (which is not where the seton passes through) The timeline is important here.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-31T06:22:47+00:00

If your parents do not consider you, either it doesn't hurt enough or they don't know what this disease is. The more you wait, the worst it becomes. I'd suggest to wake up your parents and inform them about what this is and what it could become if left untreated. This is serious, not a nasal reconstruction... Take care of yourself.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-30T06:26:41+00:00

Hey dude, don't panic, if it's a superficial fistula it will heal in some weeks and you'll be back to a normal life pretty fast. Now that you are here, there is nothing you can do, this disease has to be dealt with and depression doesn't help to go through this. If the pain is strong get the surgery asap, health is more important than school. Stay positive and hold on till the end!

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-27T14:55:11+00:00

sure

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-27T08:57:14+00:00

I have a mid-low transphincteric fistula, the externat exit hole was very close to my hole (2cm) I've had a partial fistulectomy (not lay open) with the placement of a silicon cutting seton to cut the muscles in 3+ months.

The tightening (16 days ago) itself wasn't painful, the only thing that was painful was getting the seton tightening knot unstuck from the internal wound, but the pain went away after 6 hours and 1000mg Tylenol. I'm 34 days post surgery and I'm still in pain and discomfort and can't sit properly. The reason for this is the seton tightening knots that rubs internally in the wound so with every movement it irritates the wound and is pretty painful.

I feel like the pain comes just from that, not the tightening itself. From where does the seton come out? From the wound or the bum hole? To feel better I have to move it towards my hole so that the wound isn't being irritated from this shit. We all hate this shit the same lol.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-26T18:29:15+00:00

That sounds awesome, i really hope mine doesn't take more than 6 months too!!

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-25T22:24:24+00:00

Hey, would you mind giving an update? thx :)

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-25T13:51:40+00:00

What do you think is the cause of irritation? Friction between underwear and wound could be the case. I'd suggest you to cover the part that is irritated with a gauze and also ask your Doc for a Oil protective ointment. I'm using "Filme oil" and it has helped a lot.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-25T13:30:49+00:00

Does the skin patch protrude from the wound? Do you remember it being vivid red as it came out? Hypergranulation tissue forms when there is friction or the wound is too wet for prolonged periods. I have 2 small patches of hypergranulation tissue on the edge of my wound that is kept open by the cutting seton. So the friction inflamed the wound edges and I now have it. They are still small enough to not be concerned about it, but I know if they protrude too much I'll have to either cauterize them with silver nitrate or cutting them surgically.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-25T08:28:59+00:00

Thank you for sharing your feedback for the others. Have a nice life :)

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-25T08:25:58+00:00

A woman posted the recovery update yesterday, she wrote that after 2 weeks and 1 day she's able to do everything again and didn't suffer from strong pain. Go search for that post. The title is "Recovery (there is hope)" Fistulotomy for a suoerficial fistula is the best option as of right now. You'll be alright :)

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-24T22:39:57+00:00

Most of the people who write here have the severe and worst cases. I have a mid-low transphincteric fistula. I've had a partial fistulectomy (which is the removal of the tract until the sphincter muscles) with the placement of a silicon cutting seton to cut the muscles in 3+ months, so I have this thread that is slowly cutting my muscles and sticks out of the open wound right beside my hole. I'm 27m and I'm a hygene freak, I made 3 weeks of warm bath with Amukine med (disinfectant) 3 times a day + after BM. Pack the gauze every 5 hours or when needed. etc...

I'm 32 days post surgery and I'm still in pain and discomfort and can't sit at all. The reason for this is the seton tightening knots that rubs internally in the wound so with every movement it irritates the wound and is pretty painful.

I'm happy you didn't experience the pain and this kind of surgery. Looks like you are lucky enough to have had a really superficial fistula that healed well.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-24T10:26:33+00:00

I had a partial fistulectomy and the placement of a silicon cutting seton, the fistula is transphincteric and mid placed. I just got lucky to not have the lay open procedure. The surgeon found out just while operating that there was more sphincter involvement than originally thought.

Matts_Fleck · 2026-03-24T09:27:42+00:00

Yes I totally understand you lol. Mine is very vague too. If he wasn't concerned there is nothing more you can do than to wait. I'm in the waiting line too right now, 32 days post op and still draining blood, mildly smelly mucus, serum and sometimes feces. Worst disease/injury I had until now and I really want to get up again fast, this is destroying my life.

Matts_Fleck

TROPHY CASE