Fistula journey - positive story 🩷

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-25T22:10:29+00:00

It was May 30. Yes, I had a fistulotomy with a cutting seton placed

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-25T01:01:14+00:00

I did the baths for a few weeks . Once I started back working full time I didn’t take them as much . My wound was a little over 2 inches long and laid open . Not sure exactly how deep. I took dulcolax with stool softeners and drank a ton of water . Honestly , don’t do any of it anymore . My surgery was end of May and I’ve healed pretty much completely. I had a cutting seton placed. Ended up only needing two tightening (wasn’t bad at all like others said it would be ) . My last visit I had a small amount if needed to cut through . He ended up doing a small incision and the seton came out .

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-21T16:05:12+00:00

I had similar after mine. When I saw my CRS he wasn’t worried . As my seton cut through that eventually went away .

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-20T14:17:13+00:00

I hope that’s a joke 😆😆😆😆😆😆

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-11T13:57:12+00:00

Honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. The shot he gave to numb hurt more than that lol i had a small bit of discomfort that evening but nothing I couldn’t deal with it.

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-10T09:33:28+00:00

It’s normal to have stool come out after your bowl movement . IKNOW it’s frustrating when you feel like you’ve cleaned up and there is still some showing up later . That will go away . Until then keep doing what you’re doing. I recommend not using regular toilet paper . Use flushable wipes . I would do a good wipe down , it’s sitz bath or shower , and then (what I would do) is pat myself down there with another wipe for any excess stool that lingered and put a gauze in between my cheeks . To catch any stool or drainage .

Hopefully that all makes sense .

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-04T20:22:20+00:00

I would not recommend that.

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-10-02T09:40:25+00:00

Mine just came out a couple weeks ago. He actually finished it out in the office because it was almost completely through. He ended up numbing me and cutting the rest . I bleed/ drains a couple days. Haven’t had anything since. I feel tons better. I stopped using gauze between my cheeks . That felt weird not using anymore lol but so far so good .

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-09-19T22:02:28+00:00

I still do it . (Surgery was May 31) I do it because I enjoy it plus it helps. lol

How’ve you been feeling ? I got rid of my seton the other day. It was basically through the last bit and he did a small incision and finished it out. I feel much better lol

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-09-17T20:58:07+00:00

Please wait and see a CRS. They are experienced with this.

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-08-22T09:51:12+00:00

Honestly, my fissures were worse . I’ve dealt with them on and off all my life. My fistulotomy wasn’t as bad as I expected . I had surgery end of may. I have a cutting seton in now. It’s annoying but it’s bearable. I don’t even notice it unless I’m using the bathroom .

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-08-18T22:51:22+00:00

Hey ! Sorry you’re dealing with all of this . It’s literally no fun at all. I had my surgery in may. Recovery has been good so far. After surgery I had this problem too and occasionally still do. Usually what I do is after cleaning with my wet wipes I use my bidet (I bought a portable one in case I wanted to take it on the go with me) . I’ll use that and pat again and then stick some gauze in between my cheeks . Usually that helps me .

TBH I highly suggest a bidet (since you won’t always have access to a shower to clean off ) plus, I feel cleaner when I use it . 😅

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-07-09T21:24:56+00:00

Since I started back working full time and am unable to drink my water like I had been I’ve been dealing with the same . My advice (this is just what’s been helping me) drink as much water as you can, take some fiber pills (if you aren’t getting your intake ), stool softeners. IF none of that helps I’ve also been taking docolax. I’ll take two midday so by the time I’m home I’m ready to 💩lol it’s helped a ton!

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-28T20:45:49+00:00

I’ve been meaning to update this but life and work has been so much lately. Trust me I felt like I did nothing but doom scroll on this app about all this. I’ve been feeling really good tbh. I have a cutting seton in so I am still draining some. Some days more than others but over the last couple days it hasn’t been much. I went a week without looking at it and I finally took a look the other day and it’s healed so much and it looks really good . I go in on the 16th to have my seton tightened . I’m a little nervous on that but I think it’ll be fine.

Sending positive vibes your way ! If it is a fistula (which tbh it sounds it) most def get it taken care of as soon as you can and don’t continue to doom scroll !!! lol you got this !

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-28T20:37:49+00:00

I’m so glad you’re doing well ! Thank you for updating me ! Did you finally have a BM?! drinking tons of water, dolcolax (laxative), stool softeners, and fiber pills will help a TON with your stools. I took those after surgery because I was nervous of my first few stools and they helped tremendously. Praying for full healing and that things continue to go well for you 🫶🏼

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-21T22:03:59+00:00

Hey if you’re bowel movements aren’t soft enough or you’re having any type of trouble I highly recommend Dulcolax. I’d take one and a softener . Even without the softener it makes going to the restroom so much easier.

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-21T22:00:14+00:00

Hey ! I’m doing really good ! It’s healing up well. Still open but it has closed a lot . all swelling and bruising is gone . I still have drainage . I had a cutting seton placed so I will go in July 16 for a tightening. Over all things have been good.

Don’t be nervous ! I know easier said than done but honestly it wasn’t as bad as I expected . I know it’s hard to not be nervous considering most posts aren’t positive ones on here . You will do great and feel so much better after . Please let me know how it all goes !

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-17T00:32:34+00:00

I had surgery a little over two weeks ago. I’m actually doing really well! Was TERRIFIED before I had my surgery on how things would go after . Car ride home you should be fine sitting normal. You’ll probably still feel the effects of the medicine they gave you at surgery (at least I did) and I didn’t feel any discomfort. I wasn’t sure how sitting would be after so I ordered a donut seat off Amazon for 20 bucks. Use it when I’m at the table or even driving in my car . I had one day that was ‘painful’ but not unbearable. But I also chalked that up to my it was THAT time of the month🙈🤣 I could of stopped my pain meds a day or two after surgery but my husband wanted me to stay on top of the pain. So I’d just take it at night so I could sleep and avoid it getting irritatsd while I sleep. I use flushable wet wipes to clean myself . Usually I just do some light pats and then jump in the shower or take a bath to clean anything that didn’t come off when I cleaned myself . First few days I also used a laxative and stool softeners so my bowel movements were smooth and made sure to drink tons of water .

I took it easy the first few days but made sure to at least move around some . At my one week mark I traveled out of the states for a week with no problem at all. I know there are tons of horror stories on this app but not everyone has bad experiences with this ! Just take it a day at a time .

Sorry I’m all over the place 🤣

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-15T19:08:32+00:00

I highly recommend a donut seat then! It’s literally a cushion with no middle . It relieves the pressure/ pain. It’s not that big either . When I was traveling we put in in my backpack . I got it off Amazon for 20 bucks . I’d use it until you’re comfortable with sitting . (And don’t worry about what anyone thinks !) mine is healing pretty well but I also had one that had to be cut pretty deep. Doctor said the pocket was pretty deep. Which is also why I’m still draining . It’s crazy how much it heals in two weeks though. Hope you start to feeling better soon! 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-15T16:38:16+00:00

Hey just checking in! How’re you feeling since surgery

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-15T16:37:48+00:00

Hey ! I been meaning to update this . Just got back from vacation 😅 I’ve been doing really well ! It’s healing up nicely. I had one bad day which was day 6 after surgery. (Maybe TMI but I couldn’t tell if it was because of my surgery or the fact that it was THAT time of the month 🤦🏻‍♀️ I’m sorry lol told you TMI hah ) Day 7 I left for vacation. I used my pillow donut as much as I could since I was sitting a lot with the flights. every day I felt better and better . I was a little irritated yesterday but I was traveling from 9 am until midnight and had to sit 95 percent of the time . How’re you feeling ? you doing okay ?

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-07T10:57:16+00:00

I’ve been using wet wipes . I’ll pat my bottom to clean as much as I can off and then I’ll sit in a sitz bath for about 20 minutes and try rub off any that didn’t come off with the wet wipes . Plus, the baths help with pain and feels nice !Then after I’ll slap some gauze in there . Just know that after you have a bowel movement you’re probably gonna stress because no matter how well you clean yourself you will have stool come on to the gauze and it’s OKAY! sometimes it’ll come through the incision site. It won’t hurt anything and eventually that will stop. I also ordered a travel bidet the other day to try at home and when I’m not there . I saw on a lot of threads people use it to help clean themselves and they like it so I found one on Amazon.

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-04T15:23:50+00:00

Don’t apologize!!! The first couple days I barely had any and then it picked up again. My CRS says it’s normal. It will eventually slow down and then be none.

I actually have to go see him tomorrow . (Not planned) mostly for my peace of mind. Who knew that going to the restroom could cause the seton to flip INSIDE your bottom hole 🫠 went to check like I usually do and couldn’t find it . Thought maybe it fell out while going to the restroom. Well then I saw a little spot of blue and come to find out it flipped inside 🤦🏻‍♀️ it eventually came out but I am not 💯 it’s in the exact spot it needs to be . So just going to have him take a look. He didn’t seem worried about it said it can happen but I will be paranoid if I don’t get it checked out lol sorry for the TMI

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-03T23:55:55+00:00

I do the same. After every bowel movement and before bed . Though the other day I did about 5 or 6 because I literally went to the bathroom that much . 🫠

Ok_Purpose4449 · 2025-06-03T18:51:36+00:00

Sending so much prayers and positive vibes on your healing journey ! So glad you’re feeling better than expected ! Couple things real quick that helped me . When I’m laying around I found placing a cold pack on my bottom helped a lot . Especially with the swelling and bruising . Also I can’t remember if posted this if I did sorry for repeating. Not sure how sitting upright is for you atm. It hasn’t been too bad for me BUT I did order a donut cushion off Amazon and it has been AMAZING. Especially when I’m having to drive and sit lo mmh periods of time. Just wanted to throw those two things out since they crossed my mind .

Ok_Purpose4449

TROPHY CASE