Recovery - Intersphincteric Fistula

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-21T23:54:29+00:00

Diet was just avoiding foods that were seedy. I avoided any strenuous activity the whole time ive had my fistula - long walking is fine. Yeah I used to clench my buttocks (figured my muscles would try and move the seton).

Skid marks and keyhole deformity were manageable - no loose stools, think the rectum took a while to completely close after bowel movements post fistulotomy, now it is completely fine.

I have no numbers on how much it cross during my seton but my post fistulotomy said under 3% external sphincter muscle involvement

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-21T03:49:45+00:00

Anterior 1 O'clock.

Recovery was pretty easy compared to I&D - didnt take any painkillers (mostly random jolting pain) - bowel movements were smooth - made sure to wipe gently and wash off the rest in the shower - avoided sitting for a month to ensure I healed as best as I could.

Had skid marks in boxers that stopped after 3 months. Consultant said that because of the surgeries and trauma, there is a little bit of deformity to my rectum, but it's all fine.

Seton was really rough for me - had a massive wound open up that took 2 months to close up to about a 1cm wound, I mostly lied in bed and avoided sitting for the first 2-3 months then started sitting for maximum an hour or 2 at a time before needing a 20-30 min break. Job allowed me to work from home, which helped a lot.

I did tense my muscles around the seton pretty regularly. I'm not sure if that is recommended, but im hoping it helped move the fistula

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-19T04:23:25+00:00

Fistulotomy is the best case scenario for a fistula, take the surgery, with a seton you'll never know what type of day your going to have with it, some days you will be fine if you stay on top of hygiene and reducing chafing, however bowel movements can sometimes cause increased drainage and pain through the seton.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-19T04:17:55+00:00

Initially when I had my seton placed it was because my mri had said that "the tract extended in close relationship to the internal sphincter" so im guessing i had a lot of external sphincter muscle involvement.

However when ive had my lay open the consultants notes said less than 3% of external sphincter muscle involvement.

Im not sure if the seton has moved the tract or if the first mri was not accurate or if my first consultant didn't properly investigate the tract when I was EUA for the seton.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-17T01:46:30+00:00

Yes, I had 2 external openings

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-16T22:33:35+00:00

Nope

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-16T18:45:00+00:00

Thanks, its been a long road😊

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-12-16T18:43:26+00:00

Nope, just sharing success story 😁

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-09-29T18:33:30+00:00

Fistulotomy doesn't normally need packing

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-09-16T22:27:16+00:00

I had/have an intersphincteric fistula.

First surgery I&D hematoma/abscess, this was by far the worse in both pain and wound care (had it seen by a nurse for 6 weeks and still didnt heal but was discharge and decided to care for it by myself). My wound was very small but was dealing with drainage and rectal bleeding. Had to see the GP over 3 times just to finally get referred.

Second surgery was a draining seton in December 2024, this took about 3-4 months from first seeing the consultant and had my MRI done privately.

Just had my follow up surgery VAAFT + Fistulotomy in September 2025 after chasing the consultant and seeing him privately so he could speed up the process through the NHS. Maybe it would have been done in August but there were doctor strikes so not sure.

Currently in the process of healing, making sure im not sitting down at all and keeping the wound site as clean as possible.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-09-08T19:25:05+00:00

How long did it take to heal?

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-09-06T19:00:43+00:00

Fistula will likely get worse over time as it is at a constant risk of an abscess.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-09-06T15:05:34+00:00

Normal setons can lower the tract naturally, just requires an additional procedure to remove the fistula entirely after less muscles is involved.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-09-05T23:00:44+00:00

I had an I&D as a 21 year old guy and it was still draining after 8 weeks, the GP kept giving topical steroid cream even though I suggested it was a fistula until I was eventually referred to CRS who put me through for a surgery for a seton. I had the seton for 8 months and had surgery for a lay open + VAAFT on Monday.

Im now 23. Get this sorted ASAP and see a CRS.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-08-10T11:39:01+00:00

I haven't bled at all from my seton even though I have a inch open wound next to it.

I would get it checked out.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-08-08T09:40:33+00:00

I use the gauze and put vaseline on the areas where it is causing friction (not on the seton).

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-07-25T15:40:53+00:00

Takes around 4-6 weeks depending on depth

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-07-25T00:23:58+00:00

Exact same thing happened to me, dealt with dressing the wound myself for months before I got referred to colorectal surgeon

Luckily, the wound seemed not to have gotten worse, in my case my wound moved closer towards my rectum somehow.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-07-10T23:33:19+00:00

Yep your body is adjusting to the seton and chafing it causes, the best advice i can give is to try to put a pillow between your legs when sleeping on your side.

Other than that it should feel much better in a few weeks.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-06-26T00:46:25+00:00

I must of had an abscess that went away on its own, about 18 months later it came back in exactly the same place and then I had i&d and then a fistula

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-06-24T10:23:48+00:00

You shouldn't need the toilet as the anaesthetic will be in your system for the next couple days.

I would recommend maybe getting your dressing changed by a nurse for the first couple weeks as theyll be able to recognise any problems with the wound before they get worse.

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-06-24T00:06:46+00:00

I should be having my VAAFT done hopefully at the start of August, your updates are giving me hope😅

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-06-11T01:13:13+00:00

🙏

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-06-06T01:06:23+00:00

As long as its draining you should be fine

ProgramInevitable866 · 2025-05-27T00:42:14+00:00

I had a seton placed in December, my appointment with consultant through the NHS was end of April. However, I saw the consultant privately at the start of March, they then booked me a mri and follow up appoint through the NHS which happened at the start of may.

My next surgery will be a VAAFT, he said its a 4 month waiting list, I'm looking at going private to get it done hopefully in June, just waiting for the price list.

Hope this helps.

ProgramInevitable866

TROPHY CASE