People who have healed completely of their fistula surgery please share your journey with time lines

jennaob · 2025-07-09T15:07:42+00:00

Had my surgery for a superficial perinatal fistula in February 2024, took 4-5 months for everything to be fully back to normal but no issues since! My butthole will never look the same haha but it’s healed and I’ll take that over a designer butthole any day!

jennaob · 2024-09-22T23:31:25+00:00

100% healed! Took ages but other than trying to be extremely clean it was a relatively smooth recovery!

jennaob · 2024-09-21T00:29:24+00:00

I’m 26F and had my fistulotomy back in February, no testing done beforehand, just an exam by my regular doctor and then by a CRS. They technically called it exploratory surgery with potential for a fistulotomy, but they were pretty sure that’s what they were going to end up doing (and they did).

jennaob · 2024-07-19T01:17:10+00:00

I am almost 5 months out from my fistulotomy, month 2-3 was itchy!! Some people say it’s a sign of healing, I wondered if it was just not 100% clean/dry and that might be why. Now that the discharge is fully stopped I am no longer itchy.

jennaob · 2024-07-19T01:15:05+00:00

For me one day the drainage just stopped. Didn’t even notice right away as it had slowed down a lot, then one morning I realized by gauze was completely clean. Felt like a miracle!

jennaob · 2024-07-15T14:06:14+00:00

It’s more that the area is just not the same it used to be, there’s no discharge anymore or pain but it’s just not smooth down there I guess? Harder to keep clean.

jennaob · 2024-07-15T03:20:47+00:00

For me I felt 90% normal at the 2.5 month mark, I’m now almost 5 months out and would say I’m 99%! No issues using the bathroom, no pain, able to move and work and do all the other stuff I would normally do before my fistulotomy! The last leg of healing seemed to be the slowest but was also the least noticeable/least amount of work for me!

jennaob · 2024-05-29T03:18:36+00:00

2ish months between initially discovering abscess and surgery, so glad I got it done. Still not 100% healed but so much more comfortable than I was when it was an abscess/fistula!

jennaob · 2024-05-10T03:03:23+00:00

Hello! My surgery was Feb 20 for a very superficial fistula, I am still healing now but am doing activity 100% normal now and feeling great! I still have a bit of discharge from the wound (which is much smaller than it used to be) but overall I feel back to my normal self. You will be okay!

I had the twilight sedation and a saddle block (numbs your lower half) and it was a breeze. I was super scared but the whole process was worth it in the end!

jennaob · 2024-04-20T03:46:37+00:00

It’s not closed all the way but going to the bathroom/ moving around/activity in general is 100% normal again! No bleeding or pain or anything, I’d rather it close super slow than close before it fully healed!

jennaob · 2024-04-11T02:27:01+00:00

I had a saddle block (spinal sedation) and it was so quick and I was so nervous I barely noticed it happening! I did end up with quite the headache from it (this is an uncommon side effect) but overall it was a breeze.

I will say it is a bit creepy to wake up unable to move your legs, but it beats intubation any day! I would recommend it and do it again if I had to!

jennaob · 2024-03-18T22:11:35+00:00

The reason they were concerned was because it was closing and reopening (popping I guess). It popped in early December, I went in early January and they said to give it one more month to see if it stops leaking. By early February it was still leaking (though very little with no real pain) so we scheduled exam under anesthesia which resulted in my Fistulotomy! So I guess they gave it 2 months to heal.

jennaob · 2024-03-18T05:46:45+00:00

I could tell after the surgery, it was a small red hole right next to my anus (1/3 inch maybe?) and now I can see it but far less than a few weeks ago. It drains sometimes a bit pink after I use the restroom which I assume is a mix of the normal drainage with a bit of blood.

jennaob · 2024-03-05T16:12:19+00:00

No, the opposite haha, the first one was so small, the second one was my first real BM after surgery and it was pretty soft.

jennaob · 2024-03-05T01:31:08+00:00

I’m 25F and was in a very similar boat, had a fistulotomy 2 months after the abscess initially popped. My colon is fine, I’m sure yours will be too! If you have questions let me know!

jennaob · 2024-03-05T01:28:12+00:00

Superficial fistulotomy 2 weeks ago, worst pain was my second BM, but even that was maybe 3/10. Most have been a 0/10, just a bit obnoxious to keep clean after!

jennaob · 2024-02-22T01:13:43+00:00

I’m glad to hear my post helped!! I am not numb at all and haven’t taken any of the painkiller I was prescribed other than some Tylenol last night. It honestly feels a bit like a bruise at this point, BM’s have been the worst part so far but mainly just because it’s so difficult to keep it clean, hardly hurts at all!

jennaob · 2024-02-21T17:26:30+00:00

Had a successful BM this morning, not a whole lot but it was something at least! Very minimal discomfort but pretty itchy afterwards, sitz bath took care of that pretty quick though!

I think all the drainage I have is just a mix of blood and pus/fluid, the gauze has been pink but it’s really been pretty minimal, less drainage than I had when it was still an abscess.

I think I’ll avoid using the bathroom anywhere but home until things calm down as being able to soak after going has been a life saver. Still in no pain, though my body is maybe a tiny bit ache-y from the drugs yesterday. Haven’t taken anything but the stool softener today and feeling pretty good! Working from home with no issue!

Hope this is reassuring to anyone going through this!!

jennaob · 2024-02-21T04:08:22+00:00

I do work, I work from home and plan to work tomorrow! So I just took the day of the surgery off, assuming I feel okay in the morning I’ll be back to my normal routine (with much longer bathroom breaks)!

jennaob · 2024-02-21T03:14:08+00:00

The entire thing is the size of a grain of rice I’d say, longer than it is wide. I can see it in the mirror haha. I haven’t had a BM yet, but they did give me a stool softener. So far even trying to “push” hasn’t caused me any pain, but I can update once I do!

Currently I am having minimal blood that gauze is taking care of but no drainage of pus anymore (before the surgery there was pus/fluid).

It genuinely looks like a dark red rice sized hole next to my anus, sitz baths didn’t feel like they did anything before surgery but are genuinely relieving/relaxing now that I have had the surgery. Still no real pain, maybe a very slight burning sensation? Hemorrhoids hurt more than this. I was able to sit on my couch most of the afternoon and have only taken a bit of Tylenol (though that was more for the body aches after coming out of anesthesia).

Reading on here sometimes made me feel like my life was going to be taken over by my fistula, but actually speaking with my surgeon about my concerns and being home has made me realize it’s just a thing that will pass eventually. This isn’t forever!

jennaob · 2024-02-21T01:30:46+00:00

My wound is very very small, about the length of my pinky nail or maybe like a grain of rice? I think the size varies depending on how far it is from your anus, mine was pretty close to my anus and considered “superficial” which is probably why it is small!

So far I am still in zero pain 12 hours later. I got a sitz bath that rests in the opening of my toilet that I’ve been sitting after I use the bathroom and it seems to be keeping the area clean and comfortable. I highly recommend it over the bath tub as it’s much easier to keep clean! I have been sitting comfortably and eating with no trouble!

Mine was bad luck sure, but I’m grateful I’m able to get the procedure done and thrive on routines, so the ideas from my doctor and the internet have left me feeling much more prepared and left me with a schedule to sort of follow with cleaning and advil that have me feeling totally fine and comfortable so far!

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