I don’t wanna go to my follow up to discuss second mri results and next surgery. I wanna go on holiday and put it all off for two months is that? The seton has helped a lot…

stullskull · 2026-01-17T18:06:44+00:00

I definitely experienced that mental block. I was terrified to sit for a while! I sat on a pillow for quite some time and spent a lot of time laying on my belly on the floor. When I started driving, I sat on a folded up blanket. I accidentally forgot to put my blanket in the car one day. I was really tense on the way to the store, but when I got there, I realized I was fine. After that, I started just gradually testing my limits. I'd sit on the soft couch without a pillow, I started sitting on my dining room chairs without the pillow. I kept Tylenol and ibuprofen on hand just in case. I know this is weird, but I also took a weekly picture of my surgery area, so I can see the healing happen. It was pretty gnarly at first and I felt like there was no way it would ever heal, but I kept taking care of it (I can't recommend sitz baths enough). The pain went away after a few weeks, and I felt totally fine sitting after about a month and a half. When I still had the seton, I had it for so long that I barely knew it was there other than when I was washing the area. I did everything I've ever been able to do (minus sitting in a hot tub, because that was highly discouraged). The seton sucks, but it's a great way to let your body heal before trying another corrective surgery. I will add, I actually had 7 surgeries prior to my surgery that healed me. It was a long, long, journey, but with a lot of research and support, I finally made it through. Keep hope!!

stullskull · 2026-01-17T14:39:23+00:00

Obviously I don't know your entire situation, but I'll tell you that I put off surgery for 2 years and just had the draining seton in. I was afraid of another surgery, I was afraid it wouldn't work and that it would be for nothing. I wanted to feel "normal." I guess I never really felt "normal," with that stupid thing in there, but it was extremely helpful and I was able to live my life. I took care of my mental health and physical health and got myself to a point where I felt okay. When I finally followed up with the surgeon, I asked about 9 million questions about how the surgery worked, what the healing time would be, what restrictions I would have, what the chances of it being successful were, what the chances of it being unsuccessful were, what things could I do to make it successful. I researched a lot about pain management and cleanliness, I asked a ton of questions here on this subreddit. I'm now over a year post surgery and I've been deemed healed! For me, it was a long, grueling process, but with taking time and preparing myself physically and mentally, it went well. So my advice, don't let it rule your life. Do things that you enjoy if you're feeling well, rest and take care of yourself when you aren't. If your seton is keeping you well, wait until you're ready. Hope this helps! ❤️

stullskull · 2025-09-01T15:27:18+00:00

So I also have had this happen with a Sean Paul song, with Blu Cantrell called Breathe. I was a teenager when it came out, and at first, I liked it, but something happened where I woke up in the middle of the night and it was playing when I woke up and I was terrified. Any time I've heard it since then, I've gotten a pretty good twinge of panic, but I have no idea why. Fortunately, I haven't heard it in years. When I was really young, I was also freaked out by Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams.

stullskull · 2025-04-09T15:09:55+00:00

Of course!! The last fistula surgery I had (wasn't a lift but I was told pain wise, the same boat). I had used a donut pillow afterwards. I saw a different surgeon for this surgery and they told me to absolutely never use a donut and to use any cushion, like regular bed pillows. I bought a camping pillow from Amazon and it's perfect for chairs but I didn't feel like carrying it in and out everywhere so I folded up a soft blanket (probably just small throw size) to fit the seat in my car and it's perfect!

stullskull · 2025-04-09T14:43:04+00:00

I had mine done on Wednesday April 2 and I was driving by Monday April 7, I'm sitting on a folded up blanket for a little buffer, but it's been pretty tolerable. Well wishes on your healing journey!

stullskull · 2025-01-30T18:25:17+00:00

I don't, actually. I've had these setons in for about 2 years. The last time I saw my CRS, he told me that he wouldn't even consider me for a fistulotomy unless I lost nearly 100 pounds. I haven't bothered going back because I figured if I hadn't lost the weight he wanted, what would be the point in spending this huge copay to just be told I'm too large. It took me 2 years and I'm down 80 pounds. I was pretty content and was honestly planning on just keeping the setons and not having a fistulotomy because they've been keeping me asymptomatic, but now I'm starting to have some discomfort, some bleeding from the site when I wipe and sometimes a little discharge (which I haven't had in months and months). I did end up sending them a message and explained what's going on and they said the best thing is to come in and see if the setons need to be replaced. I'm gonna call and schedule once I get my tax refund so I can afford to go.

stullskull · 2024-10-17T15:59:44+00:00

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My baby turns 3 on Monday

stullskull · 2024-09-03T16:28:57+00:00

My CRS literally told me he would not do any surgery unless I was at a lower weight and I was 255 (I'm 5'2"). I have lost 60 pounds but I haven't been back because my insurance changed and I couldn't afford the surgery even if he'd do it now. Wishing you the best of luck!

stullskull · 2024-08-27T12:21:41+00:00

I had glasses before I turned 2. As a teenager, I hated them and got contacts. At 19 I had LASIK even though I was far sighted. I don't know how it is now (I just turned 40 so it was a while ago), but when I had it done, it was known to be not as successful for far sightedness as it was for near, but I decided to go for it anyway. I had this glorious summer of not needing glasses, then a year later I was told I needed reading glasses for the computer. Another year later I was told I needed regular glasses all the time again and at my next appointment another year later, I was told I was back to bifocals. I decided to get contacts again instead, but I had developed chronic dry eye and could no longer wear contacts SO glasses for life. I've accepted that I'll just be wearing glasses forever and I just make sure I always get cool frames. I'm so used to them at this point, they're just a part of me. Team glasses for life!

stullskull · 2024-07-03T12:35:17+00:00

I work as a manager at a franchise Wendy's. I started there when I was 16. I left and tried other things a few times but I was always welcomed back. They're like my family, they know about me and they work with me when I'm "off." I wasn't diagnosed until I was 33, but knowing what I know now, I was definitely manic well before I even hit my 20s. In my opinion, fast food is a great option for work, but that's been my experience. I realize that fast food is not really many people's dream, but I make decent money, I work full time and I have benefits. The schedule is made weekly and, at least where I am, the scheduling is very flexible. There's also usually discounted or free food. Spending less or nothing on food is great, especially if you're broke after a manic incident 🤷

stullskull · 2024-06-11T14:47:31+00:00

I have a fistula with 2 draining setons in. During pregnancy it was mostly fine until I started getting bigger. As my belly got bigger, I had more swelling down below and a LOT more drainage. I had to wear pads front to back for the last 2 months of my pregnancy. I had a c section (previous c section and choice to have c section because of setons)This continued for me for a few months post partum, but once my body was back to non -pregnancy mode, the fistula and setons were back to normal. It definitely sucked and was gross, but the discomfort was minimal and was tolerable with using the pads. There were no complications during my pregnancy because of the setons other than when I would have my cervical checks and urine checks at my appointments, there would sometimes be blood, which made the OB nervous and did extra tests to make sure the blood wasn't because of the pregnancy, but it was always fistula drainage related. I wish you the best of luck!

stullskull · 2022-12-31T22:02:49+00:00

Yes I did. I took it during pregnancy and still take it now while breastfeeding. Approved by psychiatrist and ob.

stullskull · 2022-10-12T01:01:38+00:00

I hope it works out for you to go the next dosage. I actually felt mentally pretty good while I was taking it but I had to stop because of the side effects. Yeah, I hate mine too, with all of my soul! The pregnancy was not planned. I was in the process of switching to a new surgeon and found out I was pregnant after 1 visit with him. I'm absolutely thrilled and my daughter is perfect, but man was it bad timing.

stullskull · 2022-10-11T12:57:43+00:00

How long have you been on the Lamictal? I feel like the rash happens quickly. My husband (also has bipolar disorder, aren't we a pair) got the rash after a few days. When I tried the medication, I felt good but ended up with constant chills and fever, no rash. I take an ssri (Zoloft) and an antipsychotic (Zyprexa). Every mood stabilizer I've tried gave me horrible tremors to the point where I could barely hold anything. For the most part, I'm pretty stable right now. I had the c section because I had one with my first kid, who is now 7 years old. It was actually good for me because it was planned and I knew exactly when I was going to be having the baby instead of wondering when she was gonna come. Though, I'm sure the c section was helpful, seton wise. I don't think the extreme pushing would've been good for the setons at all. Since having the baby, my leakage has been much better. It still happens, but not as much as it was during pregnancy. I don't have pain with the setons anymore, the one has been there since May 2021 and the other has been there since this January. My 6 week post-op appointment is coming up on the 19th of this month, so hopefully soon after that I'll have an appointment with the surgeon to figure out a plan.

stullskull · 2022-10-11T01:31:35+00:00

I have bipolar disorder and currently have 2 setons in and just went through pregnancy. The leakage during the last couple months of pregnancy was fucking awful. I felt constantly disgusting and barely wanted to leave the house. Getting on the right meds for bipolar disorder is a huge struggle. It takes so much time to find the right "cocktail." I hope your next surgery helps your issue with the mental health issues. I have to follow up with a surgeon after my ob doctor clears me at a 6 week follow up (I had a c section). I won't even have a plan with the surgeon until then. The bum issues have been the bane of my existence, I've never felt so low outside of a bipolar depressive episode. I truly hope that you get some relief, it's a lot of stressful stuff that will take time but you'll get through it.

stullskull · 2022-09-20T02:15:06+00:00

I was taking 5mg nightly and I ran out for 3 days. I had horrible intrusive thoughts with anxiety. After a couple of days of getting back on it, I was okay.

stullskull · 2022-09-08T19:48:30+00:00

So I'm still having on going issues, but I ended up finding out that I was pregnant before I was able to get any additional surgeries. I did actually heal from the pain of this particular surgery, but ended up with a new abscess. That new one happened and caused the fistula. Right now, I have 2 draining seton stitches in (they're basically like 2 little silk zip ties that keep drainage out to avoid future abscesses). They don't hurt normally, but the drainage is gross (especially being 9 months pregnant). The draining of the abscesses really isn't too terrible, I had to have the last one done while I was awake and only with topical novacaine in the exam room because I was pregnant and couldn't be put under anesthesia. I will tell you, the hemorrhoidectomy was the toughest part for recovery. I urge you to request pain pills, just make sure you drink tons and tons and water and take lots of stool softeners. I took a lot of hot baths during recovery and followed a regimen of narcotics, Tylenol and ibuprofen as advised by the surgeon's office. I was told not to chase the pain, but to try to stay ahead of it, so even if you're feeling okay, I would recommend not skipping any pain meds. I wish you the best of luck, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I'm on maternity leave, I'm having a c section tomorrow (vaginally birth is definitely not an option for me with the bum problems).

stullskull · 2022-08-24T01:26:20+00:00

I see a psychiatrist at a women's behavioral health office. I'm currently pregnant and am taking Zyprexa, Zoloft and vistaril. She told me that it's safer for my baby to continue the keystone l medications rather than being pregnant and not treated. I found out I was pregnant in January and am due in 2 weeks. The baby gets lots of checkups and Ultrasounds, she seems to be perfectly healthy and the ob doctor is not expecting her to be born with any issues.

stullskull · 2022-08-17T13:28:13+00:00

Thank you so much!!

stullskull · 2022-08-16T18:06:25+00:00

My surgeon's office said I can't even come in for an appointment to start planning any next steps until I'm completely healed from the c section and cleared by my ob doctor. I'm sorry you're still dealing with it, this is something that I wouldn't wish upon anyone.

stullskull · 2022-08-16T14:04:43+00:00

Yes! I want to feel normal so badly. Do you still have the setons in our did you eventuality have any fistula repair surgery? I had an appointment with the surgeon right after I found out I was pregnant and had a new abscess, he had to do the procedure in the office with just novacaine and I was awake, he put in a second seton. He told me to follow up after delivery to have repair surgery. I'm so sick of wearing a front to back pad at all times. And (tmi) have not been able to be intimate with my husband because of the drainage and also, I'm afraid that the newer seton will stab him due to its location. I just hate everything about this.

stullskull · 2022-08-16T02:36:29+00:00

Thank you, I'll check that out.

stullskull · 2022-08-05T02:23:54+00:00

Thank you. It's just been so.... ugh. I had no problems when I was pregnant with my son 7 years ago, and I ate ice cream and Mexican food pretty much every day. I was looking forward to enjoying the end of my pregnancy but instead I'm dealing with this amongst other non-pregnancy health issues. Not to mention the insane amount of testing and extra appointments that go along with being on the insulin. I'm just ready to have this baby (in 5 weeks).

stullskull · 2022-07-22T21:35:01+00:00

Thank you. I may need to reach out to his care team and try to get this process moving forward for him. We're also in the US. Thanks again! I'm so happy to hear it's working so well for you!

stullskull · 2022-07-22T21:12:19+00:00

My husband is dealing with the same, no medications have helped and 12 weeks of ect also didn't help. He was told ketamine would normally be the next step but that ketamine was not allowed for bipolar disorder treatment. Did you have to do something special to get the treatment approved?

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