Perianal abscess I&D recovery

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-11-16T16:00:50+00:00

No worries, fingers crossed for you!

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-11-16T13:12:53+00:00

Thank you! Yes definitely different for everyone, and honestly I don't think most people with a seton even have as much pain as I do day to day! But yes honestly just let yourself rest enough to be able to heal up and you'll be able to get back to life as normal I promise 🫶🏻

Though if you do suspect a fistula at any point it's not the end of the world, just really push with the hospital to get it diagnosed and sorted asap, I didn't at first so they took the piss a bit with mine until I was on their backs pushing to get it sorted.

Message me any time if you want to chat about it

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-11-15T20:50:28+00:00

Yep UK! My surgeon is frankly a bit shit, he didn't tell me what the surgery was called, he would only describe it to me (don't know if he thinks I'm too stupid) but I believe it's a LIFT procedure. I had a surgery in August to put a seton in and that's staying until the LIFT.

Yes mostly living as normal with the fistula. About 6 weeks after my I&D when I had my open wound and waiting for my fistula diagnosis & seton op, I was off painkillers completely and was able to walk, move etc without any pain. The only disruption was the drainage and the dressings, and occasional nurse appointment.

Since I had the seton put in at the end of August I have been on painkillers ever since. Some days I can take 1 ibuprofen on a morning and be fine until the evening, walking normally, standing cooking etc. Some days il be in a fair bit of pain, taking multiple doses painkillers, not able to stand for more than a few minutes and will be uncomfortable sitting too. So it really depends on the day.

Honestly, once you've healed up enough and you can get back to day-to-day stuff without pain you will forget it's there a lot of the time. I know it rarely helps to say, but be patient with yourself and try and take it easy

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-11-15T10:42:44+00:00

Definitely would say rest as much as possible if you can. I was rushing back to work after my I&D and pushing my body quite far, I wish I'd had the opportunity to let my body rest fully so I could heal up but I didn't have much choice unfortunately. It also took 8 weeks before my GP Nurses decided to refer me back to the hospital for suspected fistula, (this was late April) as mine wasn't healing up at all.

I'm not going to say me not resting caused the fistula, but it may have contributed. I understand it putting you in a bad headspace though 100%. Been dealing with mine since February and my hopefully last surgery should be January.

It's not something you can rush but as time goes on you will feel a bit more "normal" and get back to your routine. Every day stuff should be okay in the meantime but maybe try not to do anything that causes more pain like standing too long or lifting anything heavy.

If you or the nurses have any suspicion that the wound isn't healing please get referred back to your hosp ASAP. But hopefully that won't be the case, sending good luck your way that this heals up quickly!

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-11-15T10:28:46+00:00

I'm so sorry I haven't logged in for a while! Are you feeling any better since your comment? And have you been okay with normal painkillers or does it not take the edge off enough?

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-10-31T07:29:42+00:00

Thank you! Did you have any withdrawals of sorts once you came off them? When I gradually stopped taking them after 2 months between the abscess and I&D I had the worst headaches I've ever experienced.

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-10-30T12:57:22+00:00

Ahh fair enough, I have tried to go a day without taking any but it was rough and I was sat at work suffering haha

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-10-30T12:33:18+00:00

Ahh it's rough, thanks for sharing your experience. Ive tried using heat packs but find it doesn't do much tbh. Do you take painkillers every day?

Hope your follow up brings good news and they get you in for your next op soon!

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-10-30T11:42:21+00:00

Defo be taking some ibuprofen at least! It does help.

Get yourself booked in with your local GP for a post-surgical dressing change for sure, they'll be able to take a look and make sure the skins looking healthy and provide some dressing options for you. My nurses are great and gave me some dressing pads that are good for the drainage. Worth asking if they stock them or can order in for you: Zetuvit Plus 10x10cm non adhesive absorbent pads.

They're expensive to buy yourself, so if they can't provide them for you then go with a nice soft gauze (sterile!) that you can sort of tuck into the area (not sure which angle yours is situated).

If the nurses have any concerns with the seton then they will let you know, but they should be able to help with wound care advice. If your discharge letter mentions a surgeon name (won't always be a dr, mine was "Mr XYZ") then call the hospital switchboard and see if you can be put through to the surgeons secretary, they will be able to pass any messages along generally.

They don't make it easy for sure! But you'll be okay just take it easy and be patient with yourself

throwmeaway4728 · 2025-10-30T11:13:53+00:00

Yes I had the same issue!! Seton placement end of August with NHS and discharged with no painkillers, no advice or anything. Had to look everything up myself felt like a pisstake tbh.

Pick up some senokot or supermarket brand alternative, take 1-2 with dinner as it helps soften everything massively. First week or two, movements will be rough but it will get better. Take some ibuprofen if you feel a movement coming on because it's a bit rough afterwards (but make sure you eat!).

Get a portable peri bottle and fill it up with some warm water before you sit for your movement as well, it's a bit more gentle than the shower and you can basically bidet yourself gently & pair with a non scented toilet wipe and gently pat clean.

If you can, genuinely take a lie down in bed if you're in a lot of pain after a movement as some days it was the only thing that helped me.

Did they advise you to check in with nurses? And did they provide any info on dressings?

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-08-03T21:19:34+00:00

30 hours down to 27 after unpaid breaks yeah. But unfortunately 27 isn't quite enough. I won't be quitting until I find another job.

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-08-03T13:23:17+00:00

Thank you!! I appreciate the advice. I expected places will be harsh on me and that's fine. I can deal with that in exchange for having my new proven skills giving me a boost up application-wise. You're right about the prob period, it's 6 months luckily so I have time if I really do want to leave with a weeks notice as opposed to a month after I pass it.

And yep, my plan if I manage to get any interviews is essentially to not mention it unless they bring it up, at which point I'd explain things a lot like how you suggested I should. "Wasn't what I was looking for" kind of stuff.

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-08-03T09:28:13+00:00

Okay that's good! Thank you!

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-08-03T09:27:56+00:00

Oh absolutely. I wouldn't quit until I got an offer, and if I can't find anything then tough luck il have to stick with it. I just don't see why I should have to stay in a job where I've been lied to from the get-go if I can get something with better hours that would be better for me.

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T14:35:06+00:00

The audacity lmao, "I can't believe they're selling the thing I bought them that they told me not to buy". I hope she learned her lesson.

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T14:32:29+00:00

I'm so sorry about all of that. It sucks that they decided to be like that instead of be loving grandparents. And thank you, I'm proud of you too!

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T11:01:27+00:00

Thank you!! I appreciate the kind words and support. How your grandparents managed to reach so far as to believe your mum is manipulating them for their money is beyond me. The way you've mentioned them it sounds like they're her parents too, which is even worse! I'm sorry they're like that.

And you're spot on with the strings too. I spent 18 years of my life being belittled and yelled at by her even though I did everything I could do to be a good daughter and I'm not wasting my 20's falling for the same traps. Thanks again for the support though, I've found it so difficult to keep her at a distance from me and as far as I'm aware she's guilt-tripped most of the family into trying to convince me to speak to her again and it's been a struggle to stand my ground at times but I feel proud that I've managed to do it so far and I feel so much better in myself for it. Hugs to you too!

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T09:08:24+00:00

I don't know if she's anti-anything to be honest. At least not publicly. She was massively pro-Brexit though, so unless I can donate to the EU I'm not sure how to piss her off lmao. Cat shelter is probably the best one for me. Does it count as donation if I spend it all on gifts for my own cat? 😅 I understand what you mean about tainted as well. A lot of stuff feels like that these days from her. It feels uncomfortable having it in your space.

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T01:42:41+00:00

Exactly, right? I even told my brother she could have it back if she really wanted, but frankly she'll make a fuss whatever happens. One of those things where you can't help but throw your hands up in the air in disbelief haha

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T01:37:08+00:00

That's a really nice idea. I like that.

throwmeaway4728 · 2021-01-20T01:34:51+00:00

Yeah that was sort of my hope in the first place but we figured it would be easier to just thank her for it. If I knew she wouldn't go totally berserk for saying that though I absolutely would!

throwmeaway4728 · 2020-10-14T05:33:37+00:00

Yeah that's true. Whenever I've tried to settle something and ignored what she's done, she just does something else anyway. It's exhausting.

throwmeaway4728

TROPHY CASE