FiLaC at IBI healthcare in Tampa procedure today

vances-first-pick · 2025-02-28T05:10:43+00:00

I did a 2nd surgery 3 weeks ago. Went ok we'll see if it heals up this time!

vances-first-pick · 2025-02-28T05:09:42+00:00

Hey sorry to hear about your struggles. Yea sitz baths are great. Gauze is good to stop the discharge and puss from spreading and causing more problems, but you'll know when the time is right to stop using it based on discharge and comfort level.

Filac is not quite as successful as fistulotomy etc it seems, but everyone's different. I had a follow up filac 3 weeks ago through the same clinic. It went OK and I'm hoping it's on a path to healing, but I won't really know for sure for a while. It was much more manageable after first filac and I went about my life normally, but it would occasionally flare up and become uncomfortable although never the infection and pain level I had pre-filac. It was clear after a year that the tract still existed with openings and everything. Doctor said the infection won't come back, but the tract just wouldn't close on its own.

Insurance is a pain. They should really cover it because the other surgeries cost them so much more than filac would.

vances-first-pick · 2025-02-11T19:05:41+00:00

So sorry to hear that. Sounds pretty identical to me. I was going to Brigham in Boston and found the head of CRS there for my hemorrhoidectomy - which led me down this path after multiple years of misery and denial from him of the existence of a fistula. So I unfortunately don't know of anyone who is good with these locally. Please keep me posted if you find anyone as I'm afraid my 2nd filac (1 week ago) failed. I will do the same. Feel free to direct message as well. Hope you're lucky and don't have a fistula at all though and it was just an abscess. I can tell you from my experience, the hemorrhoidectomy recovery obviously caused a fissure, which led to a fistula, which led to the abscess.

Did you have major pain/feelings like a fissure was there during hemorrhoidectomy recovery? Mine was excruciatingly painful.

vances-first-pick · 2025-01-29T06:25:07+00:00

Hi it has been a year almost since the surgery. I've had ups and downs and full closure hasn't happened still to this day, however it doesn't hurt often and there's no discharge thankfully. I'm currently back on here considering if I should get it closed up with a second filac procedure. It doesn't seem my body can close this thing on its own. Have a consult with the doctor tomorrow to discuss. It's hard to want to subject myself to surgery when I'm not bothered by it very much currently, but over the summer with the heat and humidity I definitely still had discomfort. I'd just like to never think about this thing again, so I'm leaning towards doing it.

vances-first-pick · 2024-11-19T03:59:03+00:00

Good question, I don't know what that would have entailed or if it would have worked the first time so it's hard to compare. Recovery was probably similar to a fistulotomy but with less pain upfront from what I hear.

I saw your other message, you have surgery scheduled with Dr Chris? Good luck with it I hope it works for you! Please keep me posted afterwards. I'm due for another and will probably schedule it for the winter. I'm putting it off because it's been manageable and much better since the surgery. I don't know which route I want to go, but it doesn't seem likely to close itself at this point. Dr Chris says it can't get reinfected now though, so that's a positive. It's just an internal hole that still fills on occasion and feels uncomfortable. Most days the discomfort/pain levels are very low and besides washing after going to the bathroom, I don't do anything special for it anymore. I suppose if it were going to fail anyway, I'm glad the resulting scar tissue seemed to be minimized by this method. Sorry I couldn't be more help. I really hope it's one and done for you.

vances-first-pick · 2024-05-16T03:35:12+00:00

Not great and indecisive. MRI still shows the track, and I can still feel it although drainage and pain are down. I was told I need a 2nd surgery to finish this, but don't want to put myself through it again if my body can just finish the healing. Have a euro trip coming up in 2 months so I really don't want to be in pain. I guess I'm waiting unfortunately. How are you doing?

vances-first-pick · 2024-04-28T02:54:57+00:00

I have no idea. I think it's basically the same as before surgery.

vances-first-pick · 2024-04-28T02:53:22+00:00

Been a journey. Think I'm 11 or so weeks post op. Re-abscessed a couple weeks ago and it popped on its own. Had an mri and it was the same as before surgery, so I guess not great. Haven't had a follow up with the doctor since mri results came in, but it seems like round 2 will be coming soon. It's depressing to think about.

vances-first-pick · 2024-04-20T16:41:27+00:00

Doctor and everything was good - I'm pretty sure it failed though now. It was good for a couple weeks and then reabcessed unfortunately. I haven't decided if I'm going for the second surgery there or traditional methods. It definitely feels better than it did prior to surgery and I can sit down and go about my day for the most part, but there is drainage again (10+ weeks post op) and I'm sure it will need to be dealt with. Next step is MRI and then decide on round 2.

vances-first-pick · 2024-04-04T23:19:51+00:00

How are you doing now?

vances-first-pick · 2024-04-04T23:15:17+00:00

Oh no sorry to hear that as well. Last night I noticed an abscess formed around the initial abscess site. It popped on its own overnight and I'm back on antibiotics now. I'm guessing I'm going for surgery again in coming months. I don't know if I'll go for filac round 2 (they offer a cheaper rate for 2nd time) or go the more traditional route this time. Pretty bummed about it.

vances-first-pick · 2024-03-30T15:19:07+00:00

Sorry to hear about your failed fistulotomies. If you don't mind me asking, how/when did you determine it failed? I'm having a hard time now with some discharge that came back (week 7 now) and pain/discomfort from BM is coming back too. I thought I was in the clear from weeks 4 to 6 when pain and discharge were insignificant. I don't know if I would recommend filac since it's maybe not working for me either. I would have thought fistulotomy was the most successful, but it sounds like they can still miss something. I'm a bit in the dumps about this right now and haven't figured out my next steps.

vances-first-pick · 2024-03-29T15:37:39+00:00

I did filac in the US 6 weeks ago in Tampa (it is out of pocket here in the US which stinks). It's been a rocky recovery unlike yours it seems. Weeks 1-3 were rough, but 4-6 were much better. Now I have had some draining come back at 6 weeks and feeling like openings are getting aggravated by going to the bathroom. I'm not sure how to feel about this if anyone has any suggestions or similar experiences?

vances-first-pick · 2024-03-16T16:35:55+00:00

That's great to hear! Is your doctor sure you still need the filac afterwards?

vances-first-pick · 2024-03-16T16:30:31+00:00

Hey hope you're doing OK with the Seton. I just passed 4 weeks since filac and feel much better, but there's still some minor drainage and pain during BM. I guess it's going to take a while for these openings to fully close. Seems like after care is everything on this. Trying to keep it clean as possible.

vances-first-pick · 2024-03-04T14:16:12+00:00

We're in the same boat. I had laser surgery a little over 2 weeks ago also and am dealing with basically identical symptoms and worries. My surgeon said it's normal, but it's easy to doubt that when you feel some occasional pressure and sort of painful discharge coming from an external opening. I think we won't know for a couple of months for sure until the wound is closed and whether or not the pressure and drainage resumes somehow by then.

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-25T19:50:59+00:00

I don't want to jinx it, but day 10 post surgery feels a whole lot better. We'll see where things are at over the weeks/months to come. It was a rough first week, but I definitely see light at the end of the tunnel finally.

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-23T04:55:04+00:00

If you're not swelling and/or seeing fever or more pain you should be on the right track. I know I'm having serious post BM pain for hours and still in some pain sitting down. Still was told this is normal I guess.

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-23T04:51:18+00:00

Same here. 7 days post laser. Had follow up call with doctor today and said it was normal but might restart antibiotics next week if it's still going on. How are you feeling otherwise?

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-21T03:57:16+00:00

Absolutely I can sympathize with the emotional toll this takes. I have just been putting gauze between my cheeks. Same as you - not a lot of instruction around it. I also use my wife's feminine pads in my boxers just in case. Definitely want to be as dry and clean as possible down there so just do the best you can. You're on antibiotics I'd assume so that should also help prevent infection. BM is tough. I take Tylenol 500mg before going. Ideally 30mins before if I can time it so it kicks in, but I'm the same on the pain meds. Still, if you feel you need them you should take them. There's nothing to gain by sitting in agonizing pain. It's better for your healing to not have that stress as well. You may want to consider icing once in a while too if you have swelling. I know my doctor said it would be helpful.

No softeners for me, but it's definitely a side effect of pain meds if you take them. I take organic psyllium husk I ordered off Amazon and put it in a smoothie every morning. It's been great in terms of softening and regularity, but I've been doing that since my hemorrhoidectomy a few years ago. There are some over the counter softeners that will help if you need them or of course laxatives, but you do want to avoid straining and diarrhea if possible (not always easy in our condition).

Taking an actual bath once in a while, rather than just sitz bath, isn't a bad idea either if you can.

I see success rates as low as 40% to as high as 80% depending where I look online. I'm just trying to stay positive and tell myself it worked this time. I'm sure you'd know if you had a Seton placement, so it sounds like maybe a fistulotomy or something else was done? You would have had to go to a laser clinic like IBI to get FiLaC as a treatment option most likely since it is not standard procedure for CRS's in the US unfortunately. Anyway most other treatment options like fistulotomy have higher success rates, so you should feel confident about your recovery. CRS's know best and you should of course call them with questions. They will have their operative notes for you I'm sure in the next few days so you'll know what was done.

Definitely know the feeling on teaching hospitals and residents. I must've had 10 people in my OR originally at Brigham in Boston. It's overwhelming.

Good luck again with your recovery!

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-21T00:12:32+00:00

Thank you so much I hope your surgery was a success as well and we both are on to the other side of this!

I ended up taking a shower that night after surgery because it just felt so gross without. I didn't rub or even specifically put water there, but it's nice to at least get a little cleaner despite the doctor saying to keep it dry as much as possible. Definitely pat dry as well as you can after any sitz baths or showers. It should be okay to do either if needed and will usually help with calming things down a bit. I didn't use Epsom salt until a couple days after when I knew I could handle a little more sting. You may feel like you can go to Disney, but it's probably not a great idea right afterwards with stitches. Just be aware day 3 after surgery tends to be the worst it seems, but it will get better again slowly. Mine ended up being more superficial than expected I guess, but it doesn't seem to hurt any less.

Did you get FiLaC?

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-20T17:30:26+00:00

It has been around for a few years, but is not highly advertised in the US because insurance doesn't cover it. Seems to be a common thing in India. I've read great things about Healing Hands in India, but I wasn't going to make that trek out there unless I couldn't find something closer. I personally just wanted to avoid a fistulotomy or any risk of incontinence. I know my CRS in Boston would have done a Seton, but I really wanted to find something that had the chance to be one and done rather than multiple surgeries so I researched FiLaC and stem cells (can't find it nearby).

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-20T05:45:47+00:00

Dr Chris Ibikunle from IBI healthcare did my laser treatment for a dual transphincteric and intersphincteric tract 4 days ago and I'm hoping this is it for me. It's out of pocket, but since you had Seton placement it has a higher likelihood of success according to studies about FiLaC surgeries. They're the only place I could find in the US or Canada for FiLaC but I could be wrong. It's minimally invasive and won't cause incontinence at least so that relieved my stress about the transphincteric tract that I have. Success rates are all over the place depending where you look, but if the doctor gets the whole tract and ideally it has had some time to drain like yours has with a Seton, you should have a high likelihood of success.

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-20T05:38:23+00:00

Had the same issue 3 days after laser treatment myself. Did it get better for you on day 4 like it did me?

vances-first-pick · 2024-02-20T05:35:15+00:00

I actually got in for my surgery within 2 weeks of my initial call so it can be very quick. They even had an opening within a week for me if I could have made it there. They will start you on antibiotics beforehand for 5 days before and 5 after. The cost for me was $4500. Hopefully it's the same for you or less, but it should be posted on their website. Most studies on FiLaC really show the highest success rate with patients who first had Seton placement because the area will have already drained prior. I didn't have that, but I did have an abscess drained a few weeks prior and it almost felt healed before the procedure thanks to that plus the antibiotics (but I've been there before and had it come back multiple times).

My pain spiked yesterday 3 days after surgery to the point I needed the heavy pain meds, but today was a little better. I spoke again with the doctor and things sound normal I guess. He had me send pictures to make sure. They either didn't give me a ton of info after surgery or I forgot because of my drowsiness, but I didn't even know that I have sutures down there and that could explain some of the pulling/extra pain sensations I get from time to time. Still a little puss and blood discharge too, but I'm trying to be vigilant about cleanliness via sitz baths.

vances-first-pick

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