Hi Kristenmn. I had the plug surgery but it didn't work for me. The plug failed just 3 days after surgery. The first thing I noticed was the fistula started to bleed. Then there was air going through the fistula, which meant the stitches came undone. Then I noticed the plug was slowly dissolving and coming out of the fistula, almost becoming like a liquid. It was a very bright white color. So if you haven't experienced any of these symptoms you should be ok. Good luck to you.

i think my plug is failing...i noticed some bright white/bloody stuff coming out of the incision line it was really stretchy too...great

Oh... sorry to hear that. I am waiting for my doctor's office to call me to schedule my surgery for that. How long has it been since you got it? Were you active or laying around? There is a positive though... they can re-do the plug if it fails. If that's the case, maybe it will work out the next time because you know what to expect???

Ive been mostly laying around, not really doing much, i did do some shopping a week after i got it, but not too much, im so used to being active that not being able to work out or do anything has been horrible...its been almost 2 weeks since i got it. also i called the drs office and she said not to worry too much if it falls out because even if it has only been a week that is enough time to cause granulation to occur and that could possibly heal my fistula. if it doesnt work ill probably do the flap next since she told me that my fistula is a "medium" sized and she shouldnt have to cut into the muscle...im just nervous cause i am so young and im getting married in june and i dont want it to cause incontinence, but then again i am so sick of this fistula!!

Just curious if you found out whether or not your plug failed? I am going in tomorrow for my surgery. Kind of curious what to expect or not expect. Did they tell you when you could do the flap if this failed? I have a trip planned in April for Mexico. I was a bit apprehensive to buy the ticket but I am sick of not having a normal life either.

Bunny...just wondering if you'd been able to reschedule your surgery and, if so, how it went.

My fistual sounds similar to yours as I also had no external sign of the abscess/fistula and only felt a small lump in my buttock with some pain and swelling (which lasted about a week). My primary care physician had no idea what the problem was and sent me to a surgeon who opened the area. Even after the exploratory surgery, the doctor had no idea that the issue was a fistula and it was only after I did my own research that it became obvious (everyone seemed puzzled by the lack of external symptoms). I will be scheduling a seton placement prior to having the AFP surgery. My new doctor, who is a colo-rectal specialist outside of Philadelphia, has suggested that the seton remain in place for 3 months. Is this a typical time period for seton placement prior to AFP surgery? He's also suggested that I will only have to take about a week off of work. I have no other complicating factors (i.e., I don't have Crohn's, cancer or any issues other than the fistula tract and a small amount of discharge from the initial surgical site that never completely closed), but a week seems to be a very short recovery time. I initially experienced symptoms on the opposite side as well (horseshoe fistula), but the lump and pain have since disappeared.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Julia1020,

Hello. I had my surgery on Jan 22nd and so far so good. I will not be going back to work until Feb 20th. I would have had the AFP surgery on Dec 11th if it wasn't for the abcess, so in my case I had the seton put in Nov 1st and it would have only been about 6 weeks before my doctor was going to put in the plug. She wasn't able to do to the abcess but I only had to wait another 4-6 weeks again. My scenario might be a little different??? I was told to take it easy for atleast two weeks after my surgery, no lifting, exercise, etc. I could start driving once I was off of the pain medicine. I did have a scare last week because I thought the plug was failing but when I went to the doctor she said it was just breaking down a bit which it will do and she trimmed off a little bit that was starting to come out of the place where the seton was. She said she had put in a little extra which is probably why it looked like it was coming out. It has been fine since then and I have had no other issues. No more drainage either so I am guessing the area is finally healing. I have been taking it very easy though. I don't know if a week is enough time off but that might be a personal thing too. I travel for my job so I requested to be off as long as I could so I wouldn't goof up the plug. I have had enough surgeries and time off of work!!! So far so good but I will continue to keep my fingers crossed. I go in for my 3 week follow up on the 12th. I don't know why you would need in the seton for 3 months but maybe some doctors do it differently. I know they want to make sure that it has healed some but that does seem like a long time. My friends dad is also a colo rectal surgeon so I did ask him about my procedure alot. You might want to get another opinion. Best of luck!

Thank you for your response, and I'm happy to hear that things are progressing nicely for you. Most of what I've read about seton placement indicates 6-8 weeks is sufficient and my doctor is open about this...he just wants to make sure that the fistula tract is as defined as possible to ensure that the tissue integrates a cleanly as possible with the plug. I don't have to travel for my job and walk to work about 15 minutes each day (no long commute), so I hope that my recovery is not much longer than 2 weeks. That being said, I don't want to have the plug fail and have to start all over again. Better safe than sorry with these types of things I guess. I'm surprised by the pain that most of the posters seem to have experienced following insertion of the plug, given that there is no cutting involved. I had almost no pain when I had the exploratory surgery (which resulted in a small number of internal stitches) and never used my pain medication (I did, however, experience numbness at the incision location for about four months after the surgery). I guess that everyone heals differently and hope that I'm just a bit luckier than some.

I am so happy I found this website! My doctors haven't exactly been a wealth of information about my fistula or the procedures they are doing. I had the plug put in last Monday and from what I have read here, I fear that it has failed. My surgeon is on vacation, which is extremely frustrating so I am seeing my family doctor today. I have had 5 procedures since last May for this and several emotional breakdowns. It really affects every aspect of your life and it is of course a difficult thing for people to sympathize with because they really have no idea how intrusive it can be. I was in alot of pain after the plug was put in. There has been wind passing through it and a considerable amount of discharge. I am trying to be positive because at least the plug procedure can be done again. My surgeon didn't tell me that there was even a possibility of it falling out. He also didn't tell me how long I should expect the recovery to be or when I could return to work. I have decided that I am going to go on short term disability as this is affecting my job. It really can get you down sometimes and the feelings of despair have only intensified for me as each procedure fails. I am 27 and the idea of having any sort of incontinence is so unbelievably terrifying to me. I am just so happy to read about people who are going through the same thing right now (not that I would wish this on anyone and I do hope that you all recover soon!) At least I have time now to catch up on all on the talk shows!

My doctor said you will know if the plug fails as it would come out when you go to the bathroom. Discharge is going to be normal. I had that for over a week but then it stopped. There was a little part that was sticking out of my butt cheek and my doctor told me that if that happened again to take a scissors and trim it flush to my skin. That is actually what she did when I thought my plug was failing. She said it was fine. The reason they fail is due to them not being stitched in well from the inside according to her. I know how you feel about the whole incontinence issue. I am on STD and have been since Nov through all of my procedures because I couldn't work. I don't know if your family physician is really going to be able to help because mine had no idea what a fistula even was. I would contact your colo rectal surgeon and ask to be seen with another one at the facility. They should be able to get you in if you tell them it is an emergency. I was told that if you have reddness or swelling or a fever or chills to contact them immediately. Maybe you want to tell them you are experiencing something just so they get you in... I would also suggest to take it easy for at least another week. No lifting, or strenuous activity. I had a lot of pain too but percasat was my friend as well as ibuprofen and now I haven't had to take either after two weeks. Good luck to you! It might just be a bump in the road. Think positively. It helps!

I am new to this site but glad I found it because I have tons of questions to ask.... I have an anal fistula and had the plug placed on January 21, 2008. I am 6 weeks post op now. Not really sure what should be going on with it now and what is normal and not?? I am still having drainage more at time than others and some times it doesnt dain for 2 days straight???
I believe I still have my plug since I can feel it along my skin?
I really am not passing gas through the fistula anymore like I was and there are not signs of fecal matter draining after a bowl movement, just a little discomfort?? Are all these things okay and good signs or is it doomed to fail? I go see my Dr. in 3 days and I am hoping to hear good news, but I am very optomistic right now not knowing if all is routine for this many weeks post op??

Hi mnmsmith. If you are not passing gas then that's a very good sign. I think it is normal to have some drainage. I had the plug back in November but it failed 3 days after surgery. If your plug has not come out yet then maybe it has a chance of working to heal the fistula. I was told by a colo-rectal surgeon that the plug has a low success rate but if the plug has not come out then it's a good sign. Anything is possible so it could work for you. I don't know if you know about this website http://www.ibsgroup.org/forums/index.php?s=49bcbb28a1b1...wtopic=78839&st=2160 ...It's a site for people who have fistulas. Lots of info from people who have similar experiences. Anyway, good luck to you.

I had my plug put in on Jan 22nd. I went for my 3 week appointment and my doctor told me that it looks good and no matter what I did after wouldn't affect if it failed anymore due to activity. She said the surgery part was done and I don't go back until April 4th. I was having a little drainage in the beginning for a day then it would be fine and then it would do it again for a day and then be fine. My doctor told me this is normal because when the plug is breaking done it will cause some of that to happen. I haven't had anymore issues and think mine seems to be fine. Hopefully you got good news at your appointment.

I have my plug but in two weeks ago and so far so good. I haven't really had any probelms. Minimul drainage. I have pain one day and the next I won't. I guess that's part of the healing process. The only thing I would say is if you have this produre done stay home and rest. My doctor said I could return the next day if I had a desk job. I stayed home for 4 days. My surgeon told me we would really know if this produre worked in 6 months to a year and I didn't have any reoccurance. He has seen alot of success with this the plug.

Hi there, I'm new here. Sounds like things are going well for you TRH. I had the plug 6 wks ago this week. Things started off well with minimal drainage then probably just over a week in the drainage increased but my surgeon saw it and said it was as he would expect. Today the nurse came and when she pressed on some of my old scar tissue some milkier discharge came out of the external opening which I am thinking is not good. I have been feeling a little sick the last couple of days and am now taking antibiotics as think it is some kind of infection. I am just hoping there is not some kind of pocket/abscess forming. Will keep an eye on things and see surgeon again in a week. It would be so lovely to get this fistula business cleared up!