I have had an op for anal fistula about 1.5 weeks ago and I am quite concerned about some of the symptoms I am still experiencing, although the surgeon told me they are ok. I am wondering if anyone here has experienced the same op and if these post op issues are normal.

About 5 months, I noticed a small lump just above the outside of the anus, which caused tremendous pain after eact time I opened my bowels. The pain would last for 2-4 hours. Then about a month later, it burst open and the pain after defecating eased a lot. Over the next few days, it would get bigger again and the pain after defecating increased, then it would burst again. And so the cycle continued for a few weeks until I started getting a permanent discharge from this lump.

In Janunary, a specialist diagnosed this as an abscess being caused by an infected fistula on the rectum. Hence, scheduled me for surgery.

He said that he cut off the muscle surrounding the fistula at the lower part of tha anus, but for the higher 1cm of the fistula, he had put in a draining seton, as cutting the muscle that high up risked incontinence. As for the abscess on the surface, he just cut it open and said that he would leave it open for it to heal naturally, with no sutures or dressings.

After the op, I found defecating painful, especially the first time, when I must have lost about half a cup of blood!. Anyway, since then blood loss has not been an issue as, although I see it on the tissue, it does not drip.

HOwever, the issues thatI am concerned about are:

- the open wound from the abscess.. the discharge has been continuous since the op. Pink and yellow stuff. Sometimes there are small bits of semi sold substances in the wound too, which looked like faeces, but the doc said dont worry. Faeces through an open wound not from the anus?? Or is it just stuff that looked like faeces?

- the Seton fell out when the doc examined me a week afer the op. He said this was intentional. Now, I am getting a different (I think) kind of pain after defecation, similar to the kind I got when I first discovered the problem .. a pain deeper in the anal canal lasting 2 -4 hours.

- the anal opening now feels like it has multiple thrombosed / prolapsed haemmorhoids. Doc did not seem concerned nor noticed. Previously, I had mainly internal haemorrhoids. They feel really tender and raw.

Currrently, I shower the area 3 times a day and sit in a warm bath of hot water twice a day. No antibiotics and only take painkillers when pain is unbearable. I do my best to keep stools soft and sometimes over do it and end up going to toilet 2 or 3 times a day.. very painful!!

Is my healing process going as planned? Any ideas as to how long till a full recovery?

Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi! Was just going thru the forums, and am checking out all of the fistula ones. I just had one repaired too. Don't think it was successful, but, all I can tell you is get yourself a sitz bath. I don't know if you have one or not, but it saved me. I would actually have a bowel movement rite in it. Change it several times in one sitting. It gave instant relief. It sits rite on your toilet. I did several a day. I hope things are going better for you. My incision is still open too after 6 weeks. Don't know where I go from here. All the best to you.

Fistulas are tough to heal and sometimes the surgery does not work. If you feel that the drainage has significantly slowed and that the abscess is reforming, I think you need to be examined again. The seton may need to be reinserted. Any chance for a second opinion on this?

In the meantime, I agree that sitz baths should become your new best friend. Showers are nice, but they don't really count as therapy, as the sitz bath does.

Jan