Yep, I had 4 setons placed in them July 24th. I have 2 fistula with branches. I had the drains in for 4 months, I had the seton healing checked a couple of times before surgery was approved. (My fistulas were more than 5 years old, so complex to heal).

If you haven't met with your surgeon in a couple months, I'd email them and make an appointment. From what I've read setons can be in for 6 months.

I had the 2nd surgery (fistulotomy) last week, 4 long months with setons. The channels are still draining but I feel much better than I did during surgery 1.

I won't know for 3 months if the surgery was successful or if I need a 3rd. From what I was told, the surgery has a 60% success rate with healed fistulas.

It's a long journey, I hope you're able to get the setons removed soon!

Have you had any incontinence issues since your latest surgery? Btw, do have a jpouch?

Yes, I have some incontinence, it's part of the healing process, my fistulas continue to drain. I'm 9 days post op so none of this is surprising.

This is a forum for people who have j-pouches, isn't it?

I don't have colitis or IBS so my recovery may be different if you do.

Oh my, I had no idea that the process to get rid of the fistulas is so complex. I don’t know which is worse. I’m definitely stressed besides the pain and discomfort. Thanks for help

Hi Cheryl,

Do you have a jpouch? If you do have you had increased stool leakage since your fistula surgery? I’m asking because the anal muscles can get damaged from the fistula surgery.

Hi ATL,

Yes, I have a j-pouch - I'm not sure why I'd be posting here if I didn't. If I didn't have a j-pouch, I would not have fistulas, crazy how the world works.

Stool and puss continue to drain from the fistulas after the setons are removed and healing multiple fistulas can take 2-3 months. I do have some minor leakage due to a swollen sphincter area because that's where the setons were tied. I'd be shocked not to have any stool leakage because of my current diet, I'm eating low fiber food and taking some laxatives.

I was warned the sphincter muscles may have been damaged by the fistulas, that's why I had 4 setons in for 3+ months in a complex surgery. Fistulas take while to heal from and I won't know if if the surgery was 100% successful for a couple months. I do have a post op next week so I should have an update.

I'm focusing on healing and getting better and not on the worst case scenario of some leakage. Personally I don't worry about what might happen and focus on what I can control - like my diet, exercise etc.