I should also mention that I am on 200 MG of Doxycycline for an unrelated issue! Joy of joys, murphy's law, am I right?

With as dumb as it sounds, it really will not be much of a problem. Once that packing is out, you'll feel a lot better and can soak in the tub. Now that the abscess is drained and the wound opened, it will heal from the inside out. So, it really does not matter what is going on on the outside.

I know it seems counter intuitive, but it really is OK.

Jan

I had one recently (December) that no one would commit to calling a perianal abscess. Eventually they cut it to drain, but it had started on its own. Formed a fistula, and I now have a seton. At least 1/2 of these abscesses develop a fistula, so be prepared for that possibility.

Get a sitz bath. When the packing is out, a sitz bath is soothing after a bowel movement. Actually I was allowed to soak with my packing, because it was just a wee wick. You can add some Epsom salts, or even table salts, to draw out the rest of the goo and pus or whatever it's draining. My sitz bath is one of my newest BFFs, even now with the seton, 'cause it's hard to just wipe and go anymore.

Thank you all for the kind responses! They made me feel much better last night. It does seem as though my packing actually fell out during one of my bathroom trips.. so I've just taped it up with some gauze. Maybe my doctor will have to repack it tomorrow.

No breaks for us pouch ladies