Anal Fistula Procedures

Posted by BILL T @billt, Aug 29, 2011

I HAD AN ABCESS IT WAS REMOVED AND NOW 14 MONTHS LATER I HAVE A FISTULA ON BUTTOX DRAINING. IF IT STOPS DRAINING I GET VER SICK. I MUST KEEP IT OPEN VERY PAINFUL.

DOCTORS SAY OPERATION TOO MANY COMPLICATIONS.

I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER PROCEDURES AND SURGEONS, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND THEM.

PLEASE HELP

COLON RECTAL SURGERY

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

I am 46yrs old and I have been suffering from "Fistulas" I have been to wound clinic and several Doctors and I am not fixed yet! I am so depressed from this please someone I need help to cure. I have had surgery on them, the Doctor closed them with surgical glue, and it created more and more! Some tunnel to the other one. I am misserable I get sick, fatigue and cold from them. I have like 6 now! One Doctor even put a colostomy in me and won't remove it now! I need Professional Help! On top of all this I have Muscula Dystrophy and I have had my thyroid removed! I have almost died. PLEASE I'm begging for HELP!!! (Sad in Vancouver,Wa)

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@wendyailshie

I am 46yrs old and I have been suffering from "Fistulas" I have been to wound clinic and several Doctors and I am not fixed yet! I am so depressed from this please someone I need help to cure. I have had surgery on them, the Doctor closed them with surgical glue, and it created more and more! Some tunnel to the other one. I am misserable I get sick, fatigue and cold from them. I have like 6 now! One Doctor even put a colostomy in me and won't remove it now! I need Professional Help! On top of all this I have Muscula Dystrophy and I have had my thyroid removed! I have almost died. PLEASE I'm begging for HELP!!! (Sad in Vancouver,Wa)

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You are not going to die, I have similar problem for more than 16 yeears now, am 35yrs old,have series of surgery without succees, also looking for the best way out. Am believing God for that soon.With my faith in Jesus Christ, i dont experience most of the discomfort i use to have about 10yrs ago, since i accepted Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour.Just draw closs to God, I kwow that one day it will be well with us.

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Would like to hear from people who has or gone through this awful illness.

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@angiejimez

Would like to hear from people who has or gone through this awful illness.

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@angiejimez -- hello, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Though this thread has been inactive for some time, I moved your post here in hopes some of its members might return and tell you a bit about their own experiences with anal fistula.

You may be interested in some of this information on anal fistula from Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anal-fistula/symptoms-causes/syc-20352871.

Some other Mayo Clinic Connect members who may have some thoughts for you on your fistula are @vdouglas, @dawn_giacabazi, @luv2float, @anon01345522, @hopeful33250 and @kanaazpereira.

If you feel comfortable, would you mind telling us more about when you were diagnosed and what types of symptoms you have been experiencing?

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I am a Mayo Connect member, publishing in Neuropathy most often. I also post in digestive health as I have Gastroparesis, IBS and GERD. I responded to a notification email on this latest subject here only to read about this ailment/condition. The reason I am drawn to it is because ironically yesterday and today, I have had blood on the tissue after a bowel movement. It's more than a spot or two as I'd expect with the hemorrhoids but it is bright red not dark, so that leads me to think that it's new and not from up in the colon.
Any suggestions welcome!
Just keep swimming, Just KEEP swimming!
Darlia

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@angiejimez

Would like to hear from people who has or gone through this awful illness.

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Hi
I had an perianal abscess in May 28- 2017 and had surgery to drain it. A fistula formed and in July 14 -2017 had a seton put on. Then in
October 20-2017, I had an advancement flap procedure done, but got very sick a week later. So, on November 2- 2017, the Dr. told me
that the procedure had failed and had to put a seton on again because I had another abscess starting. My doctor left town and referred me to another doctor, also a colon specialist, and he wants me to have surgery on February 9-2018 for an exam and to change the seton from silk to (I don't know what), and that the original abscess had left me with a big hole or dent. Just wanted to hear from people that have gone thru this. I just don't want to be going thru so many surgeries. According to my doctor, I do not have Crohn disease just had some real bad hemorrhoids that might have started the abscess, but these were removed on my July 14, 2017 surgery.
Would love to talk to people what it's like. Thank you

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@angiejimez

Would like to hear from people who has or gone through this awful illness.

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Hi Angie,

I have not had my issues that I described in my post yesterday for very long. The hemorrhoids though I have had for many years but now they are much bigger. I have them inside and outside. My last colonoscopy was in Nov. '16 and they did find a polyp in the anal area of the colon and removed it. It came back as benign so then my Gastroenterologist and also my newest gastro dr as well, both said I don't need to have another colonoscopy for 10 yrs because it was benign. Now the over the last 6 mnths or so I have had on and off bleeding. Yesterday evening though was the worst yet as it was much more blood than past times when it was just a couple of spots on the tissue. It happened after a colon call. (that's what we call it in my household. lol) and it had been a normal bowel movement. Not constipated, actually a little loose but not diarrhea. I do have some cramping pain sometimes afterward, but I always attribute this to the IBS. I have not ever been diagnosed with Crohn's or anything like that. I do have tortuous colon and also diverticulosis (not 'itis' which is the actual inflammatory flareup). So I am gathering as much info as I can through this Mayo connect so that when I tell my gastroenterologist, I can include what I have info about.
Darlia

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Thanks so much @darlia! Welcome @angiejimez! I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms, and so glad that you've joined this group.

Although not specifically about anal fistula, I sincerely encourage you to go through these past discussions about anal fissure and/or anal abscess:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-non-healing-wounds/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pelvic-floor-dysfunction-with-constipation-in-males/
I'm also tagging @hew and @arieon69 with the hope that they will return to share their experiences with you.

Knowing the complete path of an anal fistula is important for effective treatment. Here's some information about Mayo Clinic's approach to treating anal fistula: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anal-fistula/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20352874

@angiejimez, I can imagine your reluctance to go through repeated surgeries; have you considered getting a second opinion?

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@kanaazpereira

Thanks so much @darlia! Welcome @angiejimez! I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms, and so glad that you've joined this group.

Although not specifically about anal fistula, I sincerely encourage you to go through these past discussions about anal fissure and/or anal abscess:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-non-healing-wounds/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pelvic-floor-dysfunction-with-constipation-in-males/
I'm also tagging @hew and @arieon69 with the hope that they will return to share their experiences with you.

Knowing the complete path of an anal fistula is important for effective treatment. Here's some information about Mayo Clinic's approach to treating anal fistula: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anal-fistula/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20352874

@angiejimez, I can imagine your reluctance to go through repeated surgeries; have you considered getting a second opinion?

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The surgeries can be an extremely terrifying experience,
trust me I've had plenty and am only 27. As far as dealing with
recurring abscesses and such, may I ask your ethnicity? Here is why I
ask, a skin condition known as hidradenitis is very rarely diagnosed or
in my experience, it took my adult life for someone to tell me. It is
predominate in African Americans but does largely affect others as well.
What will happen is you'll be fine for a while, then boom! Here's an
abscess. It can start at any age. I believe that's what you may have
going on. But I'm not a doctor, just someone who has been through a lot
and knows a little bit about things. For me I was very young and it
started under my armpits and then as I grew older moved to my pelvic
area. So basically anywhere that's warm and accumulates moisture. Oral
antibiotics never seemed to work for me and several hospital admissions
followed. I was given Zyvox after a surgery and it destroyed my white
blood cells. I was ill for a week. Had to go back and stay close to
another month.

I believe the worst thing to do is to make a
gaping hole and not pack it while it closes or stitch it such because
it leaves room for anything, especially staph, to blossom. One thing you
can do is fill it with Manuka honey. It's a little expensive, but it
was amazing with my healing. And if you didn't know, bacteria can not
grow in honey. Also look into a wound vac, any wound center should be
able to set you up on a path for that. That can be a total game changer.
Also feel free to tag me again, it is a very difficult and depressing
thing to deal with, but always make sure to live your best life despite
the cards you were dealt.

Peace and Blessings,
Arieon

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Thank you so much for responding to my tag, and and sharing your experience, @arieon69! We sincerely appreciate it. And I'm sure @angiejimez will appreciate it too.

You mentioned hidradenitis, and I thought you may want to join this conversation about Hidradenitis suppurativa in the Skin Health group on Connect:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hidradenitis-suppurativa/

@arieon69, may I ask if any other family members have or had this condition? Could you share a few details about wound vac therapy?

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