Coping With Fistulotomy

In May of this year, 2007, I noticed a bump next to my rectum. I having 3 kids, one weighing in at 10 lbs. 4 oz. knew for sure this was NOT a hemmorroid. The first visit to the doctor’s office for this they tried to tell me that it was an internal hemmoroid. I was back 2 days later in even more pain. Sent to the ER to be told that I have an perirectal abscess that “wasn’t ripe” and that I’d be back when it was ready to be drained. The abscess drained on it’s own two days later.

I thought I was on my road to recovery from there. Did my sitz baths hoping the draining would continue and heal. This abscess however never surfaced to the skin. It drained out my rectum, which is totally disgusting. Not even a week later the draining stopped, I have pain in my lower back and down my leg. I’m now becoming septic because the abscess is now draining internally. I go back to the doctor’s with a fever and the worse pain I could ever imagine… it’s get worse. I’m sent to the ER again.

This time the abscess is to be lanced because the only way an abscess can heal is for oxygen to reach it and kill the bacteria. One problem, abscesses are hard to numb under a local depending on the severity. Mine didn’t numb. I told the physician assistant that I could feel the first cut and he said that it was just pressure…I KNOW PRESSURE AND THAT WASN’T IT! Then the second cut (now I’m about to die). Then he decides to look for a fistula by shoving his finger down the incision. I have now blacked completely out waking to my husband yelling at the guy. He is asking him if he is almost done because I am not ok! I’m only telling you this because if you are going to have a perirectal abcess drained under a local, which at times does take, be very aware that they may be hard to numb and speak up! I only sat through it because I was already in so much pain and figured the sooner I got it over with the sooner I’d be on my road to recovery. Nope…

I then follow up with the surgeon a week later to find out that I have a fistula. The fistula surgery was then scheduled. This was a much better experience. I just had the surgery on Aug. 30, under general anesthesia There was very little pain after. The only thing was that I was extremely afraid to take my first bowel movement that took 3 days to happen.

Do yourself a favor and take the stool softeners the doctor tells you too. This will ease some of the anxieties and truly does make a difference. I’m now feeling pretty good. There is still some draining, but I’m told this can last 1-2 weeks. But I’m hopeful this is the end of my painful journey.

Good luck to those who have to deal with this. Especially if you are in a relationship. My husband has been nothing but supportive, I just feel bad for him having to put up with my pain in the butt attitude at times. Yes, pun intended. You have to find humor in situations like this or you’d get depressed.