Coping With Fistulotomy

I’ve had this darn thing since I was 19 or so. I’m 30 and had it removed 3 days ago. I was hoping it would go away on it’s own, but that never happened. Started bleeding every couple months a few years ago. I told my first doctor I thought I had hemmies, with pus as well, and she gave me cream and lidocaine for it. The pus should have tipped her off - hemmies don’t pus. Went to a specialist surgeon He put a scope up my rear for about 10 seconds and scheduled the surgery.

3 weeks later I arrived at the hospital for day 1 of my fistulotomy experience. Had a few questions and got an IV. No shaving of anything to my relief! I woke up an hour later feeling groggy and dressed myself. We drove to the store to pick up the percocet and antibiotics. Also some senna and metamucil and laxatives. The first few hours I spent laying in bed, watching some TV on the laptop. Drank some water and eventually had some soup. On the scale of 1 to 10 the pain was a 1 or 2.

6 Hours after, I removed the dressing, which is a bit like a rubbery tampon placed inside the bum. This came out very easily, but raised the pain level to about a 3 or so for a little bit. Also at this time any laughing or coughing or general tightening of mr. sphincter was highly painful. Stay loose champ! Started doing the sitz baths with my little thing I got from walgreens - no pain there either.

Woke up the next day and my rear felt considerably better. Continued to lay back on the bed relaxing. Took the laxatives in the afternoon along with senna an night. Woke up the 3rd day and had little pain. Spent the day in bed again. Sitting is still uncomfortable. Ate quite a bit of food. Woke up 4th day and had bowel movement. Not really painful at all, aside from a doozie of a cramp right before - probably due to the laxatives or something. Had one BM and then jumped in the bath and then shower. There were a few blood drops, but nothing major. Had one more right after - and felt much better.

Headed off to breakfast at our favorite place - tired of being cooped up! I’d say that if you’ve had a fistula and it has swollen up and popped - that is more constant pain than this surgery. Have no fear!