Abscess/Fistula EUA Surgery ~ what to expect?

So I am posting here as I am scheduled for EUA surgery this upcoming Tuesday for an abscess and possible fistula. Just wondering what to expect /tips on healing, etc as this is all new to me and needless to say I am worrying myself! I should add that I do not have Crohns, IBS or any other disease of that nature.

Quick timeline:

Shortly after Christmas 2016 I felt a lump near rectum, took some sitz baths thinking maybe a blocked duct. After no change I went to Urgent Care on 12/29 where I was diagnosed with a perianal abscess and sent home with a 7 day antibiotic treatment of Cipro/Flagyl

Jan 4: Had pain for the first time when I sat down, went back to Urgent Care. Had an I & D with packing and put on another week of antibiotics.

Jan 6: Went back for follow up and dr made incision larger and re packed

Jan 7: Horrible diarrhea (from antibiotics) and all packing came out...we had an ice storm here that shut everything down for days. I started taking sitz baths & use antibiotic ointment on wound.

Jan 11: Finally able to go back to Urgent care, abscess has shrunk considerably & doctor states I am on the mend and to give about 4 weeks to heal.

Over the next month abscess continually drains and sometimes bump goes away and than comes back and drains again. I decided to get a referral to a colorectal surgeon to see if it is healing OK.

Feb 7: Appointment with colorectal surgeon ~ states I probably have a fistula but says to come back in 2 weeks and will recheck.

Feb 14: Decided to bump up appt as abscess continues to drain & refill...surgeon decides I should have a EUA to drain abscess and put blue dye solution to see if I have fistula. If I do he will either fix fistula or put in seton...depending on complexity.

I am nervous as hell and just wondering what to expect!

Thank so for the reply!

It will definitely be general anesthesia and my dr said the following will happen:
Check/drain abscess and inject dye to see if fistula is present, if present they will either lay it open or put in a seton depending on complexity/location/etc.

Honestly, I've had 3 EUAS. Not a big deal as you are asleep. It's a day surgery. Sitz baths...get a donut pillow. If there's no seton you'll feel much better in 3 days. If you end up with a seton (and I hope you don't) then the recovery can take weeks.

Best wishes. I'm likely having my 4th EUA soon....

Zasikoro said...
I am assuming since I present no Crohns symptoms that is why?

Abscesses and possible fistula are common in Crohns

It may be worth asking to do a colonscopy and endoscopy before doing any surgery. We're not trying to scare you into thinking you have Crohn's or anything like that, but we've seen a lot of surgeons mess things up because they don't really know what they're talking about. Even doctors, and even GIs, will assume Crohn's = diarrhea and stomach pain. But then they go in, do multiple surgeries, and end up making things worse.

Again, really NOT trying to insist you have it or anything. I really, really hope that you don't. We just don't want you in the same boat we've seen others in, because it can be quite miserable. Also, you want to make sure you have a colo-rectal surgeon and NOT a regular surgeon. Even if you don't have Crohn's. My regular surgeon once told me that he would never touch a fistula with a 10 foot pole, and if I ever meet a surgeon who insists that a fistula (whether Crohn's or not) is easy and doesn't need the CR surgeon, to run away screaming and never let them touch me.

Let us know how you do tmro. Good luck and feel better .