About 2 yrs ago I got an anal fistula that wouldn't heal. At first I went to a normal dr but when it wouldn't heal he sent me to a proctologist. The proctologist examined me + said I'd need a surgery where he'd cut me from my anus to my fistula, then scrape out the fistula then just close it all up, + he mentioned there is a chance of incontinence from the surgery.
Well, I'm only in my mid-20s + extremely healthy except for this, so the thought of this surgery scared me greatly. And I didn't feel comfortable with this doctor + wasn't sure he was giving me the best advice. I was also very short on money + didn't have insurance, so I didn't have the money to get a second opinion or get the surgery (his one visit alone was $300 + he told me the surgery would be about $1500 plus other costs with no insurance). So ever since I've just not done anything + been off + on investigating this on the internet for the last 2 years.
Now I have insurance (though I'm not sure if it'll cover this pre-existing condition) + a little more money, so I'm going to be going to a dr again soon I think, but I'm still scared. The fistula is very small but it won't heal. It leaks a clearish/yellowish I guess you'd call it puss in small amounts, and it bleeds a tiny bit usually when I'm wiping after using the bathroom. It's at least 2 1/2 to 3 inches away/above my anus (towards my taint/inner area of my groin) so the thought of being cut open from my anus to there is very scary + seems like there must be a better option.
All the reading I've done on fistulas is confusing to me, but I've noticed there seem to be other options so couldn't a dr try to patch it up without cutting me open like that? Isn't there even a surgery that wouldn't require getting cut from anus to fistula? And what are the risks of this fistula remaining until I get it fixed? In other words, is the fistula hurting me in any way, or will it make it harder to fix the longer I wait? Thanks for any help.