Anal Fistula Option & Recommendations

[kennyjohn123]

I hope this is the right category to post this to get the best answer as I looked in the ask the doctor and the med support side, and see that this is the best and closest to anal fistula, anyway below is my story.

I've a anal fistula I'm assuming can't remember exact but about 3 and a half to 4 years by now. Just recently my anal fistula have closed, I notice I don't feel pus like I usually would feel so I went ahead an saw my local surgeon but their knowledge is not mainly into the rectal & colon category, but He've done anal fistula from what I was told. But yeah what I was told is that, it seems that my anal fistula is closed, so there is no way I can get an surgery or any treatment option since its closed, so he said my only option is to wait however long it is, 3 month, 6 month, 1 year or even 5 years and over, until it fully healed as I was told the inside haven't healed yet that why I can still feel the rock of how an anal fistula is suppose to feel like. But I don't know if that's really should be the option I should be doing, which is waiting for miracle of healing on its own after 3-4 years later. But yeah his rating from other patient isn't that good and going to see the rectal and colon surgeon are too much more expensive and is kind of out of my budget. Yeah and I really don't know what to do, because I've got tons of people telling me different story and keep me in different mood everytime. Like previously, I was told the longer the fistula is treated, the more problem will form. But now on this visit, my surgeon is telling me since my fistula have been on for so long, there no need to rush for surgery treatment, as maybe time can form an healing on its own miracle, even if it doesn't there no further harm. And I've always though that the longer I wait is if the fistula reaches that dangerous muscle where it affect my stool control and others, but this surgeon is telling me that is only caused when doing the surgery, so its really depending on who does the surgery.

So I decided to go online and post on forums hopefully to get some good recommendation, or if anyone know any forum that surgeon go on where I can actually get good answers.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand what you are going through. If one side of the fistula is healing and if secretions are accumulating, it will present in some way, like a swelling, or with pain or edema or even discharge. So, as of now if you do not have any symptoms, it's likely that the fistula is healing. So, wait and watch and good luck.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[kennyjohn123]

Hello,
Yes but right now the bad news everyone is clueless right now, including the surgeon. There is no answer to when this will heal, 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?  or stay closed for many years and I would have to wait for that many years. I mean I've heard good news & bad news, good news is that it at least closed which is an good shape and have an chance of healing. But bad news is it only closed on the outside, meaning the the discharge and draining stopped but that bad news can be it can built in the inner system since its closed, so I'm so clueless with fistula its like saying I can't step forward and can't step backward, im stuck to a hole.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

A fistula is a track with two ends. As long as there is drainage of fluid from the fistula, it will not heal. Once it stops discharging fluid or pus it is likely to heal. Sometimes if one end is closed then secretions may accumulate and consequently form an abscess. As of now, if the fistula is closed, and there is no swelling or redness or pain, you can wait for it to heal spontaneously. If it does not, then like your surgeon advised you can plan for surgical therapy. Hope tuberculosis and Crohn’s disease have been ruled out, as fistulas are more common here.  Also, check to rule out if you are a diabetic.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.