anyone have a fistulectomy with the seton

[sparky1974]

Hi I am a 33 year old LPN Licensed Practical Nurse that has Crohn's disease,for about 20 years now and have hade a ton of complication with it! Anyways. I have been having some problems with rectal fistulas for the last year or so. I get them on both sides of my rectum, the one of the left side stays open and continually drains (usually minimal drainage if any) and the right side will form a lump (abscess) and make it's way to the surface around the rectum and drains a little bit and closes up, then couple weeks later the same abcess surafaces and drains a little bit and this has been happening like this for the last year or so. I had the one on the left side lanced and drained and packed with gauze, I don't get the horrible pressure anymore, just the drainage. My colon/rectal surgeon wants to do a fistulectomy with the seton, to try and get these pains in my butt to go away, hopefully for good. Just kinda wondering if it's painful afterwards? Does it interfere with bowel movements? Sexual relationships? How big is the seton band? Is it noticeable through clothes? How is the cleanliness of it? Self Esteem? Having this surgery on November 6th 3007  Please help any info would be greatly appreciated.

[heatherf1972]

Hi, I was wondering if you had your surgery and how it turned out?  I am facing the same and was wondering if you had any advice at all.  I am from the US and am in rural Australia right now and a bit scared to go under the knife.  
Would like to talk with you to see if you have any input that would be a benefit.  
Thanks

[frustrated315]

hay i have had surgery for this and have a ceton as we speak it doesnt interefere with anything really it was only soar for about a week after surgery and it helps to kkep the tract open it is like a tiny little rubber band you can only notice if i you put your hand down there.......Let me know if you have any other questions i can help with

[LuvEJ]

Hey
Did you have the seton surgery for your fistula and did it work?  I had emergency abscess surgery Aug 06 and then 4 surgies since then trying to heal the fistula.  The last one was the 2nd seton surgery and it was only 12 days ago.  I am getting really tired of the surgeries but would rather them go slow than risk incontinence which will be worse to live with.  My dr has no idea where the abscess came from.  I don't have any other symptoms so she doesn't think it is crohns.  The seton is in place - mine is a thinner black string and I am suppose to pull it everyday.  It is suppose to cut through the muscle.  The 1st seton surgery didn't seem to work.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[lolo77]

reading your comment it's like talking about me i've experienced the same thing.
i had a fistula plug surgery DEC 30 but it didn't work now my dr said he will try the seton tightning wich apparently what you r doing right now please tell me if it's painfull?
i'm scared of risk of incontinence .

any information will be very helpful
thank you....

[LuvEJ]

Sorry it has been so long - I had another surgery in March to replace seton - a tighter one.  Now yesterday I saw a different surgeon and he was able to do the fistulectomy and open up the fistula - which is surprising not too sore after all I've been through.  I do have to go back once a day to get the packing taken out and put back in so it will heal from the inside out - so that might be painful.  I hope this is it!
They say the plug is not very successful - the seton is the way to go IF you can't open it up.  Please - if you have any questions - I'd love to answer them!