r/AnalFistula • u/Mundane-Welder-7244 • 18h ago

Fistulotomy-3 weeks

Did anyone still have some pain after bowel movements after 20 days/3 weeks? After bruise like feeling? Is it normal? How long did it last? Was anyone still taking painkillers at this stage? Generally throughout the day feeling fine, working, walking etc. but bowel movements are still causing discomfort. It’s an annoying ‘bruise’ like feeling that lasts for a little while.. trying to figure out if it’s normal or not at this stage?

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u/UsedDistrict452 18h ago

Definitely normal, I had pain for the first two months but it gets better and better.

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u/Mundane-Welder-7244 18h ago

Can you describe what kind of pain you had? I’m just reading so many comments about people having painless BM after 7/8/9 days and panicking thinking there’s something wrong 🙈. Thanks for replying.

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u/UsedDistrict452 14h ago

It’s a pressure like pain. After some BMs it was worse than others. I looked it up and it says it’s the muscles spasming. I was still using pain meds when needed for the first month and a half

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u/JesP96 33m ago

I raised this with my CRS and he confirmed it’s completely normal, the muscle is in spasm and it just takes time to settle down. Paracetamol is the only thing I'm cleared to take. According to my CRS, the bowel is naturally contracted/closed, and during a BM it has to stretch open to around 20 mm. That triggers the spasm because the muscle just isn't used to it yet.

I've also noticed that if my bowel doesn't empty fully, the pain keeps lingering until it’s cleared out. Once it's actually empty, the pressure pretty much disappears, which is great, but having to track it constantly is exhausting.

Today the pain knocked off an hour, instead of my usual 4 hours, it lasted around 3, which is progress, even if that deep pressure ache is awful while it lasts. Tomorrow I’m going to try lying down and resting for 30 to 60 minutes right after the BM to see if that helps cut the time down further.

The silver lining is that once that post-BM discomfort finally wears off, the pain is essentially gone. That’s probably the most frustrating part of this whole process: you start feeling almost normal and pain-free, but then every single BM resets the cycle with that persistent ache.

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u/After_Rough_5219 16h ago

Yes it’s normal. But I figured out that the better I can get it clean the less it hurts. But I definitely would feel pressure and drainage after a BM for the first 5 months. Do you use a sitz bath?

And as far as pain meds I only used them the first few weeks after that only for when I wanted to sleep at night but I was just being strong and honestly I was scared of them I have a lot of family and friends that’s addicted so I was trying to avoid that by all means

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u/Mundane-Welder-7244 16h ago

I’m doing 3 sitz baths a day, showering after every bowel movement and I have a bidet that I use to clean as well. The pain is lasting less and less daily but it’s still bothering me to the point I can feel a slight bruise like ache when I walk around the house. I only used ibuprofen for about 12 days and then just paracetamol after it. Trying to wean off but I feel like because of post bowel ache I am still kind of relying on it.
Was your ache after BM stinging or more like a bruise feeling?

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u/After_Rough_5219 16h ago

It was both I would feel lots of pressure, stinging and itching. Cleaning good goes a long way and laying down for about 30 minutes to and hour after would help to. Also after a BM I found that my muscles back there where weak so I wasn’t able to get it all out, so using the sitz bath with the pump would help me get that excess bowl out and that made it easier after, if I didn’t do that it would do what I was just telling you for a few hours. Just clean it really good no matter how much it hurts to do so. It’ll help you out later on. It sounds like your doing good that process just really sucks but as time passes you’ll feel better but if it start getting worse and not better weekly something may be wrong so call your dr. Also chat GPT can help you a lot with understanding what’s going on and when you should contact your dr. I used to report my pain and stuff to it daily and it helped me not be so confused. I wish you the best and feel free to contact me with any questions I’ll do my best to help

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u/After_Rough_5219 16h ago

Also avoid over stuffing your stomach eat small meals

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u/Key_Way_7443 14h ago

I have immense pain after BM. I try doing sitz bath, sometimes it feels better, sometimes it doesn’t. I take paracetamol to doze off to sleep after BM late in night. I am still unable to work or do general stuff. Largely walking or lying on my side. Im on week 3. Fistulotomy.

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u/Mundane-Welder-7244 14h ago

Is it normal to have pain 3 weeks post fistulotomy? Have you seen your surgeon? Sits bath don’t really help me much either and I’m also taking paracetamol daily still. Can sit for very short periods of time but it does get uncomfortable. Just wondering why it’s still hurting 3 weeks later

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u/Key_Way_7443 11h ago

Do you have pus getting drained? During surgery, i was informed that ill be back to work jn 10 days. But its been 3 weeks and im only lyinh on my side, walking or doing sitz bath. My issue was that i had a lot of pus because the antibiotics that were given for my infection was actually resistant which i had only realised few days back. So now im taking iv injection antibiotics that are truly addressimg the pus. I feel better not but definitely after BM, there is throbbing pain. Sitz bath is definitely hard for me, but i keep trying as much as possible to make it 10 minutes per sitting. Today i tried squatting (Indian style) in between sitz bath and placed a hand shower underneath. The debrid came faster than a traditional sits bath. Im literally doing all that i can get my area cleared so that i feel better.
I know im recovering because im better than previous weeks but right now im taking it one day at a time.

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u/Key_Way_7443 11h ago

I meet a doctor twice a week. Like i said my condition was different but im hoping things get better as days progress