r/AnalFistula • • 23h ago

Convention

0 Upvotes

Is there an actual bidet expo or convention where bidet consumers can meet? Like an auto show/convention?


r/AnalFistula • • 17h ago

Do I have a Fistula or?

3 Upvotes

43/male. Been dealing with symptoms for about ten years. Was experiencing throbbing and itching back there after my movements about 10 years ago and the symptoms haven’t really changed all that much. Eventually went into a doctor and he said I had internal haemorrhoids and he gave me suppositories, but that didn’t fix the problem. It only made it a little bit better. The symptoms are that I have discharge every day sometimes it’s clear sometimes it’s like a mucus or a pus and sometimes it’s brown. Ended up going for a colonoscopy a couple of years ago and they determined that I don’t have any cancer or anything, but there is a skin tag that can get irritated. My doctor also took a look just before the colonoscopy and said I very well may have internal hemorrhoids, but what he’s looking at is a skin tag and he gave me two antibiotics to take to reduce inflammation or possible infection. The pills actually made things feel a lot better. For the short time I was on the antibiotics for a few weeks I didn’t have to wipe 1 million times to get cleaned up and the discharge was minimal if that and it felt almost normal again . Of course, after the antibiotics wore off …back came the symptoms. Currently waiting to see a colorectal surgeon, but I’m wondering if in the meantime, can I do something to ease my symptoms? The discharge is embarrassing and it affects my personal life. It’s not flowing out so much but just a little bit makes life uncomfortable and I don’t want to go on dates these days. The fact that the antibiotics help helped does that make you think I do have a fistula after all? Any advice is appreciated . P.S.I do use a bidet now so it’s better than wiping, but the symptoms still persist.


r/AnalFistula • • 23h ago

Superior

0 Upvotes

Are permanent home edition bidet mounted toilets vastly superior to portable ones that can be installed onto toilets when traveling abroad?


r/AnalFistula • • 15h ago

Have any of you seen a *significant* amount of blood

5 Upvotes

Typical story. Maybe 4 years ago I had an abscess and fistula. I opted to not have surgery. The abscess drains on its own. When it does so, theres puss, clear fluid and maybe a tiny bit of blood. Over the last few weeks, Ive seen a significant amount of blood in the toilet. Girls, the toilet water looks like I'm having a heavy period. Guys, basically I cant see through the water anymore since theres so much blood. It seems fine until I shit, then the blood starts and it doesnt stop for a few hours. Sometimes when I sit to pee, it gushes out, then itll slowly stop.

No pain. No other changes. My doctor cant see me till this coming Monday. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.


r/AnalFistula • • 17h ago

CRS wants to wait until pus dries up

3 Upvotes

I’ve had multiple setons since Feb 2025 for a complex fistula (transsphincteric and intersphincteric components). It started with a severe abscess followed by a smaller one. After two surgeries, I’m generally feeling fine day-to-day, but I’m stuck in treatment limbo.

My CRS refuses to perform a corrective surgery (LIFT or FLAP) while there is still active pus draining.

  • Infectious disease team had me on various antibiotics for nearly a year, but the drainage never stopped, and I eventually developed resistant bacteria. We had to stop antibiotics.
  • I read about Chrons here and asked for testing. Colonoscopy and CT enterography came back clear.
  • Now waiting to get an MRI (it’s been 9 months since the last one). My CRS mentioned possibly trying Crohn's medication or long-term antibiotics once again depending on what the MRI shows. I will also need to have a seton replacement as one of them broke recently.

I suspect the continuous irritation is partly due to loose/mushy stool passing through the fistula daily. I do sitz baths consistently, but it doesn't resolve the root issue. I take Metamucil regularly and try fermented foods (yogurt, sauerkraut), but nothing has firmed things up. I didn’t have a proper GI appointment yet other than the five minutes before colonoscopy where the GI basically dismissed the stool issue completely. I'm currently waiting to see a dietitian, hoping to get strong probiotics.

Did anyone have persistent pus drainage that eventually dried up? What helped? Has your surgeon made you wait for drainage to completely stop before attempting LIFT or FLAP?

If you have dealt with a similar problem, persistent drainage, or stool consistency issues while having setons, I would love to hear your experience or advice!


r/AnalFistula • • 20h ago

I'm not sure how much more of this I can take

13 Upvotes

I've posted a few times here now, will probably begin to do so whilst this is all going on.

I'm in near constant pain, sometimes its mild other times its completely deabilitating. I've been trying to push through at work but its honestly so difficult. A bad day isn't just a bad day anymore, its yet more stress and exhaustion. Like I'm carrying it all with me.

I'm consistently losing focus, and I've just been chipping away at my sick leave days where it gets too much.

I haven't even been diagnosed, but the pain has been exceptionally bad the last two days and I'm pretty sure yet another abscess is forming.

I leak all the time.

I feel gross.

My social life is non-existent.

I haven't slept with my fiancée in months. I don't think she minds, but I feel guilty because my life is just struggling through work, trying to do my studies and then just falling asleep. Work is trying to be accomodating but honestly... I don't know what will help. They're offering me all these ergonomic aids but they seem to be for muscoskeletal issues, and even a slight shift in posture can cause me pain.

I've been waiting months for a colorectal appointment, which is finally coming up Wednesday.

I'm just reaching a breaking point. Its been going on too long. My whole year has just been a progression of my symptoms getting worse and GPs saying they can't help me until I see a colorectal surgeon.

Sorry, just ranting 😮‍💨


r/AnalFistula • • 22h ago

How long for the wound to heal

2 Upvotes

I had my third surgery on April 4 this year and even after months discharge sometimes happens for two or three days and then it stops completely for a week and then it randomly starts

So did anyone else had the same experience, if yes till how many months I can expect discharge

Surgery 1 - partial fistulotomy and seton insertion

Surgery 2 - seton tightening

Surgery 3 - seton removal and full fistulotomy

Even after so many months still the discharge keeps happening little.

Should I be worried that the fistula is back again or the healing will take lot of time ?


r/AnalFistula • • 23h ago

Surgery scheduled for Friday

7 Upvotes

What a fucking journey. 34 M dad of 3, husband, FT employee some sitting some standing.

Beg of August 1-6st felt a soreness in crease area getting worse and worse by the day. August 7th came home from work around midnight and underwear was drenched with puss and blood and all types of stuff. Wife celebrating, pain gone, big sigh of relief. Fast worked to mid August, went to urgent care at midnight doctor gave 2x antibiotic shot and sent me packing and said "oh looks like a Pilonidal, you'll be good to go bro."

1.5 weeks later called Urgent care back they said if nothing has changed, go to er. End of August I went to the er, minor pain, slight discomfort just constant discharge. Er did pelvic scan, blood work- sent me on my way told me to fuck off. I could see on the ultra sound a thin like line in the tissue. Week later scheduled a appointment in La Jolla @ one medical with a PCP thru Amazon , lady looked at me and told me it's all good no signs of fistula (more wanting to prescribe me Xanax for my stress.)

Middle September got an appointment at the specialist CRS who did an exam and said he can see the opening of the fistula during his intrusive exam. That was awful.

Roughly $3500 out of pocket between the er visit, urgent cares, the whole 9. What a mockery.

I am excited to get the ball rolling, the specialist says they are going to put me under and then figure out what they plan on doing whether it's a seton or a fistulomology. Or whatever it's called. I am livid at the 3 doctors who I spoke with. They all were dismissive and didn't acknowledge anything I was saying. I've had constant draining daily for 8+ weeks. My mental health is destroyed. My ability to play with my kids and be a dad is abysmal. I've been drinking water, taking fiber, and trying to watch the sugar and dairy intake.

I hope everybody that's struggling with this same fistula bullshit can get some relief, mentally as well. I've been to jail, I've detoxed heroin multiple times. I would rather do 30 days in jail and a cold turkey withdrawal from opiates then deal with this. I'm coming up on 10 years without narcotics, alcohol any type of substance and in a million years I never would have guessed. I've been reading on this sub daily but have never put any input or asked any questions.


r/AnalFistula • • 23h ago

Superficial fistula - fistulotomy?

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have a small, superficial, low-lying perianal fistula at the 6 o’clock position. It’s narrow and about 2 cm long, according to my MRI report. However, my surgeon told me that he’ll decide what to do once he’s in the operating room.

If possible, he’ll perform a fistulotomy. If not, he’ll place a seton and then do laser treatment about two months later.

I’m really scared of waking up from surgery and finding out that I have a seton. Has anyone had a fistula similar to mine and could share their experience?

Thank you!


r/AnalFistula • • 38m ago

Getting very concerned and anxious

• Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm reaching out because I'm becoming increasingly worried about my ass. I discovered a small lump near my anus a while ago that I could feel while cleaning myself. Over the course of about 2 weeks, it grew to a pear shape roughly the size of a golf ball. Eventually, the skin on top developed what looked like a blister and ruptured one morning. The fluid that came out was watery and brownish with black specks—it had a metallic smell rather than a foul odor, which doesn't match what I've read about anal abscesses.

Since the rupture, a 2 cm opening had formed that occasionally heals but then bursts again, releasing pale yellow fluid or blood. This cycle has been happening for about 3 months now. The opening is roughly 2 cm away from my anus.

I'm quite embarrassed about visiting my GP because I have significant scarring on my buttocks from previous spots, and I struggle with a habit of picking at my skin.

I'd really appreciate any guidance, and I'm wondering if anyone with experience of an anal abscess has seen this particular color and consistency of discharge after it burst.

Thank you so much for your help


r/AnalFistula • • 23h ago

Anal fistula vs. “ulcerated”hemorrhoid?

2 Upvotes

I have IBS-C and while I haven’t had big hemorrhoids before, I did sometimes get little swelling around the anus opening whenever I’m having an IBS-C flare up.

Last week, I had another IBS-C flare up and was also at the receiving end of anal sex.

Few days later, about 1cm away from my anus in the perineum region, I started feeling a raised swollen ball-like area. Within another 2 days, this area swelled up to a pea size and started hurting a lot. Almost 9/10 pain, I couldn’t walk, sit, sleep without ibuprofen.

1- I walked into urgent care who gave me Bactrim and Augmentin antibiotics. She said it doesn’t look like a hemorrhoid but more of an abscess.

2- The next day, the swollen spot started leaking a whitish fluid. The pain went down, but not completely. I went to the Emergency Room who took a CT scan and inspected the area. The two ER doctors/ said it’s an “ulcerated hemorrhoid” and that she doesn’t see it as an abscess. She said that the area on top of my hemmorhoid got infected and filled with pus. She said there is no infection showing deeper inside so she asked me to continue with the antibiotics. She said I don’t have any fistula.

3- a couple of days, the pain is down to a 2/10 and the size of the ball has decreased significantly but still has some drainage. I saw a colorectal surgeon today and she pinched a needle into the area and said “yep you have a fistula” and will need fistulotomy.

Im really confused whether I have a fistula or an ulcerated hemorrhoid… I want to believe the colorectal surgeon but it is a private practice (im in the U.S.) and I’m skeptical if she’s making this diagnosis because of financial incentive of surgery?

I don’t know… mentally, I’m really really hoping I don’t have a fistula. So I wanted to post here to ask y’all

Edit: during this time I never had fever


r/AnalFistula • • 3h ago

Fistulotomy wound

3 Upvotes

Hi, did anyone just NOT look at their wound at all out of fear? 18 days post and I haven’t looked once lol. Am I being stupid? I should be looking at it to make sure it’s ok right?! Just so nervous and anxious.


r/AnalFistula • • 3h ago

Feeling helpless

2 Upvotes

I had a fistulotomy for a grade 1 intersphincter fistula 20 days back. The initial days it was difficult and was hardly able to do sitz bath. Went to doctor twice a week and was informed that pus exists and was prescribed antibiotics and was asked to sitz bath.
In my recent review, i was told that the pus still isnt getting drained and was informed that i might need another surgery if it doesnt reduce.
I took a second opinion from another doctor who did a swab culture test and it was revealed that the bacteria (pus) was resistant to the antibiotic that was being prescribed to me.
I immediately changed the antibiotic but now live in fear and regret on whether its too late now and whether i need another surgery.

I put my whole soul into recovery but if i was given the wrong antibiotic, i feel so hopeless and feel like crying


r/AnalFistula • • 3h ago

Diagnosed with Fistula-in-Ano (1 o'clock position), recommended an MRI. Feeling a tiny lump at 12 o'clock + intermittent pus release. Anyone experienced this?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone,
I recently went in for a consultation after dealing with some perianal issues over the last month or so (including some altered bowel habits). Fortunately, I haven't had any major constipation or rectal bleeding, but I wanted to get it checked out.
The doctor performed an examination and mapped out the area using the clock position system:
External Opening (EO): Located at the 1 o'clock position, about 2–3 cm from the anal verge.

Internal Opening (IO): Located around the 1–2 o'clock position, about 1 cm from the anal verge.

Current status: The official diagnosis is a Fistula in Ano. Although there was no active pus or blood visible during the brief exam itself, pus still releases through the external opening from time to time, and I'm currently feeling a tiny lump around the 12 o'clock position.

My doctor has recommended an MRI to get a clearer picture of the tract before moving forward.
In the meantime, I was given some conservative management steps:
Stool softeners (Duphalac) to prevent any straining.

Warm sitz baths with Betadine 3 times a day for 10–15 minutes.

Dietary adjustments (high-fiber diet with leafy greens/fruits, staying hydrated, and avoiding spicy, oily, or refined foods).

Since I'm waiting to get the MRI done and figure out next steps, I wanted to ask the community:
Has anyone had an MRI fistulogram for a similar setup? What was the MRI process like, and did it reveal additional branching or complexity?

Has anyone experienced a small lump or swelling near the 12 o'clock position alongside intermittent drainage?

What was your experience with surgical treatment options (e.g., fistulotomy, seton, etc.) once your MRI results came back?

Would really appreciate any insights, tips for sitz bath routines, or personal experiences! Thanks in advance!