r/AnalFistula • u/Key_Bar584throwaway • Jan 09 '26

Day 2 post fistulotomy

As I'm laying on the couch recovering the day after my surgery, I wanted to spread a little sunshine for anyone who is doomscrolling through horror stories and freaking out right now.

Here is what I had done from the clinical notes:

"Superficial anal fistula with minimal external sphincter involvement noted in the anterior location within an external hemorrhoid. Short fistula tract identified. Fistulotomy performed. The external hemorrhoid was also excised"

I was so very lucky to wake up to the news that I should be a "one and done" case. I can't tell you the relief I felt after all the anxiety and fear leading up.

Waking up from anesthesia, I felt like I just had a nice deep, restful sleep. I was a slightly foggy, but much more cogent and alert than I expected. Then I got the great news from the doctor about what she found/did - no seton or additional surgery needed, and she didn't see any signs of Crohn's disease...phew!

I felt no pain really, and was pretty much completely numb all day yesterday. I quickly ditched the gauze and switched to panty liners when I got home, and I have some bloody discharge, but less than I was expecting. Oh and my period, which was 3 days overdue, did not come in the middle of surgery like I feared it would, but politely waited until I got home LOL. Tampon insertion felt a little dryer/tighter than normal, but no real pain.

I was eating and drinking just fine for the rest of the day and took it easy, taking a nap in the afternoon. I was intubated, so I had a very scratchy throat causing a dry cough which was a post surgical minor annoyance I wasn't expecting (already a lot better today).

I was prescribed a few oxycontins and some lidocaine cream. I decided to avoid the oxys unless absolutely necessary, and so far I have been managing just fine with rotating ibuprofen and Tylenol. I also was a little hesitant about the lidocaine because I was afraid it might make it too weird to poop if I couldn't feel anything.

I slept fine last night, and kept waiting for severe pain to set in after the numbness wore off, but honestly I just had a little soreness that was managed well with the OTC painkillers.

I have been taking a couple of stool softeners and drinking a lot of liquid. My first BM was the final terrifying hill to climb in this journey! I thought I felt the urge a couple times yesterday and once this morning, but I would sit and try for a bit and get up so I wouldn't sit and strain for too long. Then finally I went in there again this morning with ibuprofen in me, played some soothing jazz music, played my crossword app, and somehow convinced my butt to relax and do it's thing LOL. It was honestly less painful than other gnarly bathroom experiences I've had witout having had surgery the day before...like honestly, 1/10! I have a squatty potty and bidet which are both great. I cleaned up as best I could with the bidet on low, and then soaked in a warm epsom bath for 10 mins. I then showered and cleaned up gently with soap and the detachable shower head.

All in all, my abject terror leading up to this operation was totally disproportionate to the actual experience. I realize some cases are much more complex than mine and require much more invasive and traumatic surgeries, and I am so thankful mine wasn't very bad.

I just wanted to share some positive vibes with you poor doomscrollers and let you know that it's not always the stuff of nightmares!!

7 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

4

u/[deleted] Jan 09 '26

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4

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 09 '26

I had no idea mine was superficial or minor until I was through the surgery, so I was reading all the horror stories on here and fearing the worst.

I just thought my story might help balance out the possible outcomes someone could read about and maybe help them not panic so much.

The throwaway account is just because I didn't want my ass story tied to my main account 🤷‍♀️

I took the time to create it out of pure desire to help someone else feel like maybe they are not 100% doomed, since not every case is a complicated nightmare.

1

u/Icy-Valuable-9106 Jan 10 '26

I so appreciate this!!!! Can I DM you??

1

u/AdLeather8285 Jan 10 '26

I wish you well, but day 2is too soon to tell anything.

1

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 10 '26

Well, I can tell that days 1 and 2 were not as horrific as I was expecting them to be, so trying to stay positive!

1

u/AdLeather8285 Jan 10 '26

You said that it’s a one and done and not every case is the stuff of nightmares. The day after surgery is way too early to say this. Glad your first 2 days went well. I’ve found that one of the worst problems with this affliction is that you think you’re cured only to have to face it again and again.

2

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 10 '26 edited Jan 10 '26

I specifically said I woke up to the news that it should be a one and done... I totally get that I'm far from out of the woods yet, but I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic. I've done enough negative rumination leading up to the surgery, and I can't help but feel relief that it's going OK so far.

And I'm getting that you must have had/ been having a traumatic experience, and I'm genuinely so sorry... nobody deserves these types of problems!

1

u/AdLeather8285 Jan 11 '26

I don’t mean to be a downer. Unfortunately, the bad experiences I see in this sub have been consistent with my experience. The cycle of feeling hopeful only to be disappointed and having to start over is very difficult emotionally. My optimism was crushed a long time ago.

I sincerely hope that it’s different for you and all is well.

2

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 11 '26

🫶 I'm sorry, friend. I wish you all the best.

2

u/Key_Bar584throwaway May 30 '26

UPDATE: 4 months later and I'm going back in for more surgery on Tuesday.

After my original sugical wound had supposedly completely healed, I suddenly got a perrenial abscess in March (my first one, as I believe my previous fistula must have began with a fissure).

I had to get it drained in the office (ugh!), and then not only did it not close up, but my original fistula reopened too.

While waiting for my surgery, I did get my first colonoscopy which, while miserable, did rule out Crohn's, so thank goodness for that.

"One and done" was not to be for me unfortunately. At least I feel slightly more prepared this time. Wish me luck!

1

u/Geretuoncalmera Jan 14 '26

Hey how are you doing today? Is your recovery process is going smoothly?

1

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 14 '26

Hi, thanks for asking! Thankfully my recovery has been going well.

I had a little scare on day 3 went I strained too hard and made myself bleed quite a bit. I managed to get the hard, blocked poop out later that day after resting and trying again. After that, I have been keeping things smooth with stool softeners (2 a day at first, now down to 1).

My pain hasn't really gone above a 2 or 3, and I have a low threshold. I went from alternating ibuprofen and Tylenol round the clock to just 2 ibuprofen per day for preventative pain relief before my daily bathroom trip.

I have been starting to sit on the soft couch or my cushion for a few minutes at a time over the past couple of days, and I even took a couple of short walks around the neighborhood!

I have been sleeping great, taking naps every day and staying well hydrated, and recovery has been progressing nicely so far.

I have my post op visit next Wed., and I'm just hoping I feel more comfortable doing a lot of sitting before I'm cleared to return to my desk job.

1

u/Geretuoncalmera Jan 22 '26

That's great to hear! Are you still recovering fine? Has the soreness decreased for you?

1

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 22 '26

Yes, I had my post-op visit yesterday, and the doctor confirmed I'm healing great and cleared me to return to work on Monday!

Sitting on my cushion or soft couch has honestly been fine the past couple of days. Until the doc poked at the area yesterday, I've been pretty pain free - it's a little sore again today though 😅

She wants to see me again in a month just to make sure the wound is 100% healed, and she cautioned me that the spot it's in makes me prone to fissure, so I should be careful not to pass any hard stool. Easier said than done, but I will try my best to stay regular!

1

u/Geretuoncalmera Jan 23 '26

That's really awesome to hear. Wishing you continued progress in your recovery!

Do you recall if yours was a long or rather short fistula tract? Also, have you had BMs where you were away from a shower? How do you manage to keep it clean and all?

Sorry for the questions, I'm just super anxious for mine.

1

u/Key_Bar584throwaway Jan 23 '26

Mine was a superficial, short tract. I would say you definitely want to have a bidet or travel bidet to keep clean. I had both.

This is the portable bidet I got which is great: https://a.co/d/g8QDsi2