To ask if you would have this surgery (TMI alert)

[Cheeseplease73]

A while ago I suspected that, as a result of childbirth and an episiotomy, I might have a small fistula. My symptoms are very minor and I was referred to a consultant who basically said that they are very difficult to find but he wanted to perform surgery to have a look.
He also said at the time that things were now quite close together down there as a result of the episiotomy.
I have been offered exploratory surgery under general anaesthetic but with no guarantee of finding anything.
My feeling at the moment is that I don’t want anyone operating on me down there and potentially doing more damage than good for nothing. My episiotomy wasn’t great and has caused me problems and at the moment things are stable.
So Aibu to not do anything at the moment?

[carmelsundae]

How long ago did you give birth? And have they tried any other treatments for the fistula? I had one after my first birth under the same circumstances you describe. It was bloody sore every time I went to the toilet, like eye watering sore. They gave me some ointments to use to heal it, it took about 9 months but it eventually did heal. I turned down the surgery,the described it as complicated surgery with complicated aftercare. If it's fairly recent I'd leave it a bit to see how it improves!

[Cheeseplease73]

My youngest is 6 so it’s a while ago. The problem is that I am not sure about my ‘symtoms’ in that it kind of felt like I was passing wind where I shouldn’t be but since the consultant has told me everything is close together, am wondering if that’s it!! Sorry, it’s so grim! No pain or anything at all. How did you know you had one @carmel?

[Ginpasta]

If things are stable at the moment could you postpone surgery for a while & see how things go? Maybe if you start having problems again then you could consider surgery?

[Cheeseplease73]

That’s what I thought @gin- not sure if it’s acceptable to do that- worried about wasting nhs time - I just really feel that I don’t want surgery at the moment

[carmelsundae]

I think mine was fairly obvious, although I'm not sure in what way!! My GP was able to diagnose it by internal examination. If it was 6 years ago then I imagine it's not going to miraculously improve!? If it's not really bothering you I'd be tempted to leave it, but id want to find out any future problems it might cause, especially as you get older!!

[Bunchofdaffodils]

Absolutely watch and wait. It’s a genuine medical strategy. As you say, why risk making things worse if there’s not much of a problem right now?

[Cheeseplease73]

@carmel GP couldn’t find anything at all - going to ask if postponing is ok for now and ask about long term issues! Thanks @bunch I didn’t know you were allowed to wait & see!

[twobambinos]

@cheeseplease73 I could have written your post myself. Episiotomy. 6 years since last birth. And having very minor symptoms. Gynaecology couldn't find anything either on examination but as I'm pregnant I can't have any further testing done at the moment. I'm sorry I don't have anything to add other than I know how you feel. You aren't alone and googling as I have done has been pretty grim. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

[Cheeseplease73]

@twobambinos hope you get some answers too and congrats on your pregnancy!
The fistula thing all a bit grim and initially i freaked out about it but now I feel like I really don’t want to do anything drastic that will cause more issues’

[twobambinos]

I feel exactly the same way as you. It only recently dawned on me that it might be a fistula and by then I was expecting so was having a major freak out at what the Labour might do to it. If I wasn't pregnant I think I wouldn't risk upsetting it but I never thought to ask about the future risks of leaving it alone either. So I now have another question for my list.

[Ohyesiam]

Op, as an ex nurse I would say do nothing while things are stable.
Hope it all goes well if you need to proceed in the future.

[Gudgyx]

I had rectovaginal fistulas at one point, it was horrific. I needed surgery as they were badly infected. I got the setons inserted, and had them in about 3 years while the fistulas drained. I had to wear sanitary pads all this time, but also managed to fall pregnant and have a baby during this time. Albeit via c section as apparently I had so many fistulas my rectum was like a watering can (only 4 finished tracking) and I’d have burst if I tried to push.

I have Crohn’s so the meds I got for that healed them eventually thankfully.

Fingers crossed it heals quickly for you

[Cheeseplease73]

@gudgyx that sounds awful- so glad it is all healed for you now.

My symptoms are nothing like that at all- no infections or anything thankfully- the surgery that has been suggested to me is to see if there is something there- so investigative- Gynae and doctor couldn’t find anything. Talking to doc this week again for advice.

[AlmostAJillSandwich]

Are you sure its not just that air is getting trapped, then randomly releasing?
Or do you mean when you intentionally pass gas it feels like it is coming from the wrong place, does any come from the "right" place at the same time?

I randomly get the feeling of air being expelled, similar to how gas feels, but not at a time i need to pass gas, pretty sure its just air works its way in and then gets released now and then. But to be fair, i haven't had a baby, although i do have IBS/suspected IBD so have my fair share if digestive issues.

[Cheeseplease73]

@almost I am not sure and that’s the problem. The episiotomy has caused me issues and one of those is that things are now quite close togther so could be imagining the sensation. I did have what i thought was a tiny bit of leakage too but now not totally sure about that either.

My main concern at the moment is not making anything worse as having 2 kids have changed the landscape plenty!!!