Seton Stitch Support

[ChristmasBadAss]

NC'd as it's a personal subject. Does anyone else out there have a seton stitch for an anal fistula? I've had mine 6 months today and I've felt so alone as it's not the kind of thing you want to talk about in RL, I don't know of anyone else who has one, wondered if anyone would appreciate a support thread?

Hi @Zbfct thanks so much for your post. I have a draining seton too, which has been in for 11 months. I don’t find it that debilitating and I’m lucky that it doesn’t cause pain etc. The drainage is the main ick/nuisance factor obviously but I keep it super clean and carry wipes and antiseptic with me for when needed. I’m due a baby in early jan and I’m seeing my colorectal surgeon in Feb so I’ll see what they say about the vaaft. Mine goes through the wrong muscles too so can’t be laid open or similar.

I won’t have it for a good while yet as I won’t want to leave my baby unnecessarily until they’re at least over 6 months. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you get on! X

Hi everyone. Apologies that the thread was taken down. Unfortunately, it was targeted by a PBP but we've now removed that post and have reinstated the thread, so you're free to continue the discussion.

Oh my

Good evening,

I gave birth to my 4th son in 2015. I had a 3/4 degree tear, was rush way to get stiched up unfortunately this want done very well. I suffed from In continent both ways.

I had Reconstructive surgery June 2016 it went down hill even more from there.
Ended up with an abscess that popped and was left with a fistula, since then I've been having Operatia and son top of operations
Just had one this morning as my seton came out last week and needed a new one.

It is a very lonely journey .
I wish you all the best . Keep your head up and find ways to be pain free and to keep your self worth

I see it's been a while since anyone posted, but I'm hoping to have someone to bounce questions off of related to my cutting seton/fistulectomy. Has anyone had that combination done at the same time? With the fistulectomy, the entire track is excised, rather than laid open, and it HURTS.
With COVID-19, getting a hold of medical professionals is (understandably) all but hopeless and it adds to my worry; I live in the greater Seattle area, so we've been experiencing the fallout since my surgery about a month ago. I'm glad I was able to get my operation when I did.
I'm wondering if it's still normal to have bleeding from the wound. I figure it is, after all, a cutting seton (and it certainly feels like it; pain has been terrible throughout), but I don't know anyone who has personally dealt with this.
I hope everyone is staying home as much as humanly possible and staying healthy!

Just rftt. I'm so pleased to have found this 'thread' ('scuse the pun) as I am a new member of the seton club. A reluctant member, I have to add.

If any pp are still around on MN, I really hope you're doing ok.

I've had my anal-vaginal seton for a few days. I think I might give it a name.

Hi I’m new to here
After four years of re occurring anal abscesses . I had another abcess flare up two days ago and they rushed me into hospital and I have now got a secton in . I don’t know much about these doctors didn’t explain much to me just that they will see me in eight weeks to check on me . I really don’t no what to expect with this or how long it’s going to be in .

Hiya Becka,

I don't really know how long mine will be in for either. I have an appointment in a few weeks time to discuss the way forward.

On the plus side, it's not as uncomfortable as I thought it might be!

On the down side, I'm constantly washing as I need to feel clean. Luckily I work from home and am able to take multiple showers a day.

My overall quality of life doesn't seem great at the moment though.

That’s the think I’m dreading I have two weeks off work at the moment but not looking forward to going back work full time in retail and worried about keeping it clean . I find it uncomfortable but only had it in two days ago

I feel for you Becka. I haven't been out of the house much, but when I have, I've taken a little make up bag with a clean up kit.

Had mine a week now. It's not uncomfortable, but is still bleeding vaginally - is that normal?

Hi I'm the same I have a seton stitch for an anal fistula I have been feeling really low with it the last couple of weeks I can't find anyone to talk to about it

How are you getting on @Unknown202 ?

I had a loose seton stitch inserted this week, does anyone have any tips about how to deal with it or how long the pain will last? Thanks

It takes a bit of getting used to, but it just becomes part of daily life. I don’t have pain and that should disappear quickly. I found the most difficult part is getting used to cleaning up after going to the loo, but you find a way, and then I always have a shower after. I use gauze to keep between my cheeks, to help with drainage and just replace that regularly. When you first have one you can feel very alone and think you’ll never be normal, but I live a normal life, pain free, having sex, swimming doing everything I want. I just have a string in my bum. It took me a while to get to that point, but I can’t change it so I decided to worry about other stuff instead.

@SetonStitchHelp

I fully sympathize - setons are unpleasant. But, it can be useful to remember that they do a great job in infection prevention.

Is your seton be temporary or permanent?

The pain should gradually subside. If not, contact the surgeon who put it in.

For keeping clean, I found using a bidet was the way to go. If you don't have a bidet, you might be able to improvise with a shower spray whilst sitting on the edge of the bath tub with your bottom hanging over IYSWIM.

I had issues with chairs which I found seriously uncomfortable. It helped me to lounge sideways on a settee (I appreciate this is not possible if you're at work).

Bulky sanitary towels were also helpful as they provide padding. I liked the Natracare maternity pads the best. As well as giving welcome padding, they also collected discharge.

I'm now seton-free as I had surgical correction. Wishing you lots of luck.

Hi Ladies,
This thread has been so so reassuring and informative.
Just a quick question..... What's a CRS? Colo Rectal Surgeon? Or more like a specialist nurse? (Can't think what initials it might be).

I had a whopping abscess removed as an emergency in June last year. It was far too big to remove by extraction with a needle and drainage, so I had excision and scrape. They said they're typically 3-8ml (considered large!) and mine was FIFTY SEVEN ML!!

The excision wound in my bum cheek still hasn't healed, and MRI in Sept wasn't clear as to whether there was a fistula. An EUA with plan to do Seton failed (November) as they couldn't find the fistula track from the abscess through to my bowel. Three very good surgeons had a look and they decided it must have either never been there, or healed since the MRI.

I wasn't given any plan or follow up so I refused discharge and staged a sit in on the ward and refused to leave until I got to speak to a Consultant. The soonest appt they could get me was Feb this year, but I was ok-ish and as I'm NHS staff and understand it's shit and they're doing their best with waiting lists I just was far too patient. MRI last month to decide on further plan, and I've just been waiting for appt with Consultant. I got the impression the appt would be literally a couple of days after the MRI.

I only managed to return to work 5 weeks ago after 8 months off. The exision wound has been draining pus and masses of clear watery fluid since - I think that's what they call a sinus node? My job involves lots of driving so that's not good. 3 days ago pain came back and so I went through A&E to urgent surgical clinic who said March MRI shows fistula and also an abscess again. They debated taking me to theatre yesterday or today, then surgeon came and said it was better being done after course of antibiotics to lesson swelling of abscess, and have specialist sugeon do it. I got the impression it would still be within next 2 weeks. I've woken up today to loads of blood overnight. I've phoned today to check on date for appt and told even mega urgent expedited appointments will only be in June. I'm in tears. I can't sit down, I'm struggling to walk due to pressure of abscess on muscle and I'm so scared and miserable.

This year I've worked for the NHS for 25 years and I'm so upset with just how broken it is. It shouldn't take this long to get sorted. I know the whole seton thing is a long process but I'm not even properly started on the journey yet. I'm usually so strong, take it on board and then learn to deal with whatever. But I'm just destroyed knowing it'll be another 2 months before I even get to discuss my plan, let alone have an op.

Ladies, Thank you for listening. Xx