christine777
07-20-2003, 06:30 PM
Has anyone experienced having an anal abscess? What did you do before going to the doctor, did you need surgery, how was the surgery and mostly how long was the recovery time. thank you
Sponsor
auntjudyg
07-21-2003, 11:52 AM
I had an abscess in my sigmoid colon; so it was a little farther up than the anus. The answers to most of your question depend on how big the abscess is; is it leaking internally; and other factors.
I am not typical, I don't think, because my situation was really far along before it was diagnosed, and infection had spread all over the place. But yes, I had surgery; recovery was several months.
I am not typical, I don't think, because my situation was really far along before it was diagnosed, and infection had spread all over the place. But yes, I had surgery; recovery was several months.
christine777
07-22-2003, 10:32 PM
I really would like to know more about your situation. I just had surgery for a fissure, abscess and fistula. The next procedure the doctor says i need is a colonoscopy to see why these occurred.
I am starting my 3rd week of recovery. I wonder how long for complete recovery and will i be able to function as i did prior. i was very physically fit. Now of course i can do nothing until i heal. Walking is even a small chore right now.
Any small detail i would appreciate. How did it come that your abscess was where it was? Im afraid because the doctor said this just doesnt happen to normal people.
thank you and hope you are well.
I am starting my 3rd week of recovery. I wonder how long for complete recovery and will i be able to function as i did prior. i was very physically fit. Now of course i can do nothing until i heal. Walking is even a small chore right now.
Any small detail i would appreciate. How did it come that your abscess was where it was? Im afraid because the doctor said this just doesnt happen to normal people.
thank you and hope you are well.
auntjudyg
07-23-2003, 03:57 PM
#@*&)@!!!! That's not what I wrote!!! I wrote a long post . . . I can't believe it got messed up!!!
Anyway, briefly, what seems to have happened with me is that I had diverticulosis. It developed into diverticulitis and got infected. Somewhere along the way this nurtured the development of the abscess. Then, all or one of these factors lead to a fistula between my colon and bladder.
I had three operations over the course of five months and there were post-op complications twice.
If they cut into the abdominal muscles, standard wisdom is recovery will be 6 to 8 weeks to get back to most activities. For a couple of months you will probably get tired more easily, find you can't lift as much, etc., but once this passes, you may find you actually feel better than before (having gotten rid of the infection inside). Within the next week you ought to start noticing more of a difference. My sister-in-law advised me not to look at progress day-by-day, because it can be a bumpy road; but to look at things week-to-week.
Hope things turn around soon!
Anyway, briefly, what seems to have happened with me is that I had diverticulosis. It developed into diverticulitis and got infected. Somewhere along the way this nurtured the development of the abscess. Then, all or one of these factors lead to a fistula between my colon and bladder.
I had three operations over the course of five months and there were post-op complications twice.
If they cut into the abdominal muscles, standard wisdom is recovery will be 6 to 8 weeks to get back to most activities. For a couple of months you will probably get tired more easily, find you can't lift as much, etc., but once this passes, you may find you actually feel better than before (having gotten rid of the infection inside). Within the next week you ought to start noticing more of a difference. My sister-in-law advised me not to look at progress day-by-day, because it can be a bumpy road; but to look at things week-to-week.
Hope things turn around soon!
projapoti
07-24-2003, 05:25 PM
Auntjudyg....I'm so sorry that you had to go through that. You said that you had a rectovescicular fistula (i.e. between your rectum/colon and your bladder. Did you at any point experience very foul smelling urine? I know it's kinda gross, but that (feculent urine) is supposedly a big symptom of that problem.
Also, do you suffer from Crohn's or ulcerative colitis?
Also, do you suffer from Crohn's or ulcerative colitis?
auntjudyg
07-26-2003, 02:19 PM
I didn't notice foul smelling urine. I think once it opened up, it opened up quickly. I did start passing gas through the urethra about 8 weeks before I ended up in the emergency room. Somehow I managed to ignore that, or thought it was just some strange thing that would pass, and it was right before the holidays and I was going away so . . . The urine became dark the day before I ended up in the hospital.
Before this happened, I thought my colon was the one organ that was functioning quite well. I was always regularly; ate more fiber than average (but lot's of bad stuff too. Now that I have been pampering it some, my GI track has gotten more finnicky, but it hasn't advanced to the stage of being called IBS or anything so far.
Before this happened, I thought my colon was the one organ that was functioning quite well. I was always regularly; ate more fiber than average (but lot's of bad stuff too. Now that I have been pampering it some, my GI track has gotten more finnicky, but it hasn't advanced to the stage of being called IBS or anything so far.
christine777
07-27-2003, 09:32 PM
Hi Auntjudyg, thank you for all of the information. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that, i really am. I hope you are feeling all better, are you?
I cannot take the pain from the doctor's visits. Does it get any better? I do look forward, though, to my next "procedure", the colonoscopy. I just want to get everything over with and be well again. Sometimes, i wonder if anything is worth it...you know what i mean. It's too much pain sometimes for me. Other days, Im fine and anticipate being well and doing most of the things I used to do anyway.
How are you Auntjudyg? You have been through so much already and it is nice of you to share with me. I truly appreciate it, i really do. Please take care.
I cannot take the pain from the doctor's visits. Does it get any better? I do look forward, though, to my next "procedure", the colonoscopy. I just want to get everything over with and be well again. Sometimes, i wonder if anything is worth it...you know what i mean. It's too much pain sometimes for me. Other days, Im fine and anticipate being well and doing most of the things I used to do anyway.
How are you Auntjudyg? You have been through so much already and it is nice of you to share with me. I truly appreciate it, i really do. Please take care.
auntjudyg
07-28-2003, 04:55 PM
Thank you both for your concern. Actually, after it was all over I felt much better than I had in a LONG time. In retrospect, I think the abscess had been developing for many years (the only symptom during that time was fatigue which was easy to chalk up to other factors). But one good thing that came of it is that I now pay more attention to my health.
This all took place during the year 2000, so the memory is fading somewhat. The first couple of weeks after the operations were awful. It does get better.
I'm not sure what the pains from the doctor's visits are. Do you still have sutures in?
This all took place during the year 2000, so the memory is fading somewhat. The first couple of weeks after the operations were awful. It does get better.
I'm not sure what the pains from the doctor's visits are. Do you still have sutures in?
christine777
07-29-2003, 09:49 AM
Thank you for the words of encouragement. I go to a colorectal surgeon. The exams are painful. Once it was him tightening, the other time it was him making sure my sutures were gone and him cutting through the skin to make sure skin did not grow over them (i was healing miraculously he said). The probes or scopes open things too wide for me. Whatever he does back there is extremely uncomfortable and painful. I go this week and Im reluctant but know i have no choice.
How are colonoscopys? Im worried because i still have a little pain back there when i go. Does it ever go away? And the stools feel dry sometimes and it feels tight back there.
I eat whole prunes most of the day and drink lots of water. If I dont the stool is narrow. So im anxious for them to know what is going on.
I know when it is all over the memory will slowly fade. But right now the going through part is hard for me. Ive never been in so much pain (the exams).
Thank you again for all of the encouragement. Are you all well now?
How are colonoscopys? Im worried because i still have a little pain back there when i go. Does it ever go away? And the stools feel dry sometimes and it feels tight back there.
I eat whole prunes most of the day and drink lots of water. If I dont the stool is narrow. So im anxious for them to know what is going on.
I know when it is all over the memory will slowly fade. But right now the going through part is hard for me. Ive never been in so much pain (the exams).
Thank you again for all of the encouragement. Are you all well now?
auntjudyg
07-29-2003, 04:51 PM
All the work on me was done through the abdominal incision, so I was spared all that! I don't know how big the probes might be, but a colonoscope is about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. The worst part of that procedure is the preparation (cleaning out the system which usually includes a liquid diet for a day and then some sort of laxative). Most places sedate you for the procedure itself, so you don't even remember it.
christine777
07-30-2003, 02:50 PM
Hi Aunt, Today's exam didnt hurt at all. Next is the colonoscopy. He told me not to wait longer than a month. So onward, I will be glad for it to be all over with...i hope sooner than later.
I am so cautious now what i eat, making sure i am regular etc.
Thanks for being an encouragement to me.
I am so cautious now what i eat, making sure i am regular etc.
Thanks for being an encouragement to me.