Had perianal abscess removed, cryptotomy, now surgery caused an anal fissure, help. - Bowel Disorders Message Board

PharmBrah · 06-10-2008, 09:10 AM

So i had an abscess for about a year and half (yes painful as hell). it seemed like there was a fistula. I would press hard at one point and get fluid to drain into the anal canal relieving pressure.

I had surgery a month ago to have this removed. the whole thing was cut out leaving a giant gaping hole in my rear in close proximity to the anus. I followed sits baths as well.

Upon my followup is when I foundout i had a cryptotomy done as well. The surgeon said he injected this material into the area to see if it bubbled or went anywhere so he could see if there was a fistula tract. he said that showed nothing so no fistulotomy was performed. He said at one time I must have had a fistula but it has since healed over. I don't know about that though. The followup exam with the DRE and Anoscopy was excruciating painful, worse than the surgery. I have a high tolerance for pain and didn't use the pain medicine, but this was horrible.

Anyhow, here I am today. He said the anal cryps were laid open b/c they were deep and that they are behaving like a fissure. Just when things seem a little better, wham, I am having tons of blood in my stool and burning pain in the rectal area before sitz bath.

Anyone have any advice? Yeah i have seen the threads on surgeries, sitz baths, etc. What has worked for anyone else. Has anyone had fistulotomy that ended up causing a fissure.

My diet and fiber intake is perfect.

Worst thing is, I start new job monday where I work 60+ hours a week. I have no time to be playing around with sitz baths. This is just a pain in the *** (no pun intended).

kcindarella · 06-11-2008, 07:41 AM

Hi PharmBrah,
Sorry to hear of your pain. I didn't have what you had but I did have fissure and unhealed wounds following hemmie surgery. It's now been 4 months and I finally see some light at the end of this road.

Hopefully, you are not experiencing muscle spasms. If you are you should check into some ointment to relieve the pressure in the anal canal. There are three that I am aware of, Nitroglycerine, nifedipine, or diltiazem. They took weeks for me to take effect, though. I took nifedipine for 3 months, I think it is allowing the area to relax and heal.

I've heard that the darvocet is less constipating than other narcotics, and they don't make one dizzy and sick, at least they didn't for me. Also 3-4 ibuprofens seem to help but are hard on the stomach, take with food.

Have you tried sitting on a heating pad? If you sit at your job this may help??

Glad to hear you have your diet and fiber under control. I've been told the stool should be toothpaste consistency until things have healed somewhat. Not sure if the Dr's tell you that soft though.
Hope you are feeling better.
Good luck.

PharmBrah · 06-15-2008, 11:03 AM

thank you for your reply. well what scares me is this. the physician barely spent any time with me. after the surgery when i woke i was asking him questions his response was "i really have to go to another surgery right now"

in my first followup, he barely spoke 30 seconds with me after giving me another DRE and anoscope.

Today I am at the 4 week post surgery mark, still in a lot of pain. The surgical area of where the abscess was removed was never painful for me, but inside the anus is.

After the surgery he never even mentioned cutting in there. At first I thought he made an error during surgery bc I felt cut inside. Only in the 2nd followup did he reveal a cryptotomy.

Should I see another physician? Just last week his office cancelled my 2nd followup on me asking me to reschedule it. Maybe he is a good surgeon, maybe he is not. I can tell you I am not happy with the doctor-patient relationship and lack of relaying information to me. What do you all think?