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Fistulas with Crohn's disease?  
   
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dschaff
Joined: March 05, 2013
Posted: Mar 5, 2013 9:02 PM EST
Has anyone with Crohn's developed anal fistulas and had a seton stitch/draining suture inserted? I would like to hear your experiences with the procedure and what you were told by your surgeon.
 
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jwilso13
Joined: March 19, 2013
Posted: Mar 19, 2013 6:25 AM EST
Had this done last year. Honestly it was a life saver after having unsuccessfully tried to wound pack and treat PR fistula. It is uncomfortable and pulls a little. The drainage is gross but it is far better then the PAIN / Torture of deep wound packing. Use gauze placed over the band to catch the drainage and just hang in there it wont be like this forever. Eventually it heals and you can return to a normal life.  
 
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antonyde
Joined: January 11, 2009
Posted: Mar 7, 2013 9:14 PM EST
 Reply posted for dschaff.

It can never hurt to get a second opinion but in his/her defense it did fall out some earlier but at that time I still needed it and they put it back in, also for all the years I had them in I probably needed them in there.  To this day I have scares and openings where the fistula's where and in the flares I have had since they have been out I would have been in big trouble if what needed to get out was not able to.

for the record I wish the setons where put in the first time I got the fistula, it would have saved me a lot of pain years later.

also even if they don't fall out quickly after you no longer need them, it is pretty easy and somewhat painless to get them taken out.

again, good luck  I know what you are going through
 
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dschaff
Joined: March 05, 2013
Posted: Mar 7, 2013 7:04 PM EST
 Reply posted for antonyde.

Thanks for your reply Anthony. I was afraid that was the case. My surgeon is telling me that the seton will fall out quickly but everything I have read, like in your case they take years to fall out. I guess it is time to get a new surgeon that is more knowledgeable on the subject.Thanks again
 
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antonyde
Joined: January 11, 2009
Posted: Mar 7, 2013 6:13 PM EST
 Reply posted for dschaff.

Hi,
I have had Crohn's since 1989 and developed fistulas on my back side in 1993.  At fist we just lanced them and let them heal up.  I had a pretty bad flare of them in 1997 when we really got in there and put the setons in.   I stopped feeling them after a while, I had to have one replaced a few years later but they probably fell out about 5 years later and I never replaced them.  I have had a couple of small falres since but nothing requiring surgery again.

the procedure was easy the recovery took about a month to get back to work

Best of luck!

Anthony
 
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