A Pain in My Ass
If you haven’t noticed, my post frequency here has been slightly below my average the past couple months. Mainly this is because for the last couple months, it has been quite painful to sit in front of my computer and write. No, I’m not getting headaches from the monitor. Nor am I easing into the world of carpal tunnel syndrome. The source of my pain has been in a rather different region. Namely, my butt.
Back in late October, I started getting some serious painage down in the valley and I had no idea what was going on. I felt swelling, tenderness, and much much pain. From there I decided to see a doctor. I just went to a normal family practice place. The kind with about 50 doctors–all of whom could really care less about you and your problems. After explaining my symptoms to the doctor and a quick exam, he determined I had a hemorrhoid. So he prescribed me some very expensive cream and sent me on my merry way.
About a month later, in early December, I still was feeling the symptoms I originally felt. Only this time, they were accentuated to the extreme. One night, I just could not handle the pain any more. I literally hoped Cheri would kill me because I was in so much pain. But instead, she did the sensible thing and brought me to the emergency room.
At the emergency room, the doctor continued to give me the same song and dance about hemorrhoids that my original doctor gave me. Eat more fiber, don’t strain on the toilet, exercise. Blah blah blah. Who needs that crap? Anyway, after lecturing me, she actually decided to take a look and was pleasantly surprised. She proceeded to give me the good news that I, in fact, did not have a hemorrhoid. Instead, I had a perianal abscess. How lucky I was!
A perianal abscess is similar to a boil, yet the pus originates from an infected gland in the anus that drains into the fatty tissue in the butt. Thus it swells, hurts like hell, and sometimes leaks really smelly pus. And the only way to make it better is to open it up and let it drain.
Since my abscess was very bad, they put me on morphine and opened up my abscess in the ER. Even though I had morphine, I was in an excruciating about of pain. It was so bad that during the entire procedure I screamed at the top of my lungs. It was the worst pain I’d felt in my life.
Luckily the procedure was done in only about 5 or 10 minutes. Afterwords I was sent home and told to go visit a colon and rectal surgeon. Then I made an appointment with Dr. Doughtery here in Fairfax to get looked at. At the appointment she looked to see if the ER did an OK job draining the abscess, and then sat Cheri and I down to explain what a perianal abscess is and what would happen from here. She explained that in about 50% of cases, abscesses come back because a fistula has formed. A fistula is a canal that has formed from the original infected gland and is feeding bacteria to the abscess.
After the appointment, things got better fairly quickly. I would walk normally and almost sit without too much pain. But soon, things got worse again. I was just thinking it was part of the healing process, but I was wrong. I was forming more abscesses. Once again, I couldn’t take the pain anymore, so I went to Dr. Doughtery’s office to get looked at. It was found that I had formed two more abscesses. Yay!
That day they were drained, and it helped a lot. The draining at the surgeon’s office did not hurt as much as it did in the ER because I think they actually knew what they were doing. But then the doctor feared I might have Crohn’s disease. This is because multiple abscesses for someone as young as I am is a sign of the disease. So I was ordered to get an upper GI and small intestine examination done.
The next day I went to the radiologist and had the exam done. It was kind of a neat procedure. They made me drink a lot of Barium (which was disgusting). The Barium creates a contrast so that they can examine my intestines with x-rays and fluoroscopy.
A couple days ago I got the results back and found that it looks like I have Crohn’s Disease. It really isn’t as bad as it sounds. Its just an inflammatory bowel condition that may get flare-ups due to stress or dietary habits. But I won’t exactly find out what I need to do about it until I go see my gastroenterologist in a couple weeks. All I will have to do though is take some medication to help keep the disease at bay so I don’t experience any symptoms.
Luckily though, I’ve been getting better and am now able to sit at the computer again. Hopefully, I will continue to post more frequently here again.
UPDATE (6/13/2008): Thanks to everyone who’ve commented. Please feel free to use the comments to continue discussion and support for those who suffer from perianal abscesses!
Thanks for your blog on perianal abscess. I’ve had it twice in two years. Just had surgery to remove it this past week. The effects of the anesthesia was worse than the surgery itself. Not much pain down there. A friend of mine had the same thing. Guess it happens more often than we think. Glad to hear I’m not the only one with a pain in the ass.
Viv Lei
February 11, 2007 at 8:38 pm
i had the same a few years back..the worst pain i ever felt. the prpblem is i think it has come back…im thinking to cut it myself with i pin..is that ok?
jj
April 27, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Not a problem at all. I’m glad to get the stories out there. There are so many scary websites out there about perianal abscesses and Crohn’s disease and I think it is important to show that it isn’t all as scary as it may seem. Good luck with your pains!
fallenposters
February 11, 2007 at 9:52 pm
My husband had that a little over a year ago and was the biggest baby ever.
He’s getting it again and is mad at me because he was hoping I could get him something from his doctor over the phone, but it sounds like he’s going to have to go back in…
Now that you have meds. for your Crohn’s disease, will you not get the butt thing anymore~or will you just lower your chances..? I’m wondering if he has Crohn’s as well… I don’t know, but it sure IS a pain in the butt!!!
Pamela
March 28, 2007 at 7:41 am
If your husband is getting it again and again, then he should definitely get checked out for the abscesses and for Crohn’s. The medicine I’m on for Crohn’s is supposed to help heal my abscesses, and so far it is working, just slowly. Once the Crohn’s goes into remission, most people don’t get any more abscesses.
fallenposters
March 28, 2007 at 8:22 am
Hi.
Could you tell me if you felt really ill with the perianal abscess?
I think I might have one .
I’ve been to the doctors about 6 times now and keep getting sent home with the same hemorrhoid treatment and still not had an examination.
I have lower back pain and a terrible throbbing/ aching/ burning in my back passage .
I’ve had blood tests and they all came through ok and had 3 lots of antibiotics.
It’s keeping me awake all night and I feel like I just don’t want to do anything as I just feel so tired.
Does this sound similar to how you felt?
Thanks for the info.
Beck
May 2, 2007 at 12:57 pm
I was so glad to find a blog with people discussing the same trauma I am going through. I had my first “PIA” in 1999 – got it drained and then nothing for about 2-3 years, then it started again – but always before I got the stage of getting it drained – or procrastinated – it would go away. I found a pattern though – pork – every time I would eat it, I would get one of these. Anyway, as I type this, I have another abscess and this time its back with a vengeance. I am going tomorrow to get it drained, but will now investigate the Crohn’s side of it as well. Thanks for the support.
Bobby M
July 6, 2007 at 12:41 am
You are doing a great service for people who aren’t quite sure what to do or know what they are experiencing. Keep the information streaming and you will be blessed.
Dad
July 18, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Thanks for insight of your ordeal. Well My “pia”exploded on its own. Being disabled “SCI” This hole won’t go away. I been in bed for two months keeping off my tush. Not getting any better, not getting any worse. but the smell, jeeze!! They have me packing it with panafil, 2×2 gauze, wet to dry. Somebody have any input?
William OHaver
July 31, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Thanks for all the responses.
@Beck:
It sounds like you might want to go see a different doctor. If they haven’t even examined you then it isn’t a good sign. Even when my doctor initially examined me, he thought it was a hemorrhoid too, but at least he still examined me. External hemorrhoids are supposed to go away after treatment usually. If you are experiencing any fluid draining (especially if it smells terrible) then it may be an abscess. Ask to be referred to a colon and rectal surgeon.
@William OHaver:
The only thing I can recommend is to take frequent warm baths. It can help both to heal the abscess and to clean up the drainage. If you haven’t been referred to a colon and rectal surgeon by your general physician, then I’d ask for one. They tend to know how to get this stuff fixed.
fallenposters
August 1, 2007 at 7:41 am
I just had surgery for the PIA and hope that it won’t come back. Remember to use your sitz bath dude!
kelvin
October 3, 2007 at 11:04 pm
My daughter (20) has just been told that she has a perianal boil/abscess, but hers was caused by trauma to the area, or at least that’s what we assume as we don’t think it was there before she fell off the horse and it only seemed to come up in the week after the fall. Is this the same thing then? They are booking her in for day surgery and have told her that she will be under general anaesthetic, whereas it sound like you guys only had a local. I was trying to find out exactly how the surgery is performed as she is worrying about it. Because the abscess is deep inside the buttock, we aren’t sure whether they will cut in to the buttock or use some sort of a suction doodad. Anybody got any ideas?
meg
October 31, 2007 at 9:52 pm
@meg: Its possible that this is similar to the abscesses that I got, but they may be different since your daughter’s was caused by trauma rather than disease. When an abscess needs to be opened up to drain, the procedure is usually only done under a local. But it seems in your daughter’s case they need to go deeper in to fix the damage. I eventually had to have surgery on my abscesses as well and was put under for it. But I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know everything. Your best bet would be to talk to your daughter or her doctor about what to expect.
fallenposters
November 1, 2007 at 1:44 pm
I recently had surgery for a perianal abscess last Tuesday. It all started about three weeks earlier when I started experiencing immense pain in the buttock region. And of course, my Doctor said it was a internal hemmorhoid. The Doctor gave me medication which was to be inserted anally. (Yay, that was fun)
Well, I continued to experience pain and went to the Doctor’s office on three, yes 3 separate occasions. After the third visit, the Doctor looked at me and said, I miss diagnosed the hemmorhoid and it’s a perianal abscess. I was immediately referred to a surgeon who said me an hour later. The surgeon said that the abscess was so deep that I needed to have surgery in a hospital under general anaesthetic. I was admitted into the hospital about 30 minutes later and was in surgery within 45 minutes.
After surgery, I had immediate relief but still sore. I took all my medication and was prescribed pain medication. I have to take sitz bath’s every night and after every bowel movement. I also have to change the 1/4 inch medicated gauze everyday and after every bowel movement. It’s been a week since the surgery and I’m still uncomfortable. Does anyone know how long the wound takes to heal? And I continue to read on the internet about fistula’s occuring about 30-50% of the time. Does anyone have any information about that, it would be appreciative. I found this blog tonight and really appreciate you all writing down your incidents. It makes me feel better that I’m not alone.
Frank
November 13, 2007 at 6:53 am
@Frank: Abscesses typically don’t take too long to heal (a couple weeks I believe usually, but YMMV) as long as a fistula has not formed. If a fistula forms, then the abscess will take much longer to heal and may require more surgery. In my case, I had three abscesses, each of which formed fistulas. I had to have surgery to place drains into each of the fistulas (think of it as a piece of string that looped through my anus and out the abscess via the fistula) so that over time the fistulas would heal and the drains would be taken out as each one healed. I had this surgery in January 2007 and I still have one drain in as my fistulas are still healing. The drains were necessary because if they weren’t there, then my abscesses would close up and then fester all over again. The drains kept my wound open so it would dry out and heal.
After a few weeks, your doctor should be able to tell you if they believe a fistula has formed or not. Hopefully they won’t form and the abscess will completely heal. Best of luck to you!
fallenposters
November 14, 2007 at 11:24 am
I *think* I have this. Two months ago I ended up having surgery for what the OB/Gyn called “an abscess in the area next to the perineum”. He said the culture came back with E Coli in it, which is unusual for that area, unless something else is going on. He said we’d just let it go for now, but if I got another one, we’d have to do a study to figure out what’s going on. He did mention a fistula.
Whatever I had then, I have again. Unless it’s the bartholin’s cyst that I had 3 years ago.
And I already know I have Crohn’s, but I don’t take any meds for it. I just have to not eat stupidly.
I do have a question. You’ve recommended seeing a colorectal surgeon. In my mind, surgeons were the people you saw once a non-surgeon diagnosed you. I’d just as soon not go to one doc, just to be sent to another (and my insurance will cover specialists as long as they are in network – no referral required). Maybe I’ll look for a colorectal surgeon, instead of banging my head against the wall trying to get into an OB/Gyn. I don’t want to go back to that first OB/Gyn – he’s very far away. If this is going to be a recurring thing, I’d like to go to someone closer.
Brenda
November 20, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Hi, My wife has just been diagnosed with a “PIA”. She assures me that it’s bloody painful and has been suffering with flu like symptoms. To be completely fair it does look like it smarts a bit! (I get all the good jobs!)
Now my question is as follows. She was diagnosed with the PIA on Wednesday and given a weeks worth of Augmentin Amoxicillin. She was told that the anti-biotics would/should, more than likely, start to kick in after 48hrs and she should see an improvement within a week.
However, It’s Saturday now and the redness and hardening of skin seems to be on the increase and is now taking up about a third of her left buttock!!! The doctor didn’t even mention getting the abscess drained?? Has anyone had their PIA cured by just antibiotics alone without drainage?
This subject seems to have very little resource dedicated to it on the web, So this site is is greatly appreciated, as would any advice anyone can put our way. She seems to be really suffering. The Doctor seems to think the PIA was bought on by an ongoing Animia problem that she suffers with so we hopefully Chrones is not even on the cards in this instance. Thanks for any advice in advance. Keep you chins up…
Fedupwithbuttfiddling!
UK non-sitter!
November 24, 2007 at 9:11 am
Had my 4th operation yesterday for a perianal fistula. It’s been six years since this PIA started. Hopefully, this will be my last. To reply to UK non sitter, I was told by the surgeon that operated my first abcess that it would have been possible to get rid of it by antibiotics if it was detected early enough. I was operated on a week after the pain started and it was too late for antibiotics at this point. By then they drained about a cup of pus.
This website lists some great info regarding fistulas. http://www.bowel-health.com/fistula.html
For those with Crohn’s, please buy the book “Breaking the Viscious Cycle” by Elaine Gottschall. I don’t have Crohn’s but my friend who does has used this book as his bible and has had his crohn’s in remission for a while.
Hope this info is helpful.
Goodbye fistula
December 14, 2007 at 4:52 am
Hi All,
I thought it might be worth giving you an update on my wifes condition. It does seem that sure enough, the Abscess did seem to shrink after about 5 days of what seemed to be agonising pain experienced. I was increadibly worried.
However, we are now over three weeks into the course of Anti-biotics and all is well on the road to recovery. Yay! We are both keeping everything crossed that it never comes back. My wife is boosting her ferratin levels and trying to consume foods that aid her anaemic condition. I still have to keep on at her tho!!
So, If ever this happens to someone else, I feel for you, because it did look so, so painful. But there does seem to be hope for some in the form of antibiotics. All I would say is, if you can get to a GP quickly, do so, because I am assured this gets a whole lot worse really quickly.
Good luck to all on this site, and I hope this post helps someone who may find themselves in the same situation one day.
May peace be with you….
UK non-sitter!
December 18, 2007 at 5:58 pm
@Brenda: Yes, if you have been diagnosed with having a perianal abscess, then I would highly suggest that you visit a colon and rectal surgeon. They have the expertise to be able to treat it without it being too painful, plus they can tell you whether or not you need surgery to correct the problem.
@UK non-sitter: I’m glad to hear your wife is doing better. Keep us informed on her condition!
@Goodbye Fistula: Good luck with recovery, hopefully this will be your last surgery on your PIA. Also, thanks for the book recommendation, I’ll have to check it out.
fallenposters
December 26, 2007 at 6:53 pm
Hello all.
I am currently experiencing an anal abcess and/or fistula. This is about the 8th or 9th time it has occured. I have never had any type of surgery for them. I am always prescribed antibiotics and Vicodin. It takes about 9 days, and then they pop/drain. I do have Crohn’s disease. Will I have these the rest of my life? Is there an ultimate cure that I am not aware of? Maybe a surgery that will do away with them for good? I am only 25 years old and can’t imagine having these for the rest of my life!! They are so painiful! I can not sit down and all I do is cry! I even got fired from a job for not being able to come in because walking was impossible! I am depressed about the whole situation of having these abcesses…It is seriously interfering with my life. Nobody around me can truly understand the pain I experience.
Stephanie - My Butt Hurts!!
January 9, 2008 at 3:33 am
@Stephanie: It sounds like your Crohn’s disease is affecting your perianal area — this is sometimes called Perianal disease. I don’t know what medications you are on for Crohn’s but ask your GI doctor about mercaptopurine, also known as 6-MP. Its an immunosuppressive drug that takes a few months to reach therapeutic levels, but it may help. This is the medicine I’m on and it has helped for me. Also, if you aren’t already, I highly recommend you get referred to see a colon and rectal surgeon. They will be able to tell you the options for treating your abscesses and they will tell you if you ever need surgery. Good luck, I feel your pain.
fallenposters
January 13, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I have been diagonized with perianal fistula for last 7 years, have been operated twice, once for drainage the other for curing the fistula… They were done within span of year…
I m pretty sure i dont have crohns, since the last two colonoscopy has showed no problem with my colon.
But the damn thing recurred & I lost my trust in surgeries… Now i m going to a gastro-entologist who is giving me azoran-50 mg…The fistulae have decreased in activity but the pus still pours.. lately he said since that medicine has no affect on me, he going to start me on infleximab(remicide)… As my research suggest.. this is costly drug to be taken again & again…
After all this history, what do u ppl suggest ?? surgery or go ahead with this drug? if surgery which one??
please let me know…I m smaller than all of my friends, in sweight , height ect, coz of this problem
sohny
January 15, 2008 at 7:27 am
About 2 days ago I noticed I had a rather firm and unusual lump in that region. It does not hurt, nor does it cause any discomfort when sitting or during any activity. It seems to have come suddenly but I don’t know when it initially began forming. I’ve been reading the symptoms of an abscess and the only symptoms I have is a lump. I’m not sure what course of action to take since I only have one symptom and have never had a problem like this before. At this point it isn’t even a problem… yet, just a worry. I wish you luck and health in the future with your condition, I hope you get a chance to respond to this.
Lexikon
January 23, 2008 at 4:24 am
Just an update on my situation: The lump turned out to be a perianal abscess and just yesterday I went to the emergency room where it was drained. I was then given a prescription for antibiotics. The pain began the very next day after my initial reply here. Thanks to you all I was well informed on my condition beforehand and knew what had to be done. So I thank you, and wish you all the best.
Lexikon
January 28, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Hi guys,
I had my surgery on dec 2007. recently they found that they did not do it properly so i had another one. But even after the surgery i have an area which is hard(Jus below the wound). Do u guys think they will cut it or cure using medicine. I am at university now so i cant afford to miss my classes. =(
Were u guys able sit down or walk properly after the surgery.(jus after the surgery)
Thanks in advance
James
February 7, 2008 at 5:10 am
I am soooo glad I found this blog! I’m a male, 39 yrs old. I first started getting these horrifying abscesses about 6 years ago. I thought it might have stemmed from an accident on my mountain bike when I had slipped from my pedals and landed rather fiercely on my cross bar. It was within a week or so that I had started to get what I thought was a hemorrhoid (never gotten them before) but it got way worse than that. Same symptoms as described by everyone here, including about a third of my butt check becoming rock hard. A couple of miss diagnosis later I finally had the thing lanced & drained by my primary care phys. I remember hearing him and his nurse gasp and a few oh my’s come from them during the procedure and a horrific smell! Antibiotics were prescribed & I thought that was that…yeah right. The following year, same thing but this time it popped on it’s own & drained…I was disgusted that something like that could come from my body…not too mention the amount!!! Well, here I am 6 years later and maybe 8 to 9 times later of getting this. Antibiotics were taken every time and yes, if I did catch them in time they would simply go away without too much discomfort but a lot more often it would go on for a couple of weeks with insane amounts of pain (can’t sit, can’t walk & really hurts when I use my PC muscle…and lots of depression, anger & tears)…including the one I’m going through now. I am so thankful that you mentioned going to see a colon/rectal surgeon, I don’t think my doc has mentioned it once. I don’t know if there is fistula or Crohn’s or what but I am definitely going to look into it! I’ve looked around for years on the web for some sort of explanation to no avail…and here you are…thank you thank you thank you!!!! Good luck to everyone here & I hope to let you know what happens in my situation soon!
Writhing In Pain In The Southwest!!!
February 9, 2008 at 6:18 am
Hey all,
I last wrote on November 13, 07 and was healing from a Perianal Abscess. Well, it got reinfected in early December and I was diagnosed with a Perirectal Abscess. I was in the hospital for one week and then went home. I had a nurse come to my house twice a week and it finally healed/closed up in mid-Feb. 08. It was extremely depressing but hopefully it’s over now and won’t come bace ever again. The doctor checked my colon during surgery and said there was no fistula/canal and he said it won’t happen again if it heals. Please Pray!!!!!!!!!Hope everyone else heals properly, thank you for this site.
Frank
March 3, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Greetings,I guess I am another victim to the PIA. As most of you , it all started with that pain and lump and what the doctor thought was a hemorroid. The family doctor gave me hemmorroids medicine and sent me to an specialist for a colonoscopy. I am 44 years old and the doctor thought it was time to get one anyway. ..I am so glad that was done because they found a polyp in my colon and they removed it while they did the colonoscopy. Luckyly the test results on the polyp were good and it was not malign. The doctor who performed the colonoscopy finally figured out that I have an abcess and referred me to a surgeon. The surgeon tried to treat it with antiboitics first and the treatment worked while I was taking the pills but when I ran out of them , it came back with avengance. ..this time the surgeon made an insicion at his office and a LOT of discusting stuff came out. That was about 1 month and a half ago. Unfortunately my incision healed before all drained out and the lump and pain came back all over again…I could not get an appointment soon enough with the surgeon and I was going to have to wait a week before I could see him , so the nurse called my local pharmacy and gave me more antibiotics and pain meds.
NOW, here is how I got the guts and took care of the draining myself. The abcess still had the old incision that had closed…I took a needle and sterilized it , then I sterilized the old incision area….I pooked it with the needle and it was like a balloon had exploded and lots of pus an blood drained and an immediate relief came along with that….I saw my surgeon finally , and he actually was happy that I did what I did because it helped to drain it again……right now I am in the process of healing but he wants to see me tomorrow to see if another incision or a pack may be needed.
I am glad to know I may not be the only one has felt the frustation and feeling of being helpless. Thanks for allowing me to give you my 2 cents.
Jorge
March 5, 2008 at 2:24 am
wow. other people get these too!!! im 27, female of average weight and started getting them when i was 24 i have had 4 of them and been hopitalized all four times. twice last year. this weekend i noticed that one of my incisions was hurting so i got a mirror and looked at it, it was all red and blistery. i think that this was just a surface one. i am taking some of my antibiotics leftover from last time and i have a guaze soaked in oregano oil over it. i heard oregano oil is a great anitfungal/bacteria agent. its looking better already, but i am going to go see a doc about it tomorrow.
con
March 10, 2008 at 1:12 am
CON….in your case and when they hosptitalized you , was it because fistulas have already been created?…or was it just for the cleaning the abcess…just wondering…..I am scheduled for outpatient surgery in a week and they will try to deal with the fistula that was already created as a consequence of the abcess. Thanks.
Jorge
March 12, 2008 at 10:54 am
i’m on my second one, has anyone had theirs drain on their own?? i hope mine does…it did the first time with antibiotic treatment. i cant believe the hospital time involved for surgical drainage! could anyone give me a recount of their surgical procedure? thanks everyone.
p.s. and MAN do these things hurt like a S.O.B!
Raffy
March 18, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Hey!
Im 23 and i got an anal abcess at the start of Feb 08, the anti biotics didnt work, and i had to get surgery under General anesthetic, the wound still hasnt closed and now this week iv just found out i have another abcess, im on anti biotics again but i thinks its getting worse and i also think another one has sprung up, so now i have 2 abcesses and a wound that wont heal
im so depressed about all this, but this site has cheered me up a bit, its good too know im not alone.
im also waiting for an appointment for my 2nd colonoscopy to see if i have crohns
thanks for posting i hope you all heal soon
Mick
March 27, 2008 at 10:53 am
I have been getting this perianal abcess since 2004. I get them every 6 to 8 months or usually 2 a year for the last 4 years. In fact just today I had one drained. If I am lucky enough to catch it in time then the 2000mg of antibiotics that my doctor puts me on just might work and shrink it and eventually get rid of it within a week or so. He has sent me to surgeons to see if maybe they can operate and maybe cut out the area but by the time you get in to see the surgeon you are completely healed and there is no residual residue left for him to be able to find his way into the anal canal so that they can cut out the area so that they never happen again. I gather that this is something that I have to live with for the rest of my life?
Janice
March 29, 2008 at 12:50 am
Hey!
Have any of you had trouble with your wounds healing properly? I been getting mine dressed now for over 6 weeks and it seems to have come to a stand still.
Mick
March 31, 2008 at 5:48 am
I had one of these 5 or so years ago, and I was told that nothing I did could prevent another one from happening! This was truly the most insane pain I have ever experienced. I have had several other surgeries including two c-sections, and nothing came close to the pain, and not to mention humiliation I experienced with this. It took over one year for my first site to heal completely. It was very trying time emotionally, physically and spiritually. I prayed to never go through it again and tried to understand why it even happened. I certainly have been blessed these last 5 years to not have to go through it again. I woke up two days ago to the all too familiar initial discomfort, and I know it is back. I am praying that it can be taken care of with antibiotics. Thanks to all who have written in here, I am glad I am not alone, and I have learned so much by reading your entries.
Steph
March 31, 2008 at 9:24 am
Thanks everyone, its relieving to know I am not alone like so many of you have said. My story isn’t as bad as most here but its still disturbing.
I got my first abscess like 2 yrs ago. But before that I would have pain in my ass from time to time when I would sit on a bench. I didn’t think too much of it and usually it would go away.
Then 2 yrs ago when I was 29 I had this pain and it intensified. First I would have to carefully plan how I would sit down, and this was painful. The most painful part would be sitting down and/or standing up. Then one morning when I woke up, I did my usualy roll over to get out of bed and I felt this unbelievable pain. I screamed and was like WTF? When I stood up which was excruciatingly painful I could barely walk.
I looked in the mirror which was difficult because I had to turn my back to the mirror and try to open my butt crack to see what was up. It was a large painful swelling. Walking was so painful it would take me like 10 minutes to walk from my apt to the elevator.
The only thing I could do that wasn’t extremely painful was lay on my stomach. This lasted about a week and a couple times I cried a little but because I was like what kind of crap is this, why me ? If it stayed I was going to go see a doctor but after like a week it started to go away then finally dissipitated.
For the next 2 yrs I lived in fear of this happening again. A few of times I would the preliminary pain in the ass, before anything visible formed and would become terrified. It never got to the unbearable point as before and would usually stop.
But now for the last few days it happened and reached the pain level close to the one the first time. I am just praying that it goes away and I wont have to see a doctor. It happens in the same dam spot each time too. This is bull crap honestly why does nature do this to people. It sucks because its embarrasing too.
I used to play sports in high school. What if this happened then ? How would I tell people I couldnt play in a game because I had swelling on my but. Thank God each time this happened I was an adult and was off work during the time.
Thanks for sharing your stories though, its good to know you’re not some freak of nature.
Cory
April 2, 2008 at 10:29 pm
How long did it take for your wounds to heal?
Its been like 2 months and mine still hasnt scabbed over!
Mick
April 7, 2008 at 4:27 am
Wow, I have been to hell and back. The second abscess that I had which I thought wasn’t as bad as the first turned out to be WAY worst. After the 11th day I had it, I couldn’t sleep that night, and at 3:00 am in the morning decided to get up and go to the hospital. Luckily for me its right across the street.
After determining it was an abscess the doctor had to stick her finger up my ass to see if there was anything internally wrong with my ass. MY GOD this hurt. I don’t know how people receive anal sex. She had her finger all the way up in there, twisting and turning it. Im screaming and cursing while her finger is completely up my ass. She’s asking me at different moments what hurts and what doesnt. I’m like “EVERYTHING HURTS ! YOU GOT YOU FINGER COMPLETELY SHOVED UP MY ASS!!” She’s telling me to relax for crying out loud, but I couldnt. Anyway it was concluded that I had no internal problems.
Next the other doctors came in and said it would have to be drained. This process HURT LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER. It feels like they’re scraping your insides with broken glass. Obviously since an abscess is a swelling full of puss, the slightest touching of it, or movement hurts like hell. These guys had to stick a needle in to make an incision, then push and press it to get the puss out. I mean this HURT. These were the most horrowing 5-7 minutes of my life. They said they gave me painkillers, but they might as well have been pain enhancers based on the agony I went through. I was screaming, cursing, banging on the bed I was laying on, and begging for mercy. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy in the world.
However after it was drained, there was tremendous relief. I was able to sit and move around without being in excruciating pain. They prescribed me a bunch of medicine, and told me Id have to come back to the hospital for a few check ups. In a few weeks I need to have minory surgery done to prevent this from happening again.
May God have mercy on my soul, that this is the last of these ordeals.
Cory
April 9, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Hi! I was diagnosed last Friday with a Anal Fistula, Abscess, Fissure and Severe external hemorrhoids. I see the Colon Rectal Surgeon Monday and I am scared to death. I know there are two different abscesses 1) Perirectal 2)Perianal.
Mine is not on the outside, so I am assuming that mine is the worse being Perirectal. I have lived in excruciating pain since the first Tuesday of this month. I have been living on vicadin and tramadol, stool softners then I switched to mineral oil. My pain finally subsided and is almost gone as of Thursday. It is still very achey in that region, but nothing like it was. Can anyone tell me, if you were really ill with this like fevers,chills, fatigue???. I have been so sick for a long time and am wondering if this has been my problem all along. I have experienced terrible night sweats three and four times a night I am up changing my clothes. I have to lay a towel down or a blanket just so I can go back to bed because the sheets are soaked on my side. I run a fever and then my fever disappears and my temperature drops below normal. My pulse is rapid and my blood pressure gets really low. I just want to know am I ever going to feel healthy again……….THIS SHIT SUCKS
Ruby
April 19, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I’m so sorry to hear all that Ruby! I’m assuming that you have told the doctor about all that? I did get really sick also. The fevers, night sweats, the whole thing. But it usually happened very close to when the abscesses were about to drain. That shit does suck…big ones. I was finally able to talk my doctor into referring me to a Colorectal Surgeon & hopefully I’m a step closer to getting rid of all this.
~
Writhing In Pain In The Southwest!!!
April 19, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Pain in The Southwest, I am glad that you are going to see a Colorectal Surgeon. I have been doing a lot of reading about this topic and it is absolutely nothing to play with. I knew how serious it was, but for some reason when it comes to the butthole we don’t want to admit our problem. I figured it would go away….. Anyhow..I am so sorry to hear you are in pain. I hope you have an appointment soon.
Ruby
April 20, 2008 at 9:04 am
After going back & forth to the doctors since Dec 07, being referred twice to hospital with no conclusive outcome! I took myself to A&E on the 7th march where a nice on call surgeon decided i had a ‘perianal abscess’& admitted me next day for surgery. To be honest what a pain in the arse this recovery has been. Still to date i’m off to the nurse to get it checked. It has healed inside but still very sore on the outside & just wont heal that last little bit. Oh & apparently in the end i actually had a hematoma not an abscess. so hopefully i don’t have the same bad luck as most of you! who i can totally sympathise with!!!!
joey
April 24, 2008 at 10:04 am
Joey,
You said “a nice on call surgeon decided i had a ‘perianal abscess’”
then you said “apparently in the end i actually had a hematoma not an abscess” are huge contradictions.
The two conditions are 180 out from each other. I take offense that you are condescending to others “so hopefully i don’t have the same bad luck as most of you!”
I think you are the one out of luck my friend.
Cranky Geek
April 25, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I WENT THROUGH THIS PAIN DURING MY WEDDING DAY. I am so glad to have found this blog. I thought I was the only one to have this miserable a PIA. Heres my story. So i’m a fairly healthy active 28 year old and back in early February I went to the gym and went to my regular routine of weights but then I noticed when I sat on the bench and started to lay back there was a painful sensation.
I didn’t think anything of it as the pain wasn’t bad but then later towards the end of the month. I noticed more pain and when I checked around down there and pushed in I felt a hard lump forming. I thought it was nothing and after a few days I started having spasms at night while sleeping that would wake me up hourly. Pain was the worst thing ever.
I hate doctos so didn’t go to one until a couple weeks later and found out that I had the Abscess and he gave me anti-biotics which I thought would help it go away in which it didn’t and I was in pain everyday and it made me miserable. I had no motivation to do anything. I was in pain and couldn’t sit too long or stand too long. I was depressed.
Well I didnt think this problem would last so long as I was getting married to my lovely wife now on March 29th and it was already early March.
I had 5 visits with the specialist doctor and all his attempts to poke me and drain me were failed so it looked like I had to put my “Wedding Face” on as the day was coming and the pain wasn’t going away.
The wedding day came and the pain was horrible. I was in so much pain that day and was taking Advil every 4 hours. Standing at the alter for 2 hours was a nightmare as well. The wedding was still beautiful and it will be one I remember for the rest of my life.
Well shortly after my wedding a few weeks ago. My abcsess started to drain by itself, blood and white pus. It was pretty disgusting but I did what I could to force it all out. I change my gauze pads and use the sitz bath 4 times a day. Its still draining and the pain is still there but its slowly healing.
I’m so happy to have my wife as she has been so supportive and been my side at all times. Its just unfortunate she had to endure my PIA during our honeymoon phase.
Here is something that we laugh about now.
I told her that “I can’t honestly say I will always remember our wedding as the biggest pain in the ass ever”
dan
April 25, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Cranky Geek!
Sorry that i seem to have offended you but i think that you have misunderstood my text. Firstly it is not actually my fought that the on call surgeon misdiagnosed my condition!
Secondly you seem to think that my condition was no where near the same as a perianal abscess? Maybe not as painful? I don’t know, but the operation was the same and so i’m experiencing the same recovery!
Thirdly, Bad luck meaning not having to go through this again, before i’ve even had time to heal..
Have you had this op? Because i dont seem to see your posting?
“The two conditions are 180 out from each other” Sorry what does this mean? 180 out of what? 200?
I find your reply very rude and not supportive as i thought this site was supposed to be.
joey
April 27, 2008 at 11:52 am
Joey,
Well I’m sorry for not being sympathetic to your pain but your post didn’t read very sympathetic to the people here. I hope this site gave you some beneficial info. 180 out means they are not the same conditions. Don’t mind me I’m just a cranky geek.
Cranky Geek
April 27, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Well, after a long read, I wish I had seen this site sooner. I started with some peri-anal pain the Friday night, I assumed this pain was from hemmorhoids. I couldn’t see or feel them so I assumed they were the inside type. Well hot baths and hot compresses were my only relief. The Tuesday night I was in agony. I took a Tylenol #3 left over from a previous wisdom tooth removal a few months earlier. It helped me to sleep. I made an appointment with my family doc for the next day, but by the morning (Wednesday) I knew he wouldn’t be able to help me. Being a nurse, I knew that something was seriously wrong. So off to the ER I went, 4 hours later I was somewhat diagnosed, given morphine (they waited so long to give me something for the pain because they were probably afraid I was a drug user… alarm bells generally ring off for them when people come to the ER complaining of pain). They confirmed the diagnosis with an ultrasound of the area as a peri-anal abscess. (I found lots of info about it on wikipedia too). They put me under general anesthesia, lanced it, drained it, packed it with gauze, gave me IV antibiotics and sent me home with Percocet. The pain has lessened (9 days post-op). I tried to go back to work yesterday which did NOT work at all. I see the surgeon (colo-rectal and general surgeon… what luck! He is a specialist!) nearly 2 weeks post op (next Thursday). I plan to ask him about Crones and Colitis. Maybe he will recommend a colonoscopy if I mention it. I have NEVER had this problem before. I am a young (27) healthy female. I will keep you all posted. Good luck to all your pains in the asses!
pain in the north
May 16, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the next day after the surgery I had to soak in a tub and pull out the packing. Then sitz baths after bowel movements and “frequently” to keep the dark moist area clean and very dry. I have placed a 2×2 on the area to prevent any drainage from gluing my cheeks together ; ) This doctor has had good success with this type of abscess to heal on it’s own without the twice a day packings. The only risk is that a fistula may form if it doesn’t heal from the inside out. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED!
pain in the north
May 16, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Wow – I was reading this and it was almost exactly what I went through last week. Went to some medical office and the PA and DR told me the same – it was just hems. and i needed to do x, y and z. I was like, no this is different. By the next day I was climbing the walls and hysterical in the ER so much that they pushed me through ahead of a lot of people. The ER dr was good though and diagnosed me in a couple of minutes, then i had a ct scan and the resident surgeon came down to do it. Took him 45 mins of me on morphine and lots of local and screaming my head off. He admitted me and it was good b/c the next day when i saw the surgeon she said he hadn’t gotten it all so i had to go through it again. Thankfully she knew what she was doing but even with 3x the morphine and all that local i screamed my head off. It’s been just over a week and I just discovered it’s still bleeding, it was just pus the last few days. I don’t know if that is a good or bad sign.
I hope you never had it again. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy!
Tricia
May 19, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Just had my 2nd colonscopy last week
my stomach is all inflamed and they think i might have crohns, i have been put on pentasa at the moment, anyone else on these pills?
Mick
May 20, 2008 at 9:39 am
My 15yo son recently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and had an anal fistula from an abscess that had opened and was draining on his own. He’s been on ciproflaxicin and metranidazol since April 1st and we had surgery scheduled to have a seton put in because he was going to start on Remicaide.
But we canceled the surgery (and the plans to commence Remicaide) when we found an exciting new treatment, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). My husband is a doctor and looked up the studies and they have had some success treating fistula with HBOT. Here’s a link to a page that has some studies on HBOT and perianal Crohn’s that people might like to know about: http://www.hitechbo.com/Final/HBOT.htm
Scroll down that page to find this link: http://www.richmond-hyperbaric.com/RHHC.studies.Crohn’s.htm
We are having miraculous results!! The fistula is beginning to heal after only 9 HBOT treatments. I believe that this is going to be the new way to treat Crohn’s for everyone very soon.
Frances
May 21, 2008 at 10:45 am
hi iv had a small lump in my lower left anus that grew in the space of 5 weeks and i had throbbing pains and couldn’t sit down and fevers at night and doc sent me back at first she said it was glands but afew days after that it got alot bigger i went see another doc and he said it was an infected abscess so i had opperation and then had nurses coming to dress wound every day for 3 to 4 weeks and wound has scabbed over now but lumps are still under the scab and theres like a little split that ooze’s yellow stuff and blood but im starting to slowly to get pains when i sit and bruising is by the slit could it be comming back again or is there another explanation some one please tell me ??
sy
May 22, 2008 at 6:49 pm
hi can anyone give me some advice i have been in agony with anal pain for months, i ave been to see doctor and he gave me hae,mmoroid stuff but iv used it all and its got worse, an emergency doc gave me gtn ointment coz he said i had anal fissure and iv used it all but all that has done is give me bad headache. i am a
university nurse student and cant take this pain, it feels like a constant throb and sharp
unbearable stabbing pain. the throb is so intense and agony all day and night, i am using lidocane cream for temporary relief but it doesnt last long. please help someone coz im at breaking point and very embarrassed to go to doctor again thankyou xxx
louise
May 24, 2008 at 5:31 pm
well, I went to see the doc and he said I am healing well. He said he was happy he chose to do the surgery instead of lancing it as it was a very difficult area to lance (I probably would have kicked him in the head or something) as well as being deeper than originally thought. I asked him about the Chrones issues and he said that if I haven’t had any issues with bowels, etc, that it was just plain bad luck. There are glands in your anus that secrete mucus that help to lube up the poop chute and one of them probably plugged up, became infected and caused a pocket of pus which grew into a larger area (abscess). So, a 10-15% chance that a fistula will occur. He gave me a lot of time off of work. He said I earned it (LOL). He still stood by his decision not to pack the wound. Probably because I am healthy and have no underlying medical issues. I plan to see him on the 16th of next month. If I have any issues until then I am “NOT TO HESITATE TO CALL HIM”!
I find the drainage is more clear, but after BM’s and lots of sitting it produces more pus. Thank goodness the smell is bearable. I stopped using Vaseline on the dressing over the hole as the edges of the wound were looking pruny. I also laid off the epsom salts in the sitz bath for a while. This seemed to help. The dressing doesn’t stuck to my skin anymore. I think it was just the blood that did that.
Scary thing is that now that there is virtually no pain, I freak at the slightest amount of pain down there. I am petrified of living this over again.
So, for the people who want medical advice… Don’t be shy/proud/whatever. Go see your doctor!!!! If the abscess continues, the infection can spread to your blood stream causing septicemia (a blood infection). That is really bad and potentially fatal. SEE YOUR DOCTOR!!! RIGHT AWAY!!!! DON”T HESITATE!!!! (can I be any more clearer!!) Good Luck to all of you!
pain in the north
May 30, 2008 at 11:52 pm
hi all
well i am glad that i came across this page. i am anoyed at the lack of information/support on the internet for this!It’s great to be able to share experiences…even though you’re strangers to me, it’s a relief!
ok, so I’m 21, ambitious, busy, college-attending, composer, ‘culture vulture’,fun, etc etc. I was informed that I was coming down with the abscess for a number of weeks before me realising. I was ‘burning the candle at both ends’. I suffered constipation, diorrhea, depression, insomnia,skin irritation and so on.
I find that I work well at night-time and never went to sleep before 1 or 2am most nights, then generally up at 8 or 9am.
I went out with friends regularly and enjoyed drinks and socialising.
I was not completely inactive, I did quite a lot of walking to and from places.
My diet was disgraceful, not a lot of ‘fastfood’ like burgers or whatever, but not having ’square meals’.
All of you, or at least some, can associate with that! I don’t understand why young adults end up with THAT abscess….I suppose we are not as invincible as we like to think!
Anyway, I went to my GP and I just broke down in his office, crying (i was fucking exhausted!!!!) I had made a list of things so I handed it to him. I had chronic bronchitis too.
Once I calmed down he lead me to the practice nurse where she examined the area….she asked me if I’d mind if the doctor took a look. So he did, it was very painful, I described it like a severe BRUISE feeling. Without warning he stuck his finger in my back passage. This, was just the cherry on the sundae (or so I thought..).
I was instructed to go straight to A+E, so I went there. They poked around again, and sent me on my merry way with a few antibiotics. A few days later I was sent back after one night I was VOMITING probably due to the antibiotics) and ended up staying the night in the hospital. I hardly knew what was going on.
I fasted for several hours before the surgery. y abscess was drained and left a tiny incision. I was told that the incision had to be kept open by a WICK so that it can drain , (has to heal from the inside out). My abscess originated from the side of bowel. The surgery was under general anasthesia and I was so groggy for days after. I did not feel like myself for a week afterwards.
I stayed in hospital for 4 days post-op. It was very humiliating for me, I shit my pants and vomited when I coughed. I lost all sense of dignity there. NURSES ARE ANGELS FROM HEAVEN…..
I am sure all of you felt this: I was soooo paranoid when I left hosp, watching my back and worrying. You feel kind of vulnerable, that’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with caring supportive people, friends and family.
So I had to have regular dressings (and the dreaded wick!). Thankfully I didn’t have to get the wick thing done more than a few times.
I have finished my antibiotics a while ago, and now on a course of Chinese Medicine (on recommendation from a friend who went through this).So I am having acupuncture weekly for a while and taking Chinese meds. I must say I noticed a dramati difference in even a few days. I would thoroughly recommend it for anyone who has finished antibiotics. My acupuncturist is a liscensed pracitioner and has a reliable and proven track record, and is also a family friend:-)
Here is my big question:::::
If the abscess is said to heal from the inside out, and ANY medicine you take encourages healing(including the skin area where the incision was) should I be concerned about the hardness around the area???I mean, if there is no more drainage of puss, does that mean it is not healing?
The area of hardness has definitely decreased in size and not as severe as it was in the beginning. I am worried it is building up again.This is disgusting I know, but I popped it myself a few times(with a sterilised needle>saline) and has provided relief, but I can’t keep doing this….
Sick of not being able to work and have a normal life! My boyfriend and friends/family have been extremely supportive, and I’d be ost without them.
If any of you ave any advice on this matter(especially regarding my question above) please let me know. Any of you who have successfully over come this horrible condition, remember you only have one body! It’s sad that I had to run myself into the ground to realise that.
it’s sunny in ireland,,,,,woah!
Irish pain in the ass
June 2, 2008 at 5:38 am
Hi All,
After having read most of your responses I am really afraid now. My story begun in 2003. I had my first perianal abscess drained in July 2003. Then the same thing happened in October 2004. After the abscess was drained and healed I went to see a coloractal surgeon. He examined me with an ultrasound and told me to admit into hospital because I had a little fistula and he will cut the track.
At that time I was 29 and was preparing to get married in December. So I did not go to hospital and I nearly forgot what my specialist advised, until my third abscess formed in May 2008. I went to hospital through ER and the abscess was drained out inadequately by the trainee doctor. I was sent back to home with pain and each day after that for seven days I had such a pain that I never wish my enemy to have. Then I went to hospital again through emergency room and had more puss/abscess drained again.
This time the hospital colorectal surgeon advised me to come for a test on 30th June to see if there are some fistula/s near my anas area. I promised myself that I will do anything my doctor will say this time.
My question to any of you that am I too late to have the fistula to treat?
How long the fistulotomy operation takes to heal back?
*God help me* I am feeling a little lumpy area very close to my anas now. I am only hopping this won’t be another painfullllllllllllll abscess. God bless you all.
Kaz
June 20, 2008 at 4:14 am
hey i really dont want this abscess in my butt drained i mean its embarrassing and painful…… what do i do? its been 5 days since i got it and i havent had thm previously…
isnt there anything i can do without getting it drained?
nish
July 3, 2008 at 1:22 am
Hello everyone,
I had my first abscess in 2006 december and I had it drained. But things didnot go well and it changed to fistula. I had another surgery in 2007 for the fistula and I was fine in few weeks. It was great after then. But now few weeks back I had severe pain again and found another there was an abcess..So, immediately i got it drained. I am curing very slowly now. I am fearing if this will return back again. Can anyone explain me why this occurs and what should one do for not reoccuring again?
Sheila
July 7, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Found a small lump on my left buttock on Sunday – by Tuesday I couldn’t sleep or walk due to the pain. Got an emergency doctors appointment at 8am the following morning and was prescribed antibiotics and painkillers. I went to the toilet just after taking my first antibiotic and there was a lot of pussy, bloody discharge.
I phoned the surgery concerned and they told me this was good and that it had probably burst and was draining and that I should be fit and back to work by friday.
I really hope they are right! I think the trick is get in there asap, visit your doctor and get it seen to. My doctor said that there didn’t actually seem to be much puss in my abscess so I’m assuming it’s at a very early stage.
I’m to let him know how I’m getting on by Friday so hopefully I can post here and let you all know if things are better.
Hamo
July 23, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I just had one of these drained yesterday. I had been dealing with the pain for 4 days, 2 days excruciating pain, so the experience of the draining was just icing on the cake. I have never felt pain like that during the draining. They gave me 4 shots of lidocaine, which were completely ineffective. My fiance was with me and said he was impressed that I didn’t become completely hysterical, based on what he was seeing. I felt hysterical. I broke out in a sweat, was bawling, and squeezing my fiance’s hands. I asked for valium or demerol beforehand, but they said the local would work. NOPE. They did give me a shot of demerol afterwards, but jeez..that really helps.
It seems to me that SOP would be to give some sort of general anesthesia or at least something to calm you down, because obviously most people experience ungodly pain during this procedure.
The good news is that my wound looks good today, and isn’t draining much more. We think the dr. got most of what was in there. I feel pretty good today, and haven’t had any painkillers since last night around 1030.
suz
August 5, 2008 at 10:52 am
I had my fistulotomy procedure on 11th July. The surgeon peeled off some skin very close to anal canal and made a deep cut at one side to merge the fistula track with the internal surface of anus. It was a day surgery with general anusthasia. I had moderate pain from day one and more pain from day 3 in that area. May be this is the way it heals.
I had nurses came to my house daily to change the bandage but it was really an awkward area to deal with. Thanks to my wife who did it three or four times a day. The area took narly 10 days to heal. I was not on antibiotic nor on any pain killer.
However, I am alright now. Hopefully there will be nomore awfull abscess in future. Fingure’s cross.
Sheila, I think you should consult a specialist without delay. You should take more than one opinion. Fistula is mainly caused by abscess. But another abscess may be happening for other reasons. You should find out without delay.
Kaz
August 6, 2008 at 6:48 am
In mid-July I had that awful feeling something was again getting larger in that area. I’ve had over 6 different peri-anal cysts in the past 8 years, and I know the feeling. 3 I have had to get lanced, and then the rest were either the beginning product or the final product that had to be lanced.
This time I decided to be very proactive – and did sitz baths every day twice a day for 20 minutes in very hot water. I then applied some topical anti-biotic cream in the hope that the peri-anal cyst would just go away not rupture. After every sitz bath I felt much better, and in less than two weeks it was gone.
It’s now 1.5 months later and nothing. I’m thinking this method worked, and may work for others if you catch it early enough. Whatever does happen – at least I feel great and don’t need to go to the emergency room or doctor.
And I have to agree with above – my emergency room visit was the worst of the 3 lancings. I didn’t get enough pain meds – and the liticane was terrible. I was sweating and moaning from all the pain. Terrible.
So my advice – take that hot sitz bath and make it go away.
Constantine
September 8, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thank you for posting this. I went in today and they diagnosed me with a fistula. Tomorrow I have surgery but it sounds like they are going to knock me out! I am just concerned about the pain meds after the surgery. I sit all day at work and can’t afford to take too much more time off (I just returned from 5 months maternity leave). I will find out tomorrow but can anyone tell me what kind of medicine they got to relieve the pain post fistula surgery?
Thanks again this was really helpful!
Colleen
September 10, 2008 at 3:54 pm
hi, it’s been a few months since i first posted…. here’s the deal:
I had my surgery on 16 June, stitches out (fistulectomy) 2 weeks later.
Very very slow recovery. I am still recovering and I get seriously worried sometimes that it will come back…
I was put on antibiotics there a few weeks ago because there was still a discharge coming from the wound…it has decreased in size considerably.
I am slowly getting my sex life back on track, my partner has been amazing. The last time however, I got a dose of cystitis! Can I not have sex without getting punished. I guess I am still not 100%, I recently had a miscarriage also, so things are tough.
Anyway, I am generally ok, and still going to my doctor occassionally for him to check the wound. He seems satisfied that it is healing up ok.
keep the faith guys!
irish pain in the ass
October 20, 2008 at 9:29 am
So, it’s been awhile since I last posted (since Feb) and I continue to be blown away by how many people have the same problem. I finally went to go see a Colorectal surgeon this past summer and he comfirmed that what I had was a fistula. We scheduled the surgery but after they had put me under the surgeon was not able to access the fistula since it had closed up and was told after I came through, that he was unable to operate (but holy cow, was I sore afterwards!) and that we had to wait to see if an abscess returned. Of course, one did and we rescheduled…this one being a success! I had my surgery at the end of August. Anyone who has to have this procedure, be sure you are prepared to have it done. It is a long recovery time and you have to be diligent in your recovery routine. Stick with the sitz baths a few times a day and be prepared for alot of down time. Unfortunately, my recovery was rough…in the week after my surgery I had a death in the family, which meant tons of company in from out of town and what have you. Then a few weeks ago, I noticed that the amount of discharge and blood had increased along with a not-so-pleasant smell. But after another round of antibiotics and well needed rest, it seems to have heeled up nicely. I would tell people to be prepared for at least a good six-week recovery time and to really take it easy (thank goodness for pain-killers & Valium!!). Hopefully, I will never have to deal with this again and I hope everyone who has to go through this will find the relief they need, good luck to you all!
Writhing In Pain In The Southwest!!!
October 23, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hi Hamo,
I have similar situation, please post your experience. Here is my story.
I got fissure 4 months ago and I am in constant touch with physician and a general surgeon. They both are saying not worry, but it is hell of pain if I get constipated some times. Now 2 weeks ago, I got an Abscess (hell of a pain for 4-5 days) and finally got busrt itself, I got scared and went to Emergency, and saw the generic surgeopn, surgeon gave me antibiotics and now the pain is relaxed, but it is still draining on its own, it is almost two weeks, I am worried too much. Please put your comments, I am just eating fibre, doing sitz path twice or some times thrice if I am at home.
Absascus
October 26, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hi,
Please post your suggestions ||| pls. pls.
I got fissure 4 months ago and I am in constant touch with physician and a general surgeon. They both are saying not to worry, but it is hell of pain if I get
constipated some times. Now 3 weeks ago, I got an Abscess (hell of a pain for 4-5 days) and finally got busrt itself, I got scared and went to Emergency, and saw the general surgeopn, surgeon gave me antibiotics and now the pain is relaxed, but it is still draining on its own, it is almost three weeks, I am worried too much. Please put your comments, I am just eating fibre, doing sitz path twice or some times thrice if I am at home. I did my lab tests, no diabetis, no blood pressure, no cholestrol, no heart issues. But I lost 10 pounds in last three months.
Absascus
26 Oct 08 at 4:14 pm
Absascus
November 1, 2008 at 10:37 am
Hello,
I just went into the clinic today because I was having the same problem this is my first time I am 18 years old male. My mom and I were in California on our way back I felt this pain but I found a certain way to sit which helped the pain. The next day it was still there I talked to my parents about it my dad said it might by pilodianal (spelling) cyst he had one when he was my age. However, I went to school the next it didn’t get any better, I believe it got worse. So I went the clinic and the doctor diagnosed me with an abscess it is up near the tail bone but still on my buttocks near the crack. He gave me some Antiobiotics and Hydro to kill the pain so I can sleep better. The doctor also insisted that I take warm baths to help soothe it. The Hydro doesn’t seem to be helping but a little bit at times, as of right now laying in my bed is very uncomortable any twist or turn is very painful. The doctor said if the abscess is not better in ten days he will have to drain it. My question is are abscess known to heal 100% or do they mostly always need to be drained? Also are there any techniques that people have to help ease the pain, like put ice on or it etc? Information and Answers to my situation would be greatly appreciated thank you for all of your time.
Richard
Richard
December 3, 2008 at 2:24 am
The young man,
I was struggling with fissuere from last 4 months, then I had an abscess (see my above post). Fissure is alomost healed, but abscess is still bothering me and slightly better.
Tips:
1. See the doctor regularly as abscesses will become complicated some times
2. Do the strict diet (mainly fibre to ease the bowel movement)
3. Important: Do not drink alcohol/coffeee/soda, do not smoke,
4. Do the simple excercises to help your digestive system and for ease of bowel movement.
Absascus
December 4, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I got another abscess and am unsure if I have a fistula forming or not. Does anyone know of a physician that is a specialist in perirectal abscesses in California?
Frank
March 10, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Go and see a colorectal surgeon immediately. Do not delay. Now I am completely free from the hell of pain I suffered from last 7 months.
Abascus
March 24, 2009 at 8:20 pm
My latest updates: I repeat the whole story of this painful sufferings from last 7 months and now I am again a normal person. THANK GOD and good luck to you all and GOD BLESS YOU.
NO MATTER WHAT, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW STRICT HIGH FIBRE DIET TO BE FREE FROM THIS PAIN:
(a) Do the strict diet (mainly fibre to ease the bowel movement, eat vegetarian food which has lot of fibre)
(b) Important: DO NOT drink alcohol/coffeee/soda, NEVER EVER smoke.
(c) Drink lot of water. Do the simple excercises to help your digestive system and for ease of bowel movement.
(d) Take sitz baths twice or some times thrice if you are at home.
—————————
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
—————————
1. I had fissure in July 4th week end months ago and I was in constant touch with my primary physician and a general surgeon. They both were saying not to worry, but it was hell of pain.
2. After 3 weeks, I got an Abscess (hell of a pain for 4-5 days) and finally got busrt itself, I got scared and went to Emergency, and saw the general surgeopn, surgeon gave me antibiotics and the pain was relaxed a bit, I was waiting to get it healed and seeing the surgeon frequently.
3. But the drain of pus never stopped even after 3 months, and imagine what, it became FISTULA, and finally decided to see a colorectal surgeon. Even though my general surgeon agreed that I can see the colorectal surgeon waiting for 3 months is enough and it might need a surgery.
4. After suffering exactly 6 months all together, I went to a colorectal surgeon, he booked an appointment for surgery on February 2nd. I had to do the lab tests before the surgery.
Good thing about my health is: no diabetis, no blood pressure, no cholestrol, no heart issues.
5. It was an outpatient surgery, he removed the fissure, drained the fistula and he stitched as it was a superficial type of fistula, luckily it was not deep and not smelling type of fistula. I was sent home on same day
6. I was on medication for about a week and took off from work ( guess what! there were lay offs during this time in my company, but I did not bother much as health is top priority). It took me three more weeks to heal completely and I had to work from home. MAKE SURE TO PLAN TO HAVE ABOUT 3 WEEKS OFF based on your complexity of issues.
7. Now it is completely healed. I went to follow up recently. I have been adviced to continue the SAME DIET for my own safety as these might re-appear if we become careless on our diet. TIP: DO NOT GET CONSTIPATED, DO NOT GET MENTALLY STRESSED. TAKE IT EASY.
Abascus
March 24, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Well, first I would like to thank the author of this board and ALL the posters! I started having some light pain in my bottom and thought it was a hemmorhoid and used a handful of salves and creams to no relief! I saw my PC and was told I had a perianal abscess, I was sent to a colorectal surgeon and was perscribed levaquin and vicodin, the pain ceased in about 2 days, I thought I was in the clear! Well approx 7 days later it came back and hurt like HELL and its the size of a golfball, I couldn’t take it anymore and came to the ER and they got me a spot for surgery same day, and since I was fasting they put me under general, I don’t remember the procedure but the surgeon said it was drained and cleaned and explored and no fistulas were formed. As I type this on my blackberry I’m laying in the hospital 19 hours after surgery and PAIN FREE!! They are going to remove the packing and check it and send me home. The only advise is don’t expect antibiotics to cure the abscess, get it surgically debrided under general anesthesia and x ray to ensure no fistulas are formed. I wish the greatest luck to all!!!! And there is hope!
global pain
April 26, 2009 at 11:59 am
I get abcesses in that region fairly regularly. I had an operation a few years back, but it didnt stop me from getting them. My advice would be to seek treatment with anti-biotics as soon as any pain manifests. I have sympathy for anyone with this condition as it can be fairly painful at times.
ogilmore
May 6, 2009 at 5:38 am
It seems antibiotics are effective most of the time to cure abscesses as the antibodies will not be circulated thro blood veins near the anus.
Have you met physician followed by a colorectal surgeon again after you have started getting abscesses again after the surgery. Do you have any crohnic issues ? It will be great if you put more details. The reason I am requesting more details is, I have been told that from my doctor that crohn’s type of symptoms will cause abscesses again and also the constipation as well.
I do not have any crohn’s type of symptoms, but I had surgery 3 months ago and now I have completely recovered, I do not want to get this back and looking for all possible precautions.
Thank you.
Abascus
May 10, 2009 at 10:16 am
Sorry, I had a typo in my last reply. I have correction as below.
It seems antibiotics are NOT effective.
Abascus
May 10, 2009 at 10:18 am
When you have a abscess, where “exactly” is it located?
LM
October 4, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hi all,
I have been going through this for over a month now. It started right after labor day. I thought I had a bladder infection because the pain went around to the front. My doctor gave me some antibiotic that made me more sick then the pain I had to begin with so i stopped it. The pain got worse so I went to a hemorrhoid doctor who gave me Calmol4 and told me to get back to him in a week. Well….2 weeks later i was in agony so he sent me to a surgeon. He looked up there and said could be an abses. He sent me to get an MRI which was inconclusive. He gave me Augmentin that I started on Friday night . Its now monday October 12 and still pain when I sit down for more then 30 minutes. Do I need surgery to make this better or should I give the antibiotics more time?
please help!
Caralina
October 12, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Antibiotics did not fix my issues. I had suffered a lot in past. General Surgeon was not able to fix my fissure and it became abscess. I had to see a COLORECTAL surgeon and got recovered completely.
See a good COLORECTAL surgeon in your area, do not waste your time. This is hell of a pain, do not get scared.
DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL, DO NOT SMOKE.
DRINK LOT OF WATER, EAT ONLY FIBRE RICH FOOD (mostly vegetarian, fruits and nuts). You will become all right. I know the pain.
Good luck.
Abascus
October 13, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I had one of these develop. It started as a pea-sized lump on Tuesday, and by Friday it was the size of a ping-pong ball and PAINFUL! I found this blog and called a colorectal surgeon who did a good job on a family member, but she couldn’t get me in for a week. I determined to tough it out with soaks in the hot tub and some leftover Tylenol with codeine, but by Sunday night I couldn’t take it any more and it was off to the ER. Well, the ER doc at the first ER I went to wouldn’t drain it, wanted to admit me overnight and have a surgeon do it in the morning… no thanks! I took off the gown and proceeded to our city’s OTHER ER, where a very down-to-earth MD gave me a shot of Dilaudid, numbed the area with lidocaine, and slit it open. After reading some of these posts, I dreaded the procedure, but it wasn’t THAT horrible…maybe a total of 90 seconds of pain on a level of natural childbirth (which I’ve done twice), but then it was over and the relief was immediate. I’ve got the gauze drain in place now. The ER doc told my husband to remove the drain in three days, after I’ve soaked it really well. That would be Wednesday, and then I still have the appointment with the surgeon on Friday and she can check and see how it’s healing and maybe re-pack it if necessary. But I wish now I’d gone to the ER Friday night instead of suffering all weekend with the pain.
Tallahassee lassie
October 19, 2009 at 5:57 pm
hi
for me it all started as a small lump in perianal portion then it started to form as a large lump ..i consulted a doctor and he told abscess is not formed but some neccessary infection,,,,, 5th day from start of this lump it bleeded itsown -some dark coloured thick blood with pus …pain is horrible..today is the 5th day of starting this problem ..tomorow i be havin surgery i am only 21 .. i have clean habits ..still why am i havin this problem .oh lord why you are doin this to me…will surgery be dangerous
kevin
November 5, 2009 at 9:29 am
Surgery is not dangerous as long as you do your diet life long after the surgery and after the healing. See my other postings. DIET is the key for such diseases. I know the pain, I do not want to get this again as my surgeon has instructed me to follow the DIET life long to avoid this coming back again. I was a freeky guy, now I am total vegetarian and stopped every other food, initially I thought my life with only vegetarian food will be of waste. Now I have realized that this is the best food. Definitely I do not want to get this pain again so I want to continue my diet. I stopped partying.
I had my surgery in February and it took me about two months to heal completely. I have become perfect now, no more issues. Don’t you think this is good news for you as I was scared after seeing scary posts in the internet. Do not think too much, just listen carefully to your surgeon’s advise after the surgery.
Abascus
November 8, 2009 at 9:28 pm
So glad to have stumbled onto this site.
So here’s my experience and questions.
About a week ago I had a nagging pain around the anus, which I presumed to be a minor internal hemorrhoid, having suffered from one before. I thought nothing of it for the most part and assumed the pain would go away. 3 days later the pain was to much to deal with, I would wake up every 3 hours, sweating and with the chills. I couldn’t move, sit or do anything for that matter.
I had studied the causes of such anal problems and so on to the internet i went searching for EVERY possible cause to these problems, at first because i thought it was a hemorrhoid is treated the lump around the anal wall with witch hazel and other medication. I did sitz baths which seem to relieve the most pain. After the 5th day I couldn’t bare with it much longer and decided that i had to go to the ER.
It’s was quite embarassing as I live in a predomint college town, the young nurse told me to have a seat, which i kindly replied, i’d rather just stand if thats okay. So began me telling where the pain was originating from and the symptoms I had.
After waiting about 10 minutes in a room they assigned me to I the ER doctor came in to take a look at the problem. His first assumption was a perianal abscess and therefore told me that a surgeon was going to have to take a look at the problem.
The surgeon came in looked at in and bingo off to surgery under local anesthia. The pain was unbearable, simply the worst pain i’ve ever felt in my life.
I’ve had tooth aches that I thought were painful, my god I was wrong, nothing in the world hurt more than this surgery. So after being discharged that night from the hospital, i was told to cut one inch of the gauze out per day.
I was diagnosed with a Perirectal Abscess, which i assume differes from a perianal abscess? Does anyone really know the difference?
Surgery was two days ago and besides the pain from the incision itself, everything seems okay. I haven’t had a bowel movement, but then again I’m afraid to eat anything because I don’t exactly know what will happen when I do have a bowel movement.
After reading everyone’s story I’m afraid I might get a fistula and need more surgery. I pray this not be the case, as I don’t think i could deal with this pain again.
I know it’s early, but is it fairly normal for there to be such large amounts of pus to come out ever after surgery?
Any suggestions on eating? I’ve starved myself for four days, and i’m so hungry it’s not even funny, but I just don’t want to deal with massive pain during a bowel movement…also any suggestions on cleaning the area? I still have the gauze inside the incision, and i don’t want to aggrevate it.
Lastly does anyone feel massive pain when they squeeze there buttchecks? I guess i never really noticed it until i wake up from the middle of the night from the sharp pain.
It seems all my procedures were similar to many of the posts, but I don’t have health insurance, and it seems the er was less willing to help with post op care as they told me to take care of the dressing myself, and call if the pain worsened.
any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated as I can’t just go see doctors left and right without insurance. Thanks so much
john
November 6, 2009 at 7:41 am
I had big trouble and check my old posts on this web page. I am perfectly all right and I have become total vegetarian (eating fruits, vegetables, whole wheet bread, fibre rich nuts like soyabeans, almods, dates etc.). DO NOT drink alcohol, soda or energy drinks, do not eat meat or fatty food. If you have crohnic type of issues, add a tea spoon flaxo seeds powder with your vegetarian food with every meal.
1. Eat only fruits and/or fresh juice for few days and then slowly start eating fibre rich food.
2. Drink lot of water, DO NOT drink soda
3. Avoid fatty food, it is better if you continue eating only fibre rich vegetarian.
4. Do not take mental stress, take it easy and you will become alright.
5. Consult the surgeon regularly.
6. Continue sitz bath even after the healing.
7. Do simple excercises
GOOD LUCK
Abascus
November 8, 2009 at 8:47 pm