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Should a Seton hurt this much???

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 8/24/2007 1:28 AM (GMT -6)

This is my first time to this site, my GP suggested I check it out and I'm glad he did!

11 days ago I had setons placed for 3 RF'S, they had told me that it would be painful for about 2 days and then after that I should have mild discomfort, Ya Right!! It hurts worse now then it did the day I had it done. I still cannot wipe and have to have a bath every time I use the washroom and sitting is definately out of the question unless I have a pillow. There is also quite a lot of drainage. I went to the ER on the 4th night as I was having quite a lot of abdominal pain along with the pain of the Seton and I told the doctor about my surgury, he had never even heard of this procedure and was not much help to me. I see my surgeon again in 2 weeks along with my GI, who will be setting up me starting Remicade. I'm a little freaked about the whole situation, I'd REALLY appreciate any info, suggestions, or comments.

Thanks :-)

Posted 8/24/2007 3:12 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Shmoo Welcome to Healing Well glad your here we need all the CDer's we can get here the help and support is great. I never had a seton put in but I did have a fistula and the Rem. healed it around my third infusion.Reading your history it sounds like the Rem. would probably help you lots of people here are on it.My fistula was abd and sure was glad when it healed. The Rem. is not hard for me to take I was only a little nervous at my first one .I am sure somone with seton expercience will come along shortly there is always someone here that will help and it is great not to be alone.lol gail
Posted 8/24/2007 8:05 AM (GMT -6)
I'm sorry you are having pain with your seton. I m currently wearing my 2nd one and it does not hurt. I barely feel it.

The 1st one I had in (it was taken out and a fistula plug was put in last Jan.) was very painful-it was really close to the perineum and hurt all the time. I think it was probably the location. for me but if the area is infected and you are getting abscesses despite the drain, that can cause pain too. I have had my drains "back up" so to speak and that definitely makes the area a bit more sore.

Are you doing lots of sitz baths? Don't skimp on that little luxury (lol) because that really helps the healing process and comfort level.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions-it's in my profile. As you can see from my signature, I have lots of experience with these nasty fistulas.

Feel better soon. :-)

Ginger

Posted 8/24/2007 9:32 AM (GMT -6)
I have a seton in now and it was very sore for the first week or so that they put it in... Ginger is right..those Sitz bath are just heaven! Feel better soon!
Posted 8/24/2007 10:42 AM (GMT -6)

I have had a seton in for almost a year now with no plans of taking it out.  Mine hurt the first couple of days, but then it has never hurt again.   I was even working out again a week after the surgery.  They do drain and will continue to do so.  I use 4x4 gauze sponges that I buy at a medical supply store.  I fold two of them in half, and then put it in my butt crack, up against the seton.  It catches the drainage and keeps it off of my skin.  I change it whenever I use the bathroom. 

Like was mentioned before....you have to do the soaks.  And do them in the hottest water you can stand.  If you can, soak at least 4 times a day for the first couple of months.  It helps SO much and helps the healing process also. 

Welcome to HW!  

Posted 8/24/2007 12:44 PM (GMT -6)
I have not had seton done yet but have had 3 fistulas and 2 surgeries for them.  They thought I would have to get a seton but once inside just opened up and scraped out.  Definitely the sitz baths are the best thing to do, also if you can't do sitz after every bathroom trip if you have a shower nozzel that can spray your bottom off or a squirt bottle or a bidet, that will help so you don't have to wipe and cause more discomfort.  I have been on the remicade since december 06 and had my last fistula surgery november 06 and so far no recurrance.  Good luck to you and hope you get to feeling better.  Baby wipes work too in a pinch to keep things clean and more comfy!
Posted 8/24/2007 2:12 PM (GMT -6)
I have had two setons. First there was just the one and it was was never very comfortable, though it mostly hurt the first couple of weeks. When the second abscess/fistula showed up, my surgeon replaced the first and added a second. Now I hardly feel them there. Again, it hurt the first week after the placement.
Posted 8/24/2007 11:10 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for all of the advice! I do the Sitz baths as often as I can, my daughter is only 1 so getting away can be dificult sometimes, but I will definately try using her baby wipes.

Did any of you ever have swelling at the seton site? It looks like I have a large marble under my skin right where the string goes in.
Posted 8/26/2007 9:01 AM (GMT -6)
Yes. Mine gets like that every once in a while. It may be a little infected....Just watch for fevers.

God bless you for being sick with a 1 yr. old! We may try to have a baby and I am a little worried I will be sick after and not be able to take care of a child. So much to think about for us crohnies.

Good luck with everything! :-)

Ginger

Posted 8/27/2007 9:19 PM (GMT -6)
My daughter is 5 now and has been a saint. She was only 1 when I was diagnosed and as she grew older she got accustomed to "helping mommy" when I was sick. Kids are very resilliant and she is very understanding when I need her to be a big girl. Best thing ever it that she gets full of pride when she gets to play doctor to me. You don't need to worry too much about the small stuff unless you have a newborn, that could be tricky. But then you can take naps with baby to keep up too!! That was my favorite!
Posted 8/28/2007 4:54 PM (GMT -6)
ahhh, the beloved seton! I have quite a few, and they don't hurt as much as the fistulas did without them in. Maybe yours will get better soon, but you should definitely be on Remicade or Humira if you have open peri-anal-rectal fistula.
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