How to Recover From Fistula Surgery
Fistula surgery is performed to treat an anal fistula--an abnormal passage from the inside of the anus to outside skin of the anus. Anal fistulas can sometimes be treated without surgery, but in severe cases surgery is the only option for relief. Fistula surgery provides relief from the fistula, but it is not immediate. You can recover from fistula surgery by following specific post-operative instructions.
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Instructions
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Walk around within an hour or two after the surgery. This will help to restore blood flow and aid in the recovery process. Avoid strenuous activity for 1 week after surgery. After that, activity restrictions are up to you. You may return to work, drive and resume normal activities as soon as you feel comfortable enough to do so.
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Eat a diet high in fiber and drink between 6 and 10 glasses of water per day. Incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet. This will help to promote soft bowel movements so not to further disturb the surgery site. You will likely have your first bowel movement 1 to 3 days after surgery. It may hurt a bit at first and there may be a small amount of discharge or bleeding. Take an over-the-counter laxative or stool softener if you experience constipation. Use the laxative as directed by the manufacturer.
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Soak in a sitz bath as often as you need. Fill the bathtub with enough warm water to cover the anal region. Soak for 15 minutes to relieve pain and sooth the surgery site. Sitz baths are quite effective at reducing pain, especially following a bowel movement.
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Contact your doctor if you notice a sudden increase in pain, heavy bleeding, fever or swelling of the anus. This may indicate an infection or another type of problem that should be addressed immediately.
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Take your pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. Reducing the pain aids in the healing process. Once the pain has subsided, switch from the prescription painkillers to over-the-counter pain relief such as Aleve or Tylenol. Take these medications as directed.
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Avoid using toilet paper to wipe after bowel movements until the surgery site is healed. Use baby wipes or take a warm bath to clean yourself. The dry toilet paper may irritate the surgery site.
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Tips & Warnings
The above are general guidelines for fistula surgery recovery. It is important to follow the specific post-operative instructions given by your surgeon.
