I have a pain in my butt. 
It's been quite a summer. What started with an ER visit with abdominal and back pain has resulted in a lithotripsy and multiple UTIs. After passin the fragments from my kidney stone, the abdominal pain persisted, along with an uncomfortable abcess in an unfortunate place.
I went and seen the general surgeon for what I thought what would be a simple I&D, but he diagnosed an anal fistula. So, on October 1st I am possibly undergoing surgery- a colonoscopy, exploration under anesthesia, and hopefully just a fistula plug, although he did not rule out a fistulotomy. Oh, and an I&D.
I asked how long I would be off work and he said a week... maybe a little longer. Now, I'm a nurse and I know several people think I should already know these answers, but I work on a specialized department.
How bad is it? I have a trip planned with just me and my 4 year old in mid-November for 4 days. I only have enough vacation time to cover 2 weeks off for the procedure and 1 week off for vacation. I'll take FMLA, but that won't protect my vacation. I know it sounds like I am putting Disney over as a priority over my health, but from what I have read fistula surgery is really elective. Yes, it sucks living with it, but I have been dealing with it a month now so a couple of more months wouldn't be detrimental.
I have an appt with the surgeon to address additional questions I have came up with through hours of research that is a couple of days before the appt.
Anyway, I think I started rambling. If anyone has any experience with fistulas, and the repairs, please let me know what your experience was and what you wish you would have known beforehand. Thanks
It's been quite a summer. What started with an ER visit with abdominal and back pain has resulted in a lithotripsy and multiple UTIs. After passin the fragments from my kidney stone, the abdominal pain persisted, along with an uncomfortable abcess in an unfortunate place.
I went and seen the general surgeon for what I thought what would be a simple I&D, but he diagnosed an anal fistula. So, on October 1st I am possibly undergoing surgery- a colonoscopy, exploration under anesthesia, and hopefully just a fistula plug, although he did not rule out a fistulotomy. Oh, and an I&D.
I asked how long I would be off work and he said a week... maybe a little longer. Now, I'm a nurse and I know several people think I should already know these answers, but I work on a specialized department.
How bad is it? I have a trip planned with just me and my 4 year old in mid-November for 4 days. I only have enough vacation time to cover 2 weeks off for the procedure and 1 week off for vacation. I'll take FMLA, but that won't protect my vacation. I know it sounds like I am putting Disney over as a priority over my health, but from what I have read fistula surgery is really elective. Yes, it sucks living with it, but I have been dealing with it a month now so a couple of more months wouldn't be detrimental.
I have an appt with the surgeon to address additional questions I have came up with through hours of research that is a couple of days before the appt.
Anyway, I think I started rambling. If anyone has any experience with fistulas, and the repairs, please let me know what your experience was and what you wish you would have known beforehand. Thanks
