u/2X4B-2Q4B

First perianal abscess 22 years ago, I&D under general anesthetics. Returned some 10 months later, I&D under general anesthetics. Returned about a year later, I&D under local anesthetics. Returned 5 years later and went away after a course of strong antibiotics. Never had any follow up, never had checks for a fistula despite 22 years of neverending problems. Recurrent bleeding during BM’s, my GP always said sounds like hemorrhoids without examining me and told me to use some cream. Two years ago I had deep burning pain in my rectum every time I was sitting down. GP said sounds like a tear, they take long time to heal and prescribed some creams. Took 10 months for the pain to go away. Then last week I’m feeling the familiar itchy/ discomfort/ pain/ pressure buildup feeling and a day later feel a lump. Before I made a plan how to deal with it I sat down and feel like a gurgling bubbling feeling that I can actually hear and the pain goes away. Rushed to toilet…. And nothing. All clean. But the bump is smaller. As I pressed on the bump it drained onto a skin halfway between bump and anus. Pus and blood. A few minutes later sharted more pus and blood. Took me about a second to realize I defo got a fistula going on, with the fistula track branching into my skin. Sooo, made my way to A&E, triage doctor agreed I need proper I&D and sent me to general surgery for the procedure. General surgeon said he won’t touch an abscess with suspect fistula without seeing how it looks inside. Discharged without any antibiotics or instructions to await MRI, with a follow up at colorectal surgery. MRI is next Friday. That’s NHS urgent for ya. So here I am with sore bum, an abscess that drains intermittently on the outside, sometimes when I wipe it drains explosively into my rectum. I’m half happy it happened because I finally get to see colorectal surgeon. Half scared because I will need surgery and right now I’m in zero pain except for a bit of soreness when wiping. The report from A&E came through today and the triage doctor officially diagnosed me with “skin problem”. I had to laugh.