Long Term Management
The Mental Health Side of Fistula Recovery (Nobody Talks About This Part)
The physical stuff is hard. The head stuff is harder.
Adam G.
Fistula patient since 2022. Four surgeries, two setons, and one failed fistulotomy later, I built the recovery resource I wish had existed when I was diagnosed.
Just Diagnosed
Fistula Types Explained in Plain English
Your surgeon used a word you've never heard before. Maybe it was "intersphincteric" or "transsphincteric." Maybe they said "complex" and moved on before you could ask what that meant. Here's what it all actually means. Important: This content reflects personal
Just Diagnosed
Your First Week After Fistula Surgery: What to Actually Expect
You made it through the procedure. Now you're home, probably more uncomfortable than you expected, wondering if what you're feeling is normal.
Surgery Prep Recovery
5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My Fistulotomy
Nobody hands you a real prep guide before a fistulotomy. Here are 5 things patients wish they'd known going in — before the surgery, not after.
Just Diagnosed
How to Explain Your Surgery to People Without Explaining Your Surgery
Here's exactly what to say to your boss, your friends, and the coworker who won't stop asking questions.
Long Term Management
Living with a Seton Drain: The Long Game
A seton isn't a quick fix. It's a months-long commitment that nobody fully prepares you for. Here's how to manage daily life, hygiene, exercise, work, and your sanity while you wait it out.
Just Diagnosed
You Just Got Diagnosed with an Anorectal Fistula: Now What?
You just heard the word "fistula" for the first time. Here's what it actually means, what happens next, and the two things you need to do before anything else.
Why This Site Exists (And What's Coming)
No more clinical jargon or Reddit horror stories. Rear View Recovery is a patient-built resource for anorectal fistula recovery. Here's what we're building.
Four Years, Four Surgeries, and Everything I Wish Someone Had Told Me
Four years ago, I found a bump that turned out to be an abscess. My doctor drained it, patched me up, and sent me on my way. Nobody mentioned the word "fistula." Nobody explained what might come next. That was the beginning of a process I was wildly