Your surgeon told you when to stop eating, what time to arrive, and maybe what to expect in the recovery room. What they probably didn't tell you is what to actually buy, arrange, and set up before you go in.

This is that list.

Important: This content reflects personal experience and community-sourced tips, not medical advice. Every fistula case is different. Always discuss treatment decisions with your colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist. What worked for one person may not be right for your situation.

Do this before surgery day

Confirm the basics with your surgeon's office

• What time to stop eating and drinking
• Whether to stop any medications beforehand (blood thinners, anti-inflammatories)
• Whether a bowel prep is required
• What to bring to the surgical center
• Who can drive you home and whether they need to stay during the procedure

Arrange your recovery space at home

• Set up a spot where you'll spend most of the first few days — somewhere you can lie down, reach water, and get up without too much difficulty
• Move anything you'll need regularly within easy reach
• Have a bag or caddy ready for your hygiene supplies

Sort out your time off

• Confirm your return-to-work timeline with your surgeon — not a general estimate, an actual number for your specific case
• If you sit at a desk all day, plan for longer than you think
• File any paperwork for medical leave or accommodations in advance

What to buy before surgery

Hygiene essentials

• Portable bidet or squeeze bottle — non-negotiable for post-op cleaning after every bowel movement
• Sitz bath basin — fits over the toilet, used two to three times a day in the first week
• Gauze pads — for wound drainage management between sitz baths
• Medical tape — to keep gauze in place
• Fragrance-free, alcohol-free soap — for showering near the wound

Comfort

• Coccyx cushion — U-shaped cutout at the back, not a ring donut. Bring it to the surgical center for the ride home.
• Loose-fitting underwear — several pairs, cotton, nothing tight
• Loose pants or shorts — waistbands that don't sit on the surgical area

Digestive support

• Stool softeners — your surgeon may prescribe them, but confirm before surgery day so you have them ready
• Psyllium husk fiber (Metamucil or similar) — keeping stool soft is one of the most important things you can do for recovery
• Electrolyte drinks — helpful for staying hydrated post-anesthesia

Practical

• Extra pillows — for positioning in bed and on the couch
• Easy meals for the first few days — nothing that requires standing at a stove. Stock the fridge before you go in.
• Entertainment — you'll be resting more than you expect

The ride home

This gets overlooked. The drive home after fistula surgery is uncomfortable in ways people don't anticipate.

Have your coccyx cushion in the car before surgery day. Sitting in a standard car seat on the way home, still partly numb and wearing a dressing, is its own challenge. The cushion helps.

If it's a long drive, plan for the possibility of needing to stop.

The day before surgery

• Confirm your arrival time
• Prepare your recovery space
• Pre-fill any prescriptions your surgeon called in
• Set out everything you'll need when you get home so you're not searching for it afterward
• Eat a normal meal at your last allowed time — don't go in underfueled

What to bring to the surgical center

• Photo ID and insurance card
• Any forms or paperwork you were sent in advance
• Your coccyx cushion (for the ride home)
• Loose, comfortable clothing that's easy to change in and out of
• A list of your current medications if not already on file
• Someone to drive you home — you cannot drive yourself after general anesthesia

After you're home

The first 24 hours are covered in detail in Your First Week After Fistula Surgery: What to Actually Expect. The short version: rest, stay ahead of pain medication, start the stool softener, and have your sitz bath ready to go before you need it.

If you're heading into a fistulotomy specifically, 5 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My Fistulotomy covers what the experience is actually like going in.