Diagnosed with Anal fitsula 32F

Hi everyone,

I’ve been dealing with an anal fistula for a while and I’m feeling quite overwhelmed, so I wanted to reach out here to hear from others who’ve gone through this.

It started as a painful boil near the anal area a few months ago, which ruptured and then gradually formed a small tract. I’ve had MRI done recently, and my doctor confirmed it’s a low intersphincteric fistula (thankfully not too complex). I’m currently on antibiotics, anti-inflammatory meds, stool softener, and a topical ointment. The area is mostly dry now with occasional mild discharge, no severe pain.

I really want to avoid surgery if possible, so I’m trying to manage it through: • A high-fiber vegetarian diet (lots of water, prunes, chia, etc.) • Avoiding spice, constipation, and strain • Sitz baths and hygiene care • Local application of the prescribed ointment

I’d love to hear from others who’ve successfully managed or healed their fistula non-surgically — or anyone who can share how long it took to heal after surgery if that was your route.

My main questions: • Has anyone seen improvement with conservative (non-surgical) management? • How long did it take to close or stop discharging? • What dietary or lifestyle changes made the biggest difference? • How did you handle fear or anxiety around recurrence or surgery?

Any genuine advice or experience would mean a lot. I’m trying to stay patient, but it’s tough not to feel anxious about long-term healing.

Thank you so much 🙏