Fistula Treatment in India

Amit Singh, a 42-year-old taxi driver...

Amit Singh, a 42-year-old taxi driver from Delhi, had been managing his type 2 diabetes for a decade. For the past six months, he had been experiencing a constant, throbbing pain in his lower abdomen, along with fever and chills that would come and go. He noticed a small, tender lump that seemed to be getting larger. As the sole breadwinner for his family, he tried to ignore it, but the pain eventually made it impossible to sit for his long shifts. His primary care doctor, after a CT scan, diagnosed him with a complex perianal fistula, likely a complication of a previous, unnoticed abscess. The surgeon explained that the fistula was a tunnel connecting his rectum to the skin, and without surgery, the recurrent infections would only worsen. Amit was terrified of surgery and the potential impact on his ability to work. He underwent a fistulotomy under spinal anesthesia. The immediate relief from the draining pressure was profound. Recovery involved daily wound care for six weeks, which was challenging but manageable with his wife's help. Emotionally, he moved from fear and stoic endurance to immense relief. He was back driving within two months, grateful to be free of the constant pain and worry, and is now meticulous about his diabetes management.