Next Steps

Follow-up

You may have pain for several days following surgery, but you should improve over time.

• You may not have stitches. Infected wounds such as abscesses are left open to drain. If they were stitched shut, they would just fill with pus again. There may be packing left in your wound, which will be removed by your doctor after a few days.

• You may need to take an antibiotic for several days, depending on your condition. You should be given strong pain medication if you need it.

• Using stool softeners and adhering to good hygiene, such as sitz baths after every bowel movement, decreases your discomfort and helps your recovery.