I Thought It Was Just Hemorrhoids” – What I Learned About Fistulas

I’ll be honest—before I started digging into this topic, I barely knew what a fistula was. Like many people, I assumed it was just another word for hemorrhoids or some minor infection that eventually goes away. But after reading more, and hearing real patient stories, I realized how serious (and misunderstood) fistulas actually are.

A fistula is basically an abnormal tunnel that forms between two body parts that shouldn’t be connected. That could mean between the intestine and the skin, or the bladder and the vagina, or most commonly around the anus. It sounds uncomfortable—and it is. But the real problem is how often it gets ignored or misdiagnosed.

One story I came across on LinkedIn really stuck with me: “Fistulas are often dismissed as hemorrhoids.” You can read it here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/askdocdoc_fistulas-are-often-misunderstood-dismissed-activity-7368244054150565889-ZwYj
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On Threads, I saw another reminder that hit home: symptoms like pain, leakage, or recurrent abscesses don’t just disappear, and waiting too long can make things worse: https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DODtnsBCqXk

The more I read, the more I realized how much of the struggle is hidden. An Instagram reel showed the emotional side—patients dealing with embarrassment, isolation, and anxiety: https://www.instagram.com/p/DODtrQoCug9/

And if you scroll through Pinterest, you’ll see simple infographics that explain how lifestyle adjustments like diet and hygiene can help recovery: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279437905055

Treatment usually involves surgery. Some patients recover with a minor procedure, others need more complex operations. But no matter what, early action matters. That’s why I think conversations like the ones happening on X are so important—destigmatizing the subject helps more people speak up: https://x.com/1881713393369030656/status/1962478236475990191

Even in Facebook support groups, you can see how sharing experiences gives patients strength they didn’t know they had: https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122139030500743210

The best breakdown I’ve seen so far is on AskDocDoc’s site, which explains symptoms, causes, and treatments in detail: https://askdocdoc.com/articles/886-fistula-know-everything-about-it-from-symptoms-to-treatment

Reading it made me realize that untreated fistulas aren’t just uncomfortable—they can be dangerous, leading to infections or even sepsis.

So why write this post? Because I wish more people knew about it. Because if even one person recognizes their symptoms in this and decides to see a doctor, that’s worth it. And because I believe health topics shouldn’t be hidden in shame.