Anyone managing anal fistula without surgery / avoided surgery

Just wondering, is there anyone managing anal fistula without the surgery intervention?

I've been diagnosed with low transphincteric fistula almost 5 years ago (I'm 45, active male, I swim, play basketball, cycle, etc). It's been ups and downs but never too bad, always manageable, it's is more inconvenience and discomfort with only some slight pain (I've been helped with it few times by Dermatologist). After the visit to the Colorectal consultant / surgeon (hospital appointment) back in December last year (approx 8 months ago). I've been told that the fistula track have formed the solid walls (its like the tube / pipe / channel) and, because it has formed, fistula might stay as it is now (won't get better but might be worse - no one knows). For the past good 6 months it was very quiet and didn't caused problems (only slight occasional puss, no blood, no irritation) apart squeezing out something left / trapped after almost each bowel movement, as the skin at the external opening of the fistula tends to close (after washing out the area gently squeezing / massaging the fistula's "tube" towards external opening). It is only a bit painful if something is getting trapped in this "tube" after emptying the bowels until it can been squeezed out. At the previously mentioned visit to see Colorectal consultant / surgeon I've signed a form to try to "fix" the anal fistula - to go for the surgery (not cutting, but scrapping the walls of the fistula and inserting collagen gel / glue or inserting a Seton if the abcess is found), thinking it might be good to have it done as a prevention ( in case it gets worse, despite not having problems / no pain with it now and managing with it reasonably well). After the long 8 months my scheduled appointment for the surgery is very soon now, but I'm very anxious that it is the right choice (is it worth doing the surgery when there are not a big issue (only as prevention), also, I'm self employed, started job at new place couple of months ago - don't want to risk to be unable to work / do the job properly because of the pain (involves a lot of sitting almost all the day (calligraphy, graphic design), need to come back to work approx a week / 10 days after the procedure, scared not be able to provide for the family (3 kids) not be able to go for activities in the park with my youngest kid, get anxious and depressed). Because of all these circumstances I'm really anxious and I still contemplating to call off or delay / ask to move to the later time the operation (unless it gets painful). Just wondering, is there anyone who's "successfuly" (if it can be said about this condition) dealing with anal fistula without the surgery. Only thoughts that I don't want to have it cleaned / squeezed after each trip to the bathroom keeps me on the side of the surgery, everything else tells me not to have it / do not rush. Is it ok to leave it untreated surgically unless it's painful. Your thoughts, experiences and advice would be telling appreciated. Many thanks!

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