another fistula

My daughter has another fistula.  We had a mini vacation last week and between the plane ride and all the walking around she is in terrible pain.

Advil doesn't work anymore so she's going to take vicodin again but wants to get off them.  still on cipro can't take flagyl makes her too sick.  She is still draining and it smells really bad - although it didn't before.  Still taking sitz bathes.  When will it get better.   Her Cimzia is being delivered tomorrow for her first dose but her doctor wants to wait a couple of weeks to be sure she doesn't have any other illnesses (she had a stomach bug 2 weeks ago).

I'm about to call the dr and try to get them to move up her first injections.  Her sobbing wakes me up in the middle of the night - I can't take it anymore because there is absolutely nothing I can do for her.

I don't really understand how Cimzia works - is she supposed to see an improvement in these fistulas and the abscess?  Right now her stomach is okay.  We really have to  get rid of this da__ abscess .

Sorry about your daughters fistula and I hope the cimzia works for her, I wonder why they're not trying remicade, from what I heard remi can help alot with fistulas...it's not good to be using meds like advil or any other NSAID's products cuz it promotes bleeding in the GI tract for us IBDers, I hope her doc can gie her something strong for a pain med that is safe.

:)

thanks for the responses.  Since she doesn't have very good insurance and it doesn't cover remicaide - that's what we hoped to get.  She is getting cimzia because they have an assistance plan.

I have never heard of augmenten for fistulas, I'll ask her doctor.

we know nsaids are supposed to be bad for her, but her dr. said it was okay and she hasn't had any trouble with them.  They really want her off narcotics.

I wish they would hurry up and administer the cimzia - it's getting delivered tomorrow  but her appt isn't until 5/11.

I sorry she is still having problems! am wondering about the treatment of the abscess, which is the root of the evil here. I seem to remember that has been going on for some time. And that they put in drains. Did they ever really open it up wide and scrape it out?

I feel for her! It is a long recovery and you get impatient - at least I did several times. I learned the hard way -- again several times, dumb -- that the body has its ways of complaining and punishing you for getting too active too soon.

I am concerned about the smell you mentioned. Obviously it is connected to the the rectum and/or colon so some smell is liely, but if the smell has changed for the worse, it may be infected again. I would go to the doctor soon. So is the wound open or did they sew it shut and install a drain(s)? If it is a drain, they are notorious for allowing bacteria to enter the tube and then they go to town. I am sure there are some situation that need drains, but all of my docotrs have said they don't use them because of unsatisfatory results.

Whether or not she has a drain, you may want to get a second opinion. This has gone on a long time. Praying that she gets quick relief and healing!!

My daughter has had fistulas too but they are located in her abdomen. She still has one that won't heal and her doctor suggested Remicade but she and we do not want her to go on that because we have heard very bad things about it. She is currently on Flagyl and is on a totally vegan diet. We heard about the Reishi mushrooms from someone on this site and we are very interested in trying that. Have you thought of it? I know how much pain your precious daughter is going through from seeing my own daughter go through it. And I feel for you as a parent because I know how much your heart breaks for your daughter... God bless your daughter and you.

I am wondering if she has a secondary infection, like cellulitus. When I was very sick, my doctor sent me to an infectious disease specialist because they are trained to deal with unusual situations. They are like detectives really, thinking outside the box to piece together clues. Most other specialists are really good at what they do, but when something doesn't fit into their "turf", they often can't help. What an infectious disease disease doc (who are often found in large teaching hospitals) can do is sample the area and find out exactly what bacteria are present. This lets them use the best antibiotics and treatments. Just a suggestion.

I would not hesisitate to see another doctor ASAP! Most doctors have their hearts in the right place but some are more skill than others, and they have different training. Is this other doctor a surgon too?? While it certainly can't hurt to see him and find out if the current treatment of the abscess is working, surgeons may not be the best for infections (their expertise is slicing and dicing -- not as much for post-op care and wound care). But ask him for a referral to a doctor who is trained in infections.

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin tissues by various bacteria. As you know the skin isn't just the surface -- it can go very deep. The skin and tissue around the perineum area is often call the "Mon". It is fleshing skin that is thick. I had a tremendous cellulitis all over the Mon and it can be painful. If her skin is red and swollen, then it could be cellulitis. The good news is it can be killed with antibiotics like Levaquin (a favorite for curing cellulitis). I also had to take flagyl because fecal bacteria had also invaded my skin and flagyl is great for that. The bad news is that if cellulitis gets out of control, it can go septic just like abscesses -- not trying to scare you please. Doesn't sound like whatever she has is that bad.

Hope she gets relief soon!