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Fistula Issue - Need some feedback

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/7/2009 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all, I've been dealing with a fistula for a while now, on round two of antibiotics, and I have a quick question for anyone who might be willing to explain something to me. 

As the skin around the anus separates, I feel a little 'tail' of skin that's sort of hanging around.  I can pinch it and feel nothing, but I'm not sure what that means.  ANyways, they have me going to see a surgeon soon, and I've never had surgery and of course I'm nervous about any surgery down there.  Does anyone have any thoughts?  I appreciate, it's not the best I've ever felt about my Crohn's. What is going on?  Is that normal, that separation actually makes a little 'finger'? 

Hope everyone is gettign a little healthier today. 

Posted 5/8/2009 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if it might be a skin tag? Maybe you could look for some pictures of skin tags and see whether they resemble what you have?
Posted 5/8/2009 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like an anal skin tag. They are common in perianal CD, as is darkened skin down there. Skin tags are just fleshy little things that grow. They can get large, so I suggest you talk to your surgeon about removing them when they are small. They just cut them off. I've had several small ones removed a couple of times. It hurt somewhat for a couple of days, but you will probably be on pain meds after your surgery anyway, so no big deal. Just keep the area clean.

I know of one person on this forum who was in a terrible flair when her tags were removed -- with very bad results. I haven't had any problems when I've had them removed, but I suggest you talk to your doctor if you are in a flair.

Hope this helps. Google anal skin tags and you will find lots of information.
Posted 5/8/2009 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
thanks, I have never heard of those. I wonder, do they correlate with fistulas, or are these separate diagnosis? What I mean is, if a doctor were to say "this is a fistula" and another doctor was to say "that is a skintag" would one of them have to be wrong?
Posted 5/8/2009 6:47 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure what it is, but as far as sugery goes dont worry its easy and the recovery time is really quick for most fistula surgeries.
Posted 5/8/2009 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
thanks dreamer I needed to hear that. I've had enough accidents on myself that I'm a little nervous about 'cutting up' down there. my gi said that he was sending me to the best guy in the southwest, and I know it's hyperbole, but still it's nice to know one doctor really respects another doctor that I'm about to go see. I can't see anyway around surgery, things have really 'separated' down there.
Posted 5/9/2009 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
ExJohnson: I'm no help at all but I'm glad you are asking these questions... I was wondering the same thing.

My g'son has what his GI called a fistula (an open bleeding crack) at his anus. He also has several skin tags, one is very swollen (or enlarged?). His fistula is causing him severe pain. Is it conventional treatment to surgically remove the skin tags & operate on the fistulas?
Posted 5/11/2009 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Nana,

Well, right now I'm on a generic antibiotic that's the same composition as FLagyl. It is supremely cheaper, and I'll even admit that it does noticeably affect my symptoms (less drainage, less pressure, less discomfort, etc.) so I'm happy about that. But yes, it sounds like your grandson and I have the same issue right now.

What my GI told me is that these things heal from the inside out, so as the body heals the inside 'tunnel', you're still stuck with what is in my opinion the worst part, that outside bleeding crack. BM make it bleed, so for me it's becoming less of a healing issue and more of a sow this up issue.

Skin tags can be easily removed. The more research I do the more comfortable I am with surgery on my fistula, especially where it's placed. I think the more traditional route is to try the antibiotics and if this doesn't heal it then you go for the surgery. Good luck Nana to your grandson, and happy Mother's Day.

ExJohnson
Posted 5/11/2009 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

There are fistulas and then there are fissues. Fissues are simply torn tissue. Fistulae are a tube/tunnel that in the anal/rectal region generally do not heal without surgury.

Here is a good article about fistulae:

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/190234-overview

Be sure to check the links on the side about "treatment"
Posted 5/12/2009 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Fall, I'll give it a read.

Have you had success with the setons?
Posted 5/16/2009 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, after further personal examination, I'm fairly certain it's not a skin tag. It not somehting growing, it's skin splitting away from the anus, like a fissure and fisula combined. My second round of antibiotics are doing absolutely nothing. I wonder if my first round built up an immunity, but should it happen that quickly with Flagyl?

See the surgeon in a about a week, hoping to make it that long. We'll see.
Posted 5/16/2009 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

The antibotic is good for fissues, which it sounds like you have, because it kills the bacteria that try to get in the wound. The fact that you feel nothing is probably a good sign -- no infection.

My fistulae are simply holes. They are tunnels lined with skin, so they are not a tear in the tissue. Your surgeon will be able to tell what you have. I think the options for what we can get are hemmie, skin tag, fissure, fistula, or an abscess that opens right at the skin.

I think the treatment for fissures is letting them heal on their own. The sad thing is if you stitch them closed, you are bound to get bacteria in there. Really no way to avoid it down there. Infection means worse problems and no healing. So keeping it as clean as you can, exercise tons of patience, and just wait for it to heal.

My fistuale are have setons to keep them from closing and trapping bacteria in there, which will result in an abscess. I hate having them, but love them for keeping me abscess free. I think certain drugs can help shrink fistulae, and some may shrink down so much that they are essentially closed. But they never really completely go away without surgery. Surgical options depend the location of the start of the fistula. Mine is too high in the rectum for the easier surgery (fistulectomy). So I will keep mine with their setons for now.

Let us know what your surgeon says!
Posted 5/18/2009 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I happen to not prefer setons. For me it made the healing worse, more painful and took longer. I've had one fistula that was there for over 2 yersa. Also another option is the hyperbearic chamber. In theory it would help close it up much quicker since the oxygen level would be so much more dense...hense healing takes place when it has access to oxygen. Ask about the hyperbearic chamber seriously its a good option especially if you dont want to start having surgeries.
Posted 5/18/2009 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
I’m no help, but I have a similar question. I feel something at the end of my anus. It feels like when I finished going and stand up it moves into place, almost like when you put a suppository in and it forms into place. Is that the something as a skin tag? If not, does anyone know have any thoughts as to what it could be? I’m flaring, on pred/zone now, and it’s just one more thing to worry about.
Posted 5/18/2009 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Same thing, not something, sorry
Posted 5/19/2009 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I had really bad Fistulas and once I went on Remicade they started healing right away and completely healed within a infusion or two.  I had extra skin tags down there lol and the surgeon removed them, it was no big deal.

If you need Remicade info, see your GI Specialist or message me.  I also have Remicade Assistance info. 

Hang in there.

Posted 5/19/2009 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Remicade is actually listed as a option for fistulas, althought I dont believe a lot of drs choose this because of the price and other issues which come with stopping remicade
Posted 5/19/2009 6:13 PM (GMT 0)

Heathereno said...
I had really bad Fistulas and once I went on Remicade they started healing right away and completely healed within a infusion or two. I had extra skin tags down there lol and the surgeon removed them, it was no big deal.


If you need Remicade info, see your GI Specialist or message me. I also have Remicade Assistance info.



Hang in there.


I've lost 10 lbs on a new diet while coming off predinisone, is this common?
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