Fistula Fluid Color????

I currently have a enterocutaneous fistula. I was wondering if it's normal for the fluid color to change multiple times a day. The fluid doesn't hold any characteristics of stool nor does it smell like stool. But today it changed from dark yellow with specs of brown material to brown fluid with specs and then finally to bright yellow, which it has been now for the evening. I'm sort of lost at the moment with what type of action I should take. My surgeon from U of M hospital said it would close on its own and not to worry about it. But I do worry about it because it hasn't really gotten all that much better. I mean the opening is a bit smaller but I still have output and it's enough output to wear a bandage. (I change the bandage 3X day). It leaks all the time ruins clothes and pesters me, not to mention it's painful. Any suggestions from you fellow Crohners?

 

Hi, mine was producing stools until i had it operated on last Jan, it now varies it sometimes beigy colour, but more often a light green colour with no odour the hospital tested it for infection but it was clear and they said it was due to medication. By the way good luck with the Remicade Iwent on that to help close the fistula it healed a small one that i got after surgery, but the main one still drains but not much. unfortunatly I had to come off remi due to a reaction, really hope it works for you. Bev x

it seems you have perianal crohns. You should try to get this cleared up because it can get worse. That means doing all mentioned such as getting the remicade as soon as possible. If its infected you might also need a antibiotic. Take sitz bath every few hours. The small intestine issue could be contributing manifesting itself downward to the rectum, or it could be a bacteria clogging things there. You should get a surgeon to look at the fistula, asap and find out whatever they want to do to heal it. Another post had something about using a foam product. Try everything... even if you need to ask it to be stitched. Many times its been said not to mess with it surgically so you definetl need advice from someone who actually closed there fistula without further problems and the only drug I know of is remicade which might give you a chance to save the rectum area. Strongly suggest start remicade now infection or not, as well as all the above continuously.

I have a rectal fistula and seton, and the drainage changes. Usually it is yellowish in color, but sometimes tinged with stool or blood. Once in a while my gauze comes out greenish around the edges, which freaked me out in the beginning, but I guess I'm used to it now! Glad we can talk about this somewhere... :)

GYPSYFP......I THINK YOU AND I ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. THIS FISTULA STARTED IN DECEMBER AND I DON'T THINK IT HAS PLANS TO LEAVE ANYTIME SOON. I HAVE THE SAME QUESTION..."WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO, JUST LIVE WITH THIS THING?" IT'S HARD TO FEEL SEXY WHEN YOUR LEAKING OUT OF YOUR ABDOMEN AND STAINING THE SHEETS WHEN THE BANDAGE OVER FILLS. I MEAN COME ON. THE MEDICINE ALREADY MESSES WITH THE LIBIDO NOW I HAVE A SIDE HOSE TO BOOT. LOL! NOT TO MENTION THE GAUZE AND SUPPLIES ARE EXPENSIVE. THAT BRINGS UP AN IMPORTANT QUESTION I HAVE MAYBE I'LL MAKE A NEW POST. HANG IN THERE WE CAN ONLY GO UP FROM HERE.

Hi kcollins,
What surgery did your surgeon suggest for the fistula? Do you have a draining seton in place, or a cutting one?
I posted my history with this fistula yesterday. Post is titled, Fistula- failed surgeries- now what? I'd love to hear your story.

There is so little information from medical professionals/journals about how to deal with this. Most of the articles I've found are about the success rates of the various procedures and that fistulas are difficult to treat (even though there is documentation about fistulas going back centuries). And most of what I've read on forums from fellow fistula sufferers is that they've been dealing with fistulas for years.