Fistula finally healed

My son had a fistula for about 5 years right next to his anus. He swam in pools but not the ocean where there is pollution and sand. His fistula was quite large and he had multiple surgeries on it. We finally put him on a wound vac pump and in 6 weeks it closed 95% of the way! It was like a miracle. The wound was now too small for the wound vac pump. A few months later he went on Cimzia and the last little bit has closed up as far as we can tell. We are going to go to the wound clinic and get his doctor to look at it. The wound pump worked wonders though. I would recommend this to anyone with a fistula!

Berry, same thing with me! No surgeries but Drainage on command etc..

#1 thing you can do.. is keep up the HOT baths.. Hot baths and heat are key. More bloodflow now that its closed.. Will keep bacteria at bay..
Everyone here will agree with me.

Also, keep up the cimzia.. Im so glad it closed. Perianal Fistulas are HELL.
Guaze, bandaids, pain.. Yuckkk

I am so very happy for your son!!! I am dealing with a rather large fistula for a few years now. Drained, sx',seton's,many attempts to get it healed. Please explain a r you and your son!!wound vac pump to me. Even my doc @Duke Med Center has not mentioned that. Thanks so much. Again, I am happy fo

I have never heard of the wound vac. I had the fistula plug in recently and it failed... but now my fistula is 10x's worse/painful/draining than it ever was before. I have been in severe pain for 3 months now since the surgery. Not sure what to do now. Has anyone else tried the wound vac? THanks

Hello Fistula101,

Sounds like the plug caused an abscess to form. Have you gone to the doctor? I'm not sure if you have Crohn's or not, but fistula plugs have a low success rate in people with CD. Are you seeing a colorectal surgeon who is experienced with CD? I hope you get relief soon!