fistula for the ladies

Hello to all. I am new here. I have had crohn's for 5 years. For the first 3 I was misdiagnosed. I am currently on Remicade. I will be going for my fourth infusion in 2 weeks. It is helping, but I still do get some cramping. I was told I have a fistula. Do any of you ladies know if it can cause vaginal spotting. I am just so sick of not feeling well, as I know all of you must feel the same frustration. Anyway. thanks in advance for your input.
Miss Dee

I have one fistula that tracks out to two openings, both cut during a i&d (incision and drainage). Have you been told where your fistula tracks to and from? It's possible that a fistula could connect two sections of bowel, say from small bowel to large bowel, leaving everything inside. Sometimes they can go to another organ, like the bladder or into the vaginal canal... That would definitely cause discharge of all sorts of stuff from the vagina. In my case the fistula(s) go to the perianal area, so the drainage appears outside the vaginal canal, but in that area (one of the incisions is literally right on the opening). If yours is an fistula to an external area, you'd be able to see it. If it's recto-vaginal or bowel-to-bowel, you won't see it with a mirror.

Not sure if this is helpful. Sorry you have to go through this. The fistula might just be the worst, besides the pain, for me!

Hang in there!