HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

fissure ruining my skin

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 1/30/2011 1:15 PM (GMT 0)

  Hi :-)  ...it's been a long time since I've posted so I'll say hello again.

I am now a 31y/o female diagnosed w/ CD since '04 steroid resistant and currently on Remicade every 6wks and Imuran... I'm supposed to take Pentasa but I stopped in the past couple years...I survive on liquid diets when necessary, Hydrocodone and the all important DENIAL (me? .....sick? ...silly, of course not! ...and i have no idea why I have more meds than a pharmacy in my bedroom rolleyes )

 

  So I posted today because I am feeling untouchable.... diseased.... in need of a leper colony to go hide in???

 

  This past summer I got my first hemmie ugh goes along w/ my old fistula scar just beautifully... I believe this was caused by Remicade allowing me to have "normal" bm's instead of D...

  Then this fall I notice this ridge turns out I have hpv w/ perianal condyloma (really embarrassing to write down and pissed off b/c I am SOO careful!). GYN gives me Aldara cream for that and this lidocaine cortisone mix for the hemmie... oh and I have a yeast infection, so i get that Nyastin sp? cream too, from my GI prescribing a hellacious amount of amoxycillin and augmentin causing me to vomit everyday for a week in an attempt to make sure a new fistula we "think" I have doesn't abcess...The skin around my bum has been ruined since the colonscopy in Nov. and I haven't managed to get it healed...GI thought it was fine and would go away w/ witch hazel and hydrocortisone. GYN called it a yeast infection, the Diflucan actually cleared up a lot of redness but not all...

 So I'm sent to a colo rectal surgeon about possible surgery for the "fistula"... He says I have a fissure and it's weeping causing the skin irritation and orders me to stop all creams and only use Balneol to wipe w/ and stick a cotton ball in the fissure to keep my skin dry. It's been 5 days and I see some improvement in my skin which is nice.

  I guess this whole long winded story was to see if anyone else was at a point where their GI is calling for their first resection surgery for CD and their skin and life are all falling apart at the same time...

  I walked into this surgeons office for the first time and was crying the entire time (btw i absolutely NEVER cry). The visit was almost a complete waste of time b/c I could barely answer the questions and couldn't think clearly. I just was so embarrassed about the condyloma sp? and afraid I would have to take medical leave from my job and quit my dance tour all so he could slice me open... cry And I'm stuck w/ these condyloma cuz I can't use the Aldara because it basically burns the crap out of your skin ...and my bf can't touch me for now and I can't bring myself to tell him the whole truth of it ( i just call it wound care)

  If you have any words of wisdom I would love them because I cannot stop crying and it's been a week already...

~pixi

Posted 1/30/2011 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't want to read and run, I can't offer any help other than a hug! Try not to be upset, I know it sucks and is very disheartening but try to be strong and hope that they get fixed up soon x
Posted 1/30/2011 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
You're very sweet...thanks hels_vn :) x
Posted 1/30/2011 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
pixi, I had a fissure a few years back that was soooo painful and bled so much.
I couldn't even sit, it was so painful. It took a few weeks to heal completely.

I used a cortisone suppository and nitro glycerin cream (I think that's what it was). I think I might have been on prednisone, cipro & flagyl back then too.

Hope all your current med problems heal fast!

Roni
Posted 1/30/2011 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Aldara? You poor thing. I had to use that on my face for skin cancer and that stuff burns! I don't have any advice, just {{{hugs}}}.
Posted 1/30/2011 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
There are other, possibly more effective treatments for you than the cream. Laser, surgical, etc. As far as the psychological impact this has on you....it's understandable, but there comes a time when you have to rise above it, take responsibility for it, and be your own advocate. I do understand being embarrassed, but think about it..anyone who has had sex, even once, could be a carrier. I don't want this to sound rude, but you need to have a one time pity party, come clean with your bf (this is the acid test of the strength of your relationship), and if he's an honorable person, he'll help you through this...then get on with your life. This does not define you, it does not define the kind of person you are. It does impact you in some ways, but it does not make you a "dirty" person. Somehow, you have to find that inner strength that will allow you to shake off the negative so you can advocate for yourself, what is best for you. You have it in you or you would never have found the strength to talk about it in an open forum.

Other than that, I wish I could give you some advice on the rest of your dilemma, but I've not been there. There's a ton of collective experiences here and, hopefully, someone can shed some light on what you're going through.

I wish you the very best outcome for everything you're facing.
Posted 1/30/2011 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lilpixstar and welcome to Healingwell. First off don't beat yourself up so hard. Things happen and we just have to deal with them and move forward. I have not had a fissure, so can't offer any advice. Hoping the meds you are using now help to get things better for you. Sometimes though when it comes to surgery, we fight it for the longest time, then have the surgery and wonder why we made ourselves suffer for so long. My best suggestion regarding surgery is if your quality of life is suffering, then maybe it is time for that resection. Good luck and big hugs!
Posted 1/30/2011 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys so much for the replies.
Roni I really hope it only takes me a few weeks to heal now that the surgeon has figured out what's wrong.
SaladShooter that is solid advice....you know I've always made such an effort to get tested before and after each partner and use protection but it can still happen ugh. I even got tested (b/c I had to go in for a yeast infection) when my bf and I had been together for 4 months and I was clear though I don't think they check for hpv w/o any signs of a problem:(. I will talk to him soon after I find out how they're getting removed. I'm gonna see if they can surgically remove them since my skin is so sensitive.
Nanners your posts always make me feel better. As far as surgery goes thats a question I'd like to ask about. My quality of life on my years w/o a colonoscopy isn't so bad. Remicade moved up to every 6wks + Imuran is a great combo for me. And 2009-Nov. 2010 was really good. I don't worry about D anymore or map out the bathroom for each destination which is nice. But every time after I have a colonoscopy I end up in and out of the ER for the next 6mos. My GI can't see the diseased portion of my intestine (terminal ilieum I think) b/c the pedi scope is too large and won't fit through. So b/c he can't SEE what's going on he's afraid of cancer and thinks I should get a resection before I end up in the ER w/ an actual blockage instead of simply pain and vomiting. My GI says the diseased portion is so narrow those cameras that you swallow would get stuck. I'll find out what the surgeon thinks about all this in March...
Posted 1/30/2011 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Good to hear you have an appt soon. I had my resection done as emergency and believe you me that was NOT fun. So if you feel that your quality of life is starting to suffer, then I think it may be time. And if you are that blocked up it could be telling you alot. Remicade sometimes can cause rapid healing and cause a build up in scar tissue quickly. And if its so tight a scope can't get thru, thats quite telling. Keep us posted on what the surgeon says. Big hugs to you!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply