HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

First Time Fistula - In Labia - Advice!!?

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/8/2011 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Guys, I'm really freaking out.

I've been being treated by my gynecologist for an abscess on my right labia for several months now, and it's not getting better. She says that with my Crohn's there's a good chance it's a fistula, and that would explain why it hasn't gone away in spite of the treatment.

I've been taking Flagyl for a while, and I know that's used to treat fistulas. Can someone please tell me what my course of treatment might look like if this is a perenial fistula? I think the fistula isn't huge - it never passes physical material, only air - but I'm in college and I have a busy summer planned, and it's really difficult for me to undergo rigorous treatment right now. I know you can't tell me what's going to happen, and I plan to see my doctor as soon as I can, but it's almost finals, and I'm freaking out, and I'd really just like some basic idea of what to expect, or anything I can do/take to relieve some of the discomfort/ help facilitate healing.

Thanks a lot!
Eri
Posted 5/8/2011 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
You might want to talk to your doc about Remicade. It is said to be very helpful in quickly healing fistulas. Gentle hugs!
Posted 5/8/2011 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
The flagyl will only beat down the infection it wont cure a fistula. They are a fibrus tissue tube that forms. I had two that ran from my rectum out. One surgery a cutting seton followed by a fistulectomy. If it is superficial I would recomend the fistulectomy over anything else. I was back to work 3 days after both surgeries... but Im a bit tougher than the average person.
I dont know if the treatment would be diffrent since yours is in a diffrent area than mine was. They have fistula plugs also.. but from what I have read they are not too sucessful for crohns patients. Best to get it gone so you dont have to keep suffering with the reoccuring abscess. Honest the surgery isnt too dreadful.
Good Luck kiddo ! Hugs
Heather
Posted 5/8/2011 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard Remicade is really good too you should look into that although you'll have to go about every 8 weeks to get an infusion.

@Heather: Wow, you are really strong! I had 3 fistulas and I wasn't back to normal until more than 3 months later with the surgery. I'm glad I did it but it was definitely a tough recovery.
Posted 5/8/2011 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
You have been a member of HW since 2005 so presumably you have had this disease for a while. Many chronic CDers are deficient in B12, folic acid, and zinc because CD can affect the small intestine where these nutrients are absorbed. I would get tested for levels of B12, folic acid, and vitamin D.

I don’t know if zinc levels can be tested but if you are low in the other nutrients then you are probably also low in zinc. I have read research indicating that one reason why some abscesses and fistulas are very slow to heal is because of a deficiency of zinc which is crucial for wound healing. It may or may not help, but for sure cannot hurt to get a multivite with generous amounts of zinc in it.
Posted 5/8/2011 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yea Lovely I was back to work with a cutting seton he put in on friday on tuesday morning. I dont recomend this for most folk.. but with limited time off and sick leave I had little option of staying out. One fella I met who had the same 3 surgeries that I did.. Abscess with drains, followed by a cutting seton followed by a fistulectomy was out of work for 16 weeks. My house would be forclosed on if I was sick that long.
Ive nver taken remicade and understand that if you have internal fistulas forming that it would really be the way to go. But personally I would do the fistulectomy all again to get rid of the constant drainage and repeated abscessing befor taking high powered meds.
My question to Snakes is.. You said that it passes air... where does the Gyn think that the fistula track goes to and from?
My first one went from inside my rectum passed deep thru my sphinker muscle and out to the skin about an inch above my anus. It leaked gas and poop.
Im just wondering where the track would go on you to be leaking air. I know its a really odd feeling kid.. sorry you have to deal with it.
Posted 5/9/2011 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
My first fistula came out my bartholin gland and was mistaken by my ob/gyn as an abscess. It was huge. I had lots of drainage continually through it and I also passed gas through it. I was put on a high dose of flagyl and levequin, and I started remicade. It was closed completely by my 4th infusion.
Posted 5/10/2011 5:20 AM (GMT 0)
Snake...I to had a fistula in my labia and it is because of this that i eventually got diagnosed with CD. I feel your pain and wish that you did not have to go through this!! The way that my fistula was treated was apparently done the wrong way and it took about 2 years to completely heal. I suggest that you see your doctor as soon as you can because I kept putting treatment off and it got much worse.

Good luck and keep us updated!!!

Hugs, Dizzy
Posted 5/10/2011 8:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Snakeskins,
First all this really sucks that you are going through this! I have had crohn's disease for a while now and I have had a rectovaginal fistula which produced air also. After a while I started seeing nasty stool come out of my vagina and I will tell you it isn't pleasant feeling at all. I am a college student also and I know you don't like to think of putting your schedule on hold. However, what if it doesn't get better with medication and surgical intervention is necessary? I would go to your gastroenterologist as soon as you can. I used to use calmoseptine or over the counter diaper rash ointment to help with the pain of leaking. However, you said it wasn't progressed that far. I increase fish oil which seems to help especially with joint pain. I was on flagyl and remicade at the time and it didn't help me. I had to have a surgery. Everyone is different and in this situation there are usually multiple variables in which to consider. Try to relax and eat healthy. ((hugs))

Peace,
Dancingdragon
Posted 5/17/2011 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
A little late to the party, but ... snakeskins, I also have a fistula which created an abscess in my labia majora. My local CR surgeon lanced and drained it in early Jan. I had an MRI done that, while the abscess didn't show up, a fistula from the rectum (I have a jpouch) through the perineum showed up. The Cleveland Clinic tried to find the tract during a pouchoscopy, but could not get through. So. I don't know what kind of fistula it is - where it comes "out". I haven't had any problems with abscesses since then. What kind of treatment are you getting for the abscess? What kind of discomfort are you experiencing, and where?

I've been on tindamax ("super flagyl") since February and am doing nothing else. I have a little vaginal drainage but it doesn't look/smell like poo - maybe it's the normal female stuff, maybe it isn't. There's a little irritation "down there". The CC suggested a gastrograffin (sp?) enema to find the tract, and then decide on a course of action, but also said I could take a "wait and see" approach since I don't have major symptoms. My major problem is that marital relations are kinda impossible, due to pain since this all started. Since I don't have other major issues with this stupid thing, I'm afraid to have any kind of surgery - afraid it might make things worse.

I've been talking to a woman who has had an RV fistula for 5 years and is doing nothing for it save taking antibiotics every other day. She's doing fine. I've talked to others who have had surgery that has worked for them; others who have been attempting over and over for a fix but nothing works; some take remicade or other HD drugs which work great; others - they don't help at all. So it is most definitely difficult to decide what to do.

So, while I have no solid advice for you, just wanted to let you know I'm in a similar boat. You might want to check out jpouch.org. There are quite a few posts on fistulas over there (as well as here) that might give you some direction.

I do hope you get this sorted before too long. Best of luck!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply