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Fistula/abscess update....

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/29/2011 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
So, it looks like the LIFT procedure is possibly being postponed.....went back to the surgeon yesterday (he's back from vacation!), due to pain and the antibiotics not working. At this point, the abscess is so large and so close to the surface he is afraid it will burst on its own....so I am having surgery today! They are going to cut and drain this sucker, and pack it to stay open. In a week, we will evaluate whether we can go through the LIFT on the 15th or not.

This sucks, but in a way, it's ok, at least I won't hurt so bad!

In other news, my doc and I talked about the resident issues I had last week (and posted about here) www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=17&m=2142971

My doc is NOT happy about all this. He said that as far as he was concerned, the resident should act as if he were my doc in this situation, and should have just made sure I was comfortable in dealing with a resident, and treated me accordingly. He said that the guy had a lot to learn about dealing with patients in his opinion, and he was taking care of that. He also apologized for what I had to deal with, so I feel a lot better about all this. I'm really developing a fondness for my surgeon in this respect!!

So, wish me luck! I'll be out for the count for a few days, but hopefully I'll be back up and running soon! I know I'm new here, but everyone has been so nice....I really like it here!!
Posted 6/29/2011 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck with everything!!!
Posted 6/29/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'd love to hear updates on your experience with the LIFT procedure... I've not posted much lately but still read from time to time. I'd missed your first posts, but caught this one. I am going to have to ask my surgeon about this too. I have been wanting to find a way to get the inflammation under control before attempting any fistula correction (had 3 i&d's on this sucker).

What is the recovery time? I read that it's about a 60% success rate... does that represent Crohn's patients? Or just patients in general (which I'd interpret means a lower success rate for us Crohnies.)

Sorry you went through the arrogance of the resident. I get frustrated enough with practicing doctors who don't have a good bedside manner! It's so hard to deal with the humility of Crohn's and then adding medical staff attitude... it's not ok.

Good luck! And, like I said, I'd love to hear updates! I'll send good thoughts your way!
Posted 7/12/2011 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Just getting back.....well, THAT sucked!! Here's how it went:

Surgery was fine once they got the IV in, I was so dehydrated that they blew 2 veins, but got it on the 3rd try.....apparently, the whole thing took like 20 minutes, according to my hubby, but it took them 2 hours to get me to a room! By 10 that night, I started to run a fever, which skyrocketed to 104.6, so they kept me an extra day.....guess what??? C. Diff!! joy!! (Ya'll know that's sarcasm, right??) I finally went home Friday, but it's taken me until Sunday of this week to start feeling like a human.....

Anyway, now I have this nifty new hole, PLUS a seton through the fistula (the doc added it in order to fibrose the tract to help with the LIFT) while we wait for the wound to shrink down. THEN we go back in for the LIFT.

SR, my doc hasn't gone into much detail on success rates, but in my case, he thinks this is the better option then the RAF, due to the proximity of the sphincter. My original tract is rectovaginal, and essentially in a straight line, at least judging by the placement of the seton. He DID say that in varying cases, it was up to 80%. I'm thinking that it really depends on the complexity of the whole tract/branches.

As to the resident, he's gone, a new crop is in, and the one I've been dealing with since I left the hospital is WONDERFUL. She called me at home on both Sat and Sun that first week to check on me, and when I went for my follow up, she made sure to come by and see me. This is leaps and bounds better than the first guy!!

Thanks for the good wishes, and I will post back here as I know more about the LIFT!
Posted 7/12/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Chicklet -

So glad the 2nd batch of residents is better!! July can be a fateful month in that regard so I'm glad you got a good one.

I also had C-diff once (as a new mom I had to quit breastfeeding cold turkey - NOT fun!). It is not a great time, but I am glad you are home now. I'm sure that will help immensely in your recovery.

Best of luck with all your fistula/abscess stuff.

Sudsmom
Posted 7/24/2011 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Chicklet, anxious to hear how your LIFT procedure goes. I had a fistulectomy and a seton placed a few months ago and am working toward a LIFT procedure. I'm also on Cimzia (just switched from Remicade) and hoping the combo does the trick.

When I went in last, it was supposed to be an examination under anesthesia and turned into a fistulectomy (so recovery was more than I expected). I went back to work within two days but expecting to allow myself more time post-LIFT.

Best to you!
Posted 8/14/2011 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to update ya'll on this.....LIFT procedure is set for August 24th.....so far, I've been dealing with the seton (which is not fun), but it is keeping things from re-abscessing so far. I will keep you guys posted on how things go as soon as I'm up and around again!!

Thanks for the good wishes!!
Posted 8/15/2011 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
We'll be thinking about you...all the best!
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