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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/6/2012 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I'm 19 this year and I had a perianal abscess a month back. I went to the hospital as it hurt so much that I can barely walk and that crap doctor told me it is not ready to be drained when the abscess is so swollen and tender already.
Ok nvm, guess what? On that night it bursts by itself. Pain relieved 95%.
Went to a colorectal surgeon and she poke some stick into my anus, asked a few questions and told me everything's fine, infection is gone.

But after 3weeks or so, I can feel that the bump is still there. And just about 3days back, that same area had a slight bump, and tad pain.
BUT TODAY, right now, the same area where I had my previous abscess has the same PAINFUL lump/boil whatever you call it and it is so painful.

I thought everything is fine after my first experience and little did I know about such diseases called fistula, chron's disease..

Can anyone tell me if I have fistula or chron's disease by judging on my description?
I am sure those two are a chronic disease and it is sorta permanent right? I read through a few post and thread here and was depressed that I'm so young and had to go through this and people here are experiencing it for not just once.
It means I will still have abscess in the future other than my current one? :(

What is remission?
Abscess definitely = fistula? Read from one post which says that..

I am so sorry if I don't make sense or talk any sense right now because I'm just freak out by this. I googled more about it and all the bad stuffs just stuck in my head.

Another thing is i saw blood on the tissue when I wipe my anus. But no blood on the water. I can crap everyday. Does that means I don't have IBS?

Someone please advice me? I don't wanna suffer when I've yet to have any fun!! :(
I'm really afraid right now!! Sorry again and please advice me!!
Thank!!
Posted 2/6/2012 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
I would like to ask one more thing too. How can I determine if my abscess is ready to be drained or not??
The pain is killing me and I dont even dare to sneeze or cough! :(
Can I get it drain immediately? I'm afraid the infected pus wouldn't be all taken away if drained too early..

Went to google and read on more threads, anyone can tell me which is the best method to end fistula with the least scarring? I'm already preparing for the worst thinking I already have fistula. :(
Seton or the protein glue? Which one gives the least scarring and heals completely and won't have any complication reoccurrence?

I'm freaking out. Please help me :(
Posted 2/6/2012 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Don't freak out, but go see another colorectal surgeon and ask these questions. If you don't get satisfactory answers, keep asking. YOU are the customer. YOU determine when you are ready to leave the DR's office.
Posted 2/7/2012 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think any of us here are qualified to DX what you have, you need to sit down with your Doctor and ask all these questions and anything/everything that's bothering you, sit down and draw up a list of questions you want answered, Good luck with it i hope you get some answers and help soon, Slainte
Posted 2/8/2012 9:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hey guys.

Thank you two for replying and showing concern! :)

Had a check today with my doctor, did some ultrasound and indeed I had fistula!!! :(

She suggested me to take another scan and check for chron's disease on Friday before she decides on which surgery procedures for my fistula to be closed..

I am not sure if I'm feeling alive or not. Chron's disease?!! OMG..

I just need some experience from you guys regarding the rate of success of fixing a fistula. Does anyone fistula came back after the surgery? Or did anyone perianal abscess came right back( my fistula is where my abscess is linked to)

Lastly, although we haven't talk about the type of surgery to help with my fistula, I understand that there are certain different procedures including seton and protein glue.
Would like to seek advice which is a better procedure and has the LEAST scarring?

Thanks again. :(
Posted 2/8/2012 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
You should talk to your DR about medications used in treating Crohn's disease. Some are very effective at healing fistulas and preventing recurrence. I'm glad you got some good information.
Posted 2/9/2012 8:55 AM (GMT 0)
Check meds out before you rush into surgery. Imuran is what I take and it took about 8 years for the fistulas to totally heal. I still have scar tissue but the fistulas are closed. It took about 2 years to get the draining to stop completely but the amount of draining deminished after about 3 months on the Imuran. I"m confused...do you have a diagnosis of CD? Or still waiting on the diagnosis....good luck...Lili
Posted 2/9/2012 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I had a fistula surgery back in '03. They drained it and sewed me back up. It was extremely painful and I don't wish it on anyone...so I know how u feel!
Don't give up hope tho! There are drugs out there that can help heal fistulas and control your CD. My surgery went very well and I've not had a problem since. (knock on wood).

Did the doctor suggest sitz baths? You can get one at the pharmacy and they are simply a butt bath..lol. You put in on your toilet with warm water and it rushes onto the area, it feels good and can give you some relief. There are no medicines involved so you don't need a prescription..it's simply warm water.

Doctors can get frustrating sometimes, I've been through my fair share. But, like other people have said, remember YOU are the customer. Go in there with a list of questions, write them down. I go in many times with suggestions to the doctor- some doctors don't like that and some are cool with it.

Good Luck to you and I hope you get some relief soon!
-Jeny
Posted 2/9/2012 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys!!

I really really appreciate all the time taken for the input! :))

The thing is.. I have not been diagnosed for Chron's disease and you guys are already sentencing me that.. :(

I will be going down tomorrow for the test AND HOPEFULLY I DON'T HAVE IT!!! WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO IF I REALLY HAVE IT. IM SO YOUNG :(
I'm about to cry.. Zzzzzzz

Anyway, I'm just confused. What is there to drain? I mean my abscess burst already and there seems to be no more fluid or lump.. :S

You guys mentioned medicine, is it full chron's or fistula?
If it is for fistula, what does it do?
Why don't I just do the surgery the fix the fistula and I wouldn't need any med and prevent the abscess right?
I'm so confused..

Lili, you mentioned it took 8years to heal?!? Why does it take so long??!? And why does draining takes 2years?! What is there to drain for 2years? Why can't there drain it all at once? I think I'm very poorly knowledgeable about this fistula disease even after wiki and googling.

Can someone please enlighten me? I feel like dying and end this crap right away.
Argh!!!! :(
Posted 2/9/2012 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
A fistula is an abnormal connection between the bowel and another part of the body. Some fistulas connect sections of bowel to each other. Some fistulas connect the bowel to the bladder, or to the abdominal wall (and then external openings through the skin). What you appear to have is a fistula connecting the bowel to the perineum, and then opening through an abscess.

Fistulas can form when the bowel is injured or inflamed. Crohn's disease causes chronic inflammation in the bowel, and some people with Crohn's will develop fistulas. There are fistulas without Crohn's disease, for sure, but in a young adult like you I think it's pretty likely that your GI is going to look very closely at the bowel to determine if you have Crohn's.

It is not a life sentence of misery or anything to get a Crohn's diagnosis. The medications that people use treat the autoimmune system and make further inflammation very unlikely, so the fistulas can heal, your bowel can heal and you can go on to have a happy life. The medicine must be used regularly, though, since this is a chronic illness and there is no "cure."

Fistulas can take a long time to heal, but everyone is different.
Posted 2/13/2012 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Kazbern, thank you for the detailed explanation.

I'm scheduled for a colonogspy next month to check for chron's disease.

I am pretty sure I have it without realising it the past few months. Only getting the fistula and abscess confirmed it.

Before I got the abscess, I would always have watery poo, diarrhoea every now and then and my diet has been constant. I would also noticed sticky residue on the tissue I wiped off. Thick strands of sticky substance resemblance to mucus. Sorry for being so detailed. :/

So am I right to give a verdict to myself I have chron's diseases?
If not on what circumstances would anyone find sticky mucus sort of substance on his anus. Chron's disease is inflammation of the bowel and intestines right? And the yellow mucus must be the pus/infection.

Can I know what are the toll on chron's disease? Constant diarrhoea, fistula, abscess and..? Will my life be in danger?

Thanks again everyone!!
Posted 2/13/2012 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Your life will not be in danger, but you will have to learn a lot about the different medicines available and it may take a while for you and your DR to figure out the best plan. You will have to be patient, and also persistant in demanding quality care and attention from your DR.

It isn't too early in my opinion for you to start thinking you have Crohn's, but don't be too sure. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose and your DR might not be willing to say with certainty what's going on even after your scope. But the medications for all inflammatory bowel diseases are the same.

The mucous you are seeing is pretty common for people with Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis. Some people pass mucous even without a chronic inflammatory problem. Blood in your stool is more of a signal of serious inflammation.

What treatment are you currently doing for the fistula?
Posted 2/18/2012 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys.


It has been a week ONLY and I had two boils/abscess growing and burst on their own. (The same exact spot as my first abscess)
I felt a tiny weeny pain while I coughed earlier on and I went to touch the abscess area again, darn, A SMALL BOIL SURFACED AGAIN.

Why does it keep coming back???
Can anyone tell me? My doc did told me the pus is all drained but why is it still back?!

My doctor scheduled an colonoscopy for me in March to test for Chron's disease. Right now I am not taking any medicine for my abscess/fistula. None given by my doctor. She seem so rushed..

Let say if I have chron's disease, can my fistula still be fixed and cause no more abscess anymore?
It's just the abscess hurting!

:(
Posted 2/18/2012 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't logged onto here in a LONG time, but long story short I felt the need to check this forum out again. Strangely enough the first thread is EXACTLY why I came here....

I have this abcess/fistula thing that keeps popping up and draining on its own. This is the 4th time I've had issues with it and I finally got an MRI to rule out a perianal fistula. The radiologist report says there ISN'T a fistula...so now I'm just confused. I have an appointment with my GI on Thursday to discuss the results further, but this is getting annoying. As a female I know that all my anatomy down there is very close so I wouldn't be surprised if the source of infection is from the outside, but anyone have tips on preventing this kind of thing? And strangely enough, this one never actually drained, but it seems to be reabsorbing and getting smaller on its own. :/

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